I was trying to figure out how Karma would find out. I toyed with the idea with having Lauren call but this seemed a better way to go. Besides, it gave me a chapter with a little Lucas and Molly included. And I have been wondering how close the girls live to each other. I think the reason they were able to be such close friends all these years was because they were in walking distance of each other.
Karma Ashcroft sat in the living watching some random documentary with her parents. Not wanting to be alone after leaving Amy she sat in the lazy boy as her parents cuddled on the sofa. Instead of watching the documentary she was casually watching her parents. She was in awe of how much they genuinely cared about each. Yes, they were beyond socially awkward weirdoes but in all honesty she wouldn't have it any other way. Her parents simply have a relationship she dreams having one day.
As the documentary played sirens could be heard in the distance. Molly lifted her head from Lucas' shoulder, "are those sirens getting louder?"
When Karma heard her mother speak she could feel her heartbeat begin to quicken. Feeling as though something was terribly wrong she got up to open the curtain revealing an ambulance rolling to a stop in front of her house. The flashing lights and the siren of an ambulance filled the usually silent street. Concerned neighbors were filing out of their houses to see what was causing all the commotion.
"Oh, God!" Karma whispered as she stumbled to the door to watch EMTs bang on her best friend's front door. She turned around to see her parents behind her. She looked up at them show the raw fear written across her features with only one thing in her head, "Amy..."
As Karma bolted barefoot to the house across the street she barely heard her mother call after her, "Muffin, wait!"
Karma had to get to Amy. As she ran the world seemed to slow down nearly to a stop. She watched as the door opened revealing Lauren in the doorway briefly looking pale and shocked. She watched as Lauren disappeared back into the house after the EMTs and leaving the door hanging wide open.
In the open front door the world sped up again as she took the stairs two at a time. Seeing the EMTs in the master bedroom she felt relief and revulsion at herself when her first thought was, "thank you, God! It's not Amy!"
She stood next to door out of the way but still in earshot. She fell against the wall as her knees buckled hearing one of the EMTs report back to dispatch, "16 year old female. Suspected Anaphylaxis from a nut allergy. Adrenaline administered in the field…"
The gurney was past her before she could move and even breath again. She caught the slightest glimpse of Amy's unconscious form drift by. She nearly knocked Lauren to the floor trying to get her body to move in behind the parade of people traversing carefully down the stairs with their precious cargo.
She grabbed at Lauren's arm, "what the hell happened? She was fine when I left!"
"There were almonds in the cake," Lauren said sounding defeated.
"In the Croquembouche? Didn't you know about her allergy?"
"I…I…can we please talk about this later?" at this point Lauren was barely hold back the tears forming behind her eyes.
"Shit!" Karma said as she looked down to see the empty staircase. Pulling away from Lauren she barreled down the stairs surprising herself by not tumbling down the stairs ass over tea kettle. She made it outside just in time to see her best friend being loaded into the ambulance.
