Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 21: Hayden

Monday, 12:09 P.M. EST

What the hell did Dane do to pull these types of strings around here? It was one thing to sneak in, piggybacking on Crystal’s need for cash since he burned everything she owned to the ground; but to play puppet master to several nurses working in this ward? And get me special privileges I bet even Ren doesn’t get by spreading her legs?

What’s the catch? With Dane, there’s always a catch.

“What do I have to do?” I ask the nurse that had let me change the movie. He’s one of the younger nurses.

I asked him about the break, and he just checked the time and told me that somebody must love me because they got me special access to the roof.

“Uhm... I think the directions were just to bring the gift or something like that?” he responds, cutting himself off to shrug his shoulders. “I’m not sure, Brenny told me before she left this morning, but she was in a rush, so...”

Ah- there’s the catch. 

I nod my head and ask for a little privacy while I get dressed, though I really only need to grab the dense bundle tucked in my pillow.

I guess this would be a good time to get it out of this room... I can’t imagine the shit storm that’d happen if it was found in here. That’d be the end of me. I reach for it as soon as I can see that the nurse boy isn’t peeping through the invasive window on my door.

How crazy would it be if it wasn’t there? If Ren had found it by chance and was just waiting for the right time to hang that over my head until I step into line like the rest of her robots here? 

That would be so Jenalyn, right? So Jenalyn, I just have to expect it.

My hand wraps around the bundle, shocking me. Wow... it’s still here.

Ha, maybe I really am Hayden now, I think to myself sarcastically.

I tuck it into the waistband of the new sweats I throw on, find my slippers, and crack open the door to let the nurse boy know I’m ready. 

He nods, going into some detailed plan about crouching under the nurse station to get behind the desk, and sneaking out of the employee exit until we get to the stairwell. The roof is up from there! 

We make it with no problem; One of the other nurses was back behind the desk, but Dane must have pulled some elaborate shit because she didn’t even look twice.

“So? What do I do?” I ask after only a few moments standing out on the roof of the four-story-high building. It’s very... top-of-a-building-like. Nothing to write home about! But what is there to do other than contemplate jumping?

The nurse boy shrugs. “I don’t know? We all assumed you did…?” he mumbles.

Okay, so Dane just wants me to what? Sit on a roof and get high until I’m required to head back to the ward? 

What was he thinking? He knows me better than that.

“Okay?” I say after a moment, shrugging my shoulders. “What else? I have a joint. That’ll take me 5 minutes to smoke.” 

I figure I’ll clear up “the gift” thing and make my point all in one sentence. I’m not going to tell them I have an entire batch of some drug I’m still not even sure of, but since I don’t plan on doing it- calling it a joint is all the same.

“A joint?” nurse boy asks, almost in disbelief. “All of this is for a joint? That’s crazy. Why were we instructed to allow this for your entire stay then?  That makes no sense.” 

I shrug my shoulders again. “So... what can I do?” I press.

The nurse boy grows irritated, shaking his head. “I don’t know, okay!” he snaps. “We’re getting paid to transport you, not sit here and direct your every move! I’m your babysitter in there! Out here? You’re on your own! It's a you thing!” 

I want to say something smart to him about correcting his attitude, but it’s not even worth the time or effort. “Sheesh, okay...” I mutter instead, turning around to face the vast rooftop. This guy is an asshole.

I wait for the sound of the heavy door clicking shut before I pull out the drugs, and hide them behind a grate that looks like it hasn’t been moved in a century. 

When I return to an upright position, I once again glance around the roof in question of what to do. I can’t help but let out a sigh. 

Well, this is boring.

I’m surprised Jena hasn’t come out to play; she’d love this shit. She’d have mounted the bull and started riding the moment she found out it was happening. 

Are you aware of what she could do up here? 

The nurse boy is one thing she could do; she knows how to play her cards. I may have sent him off in a huffy mood, but Jena? She’d have sent him off, wobbly legged and heart eyed like the fool she likes to turn men into.

The drugs? That’s another thing she could’ve done. Even knowing she’s carrying a baby… my reason for being here is a testament to that.

That’s why we need to get rid of her though… I can’t be that horrible of a person!

What if the drugs this place has been pumping in me really are effective? Jena hasn’t had a thing to say. She’s silent, and that never happens.

That’s what we all wanted, isn’t it? 

I let out another sigh as I let myself sink down onto the concrete beneath me.

Next time I’ll bring a book or something, I guess.