Ambrosia yawned, pulling her arms back and rubbing her face in morning fatigue. Remembering the situation that had taken place the previous day Ambrosia propped herself up hastily.

Ivy was not in the room at all.

Ambrosia shoved the covers off her body and ran to the bedroom door pulling frantically at the door handle.

It was locked. The door handle had been switched around while she was sleeping.

Ambrosia pounded on the door and began to shout and was given no answers to her cries. The young woman dashed toward her bed flipping her pillows and clothes in a desperate attempt to find her phone.

Maybe it's on my dresser.

Books and bottles went flying pelting the floor around her.

No, maybe it's in the bathroom.

Towels and clothes went up into the air.

Damn, where is it?!

No one else was in my room last night except....except, IVY!

Ambrosia returned to the door once again and fought with the constraints of the man-made divider.

"Ivy, Ivy let me out, Ivy I need to get out you can't do this Ivy, listen to me IVY!"

Ambrosia cried out in both desperation and an unrecognizable amount of fury. Ambrosia screamed for her release louder and louder until her voice had relinquished its power.

Something was wrong with her. A disgusting pain cut through her chest like a burst of venom, stinging her throat.

Ambrosia stumbled awkwardly into the bathroom her hands shaking violently and her back curved over as she felt something, maybe the symptoms of fear, stir her stomach and force whatever air she had in her lungs out. She collapsed by the toilet, panic devouring her she released the contents in her stomach and let in a single extended breath.

From the right side of her, Ambrosia could hear the soft mumbling of two people and she eagerly dragged herself over to the wall to strain her hearing.

"No, she must give us the property."

A low muffled voice could be heard but too difficult for her to distinguish.

"I know but how will we get it?"

The second voice was soft and wavering; the end word was faded like a whisper to the next.

It was Ivy.

"We kill her and it's done little one."

Ambrosia sat frozen as she heard from beyond her little sister let out a whimpering noise—no a moan.

"You-just stop, y-you said last time was it."

Ambrosia's eyes widened.

What the hell was going on?

"Don't start with that shit, come now."

Was that one of the other alleged cops...Avril?!

Ambrosia thrust her fist onto the wall and screamed Ivy's name causing the commotion between the two bodies to stop their scuffling.

"Let me just get her water," Ivy whispered.

"When I'm done."

There was a distasteful grunt and Ambrosia left her eavesdropping spot to hurl again into the toilet. Consumed by hopelessness Ambrosia forced herself out of the bathroom and fell back to a chair nested by her window on the far end of her room.

Pulling the silver curtain from the opening Ambrosia realized the windows were boarded and her heart plummeted.

She sat and looking through the cracks of light with thoughts of confusion and speculation rushing at her in all directions.

Avril was indeed not an investigator, a cop, or anything pertaining to a law enforcement agent.

He had orchestrated this whole thing and of course, I was stupid enough to trust him.

The cocaine dealings, the trade was all going on here, in summer?

Oh, but how Ambrosia recalled that Ivy had given her Avril's number, he was predestined, pre-plucked from Ivy's hand. No, she couldn't think that way about her sister.

It couldn't be.

Could it?

Could Ivy had constructed all of this? Could she have known Mr. Avril from before....before that summer?

Ambrosia closed her eyes and felt the gentle drops of tears fall onto her hands.

Now that our father is dead the residence goes to...me.

A small creak from the door caused Ambrosia to jolt in surprise. Ivy's small face appeared from the opening and she stood on the threshold of the room. In her shaky hand was a glass of water which she placed on the floor inches beyond the barrier.

"Ivy..."

Ambrosia's question was molded into a look of pity as she watched her sister rub her all hands nervously down a loose silk nightgown. Nothing that she had ever seen her wear before.

Her body, unbeknown to Ambrosia was already taking the form of a woman. Her slim long brown arms were covered in small dark welts, and her sleepy eyes look cloudy of melancholy.

Ivy refused to look at her face and kept her chin tilted to the left.

"There's no turning back from what I've done Ambrosia..."

"What have you done, Ivy, tell me please!"

Ambrosia stood up and took sharp strides to the door but as a frightened young fox Ivy retreated back with the door handle in her hand and shut it with a slam.

Ambrosia picked up her water and stood dumbfounded at the door, she took a sip and another sip.

Two sips too much for in due time Ambrosia's body swayed like a shadow cast on a busy stream. Rolling and rocking on the river to lull her to sleep once more.

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