Page 118 of Mind Maze

I’m sorry.

“I choose Calista.”

“Good boy.”

Romy

I’ve almost got my hand free. Just a little more wriggling and—

Freedom!

I nearly yelp in surprise the moment my hand comes loose from the restraint. I’m unsure how much time I have until someone returns to the room, which means I have to move. Fast.

My fingers feel numb as I fumble with the other restraint. I’m able to free my other wrist without much effort.

Now how do I get my head out of this contraption. Carefully, I feel around the metal device with my hands, searching for a release mechanism. I find something that feels like it might work and tug on it.

Click.

The contraption loosens and I’m able to pull my head and neck out of it. Wires are still attached to every part of me. I’m mostly concerned about freeing my ankles so I can get the hell out of here.

As I bend over to work on those straps, some of the leads pull off my head and neck. It takes considerable effort in my weakened state, but I manage to get my ankles unhooked.

Now what?

I rip the rest of the wires off me and then stand. My knees buckle and my legs shake. Adrenaline, though, keeps me upright. I run toward the door, the cool linoleum on my bare feet sending chills up my body. Slowly, I crack open the door and peek through it.

All I see is a wall across the hallway.

My heart hammers inside my chest. As terrifying as this is, I need to force myself to leave this room. I try to calm my thoughts and push through the doorway.

Whipping my head left and then right, I’m grateful not to run into anyone. I need to get out of here without being seen to buy me some time. Softly, I close the door behind me.

The hallway is sterile. It reminds me of the time I spent under psychiatric care as a child. All the more reason to get out of here.

I see a sign farther down the hall, so I run over to it in order orient myself. “Pediatric” points one direction and “surgery” points the other. Since I know they have Kaitlyn, I start toward the pediatric area. Before I reach a four-way crossroads of hallways, I slow to a stop and listen.

Voices.

I can hear a woman and two men speaking.

Doc Junior’s voice stands out, making my skin crawl.

What now?

The voices sound louder. I backpedal and dart into a room nearest to me. It’s cold inside and I wonder if I can find scrubs to wear since the gown is practically nonexistent. If I plan on escaping outside of this place, I’ll need real clothes.

One thing at a time.

I turn to inspect the room I’ve ducked into. A whimper crawls up my throat as I realize where I’m at.

A morgue?

There’s a single table in the center of the room and a body lies on top, a white sheet covering it to the chin. From my vantage point, I can tell it’s a young woman.

Beyond the body, I spy a cabinet that might hold scrubs or something useful for me. I sprint over to it and fling open one of the cabinet doors. It’s filled with supplies, but nothing I can put on or use for a weapon.

Sighing, I turn and warily look at the body. Something about it calls to me. I creep over to it, curious about the bruising on her face.

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