Page 5 of Release Me

Where is Andy?

I look back at Dr. S, and I know he did this on purpose. He knew I would have gotten Andy to fuck me before he locked me up. With a slight snarl of my upper lip, I turn from Dr. S, angry with him for the first time since my arrival at Meadowlake.

“And Brynn,” he calls out from behind me. I turn, and our eyes meet again. “You’ll be restrained and unable to,” he pauses, looking for the right word, “expressyourself while you’re in there. You’ll be freed only to eat and use the restroom, but you will be watched the entire time,veryclosely.”

I’m rooted to the spot in shock. Dr. S nods at the orderly, signaling him to get me out of here. He takes me by the arm, but it’s as if I’ve turned to stone.

“What?”

He pulls on my arm some more, a little harder this time, but I still refuse to make my feet move. Finally, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. I scream and beat my fists on his back as he walks, trying to make him let me go. Unfortunately, his strength overpowers me. My body goes limp and flops against his back as he takes the stairs to the dark, dank basement of the institute.

ChapterThree

RICHARD

“Dr.Dunnington?”

A tall man with dark hair and eyes makes his way down the grand, wooden staircase leading to the foyer of the building. This is not your typical institute, in a good way. It’s warmer, more calming than the bright fluorescent lighting, cinder-block walled, and sterile in-patient environments I’m used to working in.

“Dr. Silver, I presume?” I greet him as he walks over to where I’m waiting.

He extends his hand, and I give it a firm shake.

“Yes, it’s very nice to finally meet you.”

“You as well. And, please, call me Rich.”

“Rich,” he says, “Raymond. Thank you so much for coming all the way out here.”

“Well, I’ll admit, when you contacted me and explained the situation you’re in, I was intrigued. I couldn’t say no without witnessing it firsthand.”

“Well, your reputation precedes you in this specific area of practice. After everything we’ve tried with this patient, we still haven’t been able to get through to her.”

“I’m looking forward to diving in and learning more about her.”

“Follow me, and I’ll show you around.”

I was taken by surprise when I received a phone call from Dr. Raymond Silver a few days ago. He gave me a high-level account of the patient’s behavior, and it grabbed my attention immediately. He requested I travel to the institute to discuss her case in further depth and, hopefully, oversee her care.

The Institute is made up of three floors and a basement. Raymond showed me their crisis stabilization unit and their medical facility, both of which are equally impressive. Better, even, than your average hospital.

“The majority ofourpatients are on this floor,to the right of the stairwell. The offices are on the left. Do you have any questions so far?”

“Well, I have to admit, I’m very eager to learn more about why I’m here. You were decidedly vague over the phone.”

Raymondoffers a tight smile, and it looks as though he is about to drop a bomb on me.

“We can head down to my office and talk there.”

As I follow him, I see twin girls exit an office on the right side of the hallway.

“Britt. Lottie. How are you ladies today?” Raymond asks as we approach them.

“Lottie is still really sick, Dr. Silver, but I am taking good care of her.”

He doesn’t respond, just shoots them a quick smile, and continues toward his office. When we get to the doorway, I can feel eyes watching me from behind. I turn to look, and sure enough, the twins are standing in the same spot, staring me down like the fucking creepy girls from The Shining. I nod my head toward them and step into Raymond’s office.

“Please, have a seat,” he offers as he sits in an old chair behind his desk.

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