Evelyn's mind was spinning. Colby had been barely conscious for days, his body dragging through the hallways like a shadow of the boy she had kissed on the rooftop. The staff was relentless, increasing his medication, keeping him trapped in a fog. His once fiery spirit had dimmed into a hollow shell, and Evelyn couldn't stand it any longer. She had to do something.
She had heard whispers from some of the older patients about a way out—a way to escape. It wasn't impossible, but it was dangerous, risky. Still, the more Evelyn saw Colby fading, the more desperate she became. She couldn't let him disappear into that haze forever.
That night, while the rest of the patients shuffled to their rooms for lights out, Evelyn slipped into the shadows, her pulse racing. She didn't have much time before the night nurses started their rounds, and if she was caught, she knew the punishment would be severe. But she didn't care. She needed to find Colby.
Evelyn moved swiftly down the darkened corridors, her bare feet silent against the cold tile. The familiar scent of antiseptic and stale air lingered, but beneath it, she could smell something sharper—fear. Her own fear. It was like a living thing inside her, coiling tighter and tighter with every step.
When she reached Colby's room, her heart was pounding in her throat. The door was slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling into the hallway. She pushed it open just enough to slip inside, her eyes immediately landing on him.
He was lying on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, the once vibrant intensity in his eyes dulled by the heavy sedatives they kept pumping into his system. His hands twitched occasionally, as if his body was fighting against the drugs, but the rest of him was still.
Evelyn's chest tightened as she moved toward him. "Colby," she whispered, kneeling beside the bed. "Colby, we have to go."
He didn't respond at first. His breathing was slow and shallow, his eyes glassy. But when she touched his hand, something flickered in his gaze. It was faint, but it was there—a spark of recognition.
"Evelyn..." His voice was a hoarse whisper, barely audible. "I can't..."
"Yes, you can." She gripped his hand tighter, her voice trembling with urgency. "I found a way out. We just have to get past the guard at the east wing. I'll get you out of here. We'll run."
Colby blinked slowly, his head turning toward her. "Run... where?"
"Anywhere," she breathed, her heart hammering in her chest. "Anywhere but here."
For a long moment, Colby was silent, his eyes drifting toward the ceiling again. Evelyn felt panic rising in her throat—he was slipping away from her, and she didn't know how much longer she could hold on to him. But then, with a soft groan, he moved. It was slow, painful, but he pushed himself up into a sitting position.
"Let's go," he muttered, though his voice was weak.
Evelyn's heart soared. She wrapped her arms around him, helping him to his feet. He stumbled, his legs shaky, but she held him steady. "Stay with me," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. "We're going to make it out."
They moved cautiously down the hall, keeping close to the walls, their footsteps muffled by the sounds of distant machines and the occasional murmur of a patient in their room. Every creak of the floor, every flicker of light overhead felt like a warning—a sign that they were about to be caught.
But they couldn't stop now.
As they neared the east wing, Evelyn's pulse quickened. This was it—the final obstacle. The guard at the door was usually half-asleep by this time of night, but they had to be fast, precise. Evelyn glanced at Colby, his face pale and drawn, his body heavy against hers as he struggled to keep up.
"We're almost there," she whispered, trying to reassure both of them.
But when they turned the corner, Evelyn's heart sank.
The guard wasn't asleep.
He was standing at the door, alert, his eyes scanning the hallway. There was no way they could sneak past him, not with Colby barely able to walk. For a moment, panic seized her, freezing her in place. This was it. They were going to get caught.
Colby sensed her hesitation and gently tugged at her arm. His voice was barely more than a croak. "We can't stop now..."
Evelyn's mind raced, her thoughts spiraling out of control. They needed a distraction, something to draw the guard away. But what?
Suddenly, an idea struck her—a dangerous, reckless idea.
"I'll distract him," she whispered, her voice shaking. "You keep going. When I give you the signal, run."
"No," Colby rasped, his grip tightening on her arm. "I'm not leaving you."
"You have to." Her eyes blazed with determination as she pulled away from him. "I'll meet you at the exit. I promise."
Before Colby could protest again, Evelyn was already moving. She walked out into the hallway, trying to appear calm, collected, though her heart was hammering so loudly she thought it might give her away.
The guard's eyes snapped to her, narrowing. "What are you doing out here?" His voice was sharp, suspicious.
"I couldn't sleep," Evelyn replied, forcing her voice to stay steady. She took a few slow steps toward him, her hands trembling at her sides. "I just needed some air."
The guard frowned, stepping closer. "You know you're not supposed to be out of your room at night."
"I know," she said softly, lowering her gaze to the floor, playing the part of the meek, apologetic patient. "But... I feel trapped. Like I'm suffocating."
He hesitated, his posture stiffening, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—sympathy? Curiosity? Evelyn couldn't tell, but she needed to keep him distracted for just a little longer.
She took another step toward him, her heart racing. "I just need a moment. Please."
The guard's frown deepened, but he didn't move. His attention was locked on her now, and in that moment, Evelyn knew it was her chance.
Behind him, she saw Colby moving slowly toward the exit, his movements careful and deliberate. Her breath caught in her throat, and she had to fight the urge to look directly at him, to make sure he was okay. One wrong move, and they'd both be caught.
She needed to push further.
Without thinking, Evelyn reached out and placed a hand on the guard's arm. He flinched slightly, clearly not expecting the touch. "Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Just let me stay here for a minute."
The guard's eyes softened, and for a second, Evelyn thought she had him. But then, in a flash, everything went wrong.
A loud crash echoed from down the hall—Colby had stumbled into a metal cart, sending it clattering to the floor.
The guard's face twisted in shock and anger, his head snapping toward the sound. "What the hell—"
Evelyn's heart lurched. "Colby, run!"
Without waiting for the guard's reaction, she shoved him as hard as she could, sending him off balance. The guard staggered back, his hand reaching for his radio, but Evelyn didn't wait to see what happened next. She bolted down the hallway, her feet pounding against the tile as the alarms blared to life around them.
Colby was ahead of her, struggling to keep his balance, but he was running—he was still running. Evelyn's chest burned with adrenaline as they rounded the corner, the exit door in sight.
But just as they reached it, the door slammed open, and two more guards rushed in, their expressions grim.
Evelyn skidded to a stop, her heart dropping into her stomach. This was it. They were caught.
