Page 38 of Forged in Deception

SEVENTEEN

KARLIN

Karlin felt a held breath escape between her lips as she watched the patients tip back their cups.

She hated this part. Even though she knew it was illogical, she always had a nagging fear that somehow, despite all of her research to the contrary, someone was going to ingest the green liquid and die on the spot.

Of course, no one did, but everyone looked relieved once their cup was empty.

“This tastes way better than it looks,” Cora said, poking at the rim of the cup with her finger and licking off the final drops.

“Right?” Axel chimed in. “It’s not bad. I was expecting it to be disgusting.”

“Let’s be quiet now and let the DX8 work,” Bajwa said calmly. He stole a glance at Karlin, the relief evident on his face. He hadn’t been afraid everyone would suddenly drop dead, of course, but he was always wary that someone would need the bucket left sitting beside their mat.

Despite the spiritual trappings, DX8 was a modern, chemically synthesized drug. Unlike traditional plant-basedpsychedelics such as ayahuasca, it was unlikely to cause severe nausea or vomiting–though that particular symptom had shown up more often with earlier formulations.

An unwanted memory stirred in Karlin’s conscience as she walked around the hut, glancing at each of her patients in turn.

There had been one woman a decade ago who had violently vomited with every single dose she took. Karlin remembered that her name was Dana and that she’d been pleasant enough. The woman’s personality hadn’t stuck out very much.

But she did remember that she had been in the same retreat group with Amira.

And not long after, Amira had died.

Karlin felt nausea of her own rushing through her as she tried to push the terrible thoughts back down. She couldn’t let herself get lost right now.

She was already doing everything she could to bring Amira the justice that she deserved, and in this moment, the other patients needed her even more.

“Karlin, if you could grab a few blankets, please?”

Bajwa was giving her a quizzical look.

“Oh, yes, sorry,” she answered in a whisper, gathering up the cotton blankets they’d brought along and passing them out to the others one by one. Only Lily, Paul, and Axel bothered to use them, despite the growing chill of the night. She grabbed one for herself and wrapped it around her shoulders, watching as Bajwa lit several candles and pressed play on a portable CD player they’d brought.

As the room filled with the relaxing sound of rainfall, Lily jolted to her feet, grabbing her bucket and running out into the night.

“Don’t worry, everyone,” Bajwa said, lifting his voice to a normal volume. “She’ll be fine momentarily. No drug is perfect.”

Karlin forced a smile, but inside, she couldn’t shake the shiver of fear that was coursing through her.

Logically, she knew it was a coincidence.

But it still felt like an omen.

ASHER

It was official.

Asher had never been so bored in his entire life.

At least he’d gotten to read a book when he was stuck listening to Tourmaline the Yoga Lady earlier. This was pure torture.

All he could do was pray, focus on his breathing, or watch the others, the latter being an extremely boring option when all anyone else was doing was sitting there breathing like he was.

He did find a slight hint of gratitude, however, for the fact that he was able to keep his eyes open. He’d half expected everyone else to have theirs pressed shut, but instead, Paul was staring at nothing, Cora was holding her hand up in front of her face, and Destiny was looking at the ceiling. Only Lily’s eyes were closed, her expression serene.

Bajwa was fiddling with the CD player, his back to Asher.

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