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I kneel next to his body and fumble around his belt to find the keys. Found them. I undo the clip, take the keys, and quickly leave.
I see a sign directly in front of me, “EXIT,” with an arrow pointing to the right. Well, that was convenient. I turn right and head down the corridor. Rushing to the end of it, I turn the corner and slam into another person.
“Alyx? What are you doing out of your room?” one of the nurses from the ER recognises me.
I quickly push him into the open room next to us and slam the door in his face, holding it shut. I look around the hall for something to keep it locked and spot a metal rod attached to a wheelchair. That should work.
I pull it from the chair, shove it through the handle, and the nurse gets his bearings. He slams his fists on the glass window on the door. “Hey! Let me out of here!” he jiggles the handle.
The room next to this one has a sign above it that says, “Medicine Store Cupboard.” I could look for supplies to fix the stitch I pulled.
I wonder if they keep this door unlocked. I reach for the door handle, and it turns freely. Yes!
I walk in, making sure to close the door behind me. Shelves with all different kinds of medical supplies fill the room; stuff that I have never even seen before.
Above each shelf is a label listing what is on each row. That makes my life easier. I search each label for a suture kit and bandages, going down each row, careful to get everything. Yes! Found them. I grab the supplies, shove them in my pocket, and leave the room. The hallway is still quiet, so I continue down the hall.
I reach a door leading to the stairwell. With a grunt, I push it open and let it slam behind me. The exit has to be at the bottom of the stairs. What floor am I on? I let out a breath and start heading down.
After what feels like an eternity and millions of stairs later, I finally make it to the last step. I push open the door and walk into the hallway on the other side. This looks familiar. I’m back in the reception area, where I was earlier when Dave brought me in. I look around for the entrance I came in through earlier and spot it. I just have to get through those doors and escape this place.
I slowly make my way to the entrance. I try to blend in with the other people around as best as possible so the staff won’t recognise me from earlier. Someone walks through the automatic sliding doors I walked in with Dave just a few feet before me, and I smile. Finally! I’m almost out of here.
As I approach the doors, they open automatically like they did for the other person, and I step through them. That still amazes me. I am instantly hit with sunlight. I can hear the birds chirping and people talking amongst themselves. I take a deep breath in, causing me to choke. The once beautiful fresh air is now stifled with a thickness I can’t quite place.
I lower my head and walk in the opposite direction of the hospital. Away from the people who tried to keep me. Tried to trap me in that padded room. What did I do to deserve to be there? I just wanted help.
I reach the same roadway that I got hit by the car on earlier and stare at it again. It’s so smooth. What happened to the dirt paths and gravel roads that once littered every town around here? Am I still in my hometown? Where do I go now? I don’t know anyone. I don’t have any money.
I look to the left down the road and see large buildings in the distance. I can find answers there. Lost in thoughts of sorrow and what-ifs, I make my way towards them.
I am pulled from my thoughts as multiple loud honks sound around me, and a man behind me in a green truck shouts, “Get the fuck out of the middle of the road, jackass! You’ll get yourself killed!” as he swerves his truck around me and speeds away.
I’m not in the middle of the road, am I? I look around me and notice all the cars stopping behind me and in front. People are staring at me as they walk by on the sidewalk. I look at where I am walking. Oh, maybe I am in the middle of the road.
I suddenly feel a hand grab me and pull me to the side.
“Mister, you could have gotten yourself killed! Are you okay?” the stranger asks.
“Sorry! I didn’t realise I was in the way!” I reply quickly.
“No problem. Just be careful next time. People may not always be so courteous.” He smiles and walks off with a wave.
My head hurts. My throat is dry. My stomach hurts. My stomach starts rumbling, causing me to wince. When was the last time I ate anything? I smile at the family that walks past me.
I need to find some food and water.
Calliope
Calliope
Groaning and rolling over, I glance at the clock. 6 a.m. I forgot it’s Monday. It’s another day at work. I pull the covers back and get out of bed. It’s another day of freedom from this hellhole. I stomp to the bathroom, not caring if it wakes anybody up. I switch the bathroom light on with a yawn. Man, I am tired! I shouldn’t have stayed up most of last night reading.
I quickly brush my teeth and turn on the water in the shower. While I wait for it to warm up, I grab a towel and undress.
Steam fills the room as the water warms, and I step into the shower, the hot water hitting me instantly. The steam and the pelts of liquid soothed my aching muscles. This feels so good!
I close my eyes as I lather my skin with suds, washing away my sleep. Images of the man from my dreams come to my mind again, with the chiselled body and the glorious tattoos he has cascading up and down his body. Memories of my dreams come flooding to the front of my mind. I close my eyes to welcome them.
