Page 96 of Intertwined Souls

“I’m going to run downstairs,” Grayson whispers in my ear. Looking back into his worried eyes, I nod and he leaves.

By the time Nerds comes back in carrying a bottle of pills squeezed tightly in his fist, Grayson also walks back in with Colton and Axe in tow.

Colton glances at the bottle of pills that Nerds hands Bri and frowns. “It’s Percocet,” Nerds explains.

Bri nods and takes out two pills, holding them out to Oakley. “Here you go, sweetie. You’ve done so well. Here’s these.”

Oakley’s eyes light up, and she snaps them up, swallowing them dry before Bri can even pick up a water bottle for her.

Oakley breathes out a sigh of relief and collapses back on the bed, seeming to just wait for the pills to take effect.

“Hallway. Now,” Gabe snaps to Nerds. “Bri, are you good with her?”

Bri nods and Gabe turns around to storm out to the hall, the rest of us following with Nerds coming out last.

Gabe immediately closes in on Nerds, shoving him against the wall. “What the fuck are you doing? What are you on? How long ago did you relapse? Where the fuck did you get the pills?” he yells in his face.

Holy shit. I’ve never seen Gabe like this before. His body shakes with fury, but after getting to know him over time, I can see how this fury comes from a place of concern. Like he has been down this path with Nerds before and finding out about these pills is really bad.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cayden

“Maybe we should give them some space,” Grayson says quietly.

Harley stares at them, conflicted, she wants to help or say something, but I think she also recognizes there is nothing we can do to help this right now.

Letting out a sigh, Harley nods, and me, her, and the guys head downstairs. “I want to pop in on the others,” she says as she keeps walking towards the med room with us following behind her.

Harley peeks in the room to make sure it’s okay for us all to go in. When we get inside, we find Presley sitting with the three of them.

The twins, Anthony and Anna, are sitting together on a bed, still hooked up to their IVs. They look happier and more relaxed than they did yesterday, which is amazing to see so soon. Tia, the other girl, is laying on the other bed, still sleeping.

“Grayson!” Anthony’s face lights up when he sees him.

“Hey. How are you both feeling?” he asks them as he walks over to stand by Presley, who is sitting by their bed.

“Okay. Did you find—?” He pauses, pressing his lips together and glancing at his sister, who is half leaning against him and keeping her eyes down.

Grayson smiles. “I promise we are working as fast as we can and as soon as I have news, you will be the first person I tell.”

Anthony nods and then answers questions Grayson asks about how they are feeling. Harley smiles at the twins and then looks at Presley, who gets up from where she was sitting and walks over to Tia’s bed where we meet her.

“Has she woken up?” Harley asks quietly.

Presley shakes her head. “Not yet. She should be anytime soon, though. I cleaned her up a little, but did you notice that her and Anna’s hair are braided perfectly?”

Harley nods as she looks down at Tia. “Yeah I did. Sammy and Oakley have them, too. I have some suspicions, but I want to talk to Oakley when she can have a conversation.”

Harley continues to fill in Presley, and I look for Ryker who has stepped back out into the hall. Walking out, I pull the door shut behind me. “You alright?”

“Yeah. I just got a text from Vance’s tech guy. They weren’t able to figure out who the girl in the freezer was. It just feels so wrong that she is probably going to end up in some unmarked grave all alone.” He paces the hallway and runs a hand through his hair before stopping and looking at me. “She had red hair. Coppery, beautiful red hair. She had to have been our age.”

Connecting the dots, I murmur, “She reminded you of Harley?”

“Yeah. She really fucking did. I know she isn't, but just the fact that it could have been Harley really shakes me, and I feel like we need to do right by the girl.”

Glancing back at the door to the medical room, I say, “Well we can see if any of the others might have known her name, and then we can put something together for her. I’m sure Grayson or Nerds could figure out a place for us to bury her. What about the other girl, Sammy?”

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