*****
At some point I must have fallen asleep because when I awoke, I was all alone in the room. Their bodies had been removed. The utter silence was enough to make a sane person crazy.
The only thing I knew for certain was that I had to get the hell out of here. There was no reason to stay now. I was on my own. It was up to me to write my own happily ever after.
I went to the door and jiggled the knob. It was locked as I knew it would be.
Looking around the room, I didn’t find much, but if I got creative there were a few things starting with covering the damncamera. I tore off a piece of fabric from what had been Aaron’s pillowcase and tied it around the camera.
Feeling satisfied with that, I searched the room for other things I could use. Under one of the beds, I found an old keycard. I knew it was a long shot, but I wedged it into the crack of the door and down by the lock. There was no deadbolt on, just a normal lock. I jiggled the card and the handle until at last, it gave and popped open.
“That really worked?” I said aloud.
I couldn’t believe it.
Checking the hallway I didn’t see anyone so I crept out and down the hall. There was one room Helen had refused to take me to. I suspected that was the way out. But first there was something I needed to do.
I tiptoed down the hall, but the sound of the wheels on the food cart had me running back to my room. I shut the door and then jumped in bed and pulled the sheet over me just in time for the door to open once more.
“Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty,” Helen said as if nothing at all had happened and this was a perfectly normal day here.
I didn’t budge.
“I know you’re not asleep,” she tried.
I still didn’t move.
“Fine. I’ll leave you be for today, but death is a part of life and something you’re just going to have to get over.”
She left the tray and stomped out, locking the door behind her.
I jumped up and ate the food from the tray, praying it wasn’t drugged. One could never be too cautious around here.
Starving, I scarfed it all. Maybe a sedative wouldn’t be that bad. Of course, I later realized that for once they hadn’t tampered with my food.
Just my luck.
The one time I wanted to just close my eyes and drift off into oblivion.
Instead, with a full belly, I laid on my bed staring at the ceiling as I plotted out ways to get the hell out of here.
I drifted off staring at the ceiling once more, emotionally drained and exhausted. Since my arrival I’d barely slept a wink here, but I was physically done so I didn’t even fight it.
“Tilly,” I heard Lachlan’s voice.
“I’m here.”
“I can’t find you.”
“I’m right here.”
“I’m coming for you.”
“You don’t have to because I’m getting the hell out of here.”
“Not yet. Just sit tight. I’m coming.”
My dream shifted from innocent and encouraging to Lachlan naked hovering above me.