Family Ties (Rewritten)

The Parking Garage

Vincent:

Watching Stella bind Earl's hands behind his back, I realized that she was capable of much more than I had given her credit for. She came off as a weak and naive young lady when we first met. I never would have guessed she had it in her to take charge over what the doctor was doing to her. This could be a problem. If she was too independent in her endeavors, she wouldn't need me in the long run.

She kneeled down to the floor and unfastened the buttons on the unconscious doctor's shirt.  "We're going to have to move fast, if we want to get out of here before someone sees him."  Her voice was no longer laced with fear, but with intent, "You'll need to get undressed and switch clothes with him."

I ripped off the white pajamas that I had been forced to wear for seven long years, while she finished stripping his clothes off. The scent of his expensive cologne stung my nostrils as I put on his designer shirt. I removed the golden watch from his wrist and admired it as I placed it on mine.

"You don't deserve to have such nice things, Doctor Greer," I said, kicking him in the rib cage for good measure. "You only deserve pain and misery."

"There's a wheelchair down the hallway. Hide Earl in the bathroom while I get it."

"You're giving me orders?" The words left me before I could stop them. When I saw the look of doubt cross her face, I backtracked. "I'm only kidding, Stella. I'll take care of it right away."

"No," She sighed, clasping the sides of her head again.  "You're right.  What am I doing?"

"You're taking charge of your life."

"By kidnapping someone?  By hurting one of the only friends I've had in this miserable place?"

"Earl will be fine once he comes to, and you know damn well Doctor Greer deserves this."

"I can't let him turn me into a monster."

"You're not a monster, Stella.  You're a hero."

Her eyebrows raised.  "How am I a hero?"

"Think of all the nurses that sick son of a bitch has hurt over the years.  You have a chance to bring justice upon him that no one else ever will."

"I'm not a vigilante, Vincent."

"No, you're a woman filled with rage....rage that can only be quenched by putting an end to his reign of terror over women once and for all."

Her eyes burned with resolve. "I suppose you're right. I'll go get the wheelchair."

That was easier than I thought. Maybe with enough time, she would bend to my will. I only needed her to help me escape this place, but it wouldn't hurt to have her around for a while.

She could be the key to reuniting me with Emily.

The police are going to be searching for me, there is no doubt about that. If I could make it look like I forced Stella to come with me, there would be no reason for them to suspect her of trying to get to Emily and my daughter. I could convince her to alter her appearance to where no one would recognize her, then she could go get them.

Stella returned to my room with the wheelchair, looking at me with a nervous smile.  "The coast is clear.  I think it's safe for us to make our move."

"Help me get him into the chair."

I did most of the heavy work.  She grabbed his ankles while I placed my arms underneath his arm pits and hoisted him into the chair. There was still doubt in her eyes.  I needed to lighten the mood.