Page 37 of Petals and Strings
“Everyone get to a seat. Lockdown. No one leaves.”
“What the hell?” I muttered as I led him back to our table. I walked away long enough to snatch my tray before making his. The alarm was still shrieking in the room but I figured if he was going to crash out, food could only help.
Neither one of us touched a single bite as the omega rocked, a low whine escaping his mouth. Alphas nearby reacted, inching forward to stop the distressed sound. I knew damn well he wouldn’t like that.
I’d seen the way he worked to avoid them, always keeping his distance. Scooting back in my chair, I made room before pulling him my way.
Ansel was limp, too compliant, as I pulled him into my lap. He didn’t protest or fight it, he straddled my legs and buried his face in my neck. My hands went to his ears, creating what barrier I could as the alarms screeched around us.
Ledger, Rydell, and Caspian were led in. Gone was the Caspian that was aware and happy. All three looked just as haunted as the rest of us as they dropped into their chairs.
Ledger looked up at me holding Ansel. He nodded once, but said nothing else as the noises in the cafeteria increased. I tucked my chin over Ansel’s soft hair, holding him tight andbreathing in the soft scent of blood orange, jasmine, and wood that was so burnt it was almost acrid.
My protective instincts were going insane. He always looked so soft and fragile and right now I was ready to tear this place apart to protect him in any small way I could. Even though I fought the truth, I knew he was my scent match.
Even if he never wanted anything more than this, I couldn’t ignore the draw to be near him. The burning need to keep him safe.
More guards poured in, bodies and expressions tense with worry.
First med changes, now some sort of lockdown? Something was wrong with this place, and I was going to find out what.
Starting with not taking my meds.
What if the delusions come back?
The unhelpful, nagging thought had me groaning. Maybe with the demons I’d already faced I’d be able to cling to reality this time.
Minutes passed as the staff shuffled in and out, hissing out orders and barking us into staying at our tables.
Ansel’s whine slowly faded to soft whimpers. Each one broke my heart and hardened my resolve.
Director Cross finally walked in an hour later, the alarm cutting off as he moved to the middle of the room. The cafeteria fell into a strange quiet. The only thing left behind were the noises of distress from not just the omega in my arms, but several other patients as well.
I moved my hands from Ansel’s ears so he could hear whatever Cross had to say, but the omega shoved them right back, so I left them where they were this time, my fingers toying with the soft hair that fell over them. The hold wasn’t as harsh now that I didn’t have to block out the world.
“I need everyone’s attention!” Director Cross yelled out as he stood on a chair to see over the crowd.
Every single patient seemed to be here today, the dining hall packed to the brim in bodies. They’d collected the entire facility.
“Jade Valencia from the North East Ward is missing. She has long, dark hair, blue eyes, and is about five foot six. Does anyone know anything? We want you to raise your hand if you do and me or one of my colleagues will come to you.”
A few hands shot up and I watched Cross deflate a bit as he gestured to a few of the therapy staff to go around.
My eyes tracked Theo as he walked, looking the picture of calm.
Shouldn’t there be more urgency and concern in the air? A patient was missing from a facility that was deemed impossible to escape.
“Why are they so calm?” I asked, glancing over at the alphas and beta at my table. Caspian was gone, his expression miles away and face the picture of raw, unfiltered pain. I wanted to reach for him but my hands were full.
Rydell was glaring at the room, not listening to our conversation.
Ledger gave a shrug. “Not the first time someone went missing. Every so often, someone goes missing and we get locked in for a few hours.”
“Are you kidding me?” I hissed, horrified. Ansel flinched at my tone and I squeezed him tighter.
“No,” he said. “They never come back, either. They’re marked as escapees or runaways.”
This felt far too familiar. Missing without a trace and no one truly looking for them. If she was outside of these walls, looking through every room and shadow wasn’t going to make her show up.
