*Ashley’s POV*

“Can you not go any faster CC?!”

“Ashley. Calm down. You had a go at Krystal and she’s distraught, don’t go doing the same to CC” I didn’t realise I was that nasty... I didn’t mean it. Myah always snapped me back to harsh reality.

“I suppose I should ring Andy and tell him to keep an eye on her till we get back... I didn’t mean to get angry, but she’s going to make herself ill, Myah.”


“Well, it’s a good thing you rung Brennan again and told him that she had already taken the IV out, or we wouldn’t be able to fix this mess. It was a mistake. She’s tired, worn out and she’s been through a lot. She probably just got fed up and sick of needles being jabbed in her. You just need to be a bit more consi-“

“Hello? Andy – yeah it’s Ash. We’re on our way back.”

“Already?”

“Yeah, we need to get Krystal to an Emergency room, and fast.”

“Uh, dude. She left.”

“What the fuck do you mean, she left?” I shot Myah a worried look.

“She told us she was taking a bike and going out.”

“A bike?”

“Yeah, no. Um- well we were playing a game. I didn’t listen to details.”

“WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU L-“

Myah snatched the phone from me.

“Andy, listen carefully. Krystal took her drip out just before we left. Ashley shouted at her and she got upset. She needs the meds that were in that IV. We thought the drip only had fluids in it to keep her hydrated but it also had meds in it that would fight off infection from her op, and it has glucose in it to keep her veins opened up really wide so that the blood flow to her heart isn’t impaired. Without the full intake of that, well. Her veins will close up to normal size, and the blood won’t be able to pass to the heart because of the swelling from the op. She still had about another 8 hours worth of meds in that drip. She needs us and she needs us now. You and Craig get in your car and go to Whisky a Go Go; we will get Jinxx’s car to go to the shops not far from here and search WalMart etc and we’ll go to the apartment. Ok?”

She went silent for a few seconds.

“Look, Andy, it’s happened. It’ll be ok. Just go and find her.” She hung up. “You got that CC? Go to their apartment.”

“Way ahead of you. I changed course as soon as you said it to Andy. Good job I went to pick up the lads stuff yesterday, eh?”

The whole journey I was panicking. We already had a text from Andy telling us that she wasn’t at Whisky a Go Go. Jake had found a quicker way of seeing if she was at WalMart or any of the stores, by going to every store’s customer kiosk and getting the assistant to put a call out “Krystal Cassidy please come to main reception.” She didn’t turn up. But it wasn’t long before we discovered where she was.
As we pulled up outside the apartment, I clocked on that one of my Harleys was out front. I didn’t even wait for CC to stop the car fully before I flew the door open and jumped out, sprinting to the apartment door. I could hear what sounded like Evanescence blaring... Like proper loud. We were going to bust the door in, but then Andy and Craig turned up. Craig unlocked the door and we were greeted by a pile of clothes, a load of smashed glass and a trail of blood.

“What the fuck. KRYSTAL!” I tried calling to her but got nothing...

“She must’ve smashed the mirror.” Craig looked puzzled. “I don’t understand.”

“There’s more broken glass in here guys” Abi shouted from the kitchen.

“I can hardly hear myself think! Ashley, Andy... Go and turn the music off. Craig, check living area with CC. Me and Abi will start checking the bathroom and bedrooms.” Myah had a really cool head on. I’m not going to lie - I was freaking out big time. I ran after the trail of blood. It faded down to nothing so we just ran towards the source of the music. It was entirely my fault. She left because I shouted at her.

I wasn’t really prepared for what we walked into. I didn’t know what to do. She was on the floor in nothing but her panties and bra – outstretched towards her phone that was lying on the ground. She needed me and I wasn’t here. I can’t see her moving. She’s not breathing! Andy checked her pulse. He looked at me and shook his head.

“NO!” I fell to the ground, shaking and crying. She’s dead. The love of my life is dead! “DO SOMETHING! PLEASE!” I begged as I backed up into the corner just staring at her lifeless body. I was rocking to and fro when Myah came in and switched the music off. I heard Abi shriek as she slumped to the ground just outside of the bedroom door. I had caused this. It was all my fault.

“CC, call an ambulance,”

“NO!” I looked up at Myah. “We’re driving her.” I walked up to Krystal’s body, wrapped her in a bed sheet to cover up her mostly naked body, and carried her down to my car. Her body was so limp and cold. Heck – I was cold. She was gone. We had lost her. I was practically dead. Emotionally I was numb. Physically, I did nothing but ache...

I was standing beside the car door waiting for CC to open it.

“Oh my God! CC She isn’t dead! Look!” The glass of the window was steaming up. It was only a miniscule amount, but she was breathing. Very VERY shallow breaths, but she’s alive! I laid her in the car, got in and sat down to reposition her so her head was on my lap and not a moment quick enough, we arrived at the ER.