Page 15 of Stalked

“Well, that doesn’t sound like you’re fine,” she huffed, folding her arms across her chest.

“How’s your mom?” I asked, changing the focus away from me.

She frowned and shook her head. “I should probably get back to her. She’s having another shitty morning again.”

I turned to Riley, giving him a small smile. “I’ll text you later, okay?”

I could see the disappointment in his eyes, but I wanted to be alone. He solemnly nodded and signaled for the girls to head out.

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A FEW HOURSafter everyone had left the hospital, I was getting restless. Once I climbed out of bed, the sudden urge to pee took over. After relieving myself, I washed my hands and turned my gaze up at the mirror. I brought my hands to my forehead and pulled the bandage off to reveal … nothing.

What?

My face paled as the bandage hung limply in my hand. I quickly tossed the bloodied Band-Aid into the trash and rubbed my forehead. After the pink smudge washed away, there was no trace of the large cut. There was nothing but unblemished skin. I pinched myself, wincing at the pain.

This isn’t a dream.

I scrambled to pull at the bandage on my leg, ripping it off. I felt the tearing pain from the tape but fear quickly overshadowed it. There was no gash, not even a faint scar, from where the plastic embedded itself in my leg.

Had I just imagined it? Am I bat-shit crazy like my mom?

Sweat pooled in my hands as my heart raced faster and faster. I looked around the bathroom, quickly spotting a bag of the clothes I had been wearing when I had my accident. My hands shook as I pulled out my pants, fingering the large tear in the fabric. There was a two-inch hole right where the plastic had been. I could see that the nurses could have missed the blood staining my pants where the tear was, as mud completely covered my dark jeans.

No, I thought.I didn’t dream of those injuries.

I hustled out of the bathroom and crawled back into bed, bent my knees, hugging my legs to my chest. My hands were trembling slightly from the realization that something was happening to me—something unnatural that I couldn’t explain.

I had a sickening feeling I was about to find out sooner rather than later.

That man held me so close to him as if heknewme, knew my name. Not just knowing me, but caring enough to soothe my pain away, putting me into the dream of the dark forest. That stranger was still out there, and every gut feeling I had said he would be back, and there would be no way for me to escape him a second time.

I checked my phone notifications before rolling over and shutting my eyes. But, of course, it was impossible to shut my thoughts off. I was too wound up to go to sleep.

I turned back around and sat up. When I pressed the bed controls to sit upright, there was a noise coming from the door. The handle turned to the left and then stopped. I sat there waiting for the on-call nurse to come in, but she didn’t. I got up from my bed and waited again.

“Yes?” My lips trembled around my words. “Can I help you?”

You’re just paranoid, Mercy. You’re safe in a hospital. A nurse just changed their mind about coming in.

Even though that was the rational explanation, my heartbeat picked up, my breath catching sharply in my throat.

To put my nerves at ease, I steadily walked to the door and opened it. Looking down the hall, the only hospital employee was a female nurse sitting at the desk from a short distance, her eyes focusing intently on a computer monitor. I stepped out of the room and walked a few feet toward the nurses’ station.

I glanced at the nurse at the front desk, gently clearing my throat. “Excuse me?” I muttered.

She looked up and smiled. “Hey, Mercy. How can I help you?”

“Yes … um … did you just try to come inside my room?”

She looked slightly concerned. “No. I’ve been sitting here for at least thirty minutes. Why?”

“Oh, it’s not a big deal. I’m fine. Goodnight.” I turned to walk back to my room but only took one step before I stopped, turning back to face her. There were more questions than answers, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I felt satisfied with what those answers were. I swallowed. “Are there any other nurses working right now on this floor and …” The words faded on my lips when she shook her head.

“Just me.” She stood up, giving me a reassuring smile. “I’ll walk you back to your room. You need to be resting right now.”

They’ll think I’m hallucinating, I thought.Then they’ll keep me here longer if I don’t stop acting so paranoid.

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