Read Online Broken Souls by Beth Ashworth - Free Book Online Page A

knew that it was true when people said that life was too short. She was living proof of that having lost two people closest in her life.
    “ Cara, are you alright?” Marco slurred, noticing the moisture dampening her cheeks.
    Wiping her face, Ashley nodded. “I think I’m going to go to my room. It’s up to you if you want to sleep on the sofa tonight or...” Her eyes drifted to the door of Gabby's room. “I mean, I’m assuming that you are staying over?”
    Understandably, Ashley was feeling a little apprehensive about having Marc o staying in the flat with her. Their relationship over the past few years had never strayed further than a friendly Skype call every few days when he was online with Gabby. And although she had always held a soft spot for him, she was starting to notice that the more time they were spending together, the more her feelings towards him were starting to skew and morph into something more.
    “ I’m going to make some coffee and have a shower. Goodnight,” he replied, watching her carefully.
     
    ~
     
    Ashley choked back a sob as the paramedic lifted Gabby’s body into the back of the ambulance. Gripping onto her best friend’s hand, she tried to fight against the tears that threatened to fall.
    “ You are going to be alright, babe. You are going to be just fine.” She continued to repeat this over and over as she squeezed Gabby’s hand on the way to the hospital. “They are going to help you and you are going to get better.”
    They were greeted by a flurry of people after they arrived at the hospital.
    “ Miss, we need you to step aside so that we can take her out of the ambulance,” a paramedic asked, gesturing towards a seat for her to sit in.
    Ashley hopped out behind the paramedics and followed them into a long , sterile looking hallway that never seemed to end. “ Gabby, I’m right behind you,” she called out, trying her best to keep up with them.
    The wheels on the hospital trolley clacked loudly as the paramedics picked up speed, and started to practically run along the corridor. Ashley felt tightness in her chest as she struggled to keep up with their pace.
    “ I-I can't keep up,” she panted, bending over to catch her breath. She paused for a few seconds before straightening up and looking for the crowd of people and the hospital trolley.
    It was gone.
    “ Gabby?” Her voice sounded suddenly panicked as her steps turned into a sprint. “ Gabby?” She continued to run along the corridor, watching as it continuously extended before her eyes. It was never going to end... they had disappeared, and they had taken her best friend with them.
    “Get out of the way please!”
    Ashley was pushed to the side as another trolley was rushed past her. There was just a thin sheet covering the patient’s body, but the face was left visible. Recognition hit her as she caught glimpses of the young girl whose face and head were bloodied.
    “Issy!” Ashley cried, sinking to her knees as yet another s warm of paramedics disappeared down the long and sterile corridor that didn’t seem to end. They had taken two of the people in the world that she had truly loved. It wasn’t fair... at all.
    Beep. Beep.
    Beep. Beep.
    A blood curdling scream erupted from the back of Ashley's throat. She clutche d her duvet cover as she sat bolt upright and pushed her body back into the headboard. Tremors wracked her body from head to toe as she began to sob uncontrollably.
    It was beginning; she could feel it brewing.
    “No, no, no, no.” She shook her head to try and disperse the thoughts from her mind. She couldn't fall back into the black hole again like last time. She had to try and stay strong. She could fight this... she knew that she could do it.
    Ashley pulled a tissue from the box on the side of her bed and dabbed at her eyes to dry her tears. Sniff ling lightly, she swung her legs from the bed and stood. Placing her hand against her throat, she rubbed gently at the gnawing scratchiness