Page 73 of Exile
Grey falls silent for a few seconds, contemplating my demand. Finally, he stands, grabbing my waist and yanking meinto him. "You havetworooms," he offers. "Then I'm coming back and throwing her over my shoulder."
I nod with a sigh of relief. "Okay. Go."
He hesitates for a split second, glancing between the two of us before hastily heading out of the room. I hear him say something into the cell, likely updating Damon and the others on our—sorry, my—whereabouts.
Quickly, I kneel down again, lifting the mask off my face. If Siobhan's mind is in protective survival mode, seeing the masks is only going to escalate those heightened feelings.
"See," I try again. "It's me, Avery. Your friend. We're here to rescue you."
Siobhan blinks a few times at me, but doesn't speak. I take this as a good sign, holding up my hands in a calming gesture.
"I know what you're feeling right now. They hurt me too," I admit softly. "Which is why we need to get you all back upstairs to safety. I need you to help me. Can you do that?"
"I just…" she pauses. "I want to see my brother."
Remembering back to my first day here, I nod sympathetically. "I know. Your brother would want you to fight, Siobhan. He'd want you to be strong. Do it for him."
Something clicks behind her eyes, the dark blue irises widening. "Avery?"
"Yeah," I breathe out. "Let's get you out of here," I say, offering her my hand.
Slowly, Siobhan reaches for it, letting me pull her up. It appears we're just in time as a shadow darkens the doorway and Grey's voice floats in.
"Time to move, little killer."
"We're coming," I tell him, keeping a hold on Siobhan's hand as I guide her out into the corridor.
It's absolute chaos when I take in my surroundings. Spotting a few patients bundled together near the desk with Louis, Mark, and Andy, I watch as Damon stalks out of a doorway, holding a doctor by the scruff of their white coat. I only have a few seconds to study them, not recognizing them at all, before Damon flings the younger man into the adjacent wall head first.
I jump slightly as his head makes a cracking sound, the doctor falling to the ground in a limp heap. Yep, shit—I think he's dead. Either that or he's going to have one hell of a migraine tomorrow.
The three of us reach the group as I step over the unconscious, maybe dead, doctor. Is it wrong that I have zero fucks to give?
Scanning the group, I let out an exhale of relief at the sight of Eliana in the middle. She seems a little worse for wear, but finding me, I'm offered a tiny, broken smile.
I nudge Siobhan to the group, doing a mental head count. "Is that everyone?" I ask, searching for answers.
"One more," Damon replies, just as Theo emerges from my old room. Except it's not the male patient scamperingout ahead that catches my attention, it's the doctor being dragged harshly by Theo.
"Please let me go," she winces painfully, trying to remove Theo's steel-like grip from her forearm.
My body stills as I watch, nerves going completely numb as she stumbles blindly. I glance down at the doctor on the floor before quickly finding the terrified face of the woman trapped by Theo.
"Wait," I say urgently, not sure what Theo's plan is. I don'tthinkhe'd yeet her into the wall, but then again, I'm not willing to bet on it.
At the sound of my voice, the doctor searches for me, cerulean eyes locking with mine. "A-avery?" she stutters, and I realize I've still got my mask up.
Dr. Melanie Cromwell stares at me as if she's seen a ghost—a nightmare from her past. And suddenly, I'm teleported back to my own nightmares—ice cold baths while begging for help, drugged induced hazes while heels click on the ground around my limp body, visions of Grey with Leah in the library while they study me like some lab rat. She was present for each single horrifying moment I spent down here, constantly boasting about my inhumane treatment being for the greater good.
I was nothing to her but a test subject. There was no sympathy like she's silently begging me for. No mercy. No help.
"You know her?" Theo asks angrily. "Was she one of the doctors who tortured you?"
I can feel Damon and Grey staring at me through their masks waiting for my answer. All I can do is nod slowly, while stepping toward her.
"Dr. Cromwell," I mutter, and I'm not sure if I'm telling them or greeting her.
It's strange being on the other side—in a position of power while she's restrained, scared shitless. Her legs slip on the flooring, heels sliding as she flails to keep balance while Theo holds onto her tightly.
