The next month seemed interminably long. No matter where she was or what she was doing, all she could think of was Number Four. She couldn't imagine anything so awful as being shut up in a hole in the ground.
Practically buried alive.
Finally, in need of a diversion, she begged her mother to let Magny spend the night. Her mother was usually reluctant, but this time she agreed.
Ashlynne was sure it was only because her mother and father were going to be away at a counsel meeting most of the evening.
She looked up when Magny tossed the book she'd been reading aside.
"Well, that was dull," Magny exclaimed. "What shall we do?"
Ashlynne yawned. "I'm tired. I was thinking of going to bed."
"Bed! But it's still early. And your parents won't be home for hours. We can't go to bed."
Ashlynne rolled over onto her stomach. "Well, what do you want to do?"
Magny bounced off the mattress, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "How brave are you?"
"I'm not, Mag, you know that, so whatever you're planning, just forget it."
"Honestly, Ashlynne, you lead the most dull, boring life of anyone I know."
She wanted to argue, but she couldn't. It was true. Her life was boring.
Routine. Regimented.
"Come on, Lynnie, you know you're dying to."
"All right, Magny, what am I dying to do?"
"Go swimming."
"What's so daring about that? I swim all the time."
"In the ocean."
Ashlynne's eyes widened. "You want to go swimming down there now? Tonight?"
Magny nodded vigorously. "The moons are full. It's a beautiful night. The water won't be too cold. Come on, let's do it."
Ashlynne bit down on her lower lip, her better judgment warring with the desire to do something wild and crazy. "All right. You can wear one of my bathing suits. Do you want the red or the yellow?"
"Neither, silly."
"You don't mean
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