Beautifully Designed

Chapter 21 - To Escape

*Dusts off cover* Wow, this is still on here? Uncompleted? Whoops. . .
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The hallways never changed. No matter which direction we turned, no matter what door we passed through, they were always white. And I was starting to think that this was what people meant when they described going "Into the Tunnel" when they were dying.

How fitting, right?

Jason led us down numerous walkways. Sometimes we saw other doctors passing by, noses in clipboards, shuffling toward their destinations with purpose. They never stopped to question Jason. They barely even spared a glance at us.

It was very much like walking through the halls of my high school.

And also very much like being in school, I happened to spot Melanie walking our way. Just like the other doctors her eyes were skimming across a paper in her hands. She wouldn't have even looked up if I hadn't called out to her.

"Melanie!"

Jason pinched my shoulder, making me wince, and said, "Quiet!"

But by that time Melanie looked. She jerked to a stop on the right side of the hall. We approached her quickly but Jason did not stop as we neared. In fact, he even nudged us to a faster pace.

Dad looked quizzically at the stranger. He knew her once as we had been best friends. It's been so long that he may have forgotten.

Recognition soon filled his features. His eyes lit up at the sight of her - Melanie was like a second daughter to him at one time. She was just as much his friend as mine. How could I assume that he would forget such a memorable face?

"Melanie Wells!"

Dad became overly excited despite the recent turn of events. Primarily, the forthcoming news of our imminent deaths.

"M-Mr. Hayes?" Melanie glanced back and forth between Jason, Dad, and me as we whisked passed her.

"Melanie," he said loudly, "I haven't seen you in a dog's age! Come over here and tell me how you're doing."

Jason continued shoving us forward. Melanie looked thoroughly confused, and I had to wonder what my Dad was thinking. Did he have a plan that I didn't know about? Or was he actually curious about Melanie?

Finally deciding, Melanie hurried to catch up to us, fast-walking to reach Dad. Jason halted.

The hallway grew deathly silent. Jason's eyes zeroed in on Melanie, two sharp daggers questioning her motives.

Dad did not hesitate.

"So how's your dad? I see you've got in to a hospital. Where you've always wanted to work. Right?"

"Yes," Melanie said. She looked very nervous as Jason continued drilling holes through her forehead with his unblinking eyes. "My dad is well. It was actually a friend of my mom's who pulled some strings to get me in here."

"Oh, good, good," Dad said, smiling. "I'm glad you stuck with such a time-consuming yet rewarding career. Well done."

"Thank you."

"Say, Melanie, any chance you could help us out?"

"Enough!" Jason's voiced boomed through the hallway, startling all of us at once. "I have orders. You," he snarled at Melanie, who flinched. "Get back to work. Or I will bring this little 'family gathering' matter to Satorski's attention. Understand?"

Melanie nodded but the conflict was clear across her face; she wanted to help, but how?

"Wait!"