Prologue

Cassie yawned and raised one arm from the steering wheel to scratch her head. She was trying not to speed, but it was almost two in the morning and she was anxious to get home.

Mom's going to freak about me driving alone on this road at this hour, she thought. Someone had been killed on this road just a week ago when they'd hit a moose.

Not that me driving with someone else would help if two thousand pounds of moose dropped on my hood.

She could see lights approaching from around the bend and dimmed her high beams. The approaching car didn't.

Are you trying to blind me? Pay attention, buddy! Another car approaching!

She flicked her lights as she rounded the curve.

Jesus, you're awful far into my lane.
My lane! Oh my God!

She slammed on the horn and wrenched the steering wheel to the right as far as she could.

You're asleep at the wheel! Too late! I'm too late! No! No!

There was a squeal of metal hitting metal and a crunch.

White. Black.

***

Pain. I feel so heavy.
This room is white.
Are my eyes open or closed?
It hurts.
Who are these people?
Black. Pain.

***

Someone is talking.

"...can't ever be sure in situations like this, Mary."

"But she's so young! Oh, I know it doesn't matter but I can't--I just can't--"

Mom!
Why is she crying?
I should stay quiet. I don't want her to know I hear her crying.
Why does it hurt?

***

"Mmm-Mom?" The word came out as a whisper. She was sitting off to the side in a chair, her head back but she wasn't asleep. She didn't look like she'd been sleeping much. She started at the sound though, and her eyes widened.

"Cassie!"

Cassie tried to sit up but found her body wouldn't obey her.

"Don't try to move, honey. They've got you hooked up to a whole bunch of machines."

"--happened?" It was hard to move her mouth, even. And the room was full of people. Some were in hospital gowns. One man had his back to her, bare ass to the wind. Cassie tried not to stare.

"There was an accident honey. But you're going to be fine. I'll get the doctor. You -- you wait here." She got up and hurried to the door, glancing back over her shoulder every few feet.

One old lady in an ugly brown shirt leaned in over the bed, getting a closer look. Cassie tried to flinch away, but her body wouldn't obey. The woman chuckled and moved away.

"Never looked that bad when it was me," she said as she went. She didn't seem to be talking to anyone. Someone else moved into her place. This was a little girl.

Mom was back at her bedside. She took Cassie's hand as best she could. That was difficult with the IV tube in the way.

"The doctor will be here in a minute," she said.

"Mom --" Cassie took a deep breath. "Could you -- get -- these people away?" she managed.

Her mother frowned. "What people sweetie?"

"All the people." Cassie replied. There was a ringing in her ears, and she felt very tired. The girl was reaching out a hand for her face and she couldn't move away. She twitched her head desperately.

"I'm the only one here, sweetie," her mother said, as the girl's hand touched her face and passed through it. Cassie felt nothing.

She began to cry.

***

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