Candles

56 | F U G I T I V E S

I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING the moment I walked into the operating room. Mrs. Walker was laying down on a bed in the center of the room, bright lights flashing down on her. The room was not empty and I looked down each side of the hall before entering the room for good. Closing the door behind me, I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. All of this was risky and if I got caught, there was no way I could get them out of here. Multiple IVs were attached to her arms, different colored fluids making their way into her bloodstream. One of them was keeping her asleep and I needed to get the needles out of her.

"How does this work?" I asked the few doctors that were still in the room. They looked me up and down before turning their attention back to their patient.

"Briana, what in God's name do you think you're doing in here?" Leonard asked, strapping wires to Mrs. Walker's head and temples. "You know this room is off limits until the procedure is completed. Dr. Stanley's orders. You, of all people, should know what will happen if you disobey him."

"Tell me." I said through gritted teeth. "How. Does. This. Work?" I stood in front of the door to block their only exit. When none of them moved, I reached into my back pocket, retrieving my weapon and pointing it at the four doctors.

"What are you—What are you doing?" Trisha squeaked, holding her hands out in front of her as if they would protect her from the weapon in my hands.

I held a strong, fierce expression while meanwhile, I was terrified. I had no idea how to use this weapon but none of them knew that. For all I knew, the safety was still on and I had no idea how to undo that.

"Tell me how it works!" I screamed, waving the gun around to frighten them even more. "Now, dammit! Tell me now!"

When no one said anything, I pulled the trigger multiple times until I heard four bodies hit the floor. Cautiously walking across the room as if someone was still watching me, I studied her appearance, my heart aching at the sight. She looked much paler than she did when I brought Amira in to see her and Mr. Walker. Her lips were extremely dry, numerous cracks and splits forming on the skin. Her once beautiful blonde hair was now tangled, dry, and dull. I ran my fingers along the side of the bed before quickly moving into action. I started removing the IVs, Mrs. Walker still out cold in the process.

"Come on," I whispered as I broke the IVs, spilling the colorful fluids on the floor with the blood of the doctors I just shot. "Come on, you have to wake up."

I waited, listening to her quiet breathing as I urged for her to quickly awaken in my limited amount of time. I grabbed the chair closest to me and moved it towards the door, placing the back under the doorknob to buy myself some more time. Anyone else who tried to come in would have trouble and that would give me enough time to think of another escape route.

Another chair sat in the corner of the room—a wheelchair. I rushed towards it and rolled it by the bed's side. Mrs. Walker remained unconscious and I frowned, examining my very small arms and the muscles that were barely there. If I tried getting her off the bed without her help, I was going to end up dropping her. I placed my hands on top of my head and started pacing the room. I had to try. Mr. Walker was depending on me. I told him to give me a few days and it had been a few days. His wife was going to be reunited with him and I was going to make sure of that.

Even if I managed to drop her in the process, I needed to try to get her in the wheelchair.

Sitting the gun off to the side, I hesitated before looping my arms underneath her shoulders. I pulled her sideways and kept the wheelchair where it was with my foot blocking its path. As she slid off the bed, my heartbeat quickened and I hoped for the best. I moved slowly and relief washed over me when she landed in the chair, her body leaning forward a bit. I pushed her gently and frowned when her head hung back as she remained unaware of what was happening around her.