Page 66 of Where Daisies Breathe

“I need to see who it is.”

“You’re going to open the door?”

“No, I’m going to peek out the window.” I wait for her to let me go.

It takes a few moments before she reluctantly does. Then I tiptoe over to the window beside the door again. The woman has gone eerily quiet. So has Bailey.

Carefully, I pull back the curtain a sliver of an inch just in time to see headlights illuminating, and a figure sprinting across the street. They’re wearing a white dress, and their flowing hair matches it, making it easier to keep an eye on them even when they get further away.

As the vehicle pulls into the driveway, I realize it’s Ellis’ SUV. I rush to the door and throw it open. I start to run out, but slam to a halt at the sight of at least a hundred daisies scattered across the front porch. And lying in the center of it is a note with my name scribbled on it.

“Where’d they go?” Ellis calls out as he jumps out of his SUV.

“They ran across the street!” I shout back as I point in the direction the woman ran. “But I don’t think?—”

He takes off, running across the street. At the same time, Bailey shoves me aside, causing me to trip and nearly fall off the porch. I grip onto the railing to stop that from happening, but Bailey slips by and chases after Ellis.

“Shit,” I curse, then hurry back inside, turn the lights on, and slip my shoes on.

“What’re you doing?” Clara watches me in horror as I grab Bailey’s leash off the table near the door.

“I need to get Bailey.” I stuff my phone into my pocket. “Lock the door behind me, and if anything bad happens, get to the car and drive to town.”

“Ava,” she starts, but I close the door and run into the night.

Run toward the woods.

29

CLOVER

Ican hear the party in the distance. If I can just keep running—if I can just make it there to the park where everyone is—maybe I can survive. But the drugs are kicking in, and my brain is fogging over. Footsteps are chasing after me.

“Clover!” They shout as branches snap.

I feel sick to my stomach as I push through more branches that claw at my skin. I grasp onto my daisy clutch tighter as my fingers are threatened with numbness. I can’t lose this. Everything that I’ve found out about Zoey’s death is in this clutch, all of the answers. I found the final piece tonight when I was with him. I should’ve been more careful. I should’ve waited to stick that photo in my clutch. Maybe then I wouldn’t have been caught.

Then again, I think they’ve been on to me for a while.

My death has been hovering over me in a gloomy cloud threatening me with the scent of a rainstorm.

I quicken my pace as the glow of the fire in the middle of the park comes into my view. But as I near it, breaking through the border of the trees, I spot another man who’s been hunting me looming at the edge of crowd standing around the fire.

I wish I could see Ava or Ellis somewhere—they’re the only people I trust these days. But they’re nowhere to be seen.

I veer right to avoid running into him. He’s wearing a hoodie with the hood drawn over his head, but I know it’s him.

I sprint across the grass and weave around the trees, and then the parking lot comes into view. My heart leaps in my chest as I spot Ellis’ car. He typically leaves it unlocked so I can at least hide in there with the doors locked until I can figure something else out.

But then I see something else that makes my heart sink.

Another one of them is striding across the parking lot.

I’m so fucked—I know I am. And if I weren’t so doped up, I’d probably cry. Maybe. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt anything.

With them coming at me from all directions, I do the only thing I can and rush into the bathroom, hoping to god someone is in there that has a phone. But it’s fucking empty.

I’m so fucking screwed.