This is wrong.
My jaw locks. My fist clenches, nails biting into my palm as I come closer.
“What did you do, Mabel?” I ask.
“She knew too much,” she says. “Evil.”
My teeth scrape together as I step closer. “Put the dog down.”
She lifts Daisy.
Her body sags, limp, slipping out of balance as she sets her on the floor.
Something twists hard in my chest.
“Is she breathing?” I ask.
She shrugs, still rocking.
I can’t bring myself to look. My heart pounds as my hand hovers above Daisy’s still body.
“Where is Emily?” I ask.
“Taking a bath.” She points toward the bedroom door, then looks back at me. “You were wrong. She was not helpful at all.”
I turn and run.
The bedroom door flies open, and my boots splash through water pooling across the floor. It soaks into my socks as I rush toward the bathroom. The tub is overflowing, water spilling over the edge.
I drop to my knees.
Dr. Beckett floats in the water.
I turn off the faucet and pull her out, her body heavy, leaving a trail on the floor behind us.
Her skin is still warm, but her lips are turning blue.
For someone who fears nothing, fear finally finds me.
I pinch her nose, press my mouth to hers, force air into her lungs. I pull back and press my hands together against her chest, counting, pushing, begging her body to remember how to live.
One, two, three...
“Come on, baby,” I whisper.
I seal my mouth to hers again, breathe for her, then go back to her chest, pressing harder now, faster.
One, two, three...
Please. Stay.
“No, no, no, Freckles,” I shout. My breath turns shallow as I press against her chest. I lift her, shaking her once, twice, then grip her face and lower her back down.
Nothing.
“This is not supposed to end like this.” I swallow hard and press my lips to hers again, force air into her lungs, press her chest again.
Still nothing.
