I felt his fingers brush the side of my face. I opened my eyes to find him staring down at me.
“The tube’s in,” he said. “I’m going to attach the unit of VA20 now.”
He held up a black bag – its contents hidden. My heart thumped. Last minute nerves. He must have noticed the sudden look of panic in my eyes. Taking my hand, he calmly stroked my fingers.
“I’m going to be here all night, Kassidy,” he said. “I will check on you every hour to see if you are all right.”
He looked over his shoulder, making sure no one could hear him. Then, he bent over me and whispered, “You make sure you tell me if you’re not feeling right. Don’t tell Doctor…”
“Have you finished, Doctor Fletcher? The other volunteers are all done,” Doctor Middleton appeared beside the bed. “Nurse Jones needs a hand adjusting an I.V. pole.”
Doctor Fletcher nodded his head and walked away. That was weird. What doctor was he referring to? I looked up at Doctor Middleton. He was checking the bag of VA20. He smiled as if satisfied. Then, looking down at me, he said, “You can walk about if you want but please be careful not to knock the cannula out from your arm – it’s very easy to pull the needle out if you catch it on something.”
“How long will the drip be in me?” I asked, looking at the brown fluid flowing through the plastic tube.
“It should take two to three hours and then the rest of the night will be spent checking to see what reactions you have to the drug,” he said, walking away.
I looked about the ward. Doctor Fletcher must have left. Carly swung her legs over the side of her bed and sat down beside me.
“Well that was okay,” she smiled. “I’ve no idea what’s in VA20, but I’m feeling all right.”
I hadn’t even thought about how I felt but now that she’d mentioned it – I was feeling okay too. Almost like a surge of energy flowing through me.
“This drug would be great for hangovers,” I smiled. “In fact, who needs booze when you have VA20?”
I got up. Holding on to my drip, I pulled it alongside me. Had I just earnt the easiest two grand ever? Or was it all too good to be true?
CHAPTER FIVE
“Are you okay?” I asked the greasy-haired girl as she sat with her legs pulled up to her chin. “You looked a little freaked out a while ago.”
She shrugged. “I got a bad feeling, that’s all. This place has a nasty vibe, can’t you feel it?”
“It’s pretty creepy but I guess it’s because we’re in the old part of the building. Doctor Middleton said it only gets used for overnight trials.”
“No, it’s more than that,” she said. “I can sense it. That other ward is full of something dark and evil.”
This girl seemed pretty troubled. I thought I was the one getting stressed about this place but she could win awards for an overactive imagination. She looked like she behaved – weird and dark. Black makeup around her eyes and on her lips. She was probably into ghosts and the occult.
“What’s your name?” I asked, sitting on the end of her bed. “I’m Kassidy.”
“You can call me Raven,” she said. “I don’t like my real name – it’s disgusting.”
“What is it?” I asked, trying to hide the smile that threatened to show itself. What a strange girl. Was she even mentally stable?
“Like I’m gonna tell you,” she said, snatching hold of her drip. “I’m going to the toilet.” She stomped away toward the bathroom dragging her drip in her fist like a microphone stand that a rock star might use.
“Hey, I thought you were going to join me on my bed – not hers!” said Jude, pulling his drip behind him. He looked funny standing there with his gown on. “What do you think – sexy, huh?” he winked, spinning around.
“Nice gap at the back,” I laughed, glad to be talking to Jude and not Raven.
“Nurse Jones has brought a portable radio in, fancy listening to some tunes?” he said. “There’s not much else to do. The others are sitting down there.”
“Sounds good to me,” I smiled, making sure the needle in my arm was still in place. It was feeling a little uncomfortable.
Money’s too tight to mention, by Simply Red was playing quietly. As if I didn’t need reminding about my cash flow or lack of it, I thought. Carly, Wendy, and Max were having a game of cards. Chase the Ace. I hadn’t played that for years. They had all positioned their drips neatly around Max’s bed. May was perched on the edge of a metal chair, picking nail polish from her toes. The gambling guy – Simon – who Jude had pointed out earlier was reading a book, and Howard and James had gone to sleep. The lights sputtered again throwing the room into darkness for a couple of seconds. I sat down next to Jude on his bed, putting my feet up. What a strange scenario to be in. A bunch of strangers in hospital gowns huddled up together in some rundown ward. All of us in it for the money. What would my dad think if he could see me now? Probably plan on what booze he could buy with the two grand.
I could hear him slurring – Go get your old man a bottle of whisky and some cans.
I sighed. I had spent all of my childhood looking after my dad – clearing up after all of his binge-drinking sessions – pretending to the outside world that everything in my life was just fine. Smiling when all I wanted to do was fall apart. I had managed to keep most of my friends away from my home – too embarrassed by my dad’s pissed-up behaviour. We had lived on benefits – my dad unfit to work, and of course what little money we did get went on the bottle. Growing up had been hard – lonely and now that he was gone – life seemed harder. I never knew what had driven him to drink – what haunted him behind those bloodshot, watery eyes, but whatever it had been had left me in a whole lot of mess.
“This is nice and cosy,” Jude stirred me from my thoughts. “We could all play a game of strip poker.”
“It wouldn’t take very long,” May sniggered. “There’s not much to take off.”
“All the better,” Jude winked, shifting closer to me. He was definitely a flirt but I liked him. He wasn’t the kind of guy you would want to settle down with, but if it was fun you were after then he’d be your man.
“Why are you going to Canada?” I asked. “Are you visiting someone or just travelling?”
“Just travelling,” he said. “I get bored staying in the same place for too long. I mean, there’s not much to do in this town, just the usual bars and shops. I want some fun. I can’t put up with this dull, dreary existence any longer. I need to see new places, find new people, and just mess around.”
“Yeah, Holly Tree must be the most boring place on Earth,” Wendy said. “You should take the two grand tomorrow and come travelling with us, Kassidy.”
I nodded my head. My mind drifting off to the possibilities of starting a whole new life for myself once tonight was over. Living the free life of a traveller. After all, the only ties I had here were debt related. The only family member I had now was my uncle, and he lived miles away. I hadn’t seen him since I was little.
“It would be good to have some fun, I haven’t been on holiday for ages,” I smiled, remembering the school holiday to France and how Hannah’s parents had paid for me to go. I was only nineteen – too young to be saddled with these money problems. I could just grab some things from home and jump on a plane – never come back. But what about my dad’s grave? Who would visit him? Who would talk to him? No one. He had left me but I couldn’t leave him – not yet anyway. I blinked away the tears that were suddenly threatening. No, I had to stay.
“You could come to Canada with me,” Jude said, staring into my eyes.
“Thanks, I’d love to go to Canada but I can’t,” I said, faking a smile. “I need to find a job and just get my life back on track. The last four months have been hell. I lost my dad and lost my job. I’ve got nothing except the two grand coming to me tomorrow.”
“I’m staying,” said Max. “I work in a bookstore along the high street. I’m trying to save up some money so I can buy my own place instea
d of renting. We could always meet up for a drink, Kassidy, if you’re at a loose end? We could chat about this place and reminisce.”
I smiled. Max seemed like a gentle kind of guy. Blonde hair tied up in a ponytail with green, happy eyes.
“I’d love to,” I said, trying to pull my gown down over my knees. Another song started to play on the radio. It was Hurt by Christina Aguilera.
The doors to the ward opened and Doctor Fletcher walked in. The atmosphere in the room changed, like he had brought the storm outside with him. His moody blue eyes searched me out.
“Kassidy, it’s time to check up on you,” he said, waiting beside my bed.
Had it been an hour already? I walked slowly pulling my drip beside me. Doctor Fletcher stared, his eyes searching mine – like he was expecting to see me do something. I felt uncomfortable. Those gentle eyes from earlier now seemed piercing and menacing. He helped me up onto the bed and pulled the curtain around us.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, sitting on the edge of my bed.
“Fine,” I shrugged.
He wrote some notes on my file. Then pulling out a small torch he said, “I want to have a look at your eyes.”
He gently pulled my lower lids down and shone the light into my pupils, his face so close to mine I could feel his breath against my skin, the smell of his aftershave wafting up my nose. “I’d like you to open your mouth please,” he said, cupping my chin in his hand.
He placed his finger on my lips and slowly pushed it in against my gums, working it around my mouth. What the hell was he looking for? Was he expecting my teeth to fall out?
“Lean forward, Kassidy,” he said, removing his finger from my mouth. “I want to listen to your heart.”
He untied the top string of my gown and loosened it around my shoulders. Using a stethoscope, he slid his hand down beneath my gown. I shuddered. The metal was cold. But his touch against my chest was making me hot! May was right about Doctor Fletcher – he was getting my blood pumping.
“Breathe in, breathe out,” he said, eyes melting into mine. I could only stare back – mesmerized by his gaze, excited by his touch.
He pulled his hand out. The trance-like state I had been in – broken.
“Let’s take your temperature,” he said, pulling out a thermometer from his pocket.
Where was he gonna stick that? Right now I really didn’t care. But I was pretty sure the thermometer would burst into flames if he put it anywhere near me.
“What’s making you smile, Kassidy?” he asked, sliding the thermometer between my lips.
I hadn’t realised I was sitting there with a daft grin on my face because of the dirty thoughts I was having about him. Get a grip! He wouldn’t be interested in me anyway – he was probably married to some lucky cow – my eyes drifted down to his left hand – no wedding ring.
He removed the thermometer and sat waiting for my reply.
“I… I… don’t know.” I looked down at my hands. Please just go now. I need to bury my head under the pillow and die.
Doctor Fletcher stood up. His eyes glimmered – like there was a smile behind them. Did he know what I’d been thinking? I hoped not.
“Lean forward, Kassidy, and I’ll tie you back up,” he said, getting behind me.
I felt his fingertips touch my shoulders. His muscular body pressed against my back. This was too much.
“Remember, I want you to let me know if you feel unwell. Even if it’s just slight,” he said, lifting my arm and checking the cannula. “You don’t need to tell anyone else other than me, especially not the other volunteers. I don’t want their results influenced by yours. Oh, and it’s really late, so you should be thinking about getting some sleep instead of messing around with the guys.”
He opened the curtain, and his eyes told me he disapproved.
“I haven’t been messing around,” I said. “I’ve just been talking, that’s all. It didn’t say on your list of rules that I couldn’t talk with the opposite sex.”
“It’s a hospital ward, Kassidy, not a nightclub,” he suddenly glared, then turned his back on me.
What was his problem? I felt like I was back at school. One minute he was close to touching me up – which I didn’t mind – and now he was treating me like a child.
Doctor Wright and Doctor Middleton walked in. She looked as moody as ever. She breezed past the end of my bed heading toward the back of the ward. Doctor Middleton stopped beside Raven’s bed.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, checking the bag of VA20.
“I feel sick,” she glared. “That shit’s poisoning me!”
She clawed at the cannula like it was irritating her. Doctor Middleton grabbed her hand and pulled it away.
“Now, now, it’s not poisoning you,” he said. “Let me check you over.”
“I’ve changed my mind, I don’t want this crap swimming around my body,” she hissed. “It’s not right, it’s bad.”
Doctor Middleton struggled to hold her arms still. She lashed out with her legs, just missing him.
“Nurse Jones!” he shouted. “I need your help. Doctor Fletcher, bring me a sedative.”
Nurse Jones came rushing through the doors. She grabbed one of Raven’s arms and held it down while Doctor Middleton fought to keep the other under control.
Jude, Carly, and Max had stood up to see what all the fuss was about. I got off my bed and joined them.
“What happened?” asked Carly. “Why did she start freaking out?”
“I don’t know, she says she’s being poisoned,” I whispered. “She keeps shouting that the drug is bad.”
“Well, obviously it’s not,” said Jude. “We’re all fine. I feel great, don’t you?”
“Nothing wrong with me,” shrugged Carly. “You feel okay, don’t you, Max?”
“A bit sleepy I guess, but yeah – I’m cool,” he smiled. “I’m not feeling any urges to start attacking the doctors. Do you think she’s seen something that we haven’t? I don’t mean paranormal – just something not quite right about this place.”
“It’s just her,” Jude said. “She’s weird. I tried talking to her earlier when she was stressing out. I thought I’d put her mind at ease but I guess I didn’t do a good enough job of it”.
“Calm down, Raven,” said Nurse Jones. “You’re just getting yourself all worked up.”
Doctor Fletcher rushed past – syringe grasped in his hand. He knelt on the bed and pushed the needle into her arm. She tensed up and then relaxed.
“Max, Jude,” Doctor Wright yelled. “Return to your beds please. I need to check you both.”
“See you soon,” smiled Jude, squeezing my hand, “gonna spend some time with Wright, maybe I can get her to smile.” He walked away with Max, his blue boxer shorts poking through the gap of his hospital gown.
“Do you think she’s okay? I mean, do you think she’s just freaking out or do you think it’s the drug affecting her?” I looked at Carly.
“It’s not the drug. I think she’s had a panic attack,” Carly said, checking that her gown was still tied tight.
I turned to see May and Wendy walking back to their beds, wheeling their drips beside them.
“Hey, Kassidy,” whispered May. “Has the freak stopped freaking yet?”
“She’s calmed down,” I said. “I’ve never seen anyone lose it like that before. I feel a bit stressed out myself.”
“Wendy, I’d like you to lie down on the bed please so I can check you over,” said Doctor Middleton. He pulled the curtain around the bed.
I looked over at Raven. She was drifting in and out of sleep. The sedative must be working. I crept up beside her.
“Raven, can you hear me?” I asked, tapping her hand softly. “Are you okay now?”
She opened her eyes and stared at me. Her greasy black hair lay across her face.
“We’re all gonna die,” she mumbled, closing her eyes again.
Looking out the window, I wondered what the sedative had ha
d in it. But then again, she didn’t need a sedative to come out with crazy ramblings. The sky suddenly lit up with a flash of lightning and I caught a glimpse of the car park below. It was flooded with rain. The security guards were still patrolling the grounds. I wouldn’t want to do that job – mind you – they probably wouldn’t want to do what I was doing. Another flash of lightning sent the ward into darkness. Turning, I gasped. I could just make out Raven in the gloom. She was sitting up – her eyes staring wide at me.
“Get out of here,” she hissed then fell back against her pillow, eyes shut.
My heart thumped. She was really scaring me now. I grabbed my drip and hurried back to my bed, stumbling as I went. Two strong hands suddenly gripped me about my waist.
“The lights will come back on in a minute, you need to stay in bed.”
It was Doctor Fletcher. He held me tight as I blindly tried to find my way across the ward.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered.
I could feel his breath against my neck, his fingers stroking my flesh through the thin fabric of my gown. The ward suddenly lit up. The overhead lights stuttered and buzzed like they were choking up something. I turned around to find Doctor Fletcher had gone. I shook my head. Had I just imagined him being there? Had Raven really told me to get out? I looked at the bag of VA20. What the hell was in it? Acid? Was I tripping? I got under the blanket – goose bumps covering my skin.
CHAPTER SIX
The ward was silent. I had been lying on my bed for a while now watching Raven from beneath the cover of my blanket, wondering if she was gonna leap up and attack me. Doctor Fletcher kept creeping into my head with his hot-cold approach. My mind was buzzing.
The ward was still. The silence swamping me. I didn’t like it. I lived in the middle of Holly Tree. The town was always noisy, but somehow it comforted me – made me feel like I wasn’t alone, like I was safe. But here I felt like I was the only one in existence.
Carly had been the first to fall asleep, soon followed by Wendy and May. I wasn’t sure if Raven was sleeping or whether she was just out of it but I sure wasn’t going to try and wake her – not after last time.
Drug Page 3
