Page 99 of Shadows in Bloom

No…

Nononono—

Did Ophelia trick me?

Did she pass her… curse or whatever onto me?

Is this her revenge?

“Listen.”

I frown, but catch myself doing as the voice instructs.

There, in the not too far distance, I hear the rush of water. And my confusion and unease only heighten when I realize I didn’t hear it last night.

“Go.”

I don’t even get a second to debate whether or not to do as the voice commands before my feet start carrying me across the clearing and past the tree line. Instinct and something… else… driving me toward the river.

Using my hands, I brush limbs out of my way, hurrying as carefully as I can traipsing barefoot over the rocks and roots littering the ground.

Finally, I spot the river, winking in and out between trees. My steps pick up until I’m practically running, weaving a path toward where I spot a familiar head of long black hair.

When I burst out of the trees, I call out her name, panting.

Nothing. She just… stands there. Frozen. Facing the river.

Naked and painted in our blood, black hair plastered to her back…

Bruises and scratch marks littering her back. Even without my glasses, there’s no missing them.

Did I do that?

Brow furrowed, I take a few more unsteady steps, putting myself only a couple feet away from her before I stop, not wanting to get too close. “Ophelia!”

This time, there’s a flinch. Subtle, but there. Proof she heard me.

But just when I start to feel relieved, she whirls around, and I catch the look on her face, and everything starts to just….

Crumble.

Impossibly round glassy brown eyes gape back at me, lips parted, fumbling like she’s searching for words.

Feeling very self-conscious suddenly, I wrap my arms around my chest. Wishing I had more than this flimsy filthy nightgown to cover me up.

“Winnie?” she says shakily, my name carrying on the breeze. She looks around, panic visibly tightening her features, and straining the cords in her too-pale neck.

She then looks down at herself.

Then at me. Taking in all the dirt…the blood…

“What’s happening?” she shakes her head. “I don’t…I don’t understand.”

Her eyes spring back up to mine, redder than even a moment ago. “Are you hurt?” Her voice breaks.

Frozen, all I can do is stare at her, as a roar fills my ears.

“You’re…you’re covered in blood. I’m covered in blood. I don’t…”

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