Page 4 of Kiss of Fire

The door opened and Dr Meadows came in. He checked her chart.

“Mary says you fell in the shower. Can you tell us what happened?”

“I saw...” Raya started to explain, then realised the futility of it. No-one believed her. They all thought she was nuts. “I saw black spots in front of my eyes, then I don't remember. Did I faint?”

Maybe he’d just think it was a dizzy spell.

“Looks like it. Could be stress. Or it could be that you haven't been eating. Mr Griggs says you've been returning all your meals untouched.”Well, yeah. He spits in my food.“Are you hungry now?”

She wasn’t, but she wanted to keep him sweet. She nodded and the doctor pressed the intercom next to her bed.

“Mary, bring some dinner in, please?”

Raya started to struggle upright, alarm spreading through her.

“It's okay, I'll go to the canteen with the others.” But the leather straps held her tight. Dr Meadows pushed her down again.

“Canteen’s closed, I’m afraid. It’s late. You’ve been out for several hours. Mary will be here in a minute, she'll help you.”

The door behind him opened and Raya started to panic as the orderly walked in with a tray. The doctor turned to go but Raya forestalled him.

“Wait! Don't leave me! I mean... tell me about the fall, do I have concussion?”

The doctor turned back impatiently. He was tired and he wanted to go home to his wife and children. But as he gazed at Raya's imploring eyes, he softened. He sat on the chair next to her.

“You know, nothing’s going to change untilyoudecide to change them. You have to take control, Suraya. Stop letting circumstances controlyou. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She nodded.Control, yeah right. That’s a good one, doc.He undid her arm restraint, gently talking her through the head injury, reassuring her it wasn't serious.

Raya barely listened. She watched Mary set down the tray of food on the table next to the bed. The orderly bent to unfasten Raya’s leg bindings, her face as open and warm as it had ever been. Maybe they're right, Raya thought despairingly. Maybe I’m just delusional.

But then she saw something which hadn’t been there before.

Tiny cracks at the corner of Mary's mouth.

Her heart started thumping. She hadn’t imagined it. Any of it. Not the malevolent faces she kept seeing around her, and not the demon which had attacked her and her adopted parents ten years ago.

We know where you are. We’re coming.

Her eyes darted round as she pretended to listen to Dr Meadows. The infirmary was much closer to the main entrance than her ward. Fewer doors to get through. Just one, in fact.

Her gaze alighted on the desk. His keys. Just lying there. With that stupid rabbit’s foot which he’d once told her was a lucky charm. Though obviously not for the rabbit.

Mary finished undoing her leg bindings and turned to help her sit up. Without warning, Raya swiped the mug of tea from the tray straight into Dr Meadows’ lap. He yelled as hot liquid doused his trousers.

Without missing a beat, Raya picked up the tray and slammed it into Mary’s midriff. The woman’s eyes bulged and she collapsed to the floor heavily, trying to draw breath. Raya mentally apologised as she slid off the bed. Mary didn’t deserve this. But she had no choice.

She grabbed the keys and bolted, taking a few precious seconds to lock the infirmary door behind her. She saw Mary and the doctor shouting at her through the glass. Then she ran.

She made it down to the ground floor before the alarm shattered the calm. Shit. She ran faster, her head still throbbing from the fall. It pounded with every step and sweat poured down her face.

The moon coming in at the barred windows cast eerie shadows in front of her. They seemed to change and flow and become nightmare faces watching her, mocking her.We're coming for you.

She rounded the corner and saw the locked door up ahead. The last barrier between her and freedom.

Adrenaline gave her a spurt of energy. She sprinted towards the exit, keys at the ready. She could almost feel the grass under her feet, the fresh air on her face.

She stopped.

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