Page 69 of Amnesia

I ducked my head and coughed. “I think there’s something in my throat,” I croaked.

“I’ll get the water,” he said, reaching for it.

I coughed again, then tried to swallow, but my throat was incredibly thick feeling. Blindly, I reached out, groping for Eddie’s arm.

“I don’t—” I started to wheeze. The world tilted, and I felt faint.

“Amnesia?”

I looked up, blinking. “I can’t breathe.” I gasped, reaching for my throat.

“Holy shit,” he said, grabbing my chin and studying my face. “You’re breaking out in hives.”

“Wha—” I couldn’t speak. The need to breathe was too strong; trying to get air in was becoming impossible.

Eddie dropped my chin, and my entire body drooped forward. I caught a glimpse of my arm, and I slid toward the ground. It was full of red welts.

What was happening to me?

“You’re having an allergic reaction,” he said, his voice completely panicked. It made me panic.

I reached for my throat, wheezing.

“You need medicine. Right now.” He surged to his feet, glanced around rapidly. Leaning down, his words were frantic. “I’ll be right back, Am. I’ll be right back. Stay awake. Breathe.”

He disappeared from sight, and it caused me to panic. Where was he going? Why was he leaving me?

Oh my God, I can’t breathe!

“Eddie,” I wheezed, but the sound didn’t carry. I heard him shouting, but his voice was getting farther away.

My vision started to grow dim around the edges; the sky began to grow dark. I felt like I was choking, like I was dying.

For the second time.

A figure backed by the lowering sun appeared above me. My heart leapt thinking it was Eddie, but then I realized the shape was all wrong.

“Help,” I gasped, trying to reach for the person.

They grabbed my hand, squeezing so hard I wanted to cry out. A cold, rough palm slapped the side of my face, causing my head to rotate toward the lake. The same hand came back, pressing my cheek into the ground. I felt a pair of lips against my ear.

“You shouldn’t have changed your hair,” the voice growled. “I hope you die.”

I whimpered, struggling to get away.

My vision was going completely dark. I could barely move at all now. My breathing was so shallow I was seriously afraid each breath could be my last.

“This isn’t over,” the person spat, fingers digging into my cheek, and then the weight was gone.

The sound of pounding feet and the distant blare of a siren cut into my consciousness.

“Amnesia!” Eddie yelled, gently pulling my face up so he could look into my eyes. “It’s okay, baby,” he said, then moved back, lifting something and plunging it into my body.

Anaphylactic shock, the last thing on this planet I was expecting. Everything about this girl was a total surprise.

The second she started struggling to breathe, sheer adrenaline surged through my limbs. I barely had time to think. I had to react.

My legs pumped so fast they ached as I surged across the field toward the small shop near the general store. As I ran, I dialed the phone and screamed into it the second I heard someone pick up.

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