MADNESS

12. ID

SYDNEY WILSON

"Noah?" I call.

Running down the hallway, I want to make it clear that my fear doesn't come from him but from Jonathan's actions. Despite finding what he did disturbing, I'm not particularly scared of him. I need him to understand that he confuses me, and I need to figure out why he's here in the first place — in the hallway. He's not allowed here and neither was Jonathan. His gaze, once I paused before attempting to explain, left me feeling so empty that I couldn't even follow him after he left.

He saved me from a potential life-threatening situation. I had a knife at my neck. I owe Noah a tremendous debt of gratitude. It's essential that he understands how much his actions meant to me – I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for him. I need to find him and express my actual feelings.

But he's nowhere to be seen.

He's not in the hallway.

Uncertain about how Jonathan and Noah managed to leave the Main Room without guards, I open the door to the salon to find a grim scene. Most patients are sedated and on the floor, while others are being held by their arms. It looks like a serious breakdown has happened, with blood on the floor and some patients who look badly injured. That's how Jonathan and Noah slipped away – the guards were occupied dealing with the chaos, including additional guards from the hallways who were probably called in for help.

"Miss. Wilson." A guard calls my name.

I look at him confused.

"You have blood on your uniform." He brings me back to reality.

Right.

"Yes, Jonathan Raye attacked me in the hallway. He had a knife on him. I suspect he took from the canteen, I saw the door open." I inform them.

"Where is he now?"

"In the hallway, near the bathroom and the old emergency door. He's unconscious."

As I was about to follow the guards into the hallway, our pace slowed as the asylum's alarm started ringing out. We have different signals: the bell for fire, the whistle for flooding, and the alarm that goes off specifically when there's a missing patient. They don't sound that alarm unless they're sure someone is missing; so this is not a drill. The guards, momentarily forgetting about Jonathan and me, scatter inside and outside to search for the missing patient.

I know exactly who that is, they don't even have to tell me.

It's Noah.

I was the last person to see him before he vanished all of a sudden and I know for a fact that he escaped, he's smart enough to realize there's no place for him inside the building to hide. It's designed that way purposely.

He's out.

This is a serious problem. He's dangerous, even if he looks okay on the outside. Emma's right; he just can't be okay. The police should be informed by now, given the circumstances of his escape and his bad reputation. He can't have gone too far though, considering when he left. Plus, with his face being public knowledge right after joining Vendable Asylum's patients, people can report him to the authorities almost instantly. It's a risky situation.

He is in danger, but he's also the danger.

I messed up – he slipped away right under my nose, and I was so close too. I figure he used the fire emergency door since it's the only exit on that side, aside from the janitors' closet. If he ran through the woods, he might be hitting the street by now. It takes about 5 minutes by car to reach the city, but if he sprints, maybe 15? The police should be waiting for him there already. Should I tell the guards about this?