Page 1 of Fought and Freed

1

MADDY

The doors of Sunny Days Rehab Center stood before Maddy, and stepping through meant leaving those she loved behind.

Tears ran down her face. Unsure if she could do this by herself, she peeked over her shoulder.

Skylar, who’d been through this himself, clutched Jace’s hand.

Jace smiled and gave her a little nod, giving her the encouragement she needed to move forward.

Lucca, the brother she only just found, held a phone in his hand, ready to text Maddy’s best friend.

Cody, the strength of their group, stood firm, his gaze steady on her.

And Ryder, his eyes shimmering despite the smile he gave her.

It took everything she had inside not to turn around and run back to them. She needed professional help to overcome the drugs Mike had secretly been slipping her, turning her into an addict. But it didn’t mean she wasn’t scared.

They were the reason she needed to go, though, and their strength would be what carried her through withdrawals and long weeks of rehab.

Facing forward once more, Maddy reached out a shaky hand and opened the outer door.

She stepped into a reception area with marble flooring that reminded her of the hotel lobby she’d seen in a movie. A big desk spanned the room, and plants on either side made the space feel less clinical and more welcoming.

Another girl had arrived ahead of Maddy, and she stood arguing with the reception lady. “What do you mean I have to give up my phone?”

“It’s just for now,” the receptionist politely replied.

Maddy wasn’t too happy about them taking away her only way to communication with the guys, either, but Lucca said this was one of the best rehab centers in the state, so they had to know what they were doing.

It took forever for the lady to convince the girl to hand over her phone. She then looked over to Maddy. “I’ll be right back.”

She walked the girl through a door off to the side of her desk.

Maddy walked to the front of the desk, noticing a sign on the front of a large sun cresting from the clouds, with Sunny Days Rehabilitation written below it.

Before too long, the receptionist strode back into the room, shaking her head. “I’m glad I’m not the one to tell her she won’t be keeping her clothes. Now, how can I help you?”

“My name is Madeline Walsh.” Maddy’s stomach tightened. “I’m here to check-in.”

The receptionist typed away at her computer. “Yes, I see you, Ms. Walsh. I loved every movie you were in.” She laughed at her own joke. “Sorry, I have to entertain myself sometimes. I need you to sign some paperwork, and I’ll need your phone.”

Maddy pulled it from her pocket. “Will I be able to have it back during the month?”

She smiled. “That’s up to the doctors.”

Maddy nodded and handed over her phone.

When she picked up the pen to sign in, the date caught her attention.

November 26th.

Was that right?

She looked back up at the receptionist. “Is this the correct date?”

The woman didn’t look phased by the question, as if Maddy wasn’t the first patient to be confused about such things. “Yes.”

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