Page 93 of Ash and Poison

Taking Riley’s letters out of my bag, I read them again and again until I fell asleep, her words marked on my skin.

I dreamed of the man in the woods, his horns twisted up until it cut the skies.

He told me to shut up when I cried.

I screamed louder.

The next morning, I opened the cottage door and cursed when I saw a dead rat sitting on my front step.

Declan was back with a dead rodent.

“So original,” I muttered.

I tore a note off and quickly scribbled, “This is childish for both of us, Dex.”

I pinned the note on the rat’s tail, left it there for Declan, and walked toward Hollowhaven.

Asher was already waiting for me. He handed me a sandwich when I walked in.

“Thank you,” I said. “Get ready. We’re going to Duskwood Park.”

“Today?” he asked, looking curious. “Now?”

“Yes. I’ll be back in a few.”

I walked to Doctor Stanley’s office after I finished my coffee and sandwich.

“Yes, Doctor Sharma?”

“Doctor Stanley, I’m thinking about taking Asher Maddox outside the hospital. I want to know your opinion?”

“Asher is stable, and not a risk, but do you think he can cope with the outside world already?”

“I think it’s time. He’s been responding well to the sessions, and like you said, he is stable enough for the next step. EMDR is helping, but I think he needs exposure. He needs to get out in the real world.”

“EMDR has its limits. He might not be ready to face everything,” Doctor Stanley said, tapping his pen against his file. “But you’re his doctor, and you know him the best.” Doctor Stanley paused, crossing his arms. “You’re confident this will work?”

I nodded.

“Then do what you think is right for him.”

Thanking the doctor, I went straight to my office. I filled out the patient release form, and filed it. If it was NY, I would have to jump through a lot of hoops for this, but Hollowhaven was not St. Anthony’s.

After informing Becca and delegating my sessions to Camille, I went in search of Asher, and found him sitting next to Millie, talking. Millie stopped when she saw me; gave me a half wave. She seemed comfortable with him, and it looked like she had already forgotten about what happened yesterday.

“Are you ready for an adventure?” I motioned him to follow me.

Shelly stopped us when we were by the door. “Doctor Sharma, do you need any help? You can take someone with you if you—”

“I’ll be fine,” I said, patting my bag, and she gave me an understanding smile as we walked away.

When we were finally in my car, Asher turned to look at me with a frown. “The bag… why did you show Shelly your bag?”

I pulled out the syringe with one hand. “Sleep medication. It’s the procedure.”

After an hour and half of driving, we were finally at the park. There was an old signboard that said the area was off-limits and trespassers will be punished.

Parking the car well out of range of sight, we entered the Duskwood Park. It was dark even in the morning. It reminded me of the woods behind Hollowhaven.