Chapter Text
Whenever Katie looks over, she expects to see Sadie right there. That's how it's been as long as she can remember. Yet she needs Sadie more than ever... And Sadie isn't there.
It's been a few days since Sadie had become the third victim. Katie knows she's not the only one having a hard time with this. She's aware others are struggling. Yet none of them understand how Katie feels. Sadie had been her sister. Her other half. Her past, present, and future. They did everything together and were going to. Now it's gone. How can she possibly live a life without Sadie by her side? She should've held Sadie's hand. She should've stayed by her in those final moments. Those thoughts circulate through her head almost constantly.
Katie feels eyes on her. She knows the others are watching as she sits with her back turned to them. She feels like they're judging her unkept, unstyled hair. Her gray clothing. The way she hasn't spoken in days. How she's only picked at whatever food has been given to her.
Katie glances back only slightly to see Heather speaking to someone out of her peripheral vision. In the week that Katie has known her, Heather has proven to be not the nicest person. She always mutters things under her breath, rolls her eyes, and picks arguments with the others. Yet she manages to stay away from Katie... At least now.
Katie's eyes travel to Heather's arms. The scratches seem to be healing and Katie feels slight relief alongside her guilt. She knows Heather had only been doing what she believed was right as she'd dragged Katie away from Sadie's body. Katie had kicked and screamed and fought. She dug her nails into Heather's arms. Now Heather isn't talking to her and Katie doesn't blame her.
Katie feels a presence beside her. She turns her head to see Bridgette there. This isn't the first time Bridgette has tried talking to her.
"How are you feeling?" Bridgette asks. Her tone is gentle.
'Incomplete without her.' Katie thinks to herself, yet she doesn't utter a word.
Bridgette seems to be able to read Katie's thoughts as she speaks. "I can't imagine how you feel right now. You were so close to her. But shutting yourself out like this..." Bridgette is about to put a hand on Katie's shoulder, but retreats it, worried about overstepping boundaries. "Everyone is worried about you. I know you don't believe it right now, but things can get better for you. You just have to let them."
Katie still doesn't reply. She's not sure how to. Something inside her knows Bridgette is right. She watches as Bridgette walks away. She then turns to look at her own hands covered in scabs and scratches from the worst night of her life. Even though her hands had ached, she couldn't stop picking every flower in sight and placing it on Sadie's still form. Sadie had always loved flowers. Peonies were her favorite.
Just as that thought comes to mind, Katie looks down to see a peony in the dirt before her. The sun gracefully reflects off the pink petals. Then there's another one just a foot away from it. As Katie looks around, she realizes she's surrounded in a ring of peonies. Were they there before? Katie isn't sure. She lets her fingers grace the petals. The lovely scent lets her mind drift back to simpler times before islands and competitions and death... That's where her mind wants to stay.