Suicide Watch

Chapter 36

Temi POV

My head is pounding so hard from where it was hit. I am alone once again in the room, exhausted, and in pain, but too scared to sleep. I'm terrified. I had been talking big shit previously, but that is not at all how I feel.

My eyes shut slightly, and I immediately force them back open. At this point, I'm not sure if it's tiredness or if I'm really just slipping in and out of consciousness. Vincenzo did hit my head pretty fucking hard. It was a single blow, but enough to send the message that they weren't fucking around. Not in the slightest.

And I would pay for my refusal to cooperate and my stubbornness.

For a brief second, I wonder what would happen if I just give in and go to sleep, letting the darkness take over.

I think of Grace. She always used to tell me I am a lot more resilient than I gave myself credit for, and I inspired her every day. It's bittersweet thinking about it.

Grace was the most resilient person I knew. Grace still is the most resilient person I know and nothing, not even her death, is going to change that.

In my mind's eye, I see Grace's face. It's clear, smiling above me. She's glowing and beautiful. I blink and it's no longer Grace but Isa's face. It's looking at me unsmiling, filled with concern and various other emotions.

I know I am hallucinating, but as I reach my hand up, I am shocked when I make contact with something. With someone.

"Temi, can you see me?"

I blink twice. Ironically enough, that is the same question I am asking myself.

"Isa?"

Isa nods, relief spreading all over her facial expression.

"H-How did you get in here?"

I'm immensely confused and not even sure that what I am experiencing right then is reality.

"No time for questions," Isa responds instead. Her face is set in serious lines and her jaw is clenched together tightly. "They're coming. This place is seriously guarded. I barely even made it in, let alone making it out."

As I watch Isa pushes a knife into my hand, and I respond by staring at it dumbly. My mind is clouding over. Isa is saying something to me but nothing seems to compute, absolutely nothing is making sense.

"What's going on, Isa?" I ask, "how the hell are we going to get out? Hell, how the hell did you even get in here? Why are you even here?"

"Okay Temi, I'll be quick, we really have little time," Isa says, reaching over and placing a hand on my shoulder. I try not to think of the immense comfort that this single touch from Isa brings me. But instead, with my head still pounding, I try to focus on the words Isa is saying to me.

"When I realized you were missing, I got in contact with my bodyguard agency and we tracked you down using satellite signals. It's complicated. I will not explain the tech behind that, we have no time. As for getting in here, I used a disguise. I had to pretend to be one of the guards, but it will not hold for long. Eventually, they're going to figure out my presence here. Which is why we need to go. Now."

I don't ask any more questions, sensing the urgency of the situation.

Instead, I silently let Isa take my hand in hers. The tension is high in the air as Isa slowly makes her way over to the door at the corner of the room and we slip out.

They painted the hallway walls white, matching the similar theme of the room. It's empty and cold. Freezing cold.

I grasp tighter to Isa's hand. Her grip is familiar. It's the only sense in all of this. The only comfort and I try to focus on the feel of my hand in hers to keep sane.