Free Dying Forever (Waking Forever Book 3) by Heather McVea Page B

high-pitched cackle echoing off the tile. “It’s just us girls.”
    Practically ripping the phone receiver out of the wall, Alison spun around to face Christine. Campus police. What’s your emergency?
    Mouth open, and eyes wide, Alison stared at the empty shower stalls. The only exit was where Alison now stood, and yet Christine was gone. Hello, is anyone there? The operator’s voice broke through Alison’s shock.
    Alison cleared her throat. “My mistake. Sorry.” A series of clicks and Alison was standing, alone, with the black phon e receiver clutched in her hand. The only sound was the running water coming from the shower she had exited moments before.
    Her hand shaking , Alison missed the receiver handle on her first attempt to hang the phone up, and only managed on her second try by using both hands. Clutching the blue towel to her, Alison took two tentative steps forward. “Hello?”
    Her voice sounded hollow as she slowly walked back toward the shower stall. Her shoulders ached from tension, and her legs trembled as adrenaline continued to course through her. She knew the woman could still be in one of the stalls and simply crouching behind a divider wall.
    I should have had the police come anyway, Alison thought. But she knew she would have a hard time explaining what had happened, and the last thing she needed was rumors going around campus about the professor who went around the bend in the showers.
    The first two stalls were empty, as was the one Alison had occupied. Turning the water off, Alison felt sour bile rising to the back of her throat as she nervously peered over the dividing wall into another empty shower stall.
    With only one stall left, Alison stepped around the tile wall and into the adjacent stall. Summoning her courage, her heart pounding in her ears, she leaned over to find the stall as empty as the other four.
    Stepping out into the walkway, Alison felt numb. She gathered her belongings from the shower and walked back into the main locker room. Sitting on one of the metal benches that lined the wall near her locker, Alison stared blankly at the floor. I’m having a breakdown. Or some late onset schizophrenia.
    Just as she was resolving to see a therapist, several swimsuit clad women rounded the corner . To Alison’s dismay, one of them was Bryce. She was rattled enough without having to act cool with the beautiful redhead.
    “Oh, Alison, I didn’t know you were still here.” Bryce’s tone was casual as she stood next to a slouching Alison.
    Wiping at her face, Alison’s pride pulled her up off the bench. “Just wrapping up.” Her throat was tight, and she suddenly had an overwhelming urge to sob uncontrollably. Tur ning her back to Bryce, Alison began fumbling with her combination lock. “Shit!” Her frustration surged and she slammed the lock against the locker.
    A cool hand wrapped around Alison’s and gently turned the anxious woman around. “Are you okay?” Bryce looked at Alison, her green eyes full of concern. “Do you need something?”
    The question, along with the intensity of Bryce’s stare, caught Alison off -guard and it was several seconds before she could speak. “I’m - I’m okay, thanks.” She slowly pulled her hand free of Bryce’s.
    The two women stood staring at each other, Bryce in her swimsuit and Alison wrapped in a towel. Suddenly, and without warning, longing rippled through Alison, and she thought she might sink from the burden of it.
    “You look - upset.” Bryce had taken a step toward Alison, and her voice was low.
    When did she get so close? A swirling had started in Alison’s stomach that was threatening to spin out of control with the nearness of Bryce. “It’s -”
    “There you are.” Sylvia’s voice charged into the tight space between Bryce and Alison, breaking the moment, and slamming Alison back to earth.
    Bryce blinked, and smiling , turned toward her classmate. “Yes, here I am.”
    “Still up for a drink?” Sylvia opened