by Lee Strauss
Zed shook his head. “The dream is like a closing lens of a camera. The more time that passes the less I remember.”
“You walked a long way,” I said. “Our building is at least five miles away.”
“I wasn’t at our place. I was with Eliza.”
It was like he summoned her when he mentioned her name.
“Zed! Zed!” Eliza’s voice pierced the calm of dawn. She appeared almost as if out of nowhere. “Zed, are you all right?”
Zed nodded and reached for her hand. I wanted to karate chop their hold, keep Eliza from touching my best friend. Zed made soft noises of reassurances, and told her he was okay. Sage looked concerned but not freaked out.
I was freaked out.
“Thanks so much for coming for him,” Eliza said. “I had the dream, too, but I wouldn’t have made it on time.”
I couldn’t focus on what she was saying. I could only stare at her eyes. They were bright yellow, like the eyes of the observer in my dreams.
43

Sage
For the second night in a row Marlow and I were walking behind Zed and Eliza as they clung to each other after a near miss on the canal. Were we going to be racing to the canal every night now to save the next victim?
“Do you notice anything strange about Eliza tonight?” Marlow asked in a low voice.
“Is there anything not strange about her these days?”
“I mean in the way she looks tonight?”
“I did notice she’s wearing make up, and those clothes aren’t the result of choosing something to wear when you’re in an urgent hurry. And her hair is loose. She always wears it back.”
“I noticed that too,” Marlow said, “but what about her eyes?”
“Just the makeup. Why?”
“They looked yellow to me.”
I grabbed his arm. “Like the observer in our dreams?”
He nodded solemnly. “Yeah.”
“Why aren’t her eyes yellow to me? I see the observer too.”
Marlow rubbed his jaw. “My eyesight seems to have gotten a lot better since I had them lasered in the green world. In that world, you also had them done. Sage, when you dream, you sometimes tap into the version of you from the green world, which could explain why you see the yellow eyes of the observer in your dreams.”
I stared up at him. “Are my eyes yellow to you?”
He squinted. “No. Neither are Zed’s. That’s what I don’t understand. Only Eliza’s.”
“Do you think she’s the one behind all of this?”
“I can’t see how, but we can’t rule her out.” Marlow jogged ahead to catch up to Zed and Eliza.
“Hey, Marlow,” I called after him. “We drove, remember?”
He waved to let me know he heard me. I jogged to catch up to him.
“Zed, you should come back to the dorm with me,” Marlow said. “You really need to rest up.”
I knew what Marlow was doing. He wanted to get him away from Eliza.
“I agree with Marlow,” I added. “Rest is what we all need. Eliza, you don’t mind if Marlow takes Zed back to their dorm? He’s going to miss his classes today too.”
“Hey, Eliza,” Zed said. “I think they’re right. I’m really tired, and I just need my own bed.”
“Of course,” Eliza said. “Call me when you wake up.” She flashed Marlow and me a forced smile. “Take care of him for me.”
“We will,” I assured her.
The drive back to Marlow and Zed’s dorm was tense. Marlow didn’t waste anytime pleading his case to Zed.
Marlow twisted to look at Zed in the back seat. “You know the list of suspects Sage and I created? Of all the people who could be involved and responsible for this wave of “suicides” by drowning?”
“Yeah?”
“Eliza’s now on the list.”
“What?”
“Her eyes were yellow tonight, like the observer in my dreams.”
“Dude, her eyes weren’t yellow.”
“They were to me. I’m tellingou, there’s something off with her.”
“Sounds like there’s something off with you. Are you jealous or something? Because your date with that Dakota chick went south?”
My eyes cut to Marlow at that comment. He caught me looking and shifted uncomfortably.
“This has nothing to do with me. Something’s off with Eliza. I’m just saying you should take a break. Besides, she’s messing around on you and… ”
“She has yellow eyes,” Zed finished for him. “Forget it, Marlow. I like her. Thanks for saving my life, but I’m not breaking up with her.”
I liked to work on mathematics when stressed, and my stress levels right now were sky high. I had my hair tied back to keep it out of my face and my glasses on as I hunched over my desk. I loved the sound of my pencil scratching. Line after line of numbers and symbols, page after page. The equation wouldn’t make a lot of sense to most people, but I was excited. I knew I was on to something big, I just had to keep working. And the longer I worked on this math problem the longer I could escape thinking about my real problems.
“Are you okay over there?”
Nora’s voice broke my concentration. I dropped my pencil and massaged the cramp that forming in my right hand.
“Huh?”
“If you’re not careful, you’re going to set your notebook on fire.”
“Sometimes I get into the zone.”
Nora raised a single ginger eyebrow. “You’re a geek.”
“And proud of it.”
“What are you working on anyway?” Nora was brushing her hair. She said it helped to calm her waves and make it shine. “Did I miss an assignment?”
“No. This is my own project I’m doing on the side.”
“Oh my God, you are a geek!”
I was beginning to feel annoyed. “Yes, we’ve established that.”
Nora put down her brush and changed her blouse. “So what’s your own project?”
“I’m not ready to talk about it.”
“A secret project, how CIA of you.” She fixed her narrow gaze on me. “You’ve been acting strange lately, Sage. Secretive, if I do say so. Have you joined the CIA?”
I was tempted to throw my pencil at her. “No, don’t be absurd. And even if I had, I couldn’t tell you.”
“Or you’d have to kill me, I get it.”
“When did you say you were meeting Jake?”
“Relax, Agent Farrell. I’m leaving now.” She grabbed her purse and car keys and left. I was glad I’d gotten back with her car before she noticed it was gone. I’d hate to have to explain that.
I loved solitude and felt like I could finally breathe. I inhaled deeply and threw myself back into my equation. Moments later my phone pinged. I debated ignoring it, but whoever it was would probably just keep texting if I didn’t answer.
Marlow: Just checking in. You okay?
Me: I’m fine. You?
I waited on his response but a text from Tristan came in next.
Tristan: I’m sorry. Please forgive me.
Marlow: I’m fine too. I just wish we could get to the bottom of this.
Tristan: Sage? I miss you.
Me to Marlow: Me too. Next time we might be too late.
Marlow: I really don’t want anyone else to die.
Me: Agreed.
Tristan: I know you’re home. I just ran into Nora.
Me to Tristan: Yes, I’m home. I’m ignoring you.
Tristan: We’re still together, right? You’re still my girl.
Marlow: Call me anytime, day or night, if something comes up.
Me: I will.
Tristan: Okay. I see you need more time. I’ll call tomorrow.
I put my phone down, ready to keep working, when it pinged again. I sighed. Tristan was like a dog with a bone. My natural curiosity kept me from ignoring it. But it wasn’t Tristan.
Eliza: You’ve really upset her. Take this as a warning and watch your bac
k.
44

Zed
Zed felt like he had an ant farm burrowing under his skin. His heart palpitated and his pulse surged every time he thought about Eliza, and Marlow’s ridiculous accusations. His agitation grew with his outrage. Marlow pretended to study from his bed on the other side of the room, but Zed knew he was watching him.
He jumped to his feet and bounded for the door.
“Where are you going?” Marlow asked.
Zed snarled. “None of your business.”
He knew Marlow didn’t want him to see Eliza, but she wasn’t the villain here. She was sweet and kind and she liked him. Him. Zed had never had a real girlfriend before and he hated how Marlow was ruining things for him. Marlow was just jealous because his infatuation with Sage Farrell would never go anywhere. Girls like Sage didn’t date guys like them.
Eliza was different. She wasn’t hung up on looks or class or a person’s past. She lived in the here and now. What you saw was what you got. Zed loved that about her.
Zed just needed to walk off some steam, clear his head. What the hell had happened last night? He couldn’t believe he’d been sleepwalking and that he’d almost gotten to the dock. He sighed as he acknowledged that he had Marlow to thank for stopping him. And Sage.
Zed didn’t know how they knew where he was and that he needed to be stopped. Something about premonitory dreams they shared. They had insight that Zed didn’t have. He sighed loudly. As much as he hated to admit it, he had to take their opinions into consideration, even if it meant they might be right about Eliza.
He hadn’t been paying attention to where he was going and found himself in the middle of the most popular park in Detroit University. The lawns were filled with students studying under the shade of various trees, and sitting in circles drinking coffee. There were even a few guitars out, their players strumming old folk tunes.
He spotted Eliza. Her hair was loose, a golden globe of curls. She was walking with a guy Zed didn’t know, her arm threaded through his. Zed’s heart sunk, his face flushing with a wave of jealousy. She was looking up at the guy and the sunlight sparkled off the jewelled stud in her nose.
He called for her. “Eliza!”
There was enough noise in the park to cover his voice, but Zed didn’t believe she hadn’t heard him.
He had a sinking feeling that he knew why she wouldn’t respond. He swallowed and called out again, “Lizzy!”
Eliza stopped and turned around, her eyes locking on his. “Yes?”
45

Marlow
I got a text from Zed asking me to meet him at Harvey’s at eight. I’d take that as a sign that he no longer hated me, except that he was twenty minutes late. I nodded at Morgue, the bouncer, as I entered and he gave me a subtle nod of recognition in return. My eyes adjusted to the darkened room as I approached the bar. I ordered a beer and claimed a bar stool.
“Do you play pool?”
I spun toward the female voice. “Dakota?” I couldn’t stop the side of my mouth from tugging up into a grin. She wore a peasant blouse, skinny jeans and leather sandals. A sparkly barrette pinned her pink fringe off her face. She tilted her head and widened her eyes in a playful manner, holding a pool cue my way, daring me.
“Yup,” I said.
I accepted the proffered cue and followed her to an empty table. I grabbed the chalk and rubbed the tip of my cue.
Dakota set up the rack, the eight ball in the middle and a solid and a stripe ball in each of the corners of the inverted triangle. She had the confidence of someone who knew what she was doing. I had the feeling she’d give me a run for my money.
“I invited you, so you can break,” she said.
“No, please,” I waved to the short end of the table. “Ladies first.”
She grinned wryly. “If you insist.”
I regretted my chivalry immediately. She pocketed the red stripe ball into the right middle pocket. She went on to pocket three more striped balls before missing a shot. I kind of wondered if she did it on purpose, just to give me a chance.
“You didn’t tell me you were a beginner,” I said.
She laughed. “We have a pool table in our basement.”
I pocketed two solids before missing my shot.
“That explains things, then,” I said. “Don’t hold back on my account.”
“Are you sure?”
I tilted my head playfully. “We didn’t bet any money, did we?”
“I wouldn’t shark you, Marlow.”
“So, you admit to being a shark?”
She winked. “A girl has to make money somehow.”
“Then show me what you got.” I looked forward to my free show. She didn’t disappoint. She expertly pocketed every last stripe ball and then finally the black eight ball. It was a stunning display. I broke out in applause.
“If you ever want to team up,” I joked. “I’ll be your lure.”
She shot me a wry look. “I may take you up on that.”
“Marlow!”
I turned toward Zed’s voice. Forty-five minutes late. “Hey, man,” I said. He looked flustered and dishevelled. “Hey, Dakota, I need to… ”
She waved me off. “Go ahead.”
I smiled sincerely at her. “Thanks for the game.”
Zed and I sat at the bar. He ordered his first beer and I requested my second. “What’s up?” I asked. “You look upset.”
“I am. I’ve been walking around campus, wondering what I should do. I almost didn’t come.”
“Why?”
Zed rubbed his forehead vigorously like he was trying to erase a memory. “Because I don’t want to believe it.”
“Believe what?”
He glanced at me before dropping his chin. “I think you’re right. I think Eliza is involved somehow.”
The beers arrived and Zed gulped half his down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
I took a small sip, then asked, “What happened, Zed?”
“I caught her with another guy, just walking around like she was the queen of the world. Her curls were loose and floating around in the breeze. I followed them and her voice carried. She was laughing and flirting. It made me sick to see it, Marlow.”
I just nodded and waited for him to continue.
“I wanted to confront her, so I called out her name. She never even flinched at the sound of my voice. It was like she couldn’t hear me. Then I had a sickening thought. I called for Lizzy, and she turned around at the name.”
My jaw dropped open at that. “What happened next?”
“She gave me a blank stare like she really didn’t know who I was. The guy she was with asked me what I wanted. I just shook my head and left.”
“Do you think she’s faking it? Is she performing some kind of charade?”
“That’s what I’ve been wrestling with.” Zed gripped my arm and stared hard into my eyes. “I don’t think she’s faking it, Marlow. I think she has a split personality disorder.”
I swallowed hard. “Oh, God. A person with that level of mental illness could be capable of anything.”
Zed’s eyes were red and glassy, and he blinked back tears. “Even murder.”
I pulled out my phone and called Sage. It went straight to voicemail and I left a message. “Sage, Zed thinks Eliza could be dangerous. Be careful and call me back ASAP.”
We finished our beers and silently pondered our new situation. As soon as I heard back from Sage, we’d decide what to do. I didn’t know if we had enough to take to the police, but I didn’t think we had a choice anymore.
I jiggled my right leg nervously, and when Sage didn’t call back, I sent her a text.
Call me! I have news!
“How long ago did you see Eliza?” I asked Zed.
He checked the time on his phone. “About three hours ago.”
Plenty of time for Eliza/Lizzy to do more damage. I called Sage again. Still no answer. No response to my
text. She could be away from her phone, in the shower or have the ringer off while studying in the library. She could’ve forgotten it in her room and went out with Nora or Tristan. There were dozens of reasons why she might not be responding.
My chest tightened and I sighed with frustration. I couldn’t help it. I was worried.
46

Lizzy
Lizzy quickly applied smoky eye shadow to her lids, doubled up on eye-liner and mascara and finished with two smooth strokes of cherry red lipstick.
Another button undone and a spritz of musky body spray and she was ready.
At the last minute she traded her tight miniskirt for a flouncy knee-length one. She was in a hurry, and she wouldn’t need to take it off to get the job done.
Just like she knew he would be, Dr. Parker was waiting for her in his office. His desk was cleared off, except for two glasses filled a quarter way with amber. Whiskey or rum, she wasn’t sure and she didn’t care. It gave her the courage to smile and giggle and seduce. She and the doctor weren’t in love, no, they both knew this was business. He offered to pay her in cash, but she had plenty of that already. What she wanted were prescription drugs, especially the ones he was giving away.
She let her mind roam as the doctor took what he wanted, making sure to play the soundtrack he liked to hear. Moans and groans and husky accolades she didn’t mean. Her thoughts went to other more important things. Like how she was going to finally kill Sage Farrell. God, she hated her.
Dr. Parker finished in record time and left her alone in the room like he always did afterward. She had just enough time to replace the gel pills she’d taken last time—these ones laced with her special mind-altering concoction. She had reason to spend extra time in the chemistry lab. Yes, she wanted to get the highest score in the class, but she also wanted to work on her own experiments. They were going much better than she’d expected.
