Chapter 1

"911, what's your emergency?"

The operator's voice was calm, a stark contrast to the chaos inside me.

My own voice, when it finally came out, was flat, almost robotic.

"My sorority sisters. Room 3B, Omega Alpha Chi house. They're all dead."

"How many?"

"Five. Ashley, Brittany, Chloe, Danielle, Emily."

I listed their names, a roll call of the deceased.

"It was a bonding night. Takeout, some cocktails Ashley made."

"And you are?"

"Sarah Miller. I'm the only one left."

The words hung in the air, heavy and unbelievable.

I was on the balcony, a thin blanket wrapped around my shoulders, clutching my room key fob.

The cold metal pressed into my palm.

Sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer.

Red and blue lights soon flashed against the dark brick of the OAX house.

Paramedics rushed in first, then the police.

Officer Davis, a woman with kind eyes but a firm set to her jaw, found me.

"Ms. Miller? Can you tell us what happened?"

I shook my head, the blanket slipping.

"I don't know. I fell asleep."

The room, 3B, was sealed.

I watched them carry out the body bags, one by one.

Ashley, Brittany, Chloe, Danielle, Emily.

They were found in strange poses, peaceful, as if they'd just paused mid-conversation.

Frozen.

I remembered the pizza, the wings.

Ashley had mixed a huge pitcher of "sorority punch," a sickly sweet concoction.

We were supposed to pull an all-nighter, laughing, sharing secrets.

I told Detective Miller, a man with tired eyes and a skeptical frown, "I must have fallen asleep early."

"When did you wake up?" he asked.

"A little while ago. There was this smell. Sweet, but... metallic."

My throat tightened.

"I checked their pulses. All of them. Then I called."

He nodded slowly, his gaze unreadable. The night was just beginning.