escape | ethan dolan

clouds • 19

Lisa gave me flowers later that day. I cried. 

After all I had put their family through, she still got me something for my birthday. Even though it wasn't much, it meant a lot to me, and she could see that. She gave me a hug, wished me a happy birthday, and left. 

I went to bed that night wanting nothing more than to talk to Ethan, hoping he would at least say goodbye before I went back to the orphanage. 

~~~

I sit up in my bed in a panic. It's still night time. I turn my head to look at the clock next to my bedside table, which reads 4:23 am. My breathing is rapid and it's hard for me to bring it back down to a steady pace. Beads of sweat linger on my temple. I realize I must have had another nightmare. By now, I'm getting pretty used to dealing with them, since they've been occurring for so long. 

I strain my mind trying to recall what it was about. It's weird- usually I always remember what happens in my dreams. 

Then it hits me- it was about Chloe. Chloe. 

My first instinct is to get out of bed and ask where she is, so that's what I do. My legs are still a little numb from laying down so much, but at least the cut on my left leg is healed. I peek through the curtain and notice a young lady sitting at the front desk, which is right across from where my room is. I slowly walk towards her, a little self-conscious that she'll ask me what I'm doing up at this hour. But I have to know what happened to Chloe.

"Excuse me," I say in a squeaky voice. "Can I ask you something?"

The nurse gives me a puzzled look, like I just asked her to solve the world's hardest math equation. "Okay," She pauses and scans the room quickly. "What can I help you with?" 

"Um, are you familiar with Doctor Burns? I'm not sure if he's connected with this hospital, but he came to visit me a while ago when I had a bad cut on my leg," I hesitate before speaking any more. The nurse furrows her eyebrows and begins typing on her computer. "He took my... little sister away to a children's unit, I just want to know what happened to her."

"What's your sister's first name?" 

"Chloe."

"And last name?"

"Thomas," I pause as she types in the information. "She's six."

I intently watch as her eyes narrow at the computer screen. The bright light protrudes on her face, and then suddenly, it stops. White color washes her out as she stares blankly in front of her. The nurse doesn't speak.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I ask sharply. My heart starts racing.  

"I'm sorry to tell you," Her voice is high pitched, and she seems startled. "She's been marked." 

"Marked?" I spit. "What does that mean?" 

"Your sister is dead. I'm so sorry." 

I try to get out words- any words- but nothing comes out. Everything goes numb and I try to compose myself, but I fail. The tears start streaming down my face and my vision becomes blurry. 

All the memories Chloe and I have flash through my head. I remember how good Grayson was with her. The way he fed her pancakes when she wouldn't eat and when they filmed a video with her out in the backyard. It's all coming back. All of the regret and the sadness comes back. 

"Are you okay?" The nurse asks, but I can hardly make out what she's saying. It sounds muffled, like she's talking underwater. 

I collapse and my head hits the ground with a loud thump. I want to cry out in pain but when I try nothing comes. 

"Somebody help!" I can still hear everything that's happening, but her voice sounds so distant and far away. "I need help! Hurry!" She grabs onto me and tries to shake me awake.