Because she went to see Kyle? Because shedidn’t believe he was a monster, or because he might have messedwith her mind? Or was it because he hadn’t messed with her mind andwasn’t a monster, and they couldn’t have her discover that?
She almost slipped back inside and closed thedoor. She didn’t want to see anything out there anymore, but shewas terrified they would lock it again and never let her out if sheretreated.
Leaving the door open, she gathered showersupplies and walked down the hall to the bathroom. She stripped andstepped beneath the hot spray of water. As she scrubbed herself,she cried harder than she’d ever cried in her life.
When she finished, she vowed to get away fromthis place and to never shed another tear while here. Turning offthe shower, she stepped out and toweled off before dressingagain.
Keeping her shoulders back and her chin highfor the cameras, she strode back to her room. She consideredclosing the door, but she didn’t dare. After being locked insidefor so long, she couldn’t allow them to lock her in again.
Melanie wandered over and sat on the edge ofher bed. She lifted the book she’d taken from the small library onthe third floor and stared at the cover. She’d tried to read itnumerous times over the past week, but she hadn’t made it past thefirst page.
Setting it back on her stand, she rested herhands on her knees as she stared at the open door. She had no ideahow to escape this place, but they had to do something. She refusedto sit here and rot. She refused to let Lucy and Kyle rot in thispit of despair.
She’d spent much of the past week trying notto think about what they were doing to him, but the possibilitieswere endless. She’d never seen any of the experiments done before,but she once overheard someone say they pretty much autopsied themalive.
Shuddering, Melanie gripped the edge of hermattress as her mind spun.
“There you are!” Lucy exclaimed as sheappeared in Melanie’s doorway.
Jerked from her morose musings, Melanie’shead snapped up, and she gave her friend a wan smile. “Here Iam.”
When Lucy stepped inside and closed the door,Melanie almost shouted at her to leave it open, but she refused togive in to the anxiety gripping her. She wouldn’t let them destroyher while she was here.
“It’s so good to see you,” Lucy said as sherushed over to hug her.
They embraced before Lucy pulled away and satbeside her.
“How are you doing?” Lucy asked.
“Oh, I’m fantastic,” Melanie said. “How aboutyou?”
“Living the dream. I’m so happy you’refree.”
As she spoke, Lucy’s fingers flew through theair. Melanie doubted they’d put a camera in her room since herimprisonment, but she still glanced nervously around.
Lucy tapped her arm, drawing her attentionback to her.There’s still no camera in here,shesigned.
Are you sure?
Yes. I still have an in with a guy.
As she signed, Lucy continued talking aboutwhat she’d been up to for the past week. Melanie barely heard herwords as she focused on her hands.
There’s no camera, but there is a listeningdevice, but we already knew that. Pretty much since we got here,I’ve been screwing the guy who runs the afternoon shift in thecontrol room. We hook up in the control room.
Melanie’s throat went dry as she stared ather friend.Have you seen Kyle?
Yes.
How is he?
Lucy hesitated before signing.Notgood.
Fresh tears stung Melanie’s eyes, but sherefused to shed them.
“I’ve been reading a good book,” Lucy saidout loud.
“What is it?” Melanie asked.
