Chapter 16 · Dropped Into Witch Academy at Midnight - Chapter 16: The Second Heartbeat

I can't breathe. The flatline screech from the defibrillator is drilling into my skull and Cassandra's arms are the only thing keeping me upright. Her breath is cold against my neck. Everything smells like dust and copper and something rotten I can't name.

"Alex." Her voice cracks. I've never heard her sound like that. "Stay with me."

I try. I really do. But the heartbeat under the altar is syncing with mine now and it feels like something's trying to crawl up through my ribs. The defibrillator's screen flickers. Two hundred joules. Charging.

"Turn it off." Vivienne's voice cuts through the noise. She's on her knees by the altar, hands pressed flat against the stone. "Whatever that thing is doing to her, turn it off."

Cassandra's grip tightens. "I don't know how."

"You're the instructor, figure it out!"

The heartbeat gets louder. Slower. Like it's waiting for something. The defibrillator hits full charge and I feel it humming against my chest through my shirt. Oh hell. Oh no.

"Everyone back," I gasp. "If this thing goes off—"

"I'm not letting go." Cassandra pulls me tighter against her.