Page 78 of Crush

Facedown.

Fuck. Swinging around, I grab Coach by the lapels. “Stop the clock!”

“What? Get your hands off me, son—”

I push off him and dive into the pool.

The swimmer closest to me nearly T-bones my side, but I dolphin kick a few feet deeper, crossing the lanes until I reach Ember.

Breaching the surface, I quickly roll her over. “Ember. Ember, wake up.”

Her body lolls in my grip, limp and docile.

I put her into a lifeguard’s hold and swim us back to the side, lifting the lane dividers so they don’t hit her. My heart slams against my ribs, my hearing all but buckling against my raging pulse.

They better not have killed her. I will raze this fucking school until I find and kill every one of them.

Albright meets me, squatting to grab under Ember’s arms and help drag her out of the pool. More adults scurry to our area, one on-site EMS guy carrying his emergency bag and scrambling to get to us through the wandering panic of those crowding the pool deck.

He’s too far back. I push out of the water and fall to my knees beside Ember’s prone body, my palms pressing against her sternum.

Through the ringing in my ears, I start compressions.

32

Ember

Muffled voices bring me out of the darkness and into blinding light.

“She’s not a threat!”

“That girl is too curious, which is dangerous enough.”

“You can’t treat her like this. You almost killed her! She won’t pursue this any further, I swear it.”

“And how will you ensure it? Your daughter knows too much, and she’s manipulating my boy in ways I thought impossible.”

“Then disqualify her as a Virtue. She doesn’t belong in the Societies. Her actions thus far prove it. Let her go, and she won’t be a problem for you anymore.”

“Why would I offer her freedom? No. She will become even more of an issue if I release her, just like the other girl.”

Squinting, I roll to my side, but something cold and plastic tightens against my arm.

“Don’t move too fast, Miss Weatherby. Your body’s been through quite a trauma.”

I don’t recognize the soft, accented voice. Not immediately.

Light pressure coaxes me back into position. I moan.

“You must have a terrible headache,” the soothing, light voice continues. A warm hand presses against my forehead. “It’ll pass in time.”

I mumble, “Drugs.”

“You’re not allowed anything for the pain. You’ll have to wait until you see the doctor next, I’m afraid.”

“No. Damion Briar. Has drugs.”

Fingers stiffen against my skull before pulling away. “Ember, dear. Open your eyes.”