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His brows draw together with concern and he grabs a few bottles off my nightstand, handing them to me and watching patiently as I pop open all of them and take one from each bottle.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks once I gulp down a few swigs of water.
I side-eye him. “I have a heart condition. So if you could refrain from pinning me in my bed that’d be great. Stress and anxiety make the side effects worse.”
His face visibly pales and guilt shadows his eyes. “I didn’t know… I’m sorry.”
“Can we just go to sleep now?” I set the pills down and lie back. Liam remains sitting on my bed a few moments longer before he returns to his own.
9
Wynn
It’s alreadyten by the time I’m showered and dressed, hurrying to my first session of the day.
Skipping breakfast is fine. I found some granola bars on my desk and snagged one for the walk to the workout room. Exercise is crucial to mental health, according to Jericho, and we always begin our mornings with an hour-long workout.
I wolf down the granola bar and steel myself to meet more unfamiliar faces today. The shower this morning was pretty vacant besides a few other women, thankfully.
The workout room is on the second floor and overlooks the rear of the manor. I enter the room hesitantly and Jericho stands.
“Good morning Coldfox. You look like you slept like shit,” he mumbles as he checks off my name on his clipboard.
I feign a smile. “Yeah, first-night jitters, I guess,” I lie.
Liam was already out of the room when I woke up and I have no clue what his schedule looks like. I’m relieved I don’t see his name on Jericho’s list though.
“Yeah, that should pass soon. As well, your brother contacted us this morning requesting some sleeping medication for you, so I’ll have that to you by tonight.” He looks over my head as a few more patients step in and head toward some treadmills in the back.
“Thanks,” I mutter and take a look around the room.
Everyone seems to be in their own zone. Most people have their headphones in or are buddied up with someone. The options are treadmills, cardio cycles, ellipticals, or weights.
I settle for a treadmill in the front of the room so I can at least look at the forest and the low clouds, heavy with rain.
Someone takes the treadmill to my right. I don’t bother looking up as I press a low setting on the machine. The belt starts moving and I walk in a steady stride.
A few of the other patients behind me are chatting in low voices. I can’t help but eavesdrop.
“Did you see the updates in the hallway?” one woman asks the other.
“No, why?”
“The lobby now has surveillance, and if you leave Harlow for good, you must check out or they’ll report you missing.”
The other girl is quiet for a moment. “Do you think it’s about those missing people?
“From like ten years ago? I don’t think they’re actually missing. I think they’re dead and buried in the basement.”
Wait, missing people? Like the articles in Liam’s journal?
“Sidney says that if you don’t push your shoes up against the door at night that they’ll whisper underneath it,” another girl says with a fearful tone.
I couldn’t be walking quieter if I tried as I desperately listen to each word they say. Fear drips through my body. How did I not hear about this? Then again, this is Montana, where nothing is ever a big deal except the bison at Yellowstone.
“So, what’s with the pink hair?”
I physically jump and a small squeal escapes my throat. I glance over at the man to my right. He’s easy to recognize because of his handsome features. One of the only people I remember from yesterday.
