Voices

by R.E. Rowe

  The door clicks as it locks from the outside.

  Every nerve in my body is telling me to freak. But if I do, we’re both screwed. The voices must be worried. They’re actually behaving themselves, whispering encouraging words rather than their typical rants.

  A wave of self-pity hits me as warmth from the drug crawls through my body. Tears stream down my temples.

  Aimee is somewhere nearby behind a locked door.

  But where? The building is huge.

  How am I going to find her?

  For the first time ever, the voices are actually trying to help me. Aimee’s idea about getting them on my side is working.

  I try hard to concentrate and visualize an escape plan. But the drug takes hold before I can.

  For now, sleep is the only plan.

  chapter forty-one

  My chest burns. Dizziness. Needle sticks. My arms weight a million pounds.

  Moving is impossible.

  I run my fingers through my pixy cut hair and sob.

  How long has it been?

  Hopeless. Foggy images. Swirling thoughts. Flavored gelatin. Beef soup.

  A yawn takes over my face and then leaves me crying. My life can’t end this way. Locked up in Willowgate. If only I could get to a phone to call Mom. She’d know how to stop Zeke.

  I can’t concentrate for more than a few seconds at a time. Somehow, I need to sneak out of my room. Find Reizo.

  Oh God, I’m tired.

  Suddenly, the door rattles and I hear keys jingling. The door bursts open.

  Nurse Crowley enters my room backwards, pulling a cart full of dirty dishes through the door. She turns the cart around and pushes it next to the tray stand beside my bed.

  “It’s a special privilege to eat in your room, you know. Why on Earth haven’t you touched your soup?”

  I don’t respond.

  The nurse collects my soup bowl and stacks it on a pile of other dirty dishes. “Maybe a piece of good ‘ole cherry pie?”

  My mind drifts to the pies Grams used to make. I loved her pies. Especially when they were warm with vanilla ice cream, milk—

  “Miss?”

  I try to focus, but Nurse Crowley is a blur. Her perfume is making me sick. I manage to shake my head and close my eyes.

  I hear sobs and realize they’re mine. How does she expect me to eat? I can’t even move.

  “Now, now, young miss. Everything will be just fine. Rest is what you need for now. A little more rest is all. You’ll get your strength back soon enough. Got me an order to move you. They’ll be coming soon to take you back to Little Rock.” She chuckles. “Don’t you worry none. I hear the food is just as good there as it is here. I bet they have cherry pie too.”

  I try to object, but no words form.

  She sits me up in bed, as if I’m a rag doll. I try to push myself away, but Nurse Crowley is too strong and I’m too weak. I’d make a run for the door if I could, but the drugs have drained all the life out of me.

  I shut my eyes. Her energy is calm on my feeling meter.

  She really believes I should be here.

  Nurse Crowley grabs my arm and wipes it with an alcohol swab. “Will you be a nice young lady? If you fight me, I’ll have to call Dmitry. He can be a little rough. And once I use him, I’ll have to use him to hold you down every time. Them is the rules, so it’s best not to fight. Understand, darling?”

  My hands tremble, my breathing is short and labored. I manage a nod.

  “Good. Take a deep breath. Try and relax now.” Nurse Crowley pushes the needle in my arm.

  “Excellent,” the thin old woman with superhuman strength says, putting the needle away. “I just love new patients who listen, like the new boy about your age. He’s such a gentleman. Handsome too. Oh my. You’d like him. Head is shaved just like yours, but his eyes, ooh, honey. I just love hazel eyes. He arrived ’bout the same day as you did this week. Maybe a day later.”

  She looks at her wristwatch.

  I try to move, but my arms and legs don't cooperate. I’m excited as I inhale, but panicked as I exhale.

  They have Reizo.

  I get it now. They don’t want anyone to recognize us. I hear myself crying again.

  She continues. “Now, now. You get yourself some rest. You’ll be fine in no time. Oh lord, how time flies. Get some rest, young miss.”

  A moment later, she closes and locks the door.

  I stare at the ceiling, tears flowing down both sides of my face.

  I’m trapped.

  I think about finding the storm shelter. It was the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life.

  After a while, the tears stop and I manage a smile when I think about Reizo. Finding Reizo was the best thing that ever happened to me.

  I melt into the bed.

  WELCOME TO THE CLOUD

  Login: general

  Password: *********

  How may I be of service, General?

  >>search system status

  ?I have encountered an error?

  >>search system status

  ?Cannot recover memory?

  System Unstable Please Try Again

  reset............

  >>search system status

  Password: *********

  >>update on reizo rush

  Secured At Holding Facility

  ?What action would you like to take?

  >>assign Stewart

  Confirmed‑Follower Stewart has been assigned

  >>command

  ?Please specify command?

  >>interrogate and turn

  Confirmed‑Follower Stewart will begin process

  >>logout

  Good-bye General

  Login:

  chapter forty-two

  It’s morning and the tranquilizer from yesterday has mostly worn off. Hang on Ames. Today is the day.

  I stay on my side, facing away from the locked Willowgate door and its small window. “Let’s review the checklist. After the last couple days, I’m pretty sure I have Crowley’s schedule down.”

  “Efficiency is Willowgate’s weakness,” says Honesti.

  “Right. I know when they make their rounds. When my meals are delivered. The time plastic trays are picked up. When Crowley gives me the tranquilizer shot and records my vitals. I know the time that goliath Dmitry walks me down the hallway like a zombified puppy while Crowley changes my bed sheets.”

  “What about protection?” asks Bouncer. “Pain delivery. You get me?”

  “Sure. Yeah, I got it covered.”

  During one drowsy walk, I tried to peer into a door-window down the hallway looking for Aimee. Dmitry squawked like a crow and showed off the stun gun under his three-ex shirt.

  “Dmitry wears a stun gun on his belt along with his pepper spray.”

  “Those will work,” says Bouncer.

  “What are you going to do about the tranquilizer shot?” Honesti asks.

  “Good point. Crowley usually gives me the shot after my stroll around the floor with Dmitry. I’ll make my move before the stroll.”

  “You'll need to move quick,” says Bouncer.

  “No kidding.” I sigh. “Stick with helpful stuff, got it?”

  “Whatever,” replies Bouncer.

  I continue with the checklist review. “I snatch the shot from Crowley and make my move.”

  Bouncer laughs out of the blue, but doesn’t say anything.

  “He can do it,” whispers Honesti.

  “We’ll see, won’t we,” says Bouncer.

  “Zip it,” I say.

  Bouncer stops laughing. “What if—?”

  I interrupt. “Look! I have no choice. It has to work.”

  “Okay, brother man,” Bouncer says. “I believe in youz.”

  It takes some coaching, but the voices are listening. They feel sort of like a combination of spy, sensor network, and alarm system. They’re even helping track who shows up and when they show up.

  H
ow can two voices can track time and know things before I do? All I know is that Aimee’s suggestion to get the voices on my side is working. We’re a team. Ooh-rah. The rest is bullshit.

  “Here comes Nurse Crowley,” says Honesti.

  “Get ready, boss man,” adds Bouncer. “Time to rock.”

  “After you deal with the big guy, head for the nurses’ station,” says Honesti. “They’ll have a computer that can access the patient list.”

  “Right.” I glance at the clock on the bed stand. 9 a.m. “Time to roll.”

  “I’m nervous,” whispers Honesti.

  “Shut up—” Bouncer starts.

  Honesti interrupts with a loud shush.

  Nurse Crowley unlocks the door. Big man Dmitry is with her, as usual.

  “Good morning, Mr. Reed from Bama.” Nurse Crowley puts her medical kit on the table next to my bed, leaving out the syringe full of tranquilizer with a plastic cap over its needle. “You ready to do a lap with Dmitry while I change your bedding?”

  I turn over slowly and put on my best drowsy act, trying hard to keep calm.

  “Dr. Stewart will be here soon. Called this morning in fact. Been busy with other hospital business, I suspect. From what he tells me, you’re moving back to Bama after all.”

  Moving? Hell. I picked the right day to break out. No turning back now. I seriously doubt Stewart plans on taking me anywhere. I’m guessing Zeke’s plan is to move us permanently six-feet underground.

  I feel my pulse racing, but I don’t show it. Failure is not an option.

  “Re-lax, dude,” says Bouncer. “Show us what you’re made of.”

  I lower my eyes, still acting as if the drugs from the day before are working, and slur my words on purpose. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I push myself to the edge of the bed and sit up.

  “Come on, Mr. Reed,” says Dmitry. He rubs the stubs of my hair as if I’m his pet dog.

  Oh man. I want to kick his ass so bad, but I restrain myself. I need to stick with the plan.

  Patience.

  Dmitry continues. “Stand up, Reed.”

  “Easy, brother man,” says Bouncer. “Wait for it.”

  I glance at the bump in Dmitry’s shirt near his waistline. I make a mental note. Stun gun and pepper spray on his belt.

  Dmitry sniffs as if he's collecting it to spit. “Move it, Reed. We ain’t got all morning.”

  “Oh my, he’s asking for it,” Honesti says.

  “Please, Mr. Reed, ” says Mrs. Crowley. “You need to go with the gentleman while I change your bedding.”

  I do a quick review: Dmitry, stun gun, pepper spray, syringe near the medical kit, Mrs. Crowley.

  “Now!” Honesti shouts.

  In a sudden burst, I throw all my weight behind one shoulder and firmly plow into Dmitry while using one hand to snatch his pepper spray from under his green scrubs. As I pull the spray from his holster, I realize there’s no way I can grab the stun gun too.

  When Dmitry falls backwards, I spin and grab the syringe from the table, and then spin again, ending up in front of the door. I throw my shoulders back and pretend like it is all part of my plan.

  I’m freaking out, but I don’t show it. No way.

  “Oh my, you have moves,” Honesti says. “Nice going.”

  “Okay. That was impressive,” says Bouncer. “Now zap the asshole.”

  I glare at Dmitry with the capped syringe in one of my hands and the pepper spray in the other. “I’m not your pet dog, jerk.”

  “Good one,” says Bouncer.

  Dmitry narrows his eyes. “I’m going to—”

  “Don’t move!” I glare at him, and then look at Nurse Crowley. “Sorry ma’am. My name is Reizo Rush. Zeke Sarov kidnaped me. I don’t want to hurt anybody. I just want to—”

  With no warning, Dmitry lunges at me.

  “Watch it!” shouts Bouncer.

  I point the spray at Dmity’s face and push down with my thumb. A stream of spray splatters across Dmitry’s face. He grabs his face with both hands, collapses to the floor, and screams at me in a language I don't understand.

  Mrs. Crowley takes a step forward.

  I hold up the pepper spray. “Please don’t.”

  She holds out open palms. “Easy now, young sir.”

  “Good bye, Mrs. Crowley.”

  I back out of the room, shut the door, and lock it.

  chapter forty-three

  The room I'm being held in is as dark as a closet. The only light creeps in from under the door.

  I’ve been moved!

  Distant voices. Some people are speaking English. Others are speaking what sounds like Russian. I can’t make out what they’re saying as I slowly sit up.

  It takes a minute for the head spin to stop before I can stand up and balance. I shuffle in the dim light and find a thick iron door handle. The handle doesn’t budge when I try to move it.

  Footsteps. People speaking.

  Someone is coming.

  I sprint back to the bed, lie down, and roll onto my side, away from the door.

  The door swings open and I force my eyes shut.

  “Check her,” says Zeke. “The drugs should be wearing off by now.”

  Someone shakes me. I groan and move slightly, pretending to be out of it.

  “Ah shit. She’s still unconscious.”

  “What do you want me to do?” asks another guy I don’t recognize.

  “We’ll wait until Stewart brings the crazy kid down. Then we’ll get rid of the two love birds together.”

  “You’re a regular romantic,” the guy says and laughs.

  “General is not pleased,” a man says with a strong Russian accent. “You clean this up, yes?”

  “Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry about it,” says Zeke. “The shipment will be distributed on time.”

  The man says something in Russian I don’t understand.

  “Chill, Viktor. This little mess will go away. I’ll deal with it personally.”

  “You know what we do to Americans who cross us, yes?” says Viktor.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll take them to a cheap hotel,” Zeke says. “And make it look like the love birds overdosed.”

  “I’ll take care of it, boss,” another guy says.

  “Don’t use the good stuff,” Zeke adds.

  “Do not fail,” says Viktor.

  They abruptly leave the room and lock the door.

  When the footsteps fade, I frantically search the dark room on my hands and knees.

  I need a weapon.

  chapter forty-four

  Twenty-feet down the hallway of patient-rooms at the nurse’s station a nurse stands up.

  “Mrs. Crowley?” she calls out.

  I only have seconds to react. I know once she realizes Dmitry isn’t with me, she’ll be suspicious and make a phone call. “Nurse? Can you please come down here? The door accidentally shut.”

  I bend over, facing my closed door as if I’m still drugged.

  The nurse jogs to me and then places a hand on my shoulder. “What happened?”

  I abruptly straighten up and turn around, pointing the pepper spray at her. “Back to your station, please. I need your help.”

  Crowley pounds on the wire-mesh window and I see the nurse’s eyes go wide.

  “Please ma’am. Listen to me.” I give Crowley a polite wave and walk with the nurse back to her station.

  The nurse’s voices trembles as we walk. “You really don’t want to do this, young man.”

  “Don’t say a word and just do as I ask. I promise I won’t hurt you.”

  When we get to the nurse’s desk, the elevator chimes, its doors open.

  Oh hell!

  Honesti and Bouncer gasp.

  Dr. Stewart walks in with his cold blue eyes fixed on me. His face tightens. “Nurse, where is attendant Dmitry?”

  I grab onto the back of the nurse’s scrubs, hang my head, and lower my eyes, pretending to drool.


  The nurse doesn’t respond to Stewart.

  “Ewe,” says Bouncer.

  Stewart rushes me. “Don’t move—!”

  When Stewart grabs at me, I raise up the pepper spray, point it at him, and spray. It hits him right in the face. He falls to his knees, rubbing his face and yelling.

  The nurse screams.

  “Now you know how it feels!” I shout at him.

  “Didn’t see that one coming,” says Honesti. “Nice move.”

  “You’re starting to impress me after all,” says Bouncer.

  The nurse fumbles for the phone.

  Before she picks it up, I jump up onto the counter like a human frog and wave the bottle of pepper spray around like a mad man. “Don’t! I don’t want to hurt you, seriously.”

  She recoils and puts down the phone.

  “Don’t forget Stewart,” says Bouncer. “He can be a tricky bastard.”

  With the pepper spray in the one hand and the syringe in the other, I lean in close to the nurse and hand her the shot. “Stick this in his arm.”

  “No I—”

  “Please, just do it. It’s the tranquilizer Crowley was going to give me. That’s all.” I push the syringe toward the nurse.

  She grumbles and takes it from me.

  Dr. Stewart says something I don’t understand—probably in Russian. He starts to get up and grab for something under his jacket.

  Shit. I’ve forgotten his Taser.

  During a past visit to Willowgate, I figured out the hard way that Stewart carries around a Taser. I told him to go to hell that day. He told me he was sending me there first, pulled out the Taser from under his white jacket, and sent the electrodes into my chest. Piece of crap.

  I push the doctor back, and then toss the empty bottle of pepper spray at him. “Sit back down.”

  He reluctantly sits on the floor and rubs his face.

  I snatch the Taser from under his coat, along with his bottle of pepper spray and wave the Taser at the nurse. “Please nurse, give him the shot!”

  Stewart’s face tightens. “You’re dead.”

  The nurse rips open an alcohol square, wipes Stewart’s arm, and injects him.

  “I’m not dead yet,” I say. “Now stay down and don’t move.”

  Stewart slurs something and sneers.

  “Night-night,” says Honesti.

  My heart is about to explode out of my chest. I talk faster. “I need to know what room the recent transfer is in. There was a girl my age who was admitted earlier in the week, maybe the day before I was admitted.”

  “Hurry!” shouts Honesti.

  “Please!” I yell. “I know this looks bad, but seriously, I’ve been kidnaped. I’m not supposed to be here.”