Page 53 of Where Daisies Breathe

She looked like Clover.

So fucking much like her.

But it couldn’t be her.

I know this.

And yet…

I need to know for myself.

I check that Ellis and the paramedics are still distracted, then I hurry toward the doorway. I take a few measured breaths in anattempt to calm myself down. But nothing could prepare me for what’s inside.

There are about five girls who appear to be around seventeen and are in the room. And all of them look like they’re dead.

24

AVA

I’m lying on the floor—I think. The room is spinning so wildly that I’m not exactly sure where I am or how I got here. The carpet is rough against my skin to the point where all I want to do is scratch my flesh off. But I can’t move my arms.

Numb.

Dead.

Am I dead?

The darkness around me swims like thick ink, bleeding into my vision and making it impossible to see anything. I reach out blindly and croak, “Help.”

“Shh…” someone whispers. “It’ll be okay. Just close your eyes and it’ll be over soon.”

I don’t want to close my eyes. I want to be able to see again.

Moaning comes from beside me. Whoever they are sounds in pain.

I peel my eyes open and blink several times until a drop of light pierces through the darkness. My pupils sting, but I refuse to close them as I tilt my head toward the moaning.

A girl with blond hair and pale skin is lying beside me on the shaggy orange carpet. Her arm is extended in my direction, and a guy is looming over her.

“Clover?” I whisper hoarsely.

She turns her head and meets my gaze. “Help me.”

I want to reach for her, but I can’t move my arm. I’m forced to watch helplessly as a guy crouches beside her and strokes her hair. Brown hair, eyes like shadows, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.

I squint harder to see his face?—”

A hand touches my shoulder. “Ava.”

I startle, whirling around with my fist clenched, ready to punch whoever touched me.

Ellis hurries and puts his hands up. “It’s just me.”

I quickly lower my hand. I’m still standing in the doorway of the apartment. “Sorry… I just…”

What was that memory? Did I get drugged with Clover at some point? The sad part is that it could’ve happened, and I didn’t know.

It’s tragically depressing, but it’s not entirely what I’m focused on right now.