“Fine, but what about the steady flow of creek water?” Ash gestured upstream. “Shouldn’t that replenish you?”
“The hand I’m creating isn’t made from water alone. It’s made from my being. From the mind of the woman I was.”
“The mind… How’d you end up like this?”
“Many years ago in this clearing there grew plants that could split the mind and body.”
“Hallucinogens?”
“Not quite. These plants, when eaten, allowed me to exit my body and search the bodies of the sick. I could slip between cells, tunnel through arteries, bump against bacteria. I learned how diseases worked, how to cure them. I could seal wounds and oust infections. But not without cost. Every time I ate the plant, it became harder to return to my own body.”
“Why?”
“My body stopped trusting my mind,” Snare said. “Return trips proved exhausting. Destructive, even. Still, I wanted to continue healing those I cared about. Not just for their sake, but because they adored me for it. I loved to be adored.”
Ash knew the feeling. It was why she climbed stages so often. Her fans made her feel like a goddess, and being worshipped by strangers could erase years of self-loathing, if only for the duration of the show.
“So you kept eating the plant?”
“Yes, until my death. But the plant wasn’t what killed me.”
“What did?”
“All you need to know is that I died in this creek. Or rather, my body died. My mind, however, has remained tethered to this spot ever since.”
Ash stared ahead at the rock cliff. It was a lot to take in, and she had a thousand questions. Who was Snare? When had she lived? Had she been murdered? Did that plant still exist? The list went on. But one question above all needed asking.
“My brother’s kid is blind,” she said, eyeing her submerged wrist. “I know it’s a burden, but can you make extra eyes?”
“You’re getting a hand.”
“I know. But the kid’s eight. He’s got his whole life ahead of him. Hopes, dreams, all that shit.”
“You requested a hand and a reason to trust me. I can only give so much.”
“Please, just one eye. Can’t you make—”
Before Ash could finish, her face smashed the surface. Cold, grimy water flooded her mouth, triggering her gag reflex. She forced her lips shut as Snare dragged her under. Her chin struck the creek bed, followed by the rest of her upper body.
She wanted to scream.
Then a surreal warmth swallowed her left arm.
It soothed her. Reassured her. Thrilled her.
She watched bones sprout at the edge of her wrist. Actual white, rigid bones. Not a watery stand-in but the concrete beginnings of her new hand. She couldn’t be sure if this was another preview or the real thing, but she hoped for the latter.
Under filtered moonlight her palm took shape. Tendons launched across bone. Blood vessels wormed around muscle. Skin spread upward from the wrist like a fleshy blanket. It covered the palm, the thumb, the knuck—
Someone grabbed her jacket. Pulled her backward. Toward the surface.
No, not now!
Another pair of hands seized her ankles and tugged.
No, stop!
She thrashed downward, clawing with her unfinished hand. She needed to stay submerged. For a moment she fought the pull with all her strength. Then the creek bed slid against her belly as she was dragged backward by the ankles.
Helpless to stop it, she broke the surface.
Her unfinished hand melted off her wrist.
“No—nooo!”
Icy air slashed her exposed skin. Her wet clothes strangled her upper body. Every movement came with a frigid shock. She rolled onto her back and tried sitting up. Loose water trickled down her sides, soaking her jeans. Her waterlogged ears swished as a jumble of voices called her name.
Then her ears popped.
That voice…
She pushed her hair from her eyes and looked.
Above her stood Cheeto.
40
“You idiot!” Ash tried pushing herself up and her lone hand slipped. She plopped back into the mud. “You’re not supposed to look. You interrupted right when—”
No. She stopped herself. Christ, how much had he seen? How much had he heard? Shivering wet, she hugged herself, making sure to tuck her empty wrist beneath her armpit. The wind burned her as she met his eyes. She didn’t know what to say.
Luckily he went first.
“Ashes?” He wiped his wet hands on his jacket. “The hell are you doing? It’s like you were trying to drown yourself.”
She opened her mouth, but no words came.
In one swift motion he nabbed her forearm and yanked it toward him. She’d never seen him move so fast in all the time she’d known him. His grip was sure and tight, and before she could stop him, he pushed back the sleeve.
The moment he saw the absence, he made a bizarre squealing sound, like something out of a Nickelodeon cartoon. The expression on his face seesawed between bafflement and horror. He tilted her wrist toward the light shining from nearby. Ash suddenly realized Berke was standing behind her with a flashlight. Under its beam her empty forearm glistened.
With a cautious finger, Cheeto touched the stump.
Her flesh shuddered, along with the rest of her.
She ripped her arm free. “Fuck off. I’m in middle of something. Now shut your eyes. You too, Berke.”
“Ashes,” Cheeto said, breathless, “what happened?”
Berke pulled him aside. “Just close your eyes, okay?”
Shivering, Ash crawled to the bend and lifted her phone from the mud. She wiped the screen and shined it over the water. Her water-twin reappeared.
Before she could ask for another go, the strangest shit happened. Water droplets raced down her forehead. They felt like ants crawling along her flesh. Within seconds her face, hair, and clothes were dry. The moisture flowed away with purpose and determination, flushing down her legs like accelerated sweat. It puddled beneath her knees before rolling back into the stream.
“Thanks,” she said, awestruck. “Now how about my hand?”
“How about no.” The voice sounded from the nearby thicket. Branches brushed and crackled. Frazzled blond hair emerged. Candace. In her right hand was a polished black pistol. For a moment she surveyed the clearing, squinting with fury. When she spotted Ash, she aimed the gun. “Get away from there. Now!”
Ash went numb. She’d never had a weapon pointed at her before. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think straight.
“Leave her alone!” Cheeto shouted from across the clearing. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“An underwear model,” Candace deadpanned. “You’re the singer, right? Cheesy? You being here, that’s a problem.”
“Same with you gunning for Ash. Point that shit elsewhere.”
“Careful what you wish for.” Candace looked at Ash. “Show’s over. Get away from the creek.” She strode over to Ash, gun aimed at her heart.
“C-Candace,” Ash said. She could barely talk with the gun focused on her. Her body felt floaty. “Please. I’m just—”
“Putting lives at risk? Why, yes—yes you are.” Candace snatched Ash’s elbow and dragged her along. “Don’t think you’re getting off easy this time.”