Cole keeps his hold on Ben, on his hand and on his stomach, listening and interpreting and sending back impression like he might to another spirit. Comfort and relaxed, which for them is their dark, quiet place, even if to Cole himself, that's frightening.

"They don't understand," he says softly. "You can't hear them yet, but they don't understand. They sleep and exist and then they are grabbed and dragged into another place, a place of colour and noise, screaming and bright and overwhelming and they don't like it. And then... they go back and they forget. Or... it hasn't happened. They only exist in time when the Rift opens. They don't know they're hurting you, or hurting anyone."

His hand moves up to Ben's chest, to rest over his racing heart. "They're not going to come out, we're both safe. You're allowed to feel whatever it is you feel, but they're not going to come out because of me talking to them. You can breathe, relax, they don't want to visit. We're all safe."