Page 41 of Heart of a Killer

I need to find Skylar and ask her what she knows. I can’t stand this ongoing mystery about my life.

“Get back in bed,” the nurse continues to shout before she triggers an alarm.

I’m on a mission, heading straight for the cafeteria. I don’t even know what time it is, only that it’s morning, judging from the light streaming in through the window.

But before I can even make it to the entrance, there’s a sharp pain that courses up my spine and leaves me numb. My limbs tingle as if they are asleep, and when I turn to look behind me, the world spins. A thud rings in my ears as darkness takes over.

16

Brieanna

My feet move toward the smell of food more slowly than usual. The medication the doctor gave me last night still lingers in my system.

“Are you okay, Brie? You haven’t been acting like your normal chipper self today,” Skylar asks as she grabs my forearm, gaining my attention.

“Yeah.” I yawn. “I’m just tired.”

“Too much exercise for ya?” She giggles and bumps me with her shoulder as we walk to our seats.

I don’t want to tell Skylar the real reason I’m tired, or she will worry about me. The doctor calls them his experiments, but I call them torture.

Skylar and I sit at the cafeteria table together. We are more intimate than we have ever been. Her chair is closer to mine, and our knees are touching, sending warmth spreading through my chest. She looks down at the pudding cup I gave her with a blush blooming across her cheeks.

“I wonder where Leland is,” I say aloud.

“I’ve been thinking about that since breakfast.”

“You would, my little worry wart,” I concede before poking her in the ribs.

She begins laughing, and I keep jabbing at her most ticklish spots until one of the orderlies yells at us to keep it down and eat. We both return to our meals with solemn faces, as if we’re scolded children. She doesn’t eat enough here since she’s picky with her food, so I give her what I can.

“You know you don’t have to give me your food.”

“I know, but I want to.” I don’t mind since my stomach is twisting in knots at the thought of food.

Skylar looks around before grabbing my hand and planting her soft lips on my knuckles. It tickles when she does, and a giggle escapes my lips. She looks at me with a grin that spreads, scrunching her face.

So fucking adorable.

I’m glad she’s becoming more relaxed around me after how petty I’ve been.

She eats her pudding cups while I slurp on the vegetable soup as much as I can with my queasy stomach. It’s the same old bland food around here. These people wonder why no one wants to eat this stuff. It gets repetitive.

A shrieking noise blares, and a red light above the cafeteria door flashes.

Skylar looks at me, wide-eyed. “What’s that for?”

“I don’t know. That hasn’t happened the whole time I’ve been here.”

Some patients around us run for the exit, while others cower under the tables. The staff is at the exit doors trying to calm them down, but it’s hard to hear what they say while the alarm blares repeatedly. Skylar has her hands over her ears, and I’m glued to my seat. My eyes and mouth are opened wide, taking in the scene around me. Some of the patients are screaming, the loud noise only serving to cause them more distress.

Suddenly, there’s silence.

It’s deafening after the booming sound and flashing, blood-red light coating the walls. The patients are escorted back to their respective seats, and those hiding under the tables crawl out.

One of the orderlies yells, “False alarm, everyone. Get back to your meals.” His voice reverberates in the quiet cafeteria.

Everyone attempts to return to normal, but some are still shaking like leaves, and their spoonfuls of soup slosh around. My gaze lands on Benji, who is hysterically his normal self, but a black smoke curls around him, slithering and vibrating. A set of skeletal wings unfurls from behind him, and a leering set of white eyes peek over Benji’s shoulder. My heart races and my pulse pounds in my ears. It’s the same catatonic sensation I get when I see the shadow in Benji’s room wrapping itself around him, its tail jerking him off.

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