Page 100 of Bloom: Part 1

“It’s neither wrong nor right. It was simply how you felt at the time. Did you experience any challenges?”

“Nah. Logan’s gentle, and he knows what he’s doing. He made me enjoy it so much now I wouldn’t mind doing it every day.”

“How wonderful.” The pencil in his hand snapped in half. “I’m pleased we’ve worked so well together to prepare you for this moment.”

Huh? If it was left up to him, I would still think sex was gross.

“You were a virgin, weren’t you?” he asked.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It shows how far you’ve come. Bloom, do you need a minute? I’m beginning to detect a tone. If you’d rather not work with me—”

“I’m fine with you.” Not really, but I didn’t want to see another therapist and go through the awkward phase all over again. “But I don’t like when you put me under hypnosis and the way you talk about Logan.”

“How about we avoid those two topics and focus on you?”

“That’s for the—”

What was that? It sounded like gunshots. Dr. Simms’s phone vibrated, and he picked it up as another barrage of shots rang out. His face turned pale.

“Oh my god.” He scrambled to his feet. “Quick, we need to hide.”

“Hide? From what?”

“That was a red alert sent to the staff by the hospital. A group of thugs has infiltrated the building. They’re executing guards and preventing staff from leaving.”

Logan. I climbed to my feet. “Are you sure this isn’t a drill or something?”

“No, it’s not a drill. It’s happening.”

I bolted for the door.

“What are you doing?” Dr. Simms cried. “Staying here is for the best. When they get what they want, they will leave us alone. ”

“Logan’s out there.”

“Forget him. Let’s find the nearest exit.”

Fool. All these weeks of therapy and he still didn’t understand me. How could I leave Logan alone while the hospital was under threat?

I peeked out the door. The corridor seemed empty, so I slipped out but jumped as the PA system blasted.

“Attention all staff, patients, and visitors. This is an emergency announcement. For your safety, please listen carefully. We have a security situation in the hospital. We are initiating a full lockdown effective immediately. Please follow the following instructions. Remain where you are if you are in a secure area. Lock all doors and stay away from windows. If you are in a corridor or an unsecured area, proceed immediately to the nearest room that can be locked. Please silence all mobile devices and remain quiet to avoid drawing attention. Do not attempt to leave the building until an all-clear announcement is made. Staff are reminded to check for emergency updates on the secure channel. Your cooperation and calm are essential. Security personnel are addressing the situation. For your safety, do not attempt to intervene. We will provide more information as it becomes available. Remember, stay in place, secure your area, and wait for further instructions. Do not attempt to leave or engage. Stay calm. Your safety is our priority.”

As soon as the announcement ended, it started again as though stuck on a reel.

I didn’t give a damn about the instructions. Logan’s well-being was at stake. I strode to his office, my steps quick and determined. I stepped over the dead body of a security guard. Two more people laid facedown in a pool of blood a few feet away. They might have still been alive, but Logan’s safety was the only thing that mattered, and I couldn’t waste a second on people I didn’t know.

I darted across corridors, checking if the coast was clear before I turned the corner. The panicked cries of people trapped in their rooms filtered into the hallway, and the scent of blood mingled with disinfectant. But I couldn’t let myself be distracted. Couldn’t allow anything to stop me from reaching Logan.

Gunshots echoed, pumping my adrenaline as I rounded another corner. Shit. A man groped the breasts of a nurse lyingon the ground with her wrists tied behind her and her top cut off. I spun around, but her desperate cries brought me to a halt. Logan would have wanted me to intervene. For him.

I pulled one of my knives free from my boot and placed a finger over my mouth when the nurse saw me.

“Help me!”

Stupid. Fuck.

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