Chapter 1
IMOGEN
Please, please, please, please, please…. He can’t find me!
I peeked around the curtain separating me from the next patient. No one seemed to be paying attention, but I knew if I didn’t get out now, I never would. I pulled the blanket off the bed, wrapped it around my body like an invisibility cloak, and tiptoed past each patient cubicle.
Where am I supposed to hide in a hospital?
“Ma’am. Where are you going?” the emergency room nurse called out from behind her desk.
“I just need to use the loo.” I lied, pointing down the hall and hoping the loo was actually in that direction.
“Okay, do it quickly, the doctor will see you next,” the nurse said.
This was my chance to get away. Brice hadn’t shown up yet, like he always did. No one was going to believe that Sheriff Brice busted my lip wide open or hit me in the eye so hard it was bleeding. I’d been through this before, too many times, and knew I wouldn’t be believed. The nurse was watching my every move.
“Do you think I could get a drink of water?” I pointed to my lip. “This blood taste is making me nauseous.”
The nurse gave me a look of disgust, like I was a criminal. Looks like Brice called and gave a horrible story about me like always. I wanted to take off running, but I needed to keep calm.
“Never mind. I’ll just rinse my mouth in the sink.” I turned to walk away as casual as possible, even though in my head I was running like a crazy person.
The minute I got past her desk I took off running. My ribs were hurting, probably broken again. At the end of the corridor the elevator door was closing. I needed to get in it.
“Hold the door!” I called out reaching the opening just in time. “Thank you.”
The guy that held the door for me looked like he wanted to say something, while the guy with him that held a massive bouquet of flowers was absorbed in his cell. I moved to stand in the corner of the elevator behind the flowers. I was trying my best to melt into the walls, not knowing what was going to greet me when the doors opened. I jumped when the elevator dinged, signaling the door was about to open. I immediately turned to face the corner.
“Are you alright?” The guy that had held the door asked just as the doors opened.
“Um, not really. Could you look and see if there are any cops out there?” I whispered without turning around. “I’m not a criminal, in case you’re wondering. I’m running from the person who did this to me.”
“I see one officer out there,” the guy said. “Do you want me to do something?”
“Can you close the doors?” I begged. “I can’t let him find me.”
Cell-phone guy now looked up and directly at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched several emotions cross his face. Fear didn’t look like one of them and for that I was grateful. The other guy was looking at us with confusion on his face. He reached over and hit the ‘close door’ button and then stood in front of me until the doors closed. Once they closed, the guy with the flowers turned to me again.
“You clearly need help. My name is August, and this is Kellan. What can we do for you?” he asked, putting his cell in his pocket.
“I’m not sure you can do anything but giving me a minute to catch my breath is helpful,” I said, still standing in the corner. “It’s better if you don’t get involved, but thanks for trying.”
The elevator was moving upward, and I was going to have to get off eventually. The one named August held his business card out to me.
A business card? What is he a lawyer?
“If you think of a way I can help, just call me,” August said, still holding his card. “We have to go deliver these flowers, so we’ll be in the hospital for about ten minutes.”
I reached my hand out to take the card from him. He was really trying to help, and I appreciated it. The elevator came to a stop on the fourth floor. They stepped off the elevator, but August came back to remind me to call. He seemed to really want to help. I thanked him and he was off down the hall with the flowers. I pushed the button to close the doors.
Now what? Just get off wherever it stops first. Keep moving.
The doors opened seconds later. The police were on the fifth floor, so I pushed the button again to bring me to the sixth floor. No police in sight but they would be soon enough. Brice would be sure of it. I stepped out of the elevator and grabbed a stack of towels off a nearby cart. I figured maybe I could pretend to be the maid or whatever. Nurses scurried by without a word. I ducked into the first room.
Great just pick the room with the doctor in it. Can I not get a break?
“Sorry, I’ll come back later,” I said, backing out of the room.
Now what?
I lifted the towels up to my shoulder and walked past the nurse’s station. I had no idea where I was. Unfortunately, the elevator had gone up instead of down, but Brice would have people waiting outside for me anyways.
He’s going to find me. And when he does, what am I going to say about running? No! I’m getting away this time. Just find somewhere to hide.
An officer came out of a room at the end of the hall, causing me to redirect and head for the opposite hallway. He was preoccupied with the pretty brunette at the nurse’s station, and I took it as my chance to get back around to the elevator, only to be cut off by the food cart.
I heard the intercom calling for me to report back to the emergency room. It wouldn’t be long ‘til they found me. The elevator dinged behind me. Without looking, I ducked into the closest room. Lucky for me it was a break room of sorts. I couldn’t stay there for long. The minutes ticked like everything was in slow motion. I grabbed a bottle of water from the small refrigerator, poured some on a towel, tried my best to wipe away some of the blood running down my cheek, then chugged the rest. I peeked out the door, found the coast clear, and headed toward the emergency exit. I’d only made it down the stairs two floors when I heard people coming up from a few floors down. I quickly grabbed the handle to the fourth, ran into the hallway, and searched for somewhere to hide.
What was I thinking going down the stairs? It’s the first place they would look. Come on, think.
The intercom blasted my name again. I froze midway down the hall. It felt like everyone turned to look at me. Panic took over and I darted into the first door that was open. I closed the door and leaned my back against it. Only then did I see the little girl laying in the bed holding tightly to a teddy bear.
Crickey. This is unfortunate.
“Sorry, I’m in the wrong room.” I pulled on the heavy door to make a run for it.
“Why is your eye bleeding?” the little girl asked.
“Um, Hi.” I wiped at the blood on my cheek. “I just bumped it on the door”
“You should let the doctor look at it. They know how to fix people.” The little girl hugged her stuffed animal tightly.
“I was looking for the doctor, but I came into the wrong room,” I said, peeking out of the cracked open door.
“Does it hurt?” the little girl asked, “Cuz if it hurts you can hold my teddy. He always makes me feel better.”
I closed the door and turned to the little girl. Only then did I see how pale she was. The machines around her bed flashed and beeped. This poor little girl had to be very sick. I walked closer to her but kept a distance so she wouldn’t see how messed up my face was.