Page 3 of Haunted Prey

“For anxiety,” Nurse Jackie said. “Like Xanax but less side effects and more effective. The others take it too.”

“The others?”

“The other patients. They all take it. It helps with recovery.”

I thought of the women and remembered how content and relaxed they looked. I hadn’t had my own pills in a few days now, and the anxiety had reared its ugly head. Now it was too much to bear.

“It’s one of Kennedy’s most successful products, exclusive only for our patients here,” she explained. “Just try it and see, you won’t be disappointed.”

I probably should have seen a psychiatrist first to be sure, or looked at some paperwork, or even asked what it was called, but to hell with it. I just wanted the pain to go away, to not feel this awful feeling, like I’d wished I had fallen in the river too and joined Emery in his underwater grave.

That thought made my heart break all over again.

I took the pill and popped it into my mouth, then washed it down with water.

Caretakers took my tray away, and Nurse Jackie took me to my room. She left me alone to shower and change. The pill kicked in when I left the bathroom. I was calm, relaxed, like thatfeeling of waking up on a Saturday and just lounging in bed, never wanting to get up.

I relished in the feeling, sitting on the bed, watching the light fade away.

In the dark, I curled up, pretending I didn’t just have a tiny break from reality, hadn't seen anything in the corner of my room.

Tomorrow, they told me I would see my friends. I wished I could be happy. Instead, I just hoped I didn’t break down in front of them.

CHAPTER TWO

EMERY

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

She stood on the edge of a small dune, long beach grass sprouting out of the sand, dipping in a soft breeze. The sound of waves crashing one after another was melodic.

She meant the sunset, orange and red reflecting off the vast ocean before us. She walked in front of me, her silhouette blocking out the light.

“Yes,” I said.

She smiled, tendrils of her hair brushing over her face. Her pink dress hugged her body perfectly, skirt whipping in the breeze, brushing against her thighs.

“I love you, Emery.”

I closed my eyes and felt the swell of ecstasy at those words.

No one ever loved me. And I didn’t deserve it.

Especially not from her.

Not after what I had done to her.

But I felt utter bliss at her words, at her voice, her scent, her everything.

My Eve.

“Don’t go, Emery.”

I opened my eyes, and the sun sank below the horizon. Darkness spilled in, bringing in the coldness with it.

She was just a shadow now, unmoving.

Only her face…

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