I grinned at him. He rolled his eyes.
“At least give me time to make sure it’s all secure.”
Later that day, I went for a walk.
My room must have been in a medical part of the clinic because there was a different feel when I left my corridor. It had carpet, for a start, and framed paintings hung on the walls. Fat vases of white lilies stood on polished tables, filling the place with a heady scent. Everything screamed luxury hotel, not hospital.
It was quiet. There was no one else about. I walked to a window at the end of the corridor and looked out, trying to see the press Benjie had warned me about. All I could see was neat green grass stretching to the line of trees way in the distance. I stood on tiptoe so I could peer down the side of the building. There was nothing but a drainpipe disappearing into some gravel.
My limbs were getting a bit shaky but I was enjoying myself. I went to the opposite end of the corridor and looked down from the window there. Below was a patio the colour of sand and two people in white dressing gowns lying on sunbeds.
I had an urge to eavesdrop. There was a key in the window lock, so I turned it and eased it open. I could hear every word, as if the sound was being funnelled up the wall.
“…I’m amazed really, given what that awful woman did.”
“Stacey Flowers?”
“Yes. I can’t believe she was released so soon. She’d only been in prison six—”
They were interrupted by a man in a white coat coming out. I shut the window quickly and then realized my heart was galloping. Benjie would know something was wrong from my readings. I tried to calm down. But…prison? Stacey had been in prison? What for? What hadn’t Miss Lilly told me?
I headed down an empty ward, trying to steady my heart rate. But as I walked towards the window at the end, breathing deeply, I got a worse shock: a hand crept over the window ledge and a man pulled himself into view. He stared right at me, seeming as startled as I was, before bringing a camera up to his face. I spun away, charging straight into Mariya and Benjie, who’d come looking for me.
Benjie instantly spotted the man through the glass and yelled, “LOCKDOWN!”
Mariya put an arm round me and ushered me away as an alarm sounded and shutters came down over the windows.
She tried to act normal but I was creeped out.
“Who was that?” I asked.
“No one for you to worry about.”
“Was it someone from a newspaper?”
“More likely a freelancer. You’ve probably just made him a small fortune. Miss Lilly won’t be happy. Someone will be for the high jump.”
I’d barely got back to my room when Miss Lilly came to see me. She looked very serious. I was worried she was going to be cross with me but after a few questions about how I was feeling, she said, “I’m so sorry about that intruder, Laura. Had I known Benjie was letting you stroll the premises, I would have done a wider security sweep. As it is, it’s pushed me into making a decision. I think we should do a deal with the press. You do a conference for them, and they agree to leave you alone. It would take the heat out of your first appearance and you might be able to make a clean start at Whitman’s without them hounding you. What do you think?”
My stomach dropped to the floor. Firstly, I hadn’t agreed to go to Whitman’s yet and secondly…
“Speak to them?”
She nodded.
What if I said something stupid and it was broadcast to the whole country?
I said, “When?”
“As soon as possible. If we can get something out today, our intruder is less likely to make anything from his stolen images – if he managed to transfer anything before he was caught.”
What could I say? I felt like I didn’t have much choice.
I had three hours to get ready. Mariya washed my hair and conditioned it with this amazing stuff Miss Lilly had given her. She teased it into dark spirals and when I looked in the mirror, it shone. I stroked a hand over it. A delicious smell of coconut reminded me of sun cream and holidays.
Mariya said, “We’d better do something about that bandage on your thumb as well.”
As she took it off, I waited for her to make a comment about it healing so quickly. She didn’t say a word, so neither did I. I guessed I was right about the cream.
“Do you want to wear the clothes you’ve got on?”
Good point. Did I want to make my debut in the twenty-first century, in public, on the actual telly, in jeans and a sweatshirt that were half a century out of fashion and three sizes too big for me? But what else could I wear? I didn’t even know what was in fashion. And it was definitely too late to go shopping.
“Will I look like a goon?”
“I have no idea what a goon is, but I know you will look lovely. You are lovely.” Mariya smiled at me.
I was dizzy with nerves.
I wished Mum was with me. She’d say the right things to calm me down. Or Ima, who’d tease me until I was laughing and relaxed. Thankfully, Miss Lilly arrived. She was wearing a different perfume – Turkish delight and roses – a scent full of summer.
“Laura, you look adorable – your hair is gleaming and your skin is absolutely glowing.”
She smiled and I was super-conscious of my not-white teeth. “What about my teeth?” I said. “You all have perfect smiles and my teeth are like big yellow tombstones.”
Miss Lilly wrinkled her nose. “They aren’t that bad. Your eyebrows could do with a tidy, but it’s too late for that now.”
My hand flew to my face. What was wrong with my eyebrows? I looked at Miss Lilly and at Mariya – true enough, their eyebrows were neat, dark little arcs framing their eyes.
Miss Lilly said, “Nothing to worry about. Everyone will be much more interested in what you say than what you look like. Now, Laura, if they ask anything you don’t want to answer, just say ‘I’m not sure’ or ‘I’m not ready to deal with that right now’. I’ll be there and so will Giles and the rest of my media team. I’ll go down first, then Benjie and Mariya will bring you, okay?”
I nodded and she swept forward and kissed my cheek. I relaxed, just a little bit.
Benjie and Mariya took me down in the lift to the conference room. I noticed two buttons for levels below the ground floor. I asked, “What’s down there?”
Mariya said, “Just storage, I think.”
Two levels of storage? What was it, a bank vault for a small country?
When we left the lift, I tried to peer in the few doors we passed, but Benjie and Mariya were walking too fast and it was all I could do to keep up. And then we were there. At the doors of the conference room. I could see through a sliver of glass in the door that the room was rammed with people and cameras. RAMMED.
“Benjie, I feel sick. I think I’m ill. I need to go to the bathroom.”
“You’re just nervous.”
“But I haven’t seen this many people since, God, since for ever. What if they breathe on me and give me germs? You said germs evolve. I…”
“You’ve had every vaccination under the sun along with immunity boosters – you’ll be fine.”
“But…”
He took my hand. “Look through the window. Can you see Miss Lilly?”
I looked. She was sitting behind a large desk covered in a white cloth. Three microphones perched on it. I nodded.
“She’s been doing this kind of thing for years. She’ll make sure you’re okay.”
Miss Lilly smiled at me and beckoned. Other heads turned my way, and cameras went up in front of faces. I gripped Benjie’s arm and said, “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. Go on – in.” He gave me a little push in my back.
I resisted but the door opened and Miss Lilly nodded at me encouragingly. I didn’t have a choice – I stood as straight as I could and walked into the room.
Cameras popped and flashed and dozens of voices called out my name:
“Laura, Laura, look this way.”
“Laura, how
does it feel to be in a different century?”
“Laura, you’re our very own Sleeping Beauty. What’s it like living in a fairy tale?”
For a minute, I went right back to the day they brought me round, my eyes burning in the bright light. I shrank back, but Miss Lilly stepped towards me. She caught hold of my hand and pulled me behind the table. I sat between her and a man I recognized as Giles. I felt safer there and slowly a hush came over the room.
“Thank you,” said Miss Lilly. “Can I remind you all that Laura is very young and has been through a lot. We’ll answer questions in order of your tickets only. Giles?”
Giles looked down at a little slate and said, “Okay. Number one, please.”
A woman in a pale blue suit smiled at me. “Sameera Susts, World News. Hello, Laura. Welcome back to the world. Thank you for taking my question.”
I nodded at her, my mouth so dry I didn’t think I could speak.
As if she read my mind, she said, “This must be nerve-wracking for you, there’s a glass of water there.”
And there was, right in front of me. I picked it up and gulped.
“How are you feeling, Laura?”
“Nervous.” The whole room chuckled like I’d said the funniest thing in the world.
“But you’re completely well now?”
I nodded. “I think so. I’m getting stronger every day.”
“It must be hard adjusting to a new life without your family?”
“I…”
The brush-off words Miss Lilly had given me had disappeared from my head but Giles saved me.
“Thanks, Sameera. Number two?”
“Jim Coxhall, Gossip Lines. What do you think of the new fashions, Laura?”
A ripple of laughter mixed with shaking heads went around the room, but I felt safe with this one. “I don’t know yet but I can’t wait to go shopping.”
“And what do you make of all the new technology?”
“I’m only just getting to grips with it but the computers are really cool.”
And on it went. I was quite enjoying it until someone said, “Sandy Limehouse, Online Enquirer. My question is for Miss Lilly. Are you still pursuing your civil action against Stacey Flowers?”
Shocked, I looked at Miss Lilly to see what she’d say. She smiled serenely and Giles said, “That question is outside the bounds of this conference.”
“But are you—?”
Giles cut her off and said, “That’s it, I’m afraid. Time’s up. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. As agreed, we hope you will now leave Laura alone to settle into her new life. Any further questions should come through me.”
I was ushered out. Benjie was waiting. I gave him a hug and asked, “How’d I do?”
“Brilliant. Born to be a star.”
When we got back up to my floor, the excitement fizzled out. It had been good to be away from my room. Good to be with other people. I picked up the picture of my family. I missed them so much. But beyond that, I realized I missed life.
There was a whole world outside the clinic. I was stronger now, strong enough to cope. However much it scared me – and it did – I couldn’t stay in my safe little room for ever. I had to take the next step into a new life and I’d already been offered the easiest way to do that. I’d be an idiot not to take it.
I said to Benjie, “Can you ask Miss Lilly if she meant it, about me living with her? If you think I’m ready?”
Benjie beamed at me. “I am absolutely sure she meant every word – and it’s not like you’ll be far away from the clinic if you need us. The apartment is right next door. I’ll message her now.”
I stood the picture back by my bed. My stomach twisted with guilt. Miss Lilly would never replace Mum, Ima and Alfie, but they were gone and I was still here. What else was I going to do? I had to live. I owed it to them.
The day after the press conference, Mariya brought me in a small suitcase and some fabric plasters.
“I thought Mr Ted could do with a bit of attention before he leaves the hospital.”
I packed the case while she patched up Scruffy’s moth holes. When she’d finished, he looked like he’d been in a battle for his life. I clutched him to me, looking at my abandoned bed, the place where I had battled for my life. I wanted to go, but I was also sad to leave. My room had been like a womb, nursing me back to health.
Benjie came in. “All packed?”
“Yep. Thank you, Benjie. You’ve been so fab, all of you. I’m going to miss you.”
“We’ll see you for regular check-ups, until you go to school.” Benjie picked up my suitcase. “Come on, let’s go wait for Miss Lilly.”
My team were all by the main desk. Edna had a floating silver balloon and said, “This is you, flying high!”
Vera handed me a book called How to Be Calm in the Midst of a Storm.
Mariya gave me a small bag. “There’s a card in there from Stephen and me and some bits of make-up and tooth-whitening toothpaste until you’re old enough to get your teeth done properly. I’ll do your eyebrows too, if you want.”
I should have been offended but I was really touched. Even with everything Ima had taught me about being true to myself, I still wanted to look right. I wanted to fit in. I hugged her tight.
“My gift is arriving later,” Benjie said. “I had to clear it with Miss Lilly.”
I got a bit tearful when Miss Lilly arrived. I had to remind myself I was literally going next door.
“Ready, Laura?” she said. “We can get home through the clinic, but I thought you’d rather walk outside, now we’ve dealt with the press.”
Benjie came with us to help with my stuff. There were some people about on the lower floor – smiley medical sort of people. I saw patients too, I think. We walked past two glossy women dressed almost identically in tight white jeans and pastel-coloured blouses that flowed around their tiny waists. Their weirdly tiny waists.
I turned for another look as they passed and caught them staring at me. I looked quickly away.
We arrived at a set of glass doors that led outside. Miss Lilly handed me a pair of sunglasses. “I brought you these, as you’ve not been in direct sunlight for a while.”
I put them on. The doors opened automatically and the smell of cut grass wafted in. Somewhere a mower buzzed – and there were birds, so many birds singing. I stepped into the sun and my heart sang with them.
It was a beautiful day – hot and bright with the gentlest of breezes. The grounds were glorious. A huge expanse of green was divided by a butter-coloured drive curving away to a distant road.
As we walked on that drive, the crunch of the gravel took me back – I’d first heard it as we’d arrived at the clinic: Alfie lying next to me in the ambulance, barely breathing, his little chest fluttering up and down. I gasped.
Benjie caught my arm. “Laura?”
“I…I’m fine.”
I mentally anchored myself with one of Vera’s tricks: touch something, smell something, see something. Benjie’s sleeve, freshly-mown grass and…I turned back to look at the clinic. It was lovely, like a posh country house. Roses clambered up the front. My heart steadied.
We walked around to a smart red door on the other side of the building. Miss Lilly looked up and the door unlocked.
That was pretty cool.
She said, “Facial recognition. It’s not that sophisticated but I like it.”
Inside, everywhere was painted a gleaming white, like crushed pearls. It kind of glittered. It wasn’t homely but it was beautiful; cool and beautiful. A white staircase curved around the entrance hall. Even the carpet was white. For a brief moment I imagined Alfie running up those stairs, planting mucky handprints up the walls.
Would that ever stop? Would I ever not think about him?
There was a buzzing noise somewhere. Miss Lilly stopped for a moment, as if she was listening to something, then she said, “I’m so sorry, Laura. Something’s come up. I’ll ask Annie to settle you in. I’ll be back as soo
n as I can.”
Benjie put my stuff down as a very familiar woman came through a door leading off the hall. I did a double take.
“Mariya?”
Miss Lilly said, “Oh no, Laura, this is Annie. Annie and Mariya have had some of the same facial surgeries. Annie, this is Laura. Can you show her to her room and make sure she has anything she needs? No food yet, C-plan only.”
Annie nodded and picked up my case.
“I’ll come and find you later this evening,” Miss Lilly called as she left.
I smiled, suddenly nervous.
“I’d better be off too,” Benjie said.
“Wait. Not yet. I need a hug.”
I hugged him like I was six not sixteen.
After he left, I followed Annie up the too-white stairs to a room at the end of the landing. My legs were like jelly by the time I got there – it had been a few decades since I’d climbed a staircase.
Annie stopped in front of an open door. The room beyond was huge, bigger than the whole downstairs of my old house.
Annie put my case on an enormous squishy white bed. It faced a wide window that filled the room with light. It seemed to bounce off the walls – they had the same ice-crystal look as the ones downstairs.
“Do you have a favourite colour?” Annie asked.
“Maybe green?”
She keyed something into a slate and the walls shimmered and shifted and settled into a soft pale green the exact same colour as my room in the hospital. Asylum green. That apple colour that is meant to keep you calm. I put a hand on it. “That’s awesome.”
She indicated a door in the corner of the room. “Your bathroom.”
“Oh, wow, thanks.”
Then she crossed to the opposite corner and said, “And for your clothes…”
It was a walk-in wardrobe. A WALK-IN WARDROBE. It was pretty empty but there was a copy of everything I’d packed in my box, hanging up, waiting for me. I put a hand on the T-shirt. “How…?”
“Miss Lilly had these made until you can choose more clothes of your own. They’re smaller than the originals so they shouldn’t hang off you quite so badly. Your uniform is packed in the trunk.”
Beauty Sleep Page 7
