Page 128 of Disharmony

“You’re right.” She smiles and claps her hands. “Come on, Lockets.”

They follow her blindly into the night, but the nervous one hangs back. Her eyes meet mine. She doesn’t speak, but she’s trying to tell me something.

“See?” Zed murmurs as we push on toward the lake. We aren’t far now. “Ash probably just wandered off and is still at the party. Those girls are harmless.”

“Hold up,” Venom says.

He’s a few steps ahead and sees something through the trees.

His eyes squint to get a better look. I follow his gaze. At first, I can’t make it out, but then I see it. I see her.

I’m sprinting. All of us are.

We have to get to the ghostly figure floating on the water. Her pale limbs look almost translucent against her black bra and panties. She’s lying face down.

“Ash!” I yell. “Ash!”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

This can’t be happening.

I race over the sand, throwing off my leather jacket and go straight into the water. It’s freezing, but I don’t give a fuck as I wade past my knees and waist.

I grab her, pull her close, and flip her around.

When I do, she gasps for air.

Her eyes snap open, but she isn’t really looking at me.

She struggles to take a breath as I take her shaking body into my arms. There will be time to be angry later. Right now, relief floods through me knowing she’s safe again. Safe with us.

“Get this around her!” Venom’s already taking off his thick, dry hoodie and holds it out as we get back on land.

I place her down gently on the sand. She leans against me to sit upright, and I wrap the hoodie around her shoulders. Her teeth are chattering, but she’s still breathing.

“What the hell were you doing in the water, Ash?” I ask. “You could have drowned.”

She smiles at me blearily. What drugs has she taken? She’s unaware of her surroundings.

“I wanted to see her again,” Ash murmurs.

“See who?” Venom presses.

Her eyes flicker closed as she dozes into a sleep.

“She did this!” I turn on Zed. “Tiffany did this!”

We have no proof or evidence, but we all know. Two accidents on the same night for two years is too much of a coincidence.

“My jacket!” I motion to Venom. “Call Cookie, and let her know Ash is okay.”

He grapples for it with shaking hands.

“It’s okay, baby,” I murmur, cradling Ash in my arms. “You’re safe now.”

I want to kiss her blue lips and breathe my warmth into them.

“We need to get her inside,” Zed says, bending down to feel her icy forehead. “She needs to warm up, then we need to find out what she’s taken.”