Page 17 of Surviving the Darkness

I don’t want to sit here and remember what happened, so I turn on the TV. The only channel that works is currently streaming The Price is Right. UGH... I’ll have to ask if they can get any other channel working. I love Bob Barker, but I can’t deal with his cheery mood today. I turn the TV off because I refuse to listen to his voice. I need my Kindle, so I can escape into the realm of make believe, but I’m probably not allowed to have that in this prison.

I sit in this chair for what feels like hours, and my ass is going numb. I ring the dumbass nurse call button to help me back into bed. I hate that fucking thing, but I’m exhausted and need tolie down. Hopefully, I can sleep the night away, and I pray they allow me to leave instead of sending me upstairs to the loony bin. I’m not crazy; I just don’t want to relive the memories of Damon beating and fucking me.

The nurse comes in, her stupid smiling face granting my wish to get into bed. I hobble over to the horrible bed, and once I hit the flat pillow and the scratchy sheets, I get comfortable with the darkness surrounding me, and I welcome the pull lulling me to sleep.

Chapter 17

Knox

The guys and I make it back to the hospital and head for Meadow’s room. The nurse stops us and informs us that she’s been moved and she’s not allowed visitors. What the fuck does this bitch mean? I need to see Meadow; I need to know she’s fine.

“What do you mean we can’t see her? Where is she?” I seethe.

“You are not family of Miss. Rivers, so I can’t tell you. It is a violation of privacy. I’m sorry I can’t help you further, but you need to leave,” the nurse says.

“I’m not leaving until I know she is okay,” I grit out. How dare she keep me from Meadow? That girl is my fucking life, I need to know she is alright.

“Sir, I will call security if you don’t leave. I can’t tell you anything. She's okay, that much I will tell you to ease your mind. Now, please leave,” the nurse says with a huff.

I sigh and rub my hands over my face, turning back toward the exit. The guys follow close on my heels. I’ll need to find another way to figure out where she was moved since the bitch won’t tell me. I know it’s her job but, seriously, doesn’t she know who we are? Making my way down the sterile hallway, I stop in the family waiting area. No idea where I walked to, but I take a moment to sit down and figure out our next steps. Ethan arrives tonight, and I know he’ll want an update. He loves Meadow just as much as the three of us. I always wondered when he’d come back into her life; I just wish it was under better circumstances.

“We need to find where they moved her. I need to see with my own two eyes that she’s okay,” I say to Aidan and Phoenix.

They both nod, looking at me and wondering what’s next. I wish I knew. Do we have anyone under our thumb in this hospital who could tell me where she is?

“Hey, do we have anyone on our payroll here?” I ask the guys.

“Yeah, we have a few. I’ll make some calls. Give me a few,” Aidan says and stalks off to find a quiet part of the hospital, so no one will overhear his conversation.

This is why I keep him around, well, and his great cock, but I don’t want to inflate his ego any more than it already is. He’s been my rock, and I honestly wouldn’t survive this world without Aidan at my side. He keeps me sane and, most of the time, levelheaded, and if I ever go over the edge, he fucks the shit out of me to bring me back from the brink. I’m starting to let Phoenix in, and that scares the shit out of me. He’s too good forme; I know this, he knows this, but I’m too stubborn to let him go now.

I see Aidan walking back to me, and I stand to hear what he found out. When he looks over at me with the eyes that hold my heart, he lifts his lips just a little, so I know he got the information we needed. Thank fuck. Without waiting, I walk up to him, grab his face with both my hands, and smash my lips against his. I don’t care if everyone can see us. I love this man, and I’ll show it. No more hiding in the shadows. He is mine.

I pull away, breathless, then walk over to Phoenix and kiss him the same way. I’ve lost enough already, and, at this moment, I need them to know I love them. They are my life, and I want them to know it. Need them to know it.

“I love this, but we need to check on Meadow,” Aidan says with a chuckle.

I sigh and back away from Phoenix. I know we need to find her, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m sick of hiding who I am. Because of my past, Meadow got hurt, and I need to change things for the future, if I have any hope of getting the woman I love back.

“They moved her to the psych ward. Apparently, the hospital has a mandatory seven-day hold for those who try to commit suicide. I managed to get us up there to see her, but we can’t stay long,” Aidan says.

What the fuck does he mean that she is in the psych ward? I get she’s a danger to herself but fuck. She doesn’t belong there. But instead of bitching and wasting more time, I just nod my head and follow after him. I have no idea where we ended up when I rage-walked here. Aidan leads us to an elevator, and we pile in while he presses the number five. I guess psych is on the fifth floor. I clench my fist; I’m still fucking pissed she was moved up here. We have a plan and are getting her help. Wedon’t need them to watch her. They will probably fill her head with stupid shit and make things worse.

The elevator dings at her floor, and we step out into the hallway. A few feet away there is a door, and I go to pull on it, but it doesn’t budge. What the fuck? I look at Aidan, and he is just as confused as I am. But Phoenix walks over to the wall and presses a black button. A second later a voice filters through.

“Hi, how can I help you?” the mystery person says.

“Hi, we are trying to visit a patient, but it seems the door is locked. Can you help us?” I say.

“Who are you here to see?” the person says.

“Meadow Rivers.”

“She doesn’t have anyone on her approved list of visitors, so I can’t let you in. I’m sorry,” they say.

I look at Aidan and see him typing away on his phone. A minute later a voice filters through the speaker, apologizing for the wait, and says that we can come on in. That's when I hear a click on the door. They keep it locked… Why?

We step through the now-unlocked door before it shuts behind us. A click lets me know that it’s an automatic lock. How fucking weird is that? What if there is a fire? Would we be trapped up here? I have so many questions, but before I can ask them, a woman in scrubs comes over and greets us. She tells us we can’t stay long and not to rile Meadow up.

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