Fear

16 • The first escape attempt

After another session with James, I found myself pondering as he left the room. I'd noticed he wasn't his usual attentive self, as if his mind was elsewhere, so when he left, his usual routine of locking the door was forgotten, so the door clicked shut but didn't lock. My heart pounded in my chest as I rose from the bed, testing the handle gently. It turned with ease. James had accidentally left my door unlocked.

This was my chance to find an escape.

I stepped into the corridor, my senses heightened. The mixed odour of stale air, blood, sweat, and despair was pungent. The fluorescent lights buzzed annoyingly overhead, casting a harsh glow on the long narrow corridor lined with doors, presumably other patients' rooms. The sounds of distant conversations, occasional shouts, and the clink of metal against metal echoed through the halls.

Navigating the labyrinth of corridors, I noticed rooms I had never seen before. One door was slightly ajar, revealing a room with a pool. A chair was suspended over it. I shuddered in horror as I realised it was an Act room. I thought back to something Isabel once told me - "I hate the ocean, it's so scary." She had a fear of the ocean. It made me glad she didn't get kidnapped with me.

Another door led to what seemed like an office, but it didn't look used. The desk was dusty and a faint smell of iron lingered strangely in the air. I moved on.

My footsteps were muffled by the linoleum floor as I tiptoed ahead. I passed by a break room where two male staff members were chatting, one I recognised as Jack, oblivious to my presence. The room was minimalistic yet somewhat cozy compared to the rest of the facility, with chairs and a table and a pile of magazines. The smell of coffee wafted through the door, making my stomach churn with both hunger and nerves.

At the end of the corridor, there was a left turn onto another corridor. I walked quickly but silently, coming to a stop outside a door marked "Records Room." My curiosity piqued; I leaned inside. Rows of filing cabinets lined the walls, each drawer labelled with numbers and dates. The air was thick with a musty scent of old paper and dust. If I could find my file, maybe I could learn more about why I was here.

But before I could investigate further, a noise behind me made me freeze. The sound of footsteps-deliberate, confident, getting closer. I turned around slowly, my heart in my throat, and came face-to-face with Raven Nasser.

Her dark eyes bore into mine with a mix of annoyance and curiosity. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice low but firm.

I stammered, trying to come up with an excuse, but she cut me off. "Patients aren't allowed in this area. Come with me." Her grip on my arm was firm but not painful as she led me down the hall.

My mind raced as we walked, trying to come up with a plan. But it was too late. Raven escorted me straight to Tyler's office. The doorplate read "T.H." The door was ominously large, and the air inside was heavy with tension. Tyler was sitting behind his desk, fingertips pressed together. He looked deep in thought. Then he saw me, and his expression darkened instantly, a growing snarl wrinkling his nose.

"Caught wandering where you shouldn't be, Emily?" he said, his voice threatening but controlled. "You think you can just stroll around this place, do you?"

I didn't respond, my heart pounding in my ears. Tyler stood up, his eyes burning with anger. "Raven, stand outside. I'll have a little chat with her," he ordered, his voice cold and final.

I gulped as he walked around his desk and slowly advanced toward me. I backed away until my spine pressed against the wall, feeling the room close in around me. Our eyes never lost focus. He stopped inches from my face, his dark, onyx eyes boring into mine. I froze, holding my breath, my eyes wide with fear and defiance.

"You're a naughty girl, Emily. You're causing me too much trouble."

He placed his hands on the wall on either side of my head, caging me in. I could feel the heat of his breath on my face, and my pulse quickened. The intensity of his gaze made my knees weak, and I fought to maintain my composure.

"Do you think you can just walk around my facility as you please?" he hissed, his voice low and menacing. "You think you can outsmart me?"

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. He was so close, his presence overwhelming. Despite my fear, a part of me was furious at his intimidation tactics.

"Answer me," he demanded, his voice rising.

"I-I just needed some air," I stammered, not knowing what to say but knowing how weak it sounded.

He chuckled darkly, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Air? You think I believe that?"

I could feel the tension, thick and suffocating. His eyes flickered to my lips briefly, a subtle shift that didn't go unnoticed. For a split second, I saw something other than anger, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual mask of cruelty.

"Don't think for a second that I'm going soft on you," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You're just another patient, another problem for me to deal with."

He straightened up, breaking the intense proximity but still keeping me pinned against the wall with his presence.

"You're not going anywhere, Emily. You're mine, and you will learn your place."

I wanted to scream at him, to tell him how much I hated him, but the words stuck in my throat. He seemed to sense my inner turmoil, a smug look of satisfaction spreading across his face.

"I think a little time in isolation will remind you of your place," he said, stepping back and turning toward the door.

Before he opened it, he looked over his shoulder, his eyes locking onto mine one last time. "Enjoy your stay," he giggled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I was left grappling with a mixture of fear, anger, and a small, unsettling flicker of something else. Something I didn't want to acknowledge.

Tyler opened the door and called Raven back in. He gave her a final, chilling command, "Throw her in The Slaughter."

Raven's grip tightened on my arm as she led me away. Panic set in as I realised what was happening. The Slaughter was an isolation chamber, a place of punishment.

One thing was clear: Tyler's threat was real, and now I was about to face the consequences.

As we approached the chamber, the air grew colder, the walls damp and covered in a thick layer of grime. The metallic scent of fear and despair hung heavy in the air. Raven opened the door and shoved me inside. I stumbled to the floor and the door slammed shut behind me with a finality that echoed in the small, oppressive space.

I was alone, the darkness pressing in on me, the silence deafening. My breathing was ragged, my heart racing. I knew I had to stay calm, to keep my wits about me. But the fear was overwhelming, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd be trapped in there for a while.

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