Captive Angel

11. Escape artist

I don’t know where Erik’s gone to, when I wake up later. A nurse comes in checking my heartbeat, asking if I remember the car accident, and gives me some bland chicken broth. It tastes disgusting! Hospital food is the worse.

I think about Mom a few moments after eating. How she’s happy in Heaven with God. I wonder is she’s thinking about me. Maybe God told her I’m okay, but with some psycho. Probably not, but I need to think positive about this situation. Come to think of it, there’s only a negative.

 “How’s your head today, Miss Daae?” A cheerful young male doctor comes into my room. “On a scale of 1 to 10?”

I smile grimly, “An eight.”

 “Well, let’s check your head and make it a seven at the least.” He opens my bandages carefully. “Well, I don’t think you suffered as much as your friend did.” He gently adds the new bandages. “You should be leaving here in a few days.”

Yes! “Thank you.” I lay my head on my pillow. “Where’s Mr. Desslar?” I ask. The doctor doesn’t answer right away, not until I repeat myself. “What happened to Mr. Desslar?” The doctor drops his pen on the floor. “Sorry.” I apologize, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “Quite all right.” He answers picking up the pen. “What did you want to ask me?”

  “I was wondering where Mr. Desslar is?” I say.

  “Well, I don’t think you should be thinking of him right now.” He says sternly. “It could hurt your health.” Something’s odd the way he says it. Like he knows something I don’t.

  “Why?” I innocently ask.

The doctor makes a weird look, “You should get some rest.” He then leaves.

Where’s Erik? I mean at least I know him. It’s nice to have someone with me I know, right? Wait a minute… Do I like Erik? No, I think he’s crazy sometimes, but I don’t like, like him.

When the doctor leaves my room. I get out of bed, and go to the bathroom. I take the bandages off my forehead. It isn’t as bad as the nurses and doctor say. My head is actually okay. I just have a nasty scar. I guess the only major thing was that I needed stitches and had a sore back. What’s going on? I step out of the bathroom and decide to open the door to the hall.

  “She’s suspicious, Phil.” The doctor says. “She kept asking where Desslar was?” I hear muffled sounds from the phone he’s talking on. “Yes, yes, I told her that I didn’t know.”

Didn’t know what? He knows something. My back is against the door when I shut it. I have to get out here. Erik said he took my clothes off, so they must be in here somewhere. I look around the room and spot my clothes and boots on the floor next to the TV stand. I quickly change into them.

I peek out from the door. Nurses are walking around and some are moving patients. I cover my scar with my curly hair, leaving my room. I walk to the stairs, when I hear:

  “Where’s Miss. Daae?” A nurse asks.

  “What do you mean 'where?'” The doctor says worriedly. “She was supposed to be sleeping.” Then I hear a shout, “Call security!”  

I dart down the stairs like a lighting bolt. My body feels so weak, because I’ve hardly walked in the past few days. I quickly make it to the first floor. The elevator dings, and the doctor and two guards run after me. I run to the front entrance, and get to the parking lot. Then out of nowhere, a car with Nadir driving it stops next to me. I get inside, hurriedly.

We make it past the main intersection, he says, “Where’s Erik?”

  “I don’t know.” I say out of breath. “That’s why I got out of there.”

  “What?”

I sigh and take a deep breath. “The doctor knows something about Erik.” Nadir looks at me like I’m crazy. “He said something outside my room on the phone to some guy named, Phil.”

   “Do you know anyone named Phil?” Nadir asks. “I don’t.”

   “I don’t either.” I say, “Where are we going?” I ask when he drives past the road to my house.

   “We’re going to my apartment.” Nadir says, “We need to find Erik, and also, Christine…” I look at him, “Your father’s missing.”