I crawled across the room, kneeling up at the door – stretching – trying to reach the handle – one last chance to escape. As my hands curled around it, I was yanked back by my ankles. I slid across the floor. Carly stood laughing. She started to fit again. She scraped her fingernails down her face like she was trying to shed her skin. Deep scratch marks appeared down her cheeks. Her body was thrown against the wall, head smashing repeatedly against it. It was like there was someone behind her, forcing her into the wall. She screamed, only this time she sounded like Carly.
“Help me, Kassidy! He’s inside me, I can’t get him out,” she cried.
“I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to help you?” I panicked. Should I go over to her? Help her? Hold her down and stop whatever it was smashing her head into the wall? I couldn’t just stand and watch her body break – watch Carly die. Cautiously, I stepped toward her. Fear speeding through me – rushing at my heart – making it jump – skip – jump. I reached out for her. Carly stopped. She stood still – facing the wall.
“I think it’s gone,” she whispered.
She turned round. Her face bloodied. Her eyes crazed. A malevolent grin spread across her face.
“Dumb bitch,” she spat, her voice male – gruff again.
I turned – fled across the room toward the door. It flew open, almost knocking me over. An arm reached through the gap– fingers grabbing the neck of my gown. My feet left the floor. Doctor Fletcher pulled me out and the door slammed shut behind me.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I stood in the hall. Doctor Fletcher loomed over me. His blue eyes looked me up and down like he was deciding what to do. I couldn’t speak – my breathing too fast – too deep. My lungs ached. I slumped down – elbows resting on my knees – head in my hands. Carly’s room silent now, like it was empty.
“Did it hurt you?” asked Doctor Fletcher, crouching down beside me.
I looked at him. “What do you think? Look at me. I’m covered in bruises, scratches, and if that’s not enough, take a look at the fucking bite mark on my neck,” I snapped. “I’ve had my hair ripped out and my veins filled with black shit. Yeah – I think I’m fucking hurt – don’t you?”
Doctor Fletcher took hold of my arm. He ran his fingers slowly up and down the black lumpy veins.
“How far has it spread?” he asked, looking at my legs.
“I don’t know?” I shrugged. “I haven’t had a chance to strip off and admire the new look I’ve gained.”
His hand reached down – fingers lightly against the inside of my thigh – pushing up the stiff fabric of my hospital gown.
I slapped his hand away. “I don’t think so – you’re not looking up there,” I glared.
His eyes sparkled. Was that a grin I could see him trying to hide? Better not be.
“Where are the others?” Doctor Fletcher asked, taking my hands and pulling me up.
I looked down the hall. “I don’t know – they disappeared when I got trapped inside that room. They tried to open the door but it was locked.”
I looked over at the glass panel. It was clear. No Carly peering out at me this time. I shuddered. The atmosphere was still charged with something evil – something waiting to jump out at me.
“We need to get you out of here, Kassidy,” said Doctor Fletcher. “The Cleaners are looking for you and the others.”
“What are the Cleaners? I saw them take Nurse Jones apart,” I whispered. “They aren’t human. Doctor Middleton isn’t human and neither is that thing in there.” I pointed at the door. “It can’t get out of there, can it?”
“No, it’s trapped inside the room. But you’re not safe. There are others – some like Carly, others different – wandering around this hospital,” he whispered. “You have to get away before they find you.”
A deep, husky laugh came from Carly’s room. I stared at the glass panel, expecting to see her face leering out at me. It was empty. The laugh came again, sending shivers through me.
“Come back in here, Kassidy,” hissed a male voice. “Let me fuck you – fuck you in hell – bitch.”
I gasped. I took a step closer to Doctor Fletcher.
“It can’t get you, the door is locked,” he said.
“Locked doors don’t seem to mean much in this place,” I whispered. “They open and shut and suck you in – those Cleaners managed to find a way through a locked door.”
Doctor Fletcher looked at his watch. “Listen, the night shift will be leaving in a couple of hours. That’s going to be the best time for you to get out of here. There’ll be loads of staff leaving and the day shift will be turning up – plenty of people to hide amongst. All you need is a uniform and an I.D. badge,” he said, looking at my hospital gown. “You’ll never get past the security guards on the gate looking like that.”
“Can’t I just climb over the wall and make a run for it? I don’t want to go past the security guards – what if they don’t recognise me as one of the staff?” I asked.
“Like I said, the gates will be busy. Security won’t be paying too much attention. You could try climbing over the wall if you can avoid the security cameras and barbed wire, but I really don’t fancy your chances of succeeding, Kassidy,” said Doctor Fletcher. “This place is built to keep people out and volunteers in.”
“The dumb bitch is gonna die – she’s gonna rot in hell.” Carly’s face suddenly appeared – claws tapping slowly on the glass panel. She let out a raspy laugh – vomit exploding from her mouth, hitting the glass and running down in thick, black, mushy lumps. Her skin hung from her face where she had ripped and clawed at it.
“Come on, I know where you can hide out for a while – where you’ll be safe.” Doctor Fletcher took my hand and gently pulled me along the hall.
I stopped – yanking my hand from his. What was wrong with me? Why was I trusting a guy who had played a part in setting me up – choking my veins with a drug that was probably gonna kill me? For all I knew, he could be leading me back to Doctor Middleton and the Cleaners. Why did he care now? A little voice inside my head answered my questions – you have to trust him, he’s all you have. He knows what’s happening to you – he’s gonna help you escape. He’s the one with all the answers. You don’t have any other choice.
“We don’t have time to hang about, Kassidy,” said Doctor Fletcher, taking hold of my hand again. “If you want to get out of here, then you need to come with me.”
“What about Max, Raven, and Jude?” I asked. “I need to find them.”
“Why do you care about them? You don’t really know them.” Doctor Fletcher lent over me – his blue eyes searching – challenging me.
“I can’t just leave them here,” I whispered, taking a step back from Doctor Fletcher’s stare.
“Why?” he asked, stepping nearer to me – closing the gap between us.
His stare flustered me. I took another step back, banging into the crumbling wall – sending small lumps of brick tumbling to the floor.
“I don’t want to be the only one out there like this.” I held my hands up. The black veins had spread to both arms now – weaving under my skin like straws filled with blackcurrant juice. “I don’t want to be alone. If I start changing into one of those zombie things like Wendy and Howard did, then at least I’d have Jude and the others with me – they might be able to help me. Stop me from hurting people – stop me from eating people.”
“You think someone like Jude is gonna help you? Guys like him won’t help you – he’ll just lead you into trouble.” Doctor Fletcher lent over me, resting his hands against the wall – closing me in – lips just inches from my neck. “Don’t trust him.”
“I trusted you up on Ward 2,” I whispered. “You said there was nothing to worry about. You said you wouldn’t hurt me.” I looked into his eyes. His gaze seemed to swallow me up – drown me – charm me. “I trusted you and looked what happened.”
Doctor Fletcher placed his hands on my waist. He pulled me toward hi
m.
“You know you can always trust a doctor.” His eyes glimmered. “Now, do you want my help or not?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Doctor Fletcher walked quickly down the hall, pulling me along behind him. I struggled to keep up – limbs stiff and bruised.
Apart from the drips of water echoing along the hall and the sound of our footsteps treading over the clutter thrown about the floor, it was silent. There was very little light, but Doctor Fletcher seemed to know these corridors and hallways like the back of his hand. To me it felt like I was going round and round in circles – trapped in a maze – every corridor like the last one.
I had so many questions I wanted to ask. I needed answers, but would Doctor Fletcher tell me anything? He’d pretty much blanked any questions I had asked so far. Maybe if I tried to get to know a bit about him – tell him a bit about myself – he would be more willing to give up some answers.
“What’s your name?” I asked, trying to keep up beside him.
He turned his head – eyes narrowed – like he was wondering why I had asked.
“I have many names, Kassidy. But you can call me Ben Fletcher,” he said, stopping outside a door and pulling a key from his pocket. He pushed it into the lock, turning it to the right. It clicked open. I followed him through. He shut the door behind us and locked it again. My eyes adjusted to the dark and I could see I was in some kind of treatment room. An examination bed was placed in the centre. There was a trolley beside it with rusty surgical instruments covered in dust and webs. Tatty cabinets hung from the walls, some lopsided. The smell of damp mixed with dust and dirt blocked my nose, making me choke.
“How long have you worked for Cruor Pharma? I coughed, trying to cover my nose and mouth with my hand, hoping it would stop the dust irritating the back of my throat.
“Years – not as long as Doctor Middleton and Doctor Langstone though,” he answered, walking toward a door at the back of the room.
“Doctor Langstone is the one in charge here, isn’t he?” I said, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“On paper he is, but Doctor Middleton runs this place now. Doctor Langstone decided to move back to the other site, Cruor Pharma’s sister company. He didn’t like Doctor Middleton’s way of running the company. He never comes down here now – stays up north working on blood samples,” he said, taking out another key and unlocking the door.
I wasn’t surprised at all to hear that Doctor Langstone didn’t like the way things were done here. This place was fucked up. It sounded to me like Doctor Langstone had done a runner – wish I had done the same.
“Ben.” I held my breath, wondering how he’d react to me calling him by his first name.
He turned and looked at me – expression blank. His blue eyes – crystal like gems. “What is it?” he asked.
“Am I going to end up like Carly? Or like Howard and Wendy?” I screwed my hands tight into fists – scared of hearing his answer but needing to know.
“I don’t think you will be like Howard or Wendy,” Ben whispered. “I think if you were going to end up like them it would have already happened.” He locked the door behind me. “Come on, we need to keep moving.”
I walked beside him. A part of me relieved that I probably wouldn’t turn into some zombie-thing, but Ben hadn’t said I wouldn’t turn out like Carly.
“What is VA20? What is it doing to me?” I grasped his arm, a sudden panic flared up within me – thoughts of Carly – insane – deranged threw my heartbeat off balance.
He pulled his arm away from my grip and continued to walk toward a staircase at the end of the hall.
I grabbed his arm again – stopping him dead in his tracks. I was angry. I had a right to know, I wasn’t going to let him blank me anymore. He turned slowly toward me. His clear blue eyes dark now – stormy.
“What is VA20? I need to know – am I gonna die?” I snapped, frustration rising through my body. “You stuck this shit in me – the least you can do is tell me what the fuck it is and if you’ve given me a death sentence.”
Ben curled his hand around my throat – slamming me into the wall. His sudden attack took me by surprise. His eyes stretched wide – pupils black – like two smouldering pots of tar. A dark shadow almost seemed to fall upon me. My hair fluttered across my face as a cold gust of air swept past. I tried to push him away – hands hitting his chest – he didn’t move – he was solid – unbreakable.
“I don’t have to tell you anything!” he shouted, his face in mine. “Don’t push me, Kassidy.” He released his grip on my throat, turning away from me. He paced up and down the corridor – deep breaths – in-out. He held his head in his hands – like he was suffering a migraine. I watched as he mumbled to himself. He kicked out at an overturned metal cabinet. The noise clattered down the corridor – echoing up the staircase. I held my breath, fearful that the noise would send the Cleaners our way. I listened. My heart thumped. I took a breath – relaxed a little. I couldn’t hear anyone coming. I looked at Ben. He seemed calmer. He had stopped pacing and mumbling to himself. He stood with his back to me. Should I approach him or just stay where I was? Ben turned slowly and grinned at me. A shiver ran down my spine. A look of evil etched across his face.
“Come here, Kassidy,” he hushed, holding out his hand. “I’m sorry I shouted at you, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
I gulped hard – swallowing down my fear. Maybe if I went to him he would calm down – go back to how he had been. I needed his help. What would be the point in running? Where would I run to? I forced my feet to move. He beckoned me over – lips smiling. He opened his arms – pulled me to him. I felt his body press hard against me. His strong arms wrapped tight – hands sliding lower down my back.
“Look at me, Kassidy,” he whispered, his breath hot against my neck. “You are easy to manipulate – I love that.”
I looked up. The whites of his eyes cloudy-black as if staring into my soul. His body felt hot – like a fever burning through my hospital gown. He pushed his face into my hair – breathing in my scent – a look of ecstasy in his eyes. He lowered his face – lips brushing mine – sending a hot flush over my skin. I gasped – but I didn’t move – didn’t pull away. He was soaking me up – swamping me – tempting my body to give into him. His touch captivated me – held me still – kept me in a trance. I didn’t want him to stop. I felt his hands slide up beneath my gown. I was burning from the inside. His fingers stroking my arse – his lips pressed hard against mine – tongue breaking through – washing the inside of my mouth. He pushed me up against the wall – his leg sliding in between mine.
“Am I tempting you, Kassidy? Do you want me to take your body?” Ben whispered, his hands mauling me – nails clawing down my back – his touch burning through my skin.
“Yes,” I breathed, running my hands up his chest under his scrubs. His body was firm – my hands almost seemed to smoulder at the feel of his skin. I was on fire – ablaze – so hot I thought I would turn to ash. I shut my eyes and melted against him.
“Kassidy, what are you doing?” Ben asked, holding his hand up against my forehead. “You’ve been standing with your back pressed up to the wall, mumbling to yourself. Are you feeling ill?”
“What?” I gasped opening my eyes. “You were kissing me… you had your hands up...” I stopped. I could feel my face flush. Ben stared at me.
“I didn’t kiss you,” he said. “You feel really hot, you must have been hallucinating.”
“No, I wasn’t. You were touching me, I felt you,” I argued. “I didn’t imagine it – I’m not freaking crazy.”
“Look, we don’t have time for this. I need to get you to the south side of the building. There’s a door hidden from view of anyone walking past outside. It’s covered by a huge oak tree,” Ben said, walking up the stairs. “I have the key. When you get outside, you need to turn left and follow the path until you come across some steps leading down a small slope. When you get to the bottom, turn right and follow the p
ath until you get to the chapel.”
“Then what?” I asked, still feeling confused. I was sure Ben had kissed me – touched me – how could I conjure up something so vivid – so intense? My skin still felt his scorching touch. But how had it all started? What had we been doing before he’d begun assaulting me? I just couldn’t remember. Maybe he was telling the truth? Maybe I was going crazy? But he did touch me up on Ward 2 – didn’t he?
“Are you even listening to me, Kassidy?” Ben had stopped halfway up the stairs – hands on his hips – a look of frustration across his face.
“Huh? Yes I’m listening,” I said, catching up to him. I hadn’t heard half of what he’d said to me. Just something about a key and a chapel. I couldn’t concentrate. I looked at my gown – checking to see if it had been ruffled up – if it was still in place. Nothing seemed disturbed – the gown was still tied tight at the back. I felt stupid. It had been so real – now I was second-guessing myself – doubting my sanity.
“Take the key now – I have to leave you before we get to the door.” He handed me an old rusty key and carried on up the stairs.
“Aren’t you coming with me?” I asked. The thought of having to wander through the rest of this hospital alone didn’t do much for my nerves, and even though I wasn’t sure if I could trust Ben, I still would rather have him with me. I wished Jude and the others would show up – maybe they had already got out.
“I can’t go with you. They’ll wonder where I am soon and come looking for me – if you’re still with me then they’ll never let you leave,” whispered Ben, turning down a corridor lined with barred windows. “You’re their miracle breakthrough, Kassidy – if they get their hands on you then you’ll never see the light again.”
“I guess there’s no point in asking you what kind of a miracle breakthrough I am – you won’t tell me – will you?” I whispered, checking over my shoulder – making sure we were alone.
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