Brown leather couches surround the fireplace, and there are pictures that dot most of the walls. Pictures of Anna and what must be her parents and siblings. They all look so happy. That spark that was in Anna's eyes in every dream is also in the pictures, but it's noticeably absent today.
Gone is the vibrant, mischievous little girl that found joy in anything she did. Now Anna just looks sad and defeated. It breaks my heart to see her like this.
She gestures toward the couches to sit. "You will have to forgive me. My memory has been a little—" she clears her throat, her face pinched like she's in physical pain, "I guess you would say a little rusty since the accident. I don't remember you."
Butterflies erupt in my stomach, and my hands grow impossibly wet. I wipe them down my pant legs and try to take in an even breath to steady my heart rate.Here goes nothing."Well, I didn't technically know Lucy, but I feel like I do," I ramble, then add, "I only know of her."
Anna's posture stiffens, and her eyes narrow once again.Hurry up, Millie, and get to the point before she throws us out of her house.
"Who are you?" Anna accuses.
"My name is Millie St. James, and I have Lucy's heart."
Anna's eyes widen in surprise and shock. Her mouth parts, and her gaze immediately drops to my chest.So much for easing into it, Millie.Rowan shifts next to me on the couch, squeezing my hand that is still safely tucked into his.
"What?"
"I know this must be incredibly confusing, and I'm so sorry to just show up like this, but we were afraid if you knew we werecoming—" I shake my head because none of that matters now. "I just needed to see you. To talk to you," I implore.
"Why?" Anna's voice is just above a whisper. Her eyes are wet with barely contained moisture.
"Because Lucy told me to," I answer honestly. I don't know why, either, but I know I had to listen. I had to come here and do this.
Anna tilts her head as she studies me. "What are you talking about? Lucy is dead." Her tone is completely flat, like she's had to turn her emotions off in order to speak the words.
Oh, my. This isn't going well.
"I know. But— it's kind of hard to explain, but she asked me to come here."
Anna shakes her head in denial. "I don't know what kind of sick game you're playing, but I need you to leave now." Fire burns deep in her irises as her hands begin to shake.
She stands to usher us out of the house, and I don't know what to do. I don't want to force her to have a conversation with us, and I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to say, but I do know that whatever Lucy wanted me to come here and do isn't finished yet.
Just as I start to protest, I feel a sudden rush of cold. Tingling starts at the base of my neck and quickly spreads throughout my entire body. It's an overwhelming sensation and one that scares me.
I don't know what is happening, but it feels very, very fucking wrong.
Suddenly my body goes rigid. My lungs seize in my chest, and my heart beats wildly under my breastbone. I go to scream, but nothing comes out. I lose total control of my body. I'm unable to move my arms or legs or even squeeze Rowan's hand to alert him.
When I hear my name being called, I go to respond, but what comes out is not me. I mean, it's my voice and it's my mouth speaking the words, but it's not me controlling it.
What in the world is happening to me?!
I sit in horror, paralyzed in my own body, as Lucy starts to speak for me, controlling my body and my voice.
Oh, oh, oh, oh fucking—My brain practically short-circuits because I think I've just been possessed by a ghost.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Rowan
Something is wrong but I don’t know what. Millie is talking but she doesn’t sound right. It doesn’t sound like her.
I squeeze her hand, our silent act of reassurance, but she doesn’t return the gesture. Her hand lies limply in mine.
“Anna,Anna!It’s me!”
Suddenly Millie lets go of my hand and scoots forward on the couch, her eyes intent and focused solely on Anna.
