I hold my water up to my lips and watch as Dax downs his in an instant. I'm not too thirsty, since I got some water in the infirmary, and place the water back onto the nightstand. I flick off my lamp and roll to the side, staring at the wall in the dark. I hear Dax's breathing steady quickly. Must've been all those drugs, I think to myself before closing my eyes. I never noticed how cold the room was until now. I shiver and nestle myself deeper into my thin blanket. I hear Dax snoring across from me. I turn to look at him. His blanket is kicked to the side and his eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. " Holy shit!" I scream, bolting upright in my bed. As I reach frantically for the lamp, I knock over my water glass, spilling its contents onto the tiled floor. His eyes glint in the light in an unsettling manner. I never noticed how eerily he slept. I chuckle breathily and place my water glass up before turning off the light. As I place my hand over my racing heart, I hear booted footsteps dashing through the hall. " Where did it come from?" I hear an unfamiliar voice call. I wonder how they don't worry about waking the patients. " Somebody will regret not having drank their water." Another voice adds. My heart picks up again as I listen closely to their words. " Start opening doors." The first voice orders. I hear a key click into the keyhole and my stomach sinks. I stare up into the ceiling the same as Dax does and try not to let the shake in my breath be telligible. Light pours in from the hallway and a man steps into the room. My chest tightens as I feel him watch over us. " Not in here!" He shouts to my relief before exiting the room. I let out the breath I didn't know I held. What the fuck, I think to myself. I slither off my bed silently and place the pillows beneath my blanket to give the impression of my body. I crawl towards the door and lay flat on my stomach, peering out the crack on the bottom. " Well, hello, sweetie." The man's voice is suddenly softer, sweeter. " Didn't drink your water?" I watch his feet pass my door, followed by the next pair. " I- I wasn't thirsty." A girl's voice rings out with a shake as a pair of bare feet enter my path of vision. The boots near her with heavy thuds. " What was your name again?" The second voice asks gently. " Um... It's Nixon..." She steps backwards as she answers. " You're going to wish you drank your water." The voice is now bleak and stern. Suddenly, the boots scuff the white floor as they tackle her, pushing a girl with long, honey blonde hair and hazel eyes to the ground. She screams, but the man's hand stifles it. I bite down on my lip hard and crane my neck to see farther under the door. The man stands up, a wad of the girl's hair clenched tightly in his fist. She cries out for help as the nurse drags her across the floor. " Dr. Duskbane has been needing to see a girl for a while. You rarely misbehave, Nixon, and I'm sorry this is happening." His voice is edged with mock reassurance as she yelps in pain. She claws the man's wrist and hands, sending deep lines across his skin. The second pair of boots raises one and slams the heel into her chin, causing blood to stream from her lips. I stumble backwards, my back striking the wall hard. My breath is hitched in my throat and my heart pounds so loudly I am sure they can hear it. The girl's screams disappear behind the elevator doors and leave me eerie silence. "This is not a hospital." I whisper, tilting my head to look at Dax.
