The alarm bells sound for another 5 minutes before finally shutting off. Their red lights continue to illuminate the halls as I wonder down them. The patients I've been working with aren't the only ones held here, so I have to be cautious in case anyone else has escaped. I stick close to the walls and hesitantly look around each corner before turning. As I walk, I can hear the sound of my heart beating rapidly. The adrenaline rushing through my body makes my ears ring and my head hurt more.
I'm currently on the ground floor. There aren't any patients kept here, but if I want to escape, I'll have to make it to the helicopter pad on the rooftop. Which means I have three floors to get through, all of which would have been shut off during the lockdown. The elevators have been shut down and the stair access from the side has been automatically gated off, which means only the three main stair cases are available. Unfortunately this also means that I'll be out in the open when I use them. The stair cases have been designed so they're not close together either, an architectural flaw in my opinion.
(Author's Note: so basically for example one set will be on the bottom right side of the floor, and to get to the next set she will have to go to top left side. Picture it as a square shape with a space in the middle that would be rooms +corridors around the side. The side access stairs would be, well, off to the side and would all be connected for easier use for staff. These are closed off during lockdowns in case anyone gets stuck there defenceless + to stop patients escaping.
Hopefully this makes sense.)
I'm walking down towards the stairs when I hear a sound coming from the room where my patients were kept. Panicking, I run into the first room I see. I lock the door behind my and close the blinds, sliding down the wall until I'm sitting on the floor.
"I wonder where the doctor is." I hear someone say. I think it's Baekhyun.
"Same, I hope she's still around." Another voice, I think Jongin, says.
"Haven't you and Kyungsoo had enough fun? Give her a break." A voice that I know as Luhan's snaps.
"Don't tell me you've gone soft, Lulu." Sehun teases
"Yeah Luhan, lighten up." Jongin chuckles.
"That's hyung to you." Luhan grits.
As they pass I hold my hand over my mouth, hoping that helps calm my rapid breathing, even though I feel out of breath.
"Why are the blinds for this room closed when none of the others are?" One of them asks, and I can feel my heart skip a beat.
"They probably weren't using it today." Another replies.
"Oh, okay." Thank god.
I think they're gone until there is a suddenly bang against the window above me. I bite my hand to stop the screams that are threatening to leave my throat. Slowly, I glance up to the window, and internally sigh when I see no one there.
"Kai, what are you doing?!" I think Suho calls.
"Just checking." Jongin chuckles, and I listen and hear their footsteps fading away.
I stay there for a while, paralysed by my own fear. I stare at a clock on the wall as it ticks back and forth. An hour passes before I finally get up and leave the room.
The alarm lights outside have cut out, leaving the halls dark aside from the lights that are still on. I don't dare to turn anymore on, in case I attract unwanted attention.
I tiptoe down the corridor until I reach the first set of stairs. I glance around, thankfully not finding anyone near me.
'Turn around.'
I freeze, and I can feel the life leave my lungs. This is the end.
A hand lightly touches my shoulder, making me turn around. I come face to face with the mind reader.
The contraption that was once on his head has been removed, which now means he can access my mind. I am helpless.
"I won't hurt you, don't worry." He says, in a whisper so quiet I can barely hear him.
A small smile comes upon his lips, "I guess I haven't really regained my voice yet."
I nod at him slowly, not sure how I'm supposed to react.
Luhan snaps his head around as voices are heard from behind him.
"Come with me." He urges, grabbing my arm and trying to pull me along. I fight back and resist him.
"I'm not going to hurt you, trust me."
"No!" I whisper-yell
"We don't have time for this, there are others coming, and not ones from my group!"
Just as he says this a deep laugh can he heard from behind me. Luhan's eyes widen, and he grabs my arm again. "Run!"
I allow him to pull me this time, running next to him as the voices behind us become more apparent.
'Don't worry, I'll protect you as best I can.'
I lose track of which part of the building we're in as I run with him. A regrettable mistake.
We're turning a corner when Luhan suddenly stops.
"Luhan, you're back!" Xiumin calls to him with his arms open.
"And you've brought the pretty doctor." Jongin notes. He faces towards me, "How's your day going, doc? Did you enjoy the show earlier?"
Luhan steps in front of me, holding his arm out to block me from Jongin.
"Kai, enough. Leave her alone." Chen cuts in, glancing in my direction.
"But she's so fun." Jongin pouts at him.
"Too bad."
"Yeah Kai, leave Chen's lady alone." Baekhyun teases, causing both himself and Chanyeol to snigger.
"What's this? Doctor/Patient relations? The SCANDAL!" Tao cries, earning a playful whack from Kris for being so loud.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Chen laughs, glancing at me again.
Luhan is still standing by me, however he has lowered his arm.
"Lulu, relax." Sehun says, walking to and wrapping his arm around Luhan's shoulders.
"Yeah hyung, relax. Let me take care of the doctor for you." Chen smiles, walking up to me and wrapping his arm around my waist. I tense at the sudden touch, once again not sure how to react.
"You know dojeon, I don't believe you ever told me your name." Chen says, gently lifting my chin up to face him with his finger.
"Because she's not supposed to tell us." Luhan informs, his eyes still as serious as before.
"I'm sure she could now." Chen says, briefly looking to Luhan before turning his attention back to me. "So lovely, what is it?"
"Natalie." I say quietly.
"What was that? Speak up darling." Chen sing-songs the last part to me.
"Natalie." I repeat, not much louder.
"Natalie? How nice. It suits you."
"You're so bad at this." Kris comments, which Tao sniggers at.
"Shut up." Chen huffs. "Anyway, Natalie, what were you doing before you were with Luhan?"
My eyes widen unintentionally at this. Should I tell him?
"She was trying to make it to the roof." Luhan answers for me.
"Ah, yes. Trying to escape already? But our fun has only just started. You'll stay with us, and we'll help you get there later." Chen says, giving me no choice.
I simply nod at him, which he smiles contently at. I'll find a way to escape them later.
I glance at Luhan, who clearly knows what I'm thinking. I'm expecting him to say something to the others, but instead he just looks away.
(Author's Note: I'm suffering from writers block ugh)
