Page 134 of Amnesia

“No,” Amnesia said, firm. “This is something I need to do alone. For me. For Sadie.”

I didn’t like it, but I understood. “How about I stand in the hall?” I compromised.

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

We held hands as Dr. Beck led us to Mrs. West’s room. Just like Doug said, there was a uniformed officer right outside her door. I had no doubt everything that happened tonight was spreading through town like wildfire.

“Five minutes,” Dr. Beck said. “No more.”

“Thank you,” Amnesia replied, staring at the door with an apprehensive expression.

“I’ll be right here if you need me.” I assured her, leaning in to kiss her gently.

“I know.”

Resting my head against hers, I spoke low so only she could hear. “Whatever you find out in there, it won’t matter. You’re forever mine.”

I held her hand until she was far enough away, and we pulled apart naturally. The officer opened the door, admitting her inside.

I took a deep breath and waited, not caring if the woman ever woke up, but hoping just the same, Am got the answers she needed.

Her eyes were open. Unblinking and sort of glassy. She looked like a doll from a horror film, the kind with the round glass eyes that followed you when you weren’t looking.

I shivered. Ever since I first saw her at Loch Gen, something about her creeped me out. Of course, now I knew why.

This woman with her long grey hair, pointy nose, and seemingly sad, lonely life took everything from me. I estimated her to be in her sixties, which one would think would make her old enough to know better.

She lay in the hospital bed, the head slightly propped up. Her gray hair was tangled around her shoulders, so long it covered her chest. Her skin was pale, making all the bruises and injuries on her face stand out. Her knuckles were scraped and raw, and she looked thin beneath the hospital gown.

Her body was unmoving, her eyes unfocused, and her mouth in a rigid line. It was almost as if someone hit pause on her controls and she was frozen exactly how she’d been.

Creeping closer to the bed, I watched the monitors record her vitals, listened to the beeping of the machines. She didn’t seem to know I was here, and if she did, she was an expert at pretending.

“I know you’re faking,” I said, stepping close to the side of the bed. “Pretend all you want, but eventually, you’ll have to come out of it. Eventually, you’ll have to tell them what you’ve done.”

I waited for a reaction, but none came. She still sat prone, her spine-chilling eyes staring into space.

I reached up, snapping my fingers over her face. Nothing. I poked her arm then pulled her hair. She didn’t react at all.

“You took everything from me,” I whispered. “You and that man who I can barely remember.” Leaning closer, I whispered in her ear. “But in the end, you didn’t win. I did. I have a second chance, a clean mind, undisturbed by the awful things you did to me. And you’re going to be locked away forever.”

Maybe it was wrong to taunt her, but it felt good to do so. It gave me some sense of justice.

Leaning back, I stared down at her. “You took me away from Eddie once before. But not again. Not ever again. I love him, and he loves me.”

The only response I got was more beeping from the monitors.

Even though she didn’t acknowledge what I said, I knew deep down she heard me. I knew my words taunted her, and that small victory made me feel better.

Now all that was left was exhaustion. My head hurt, my body hurt, and I wanted to be in Eddie’s arms.

Without a single glance back, I walked away from the bed, leaving her there in solitude.

The second my hand hit the handle on the door, her voice, gravelly and low, echoed through the room. “He doesn’t love you.”

I spun around, not even sure if what I heard was real.

She was still lying in the exact same position, her eyes still staring blankly at nothing at all.

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