The Psychiatrist: Trilogy to The Doll Collector

Chapter 20: Maria

The Atrium was so much darker than I remembered. As I walked down the narrow corridors, I felt like I was suffocating. Zach had bolted the minute he realized what Ayanna had said. He left me in the dust, so Ayanna and I simply hurried after him.

When we entered The Atrium, I spotted Zach trying to convince Charley to not punish Dr. Cannon or Macy. But she wasn't listening. The look in her eyes was distant, so there was no point in him wasting his breath. She pushed him aside and called everyone's attention. Zach's face was flustered as he stared at her in disbelief.

Macy and Dr. Cannon had been strapped onto their respective beds, then orderlies secured the electroshock helmets onto their heads. My stomach began to churn as they placed rubber plates in their mouths so they wouldn't bite down on their tongues. I couldn't tell if it was the situation or the pregnancy making me sick.

Charley removed a wad of tissue from her pocket and peeled it back. My heart dropped down into my stomach as I realized what she was holding. I couldn't look away, but felt Zach placed his hand on the small of my back. He leaned in and whispered for me to not breathe a word or even move.

She stepped in between their beds and held up the pregnancy test for everyone to see. Even in the darkness, I could make out the two red lines meaning positive.

"There have been a lot of issues lately. We think we can kill patients and have sex with them." Charley said. "When I took nearly 7 months ago, they said it would be difficult considering the kind of patients that we house here. But I didn't imagine they meant for these reasons, too. It seems that Dr. Cannon has broken a rule and has impregnated a patient. We found this pregnancy test in the trash and just captured these two in the laundry room. It's evident they lack caution and now, they'll be punished." she finished.

My heart was beating violently in my chest. I couldn't let this happen; it was my pregnancy test. Zach must have felt my urge to speak and pinched my arm.

How could she do that believing that Macy was pregnant? Nausea was swelling and rising up into my throat. My mouth was beginning to water, I wouldn't be able to hold it down. And Charley's suspicious nature was already heightened, so she would connect the dots immediately.

Zach held onto the back of my lab coat now. I had to stop this. Macy was paying for my mistakes.

My eyes met Macy's as she found me among the other doctors. Fear was thick in her pupils as they dilated bigger than I'd ever seen on anyone. I instinctively placed a hand over my stomach. She caught my movement as I inched forward. Zach's fist was curled around my lab coat still. He pulled it back lightly, trying to nonchalantly warn me to stay quiet. Macy shook her head, glancing down at my stomach.

Did she know about me and Kris? Or did she imagine I was the one he spoke about? Charley rounded the beds to the lever. No, I couldn't let his happen. Macy though a killer, did not deserve to be punished for my transgressions and neither did Dr. Cannon.

I stepped forward even closer to Charley's position, but Zach pulled me back again.

What could I say without incriminating myself? Charley put her hand on the lever, going on about respecting the rules of the hospital. Her fingers wrapped around the handle preparing to yank it down.

"Stop!" I shrieked.

Everyone looked at me as Zach released my lab coat. My legs were trembling as I tried to put on a brave face.

"If she's pregnant you could kill the baby, you can't do that." I said.

Though my nerves were threatening to send me in a torrent of tears and regret, I managed to hold firm. Charley still had her hand on the lever, ready to pull at any second.