Page 26 of Finders Reapers

How one girl couldn’t stop laughing when my (now deceased) cat, Mr. Del-Monte, walked in front of me when I wore a VR headset. I broke an ankle while heroically saving him from being squished.

Then, I saw it.

Someone had uploaded the live stream of the Elite Energy event in honor of my 21stbirthday. Followed by a Tiktok of the key moments.

A lump rose in my throat as I watched my face smush against Cody’s for the camera as I playfully kissed his cheek and skipped my way down the hotel corridor. Of dancing in-sync to Doja Cat with Malina and Ilona, my two besties from high school.

I had been a swimmer in high school. I had done diving meets and lifeguarded more than one summer.

How the hell had I drowned?

I hadn’t been drinking that night, but I had a drink in my hand. A can of Elite Energy, at all times, as per my contract.

I couldn’t remember dying, but I rememberedthat.

I watched the video without taking a breath. My fingers turned white as I gripped the tablet hard enough to break it.

I watched as my past self climbed the steps to the diving board. My dress was tight and covered in baby pink sequins. My hair curled and colored baby pink at the ends.

I was very alive when I stood on the edge of the diving board and gave a speech about something the person recording couldn’t hear, and their camera didn’t pick up.

I had no memory of what I said, but my past self spread her arms and prepared to dive fully clothed into the pool.

I watched as I performed a handstand dive, flashing the world my thong before disappearing under the water.

The energy drink can bobbed to the surface first, and everyone cheered and laughed.

And waited.

And waited.

But my body didn’t come up to the surface.

I slept like the dead—pun intended—though my dreams were filled with screaming torment and the burning fires of hell.

Suffice to say, I planned to stay awake as long as I was able if the image of eternal suffering was what waited in dreamland.

I woke with a start to darkness, though the flashing lights of the strip cast the room in a glow. The shades were open, but the day had turned to night when I hadn’t been paying attention.

I wondered why I had woken up for only a moment when I saw the shadow of four men across the bottom of my bed.

“I’ve seen films like this, and I don’t like where this is heading,” I warned. “I’ve had a shit day.”

Jamal and Fletcher exchanged glances, snickering like schoolchildren.

Rome rolled his eyes. “Pornography preferences aside, myshka. We’ve got work to do.”

“I have a name,” I pointed out as I crossed my arms over my chest. “It's not Myshka.”

Rome’s eyes flicked down to my neckline before he met my gaze. “I know.” He sniffed.

Fletcher raised his hand. “I want to know more about her search history.” He smirked.

“Rule number one: always clear your loved ones' Internet history.” Jamal snickered. “You never know when the world will find out how much you love watching gangbang porn.”

My cheeks burned. “Shut. Up.”

Maddox cleared his throat; it sounded like he was gargling nails. “We have work to do.” His eyes glittered with something cold and frightening as he slanted a look my way before he left.

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