Twinsies: Double Trouble

Chapter 4

The sun was setting as Tom's truck rumbled down the winding road leading to Rooney Sanitarium. Valerie sat in the passenger seat, her fingers drumming an anxious rhythm on her thigh, while Brittany peered out the back window, making sure they weren't followed.

"Are we sure about this?" Tom asked, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. "Breaking into a sanitarium... that's not exactly legal."

Valerie turned to him, her blue eyes blazing with determination. "We don't have a choice, Tom. Kirsten's been missing for days now. If Alex knows something, we have to find out what it is."

"Val's right," Brittany chimed in from the back seat. "We've come too far to back out now."

Tom nodded, a mix of fear and excitement on his face. "Alright. Let's do this."

As they crested a hill, Rooney Sanitarium came into view. The massive Victorian-era building loomed against the darkening sky, its windows glowing with an eerie yellow light. The grounds were surrounded by a high iron fence, its bars like skeletal fingers reaching toward the heavens.

"Creepy much?" Valerie muttered as Tom pulled into a secluded spot a little way down the road from the main entrance.

The three teens huddled together, going over their plan one last time.

"Okay," Valerie whispered, "We'll try the official route first. If they won't let us see Alex, we move to Plan B. Tom, you're our lookout. Britt and I will find a way in and locate Alex."

"And if we get caught?" Brittany asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Valerie squeezed her twin's hand. "We won't. But if something goes wrong, we meet back at the truck. No one plays hero, got it?"

Tom and Brittany nodded solemnly.

With a deep breath, Valerie led the way towards the sanitarium's main entrance. The reception area was deserted save for a bored-looking nurse behind a high counter.

"Can I help you?" she asked, barely looking up from her magazine.

Valerie stepped forward, plastering on her most winning smile. "Hi there! We're here to visit Alex Reeves. We're friends from school."

The nurse finally looked up, her eyes narrowing. "Alex Reeves? I'm sorry, but Mr. Reeves isn't allowed visitors at the moment. Doctor's orders."

"Please," Brittany pleaded, stepping up beside her sister. "We've come all this way. Couldn't we just see him for a few minutes?"

The nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry, but rules are rules. You'll have to come back another time."

Valerie opened her mouth to argue further, but Tom placed a hand on her arm, shaking his head slightly. With a sigh, Valerie thanked the nurse, and the three of them trudged back outside.

"Well, that's that," Tom said as they reached the parking lot. "What now?"

A sly grin spread across Valerie's face. "Now, we move to Plan B."

An hour later, night had fully fallen. The three teens crouched in the shadows near the back of the sanitarium, having circled the building to find a possible entry point.

"There," Brittany whispered, pointing to a small window at ground level. "I think that leads to the basement. The bars look rusty – we might be able to pry them loose."

Tom produced a crowbar from his backpack. "I can't believe I let you talk me into bringing this," he muttered.

"Less talking, more prying," Valerie hissed, keeping watch as Tom set to work on the window bars.