Page 169 of Hunting Pretty

Dr. Vale’s eyes roamed over her, watching every twitch, every subtle shift in her posture. He had her now, like a puppet on a string.

“Six… five…”

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. The air around me felt too thick, too heavy, like I was the one being dragged under.

“Four… three…”

Liath’s lips parted, a faint breath escaping her. She looked so vulnerable, so far away.

She was sinking into somewhere dark, I could feel it.

“Two… one…”

Dr. Vale paused, watching her closely, as if testing the depth of the trance. When he was satisfied, he leaned forward, his hands resting on his knees. “Liath, can you hear me?”

Her fingers twitching at her sides was the only way I could tell that she wasn’t asleep.

I couldn’t help but think of how much she looked like Ava lying like that.

Her skirt riding up her soft thigh, her breasts shifting with every breath in her fitted sweater.

Liath’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Yes.”

“Good,” Vale said softly. “Remember, you’re safe here. If it gets to be too much, I will clap my hands and call youback to this room. You will return to your body, safe, and nothing will hurt you. Do you understand?”

Another nod. Another whisper. “Yes.”

My skin prickled. He had her so deep, so far away from herself.

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to stop the video. To stop whatever was about to happen.

Dr. Vale scooted forward, his voice still calm, measured, but something expectant and eager on his face. These two things did not make sense.

“Now, I want you to go back. Back to the last night before you woke up with missing time. You’ll see it clearly, but you will not feel the pain. Tell me what you see.”

Liath’s face twitched, her fingers curling slightly against the chaise so her nails scratched the velvet.

“It’s… dark,” she whispered. “I’m in bed. But there’s… someone in my room. There’s a really strong smell. It’s right in my nose. It smells… sharp. Like something medicinal.”

My breath caught as I remembered the soaked rag that Ava found in Liath’s room.

Dr. Vale leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “What happens next, Liath? What do you see?”

Her body tensed, fingers gripping the chair tightly. “There’s someone… standing over me. I can’t… I can’t move.”

Vale’s face remained calm, but his voice grew sharper. “Tell me what happens, Liath.”

She gasped, her body jolting. “I can’t! I can’t move! No, Stop.”

“Liath?” Dr. Vale said. “What is it? What’s happening?”

“Don’t touch me!” Liath screamed as she writhed on the chaise.

“Who is it?” Dr. Vale pushed. “Who is it? Who is touching you?”

“Oh God, stop!” she screamed.

Clap, I wanted to scream at Dr. Vale.Bring her back. Can’t you see she can’t take it anymore?

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