rain pelt down on her exposed skin. Even the frigid rain and
wind couldn’t douse what felt like a fever burning under her
skin.
She saw Cassia’s lovely blue eyes even when she stared up
at the dark night. Meeting Cassia had done something to her.
There was something in her chest that she couldn’t dislodge,
something she couldn’t begin to comprehend. She hadn’t
forgotten. She wouldn’t forget.
In the deluge of rain, soaked to the skin, Adalynn decided
she would go, simply because she couldn’t not go and that was
all the reasoning and justification she needed.
Chapter 10
Cassia
The first thing Cassia realized when she opened eyes that
felt as heavy as lead weights was that her throat was dry. So
dry it was impossible to force a swallow. Her throat muscles
constricted painfully. The effort of that attempt hurt her head,
which was already pounding. It ached like it was stuffed full
of dirt and water—something heavy and dense, but also
something liquid that moved and sloshed with every single
pained breath.
Cassia had no idea where she was. Her eyes refused to
focus. All they could take in was white. White and bright, and
a foul smell that was sharp and astringent, like powerful floor
cleaner. She could hear a steady beep and hiss and she
wondered why someone wouldn’t turn off whatever alarm was
beeping steadily because it was so annoying. The sound
pierced through her heavy, foggy brain like the blade of a
serrated knife.
She struggled to lift her lids and keep them open. To make