Looking For Now↣l.h

7. Deal

"Cora, you should really try to talk to someone here, that's kind of the purpose you know," Ashton whispers to me from our spot in the corner I refuse to leave. Most of the workers and patients are intermingling and talking, surprisingly enough. I didn't expect for most of the patients to be able to carry on a conversation. Of course there are at least six other patients like me who are keeping to themselves on the outskirts of the crowd.

"I'd really rather not. You can go though; I don't want to keep you from all of the fun," I reply in a monotone voice as I see Michael and Calum talking to another boy, who I assume is a patient because he isn't wearing a worker's badge. I have yet to spot Luke among the faces here.

"It's okay, no worries really. I'll hang back here with you," he assures me, but I can tell he wants to go and talk to his friends. I quickly come up with a plan so he can leave while I find another corner to sulk in.

"How about you go get a piece of cake, and bring me back one too?" I suggest.

"Yeah, sure. Be right back," he nods his head eagerly. I wait for his curls to disappear behind a couple talking before I walk along the edges of the room we are in. It's bigger than the cafeteria, but not huge. There are about sixty people here; workers and patients combined.

The closer I move to the mass of people, the more my mind spins. There are so many voices, and conversations, and I can't keep up with all that is going on, nor do I really want to. My head begins to ache and I can't take it anymore. Being here reminds me of all the parties I've had to drive Elias home from, sometimes dragging him as he protested and made a scene. I shudder trying to ignore the memories, but I can't. Everything reminds me of him; everything reminds me of what he did to me.

I come across a door and sweep the room for Walter. He is immersed in conversation with another guard, and doesn't take any notice as I quietly slip through the door.

I'm surprised no one paid attention to me leaving. I remember Leigh Anne's warning about not acting out, but I have a feeling if I had stayed in there for much longer, things would have gotten worse. I would've had a panic attack or something. All of the commotion made my heart race, and my palms sweat. I had never been one for parties. I push her warnings to the back of my mind as I take in my surroundings.

The door led me to a cold stairwell with a stench similar to my father's old basement. I take a deep breath and press my ear to the door of the room I just left listening to see if anyone has noticed my absence. Everything sounds just as it did before I left, so I quietly scale the cement staircase, not sure where it will lead.

I count the steps as I go up. Traveling up a total of sixty-four before I come to another door. I press my head against this one too, hearing no voices, but a gush of wind instead. Curious I turn the handle and it pops open.

A blast of cool air hits me in the face, and I smile to myself as I breathe in the fresh air. I haven't been outside since I've been here, and it feels so good. I feel free as the cold chills me through my sweatshirt sending shivers down my spine and goose bumps down my neck.

I look out and discover I am on the roof. It's a flat concrete roof with a two foot barrier on all sides. The door opens up on the left side of the roof and towards the right there is another door identical to the one I came out of.

I glance around the concrete expanse, and discover I am not alone. There is a figure to the right sitting on the ground. All feelings of freedom disappear as I go into a state of utter panic. I'm not supposed to be up here, if Leigh Anne finds out I will be in so much trouble. Then again, I'm already stuck here, how much worse can it get?

I am about to just turn back around, but the figure's voice causes me to freeze in my tracks, "Cora?"

My heart races, and my pulse quickens as the figure stands up, and moves towards me. He is very tall, but I can't see him in the dark. My first instinct is to expect the worse and I assume it's Elias. How did he find me? Why is he here?