LITMIR.BIZ

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it, scattered schoolbooks and a white laptop. A corkboard overflowing with pictures rested on the wall above it. Sheer curtains billowed out across the open floor-to-ceiling glass doors in front of one of the balconies I’d seen from the driveway. A door to my left was opened slightly, revealing a walk-in closet bursting with Ally’s clothes and shoes. I’d have to explore that later. I kicked off the shoe from her good foot and sunk Ally’s toes into the plush beige carpet.

      “You have fresh towels and a robe if you’d like to take a bath,” Marie said. She placed a prescription bottle and glass of water on the dresser. “You can take these after. Is there anything else you need?”

      I yawned. Marie walked over to me and squeezed my hand.

      “I’m so happy you are okay.”

      “Thank you,” I said. “For everything.” Especially the food.

      She cocked her head to the side. What did I say wrong this time?

      “Sweet dreams, Ms. Ally. Let me know if you need anything else.”

      “Okay. Goodnight.”

      When Marie left, I let the crutches fall to the ground and I walked into the bathroom.

      Or should I say spa.

      A claw-foot tub sat in the middle of the room, just waiting for someone to jump in. Next to that was a small table loaded with scented bath soaps and bubble mixtures. I turned on the faucet and warmed my fingers under the water, creating a new wave of goose bumps across Ally’s arms. I drizzled liquid from one of the bottles into the flowing stream of water. A relaxing lavender scent billowed up from the tub and bubbles started to form. I walked to the vanity where Ally had arranged a neat display of cosmetics. At the corner of the room stood a shower stall big enough to fit another tub inside and then some.

      I stood in front of the vanity mirror, staring at the face of my new body. Ally’s green eyes were squinty and her hair stuck out at all angles. I pulled the elastic out of her hair and her tresses tumbled over her shoulders.

      I leaned closer to the mirror.

      “Where are you, Ally?” I said softly.

      My gaze traveled across her face until I clearly saw the outline of my soul almost transposed over hers. I shivered, leaning away from the mirror. I could still see myself but I wasn’t as defined from that distance. I’d have to avoid mirrors as much as I could.

      I stood under the warm lights, staring at the girl who was meant to do something great with her life… until I remembered the tub.

      I carefully lowered Ally’s body into the bath, the hot water sending sparks throughout her body. The scent of lavender enveloped me and I leaned up against the back of the tub. I kept the cast leg out of the water as the doctor had suggested, which was the only part of me that wasn’t immersed in utter bliss.

      The bathtub moved up to the top of my Best Things About Being Human list. I’d be one again for a short time and experience everything I could until they found Ally.

      A sharp pang of guilt pressed against my chest.

      In the short time since leaving the hospital, I’d been so wrapped up in her life that I hadn’t thought of the possibility of the Guard not finding her. And who were those Shadowed that Cooper had spoke about?

      A memory edged into my vision and I leaned Ally’s head back against the porcelain and let it take over.

      Ally sat at the dining room table with her father, David Greene, beaming at her. His golden hair matched her shade and his green eyes sparkled.

      “Seventeen years old… My, how time flies,” he said.

       Ally blew out the candles on her cake and sat back in her chair. “Can I go now?”

       Marie came into the room with plates, forks, and a knife. “It’s chocolate, your favorite.”

      “Yeah, when I was like nine,” Ally said, looking at the cake as if it was covered in maggots.

      David cleared his throat and indicated for Marie to leave the room. When she did, he took a leather book from the chair next to him and held it up to her.

       “Nice gift, Dad,” she said. “You didn’t even have time to wrap it? What else is new?”

       “I know I’ve been gone a lot lately but what I have to tell you will help explain.”

       “I don’t really care why, I just want to go to Heather’s. She at least knows how to throw a party.”

      Ally stood up, but David was quicker. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back down in her seat. His eyes darkened.

      A sharp pain in Ally’s arm immobilized her.

       “You will listen to me. Soon enough your friends won’t even matter, you were meant for so much more.”

      I jolted, splashing water over the side of the tub. The water had become lukewarm. I examined Ally’s wrinkled fingers.

      I shivered at the temperature of the water and the residual memory of David. Pulling out the plug I slid out of the bath and carefully navigated across the slick floor to the small mat in front of the shower. As I wiped her feet, I realized I hadn’t washed her hair. I peeked at the stand-up shower stall and stepped inside, closing the glass doors behind me. A small screen lit up, indicating a few options for the shower. I chose a temperature setting, and lifted the cast up onto the bench large enough for a person to sit comfortably.

      Water streamed down from the shower head, patting against Ally’s head. Each drop of water shattered the tension in Ally’s muscles. I held Ally’s face up against the stream.

      Move down the list, bathtub, shower is number one.

      I played with the settings on the screen until a series of playlists came up. This time I didn’t mind the bumping bass pouring from the speakers and I started to move with the rhythm. I hummed along to the song while shampooing then conditioning Ally’s hair.

      The shower turned off on its own, some energy warning popping up on the screen. I jutted out my lip. “If I’m here tomorrow,” I said to the shower stall, “I’ll definitely be back.”

      Ally’s hair felt smooth against her back, and I shivered as the cool air from outside the stall enveloped her body. I picked up a plush towel from a nearby bench and wrapped it around Ally’s body. I picked up several bottles of lotions, smelling each divine scent. I rubbed the French Lavender one over her smooth skin. I looked around before lifting her arm to her nose and inhaling.

      Amazing.

      I brushed her teeth, giggling as the bubbles from the toothpaste popped in her mouth and wiped the steam from the mirror and backed up, keeping my distance so as not to see myself again. I raked a comb through her hair several times then smoothed her fingers over it.

      Time to check out that closet.

      I opened the door to the bedroom, a cooler breeze dancing across her bare shoulders and legs and padded across the room, until I saw something move at the corner of my eye.

      A figure stood at the window.

      I grabbed the closest thing to me, which happened to be a perfume bottle, and chucked it at the figure.

      “Cooper!” I yelled, raising my arms up in defense.

      The figure caught the bottle and moved closer, revealing his identity.

      “You might want to pick that up,” Cooper said, pointing to the towel.

       Chapter Eight

      “Turn around!” I yelled and reached for the fallen towel, pulling

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