“Aren’t you going to scream?” he said into her ear, allowing himself to enjoy the moment before he made the kill. The padded lining of the truck, normally used to protect furniture, would muffle her sounds. Part of him hungered for this so he could taste his triumph. But the impostor was defiantly silent.
“I know you remember me. Too bad we were interrupted last time.”
Just then, the door to the truck burst open. Ethan spun and saw Nicodemus. “What?” he growled. “I don’t appreciate being disturbed.”
“I got your girl. She’s in room 108.”
“Fine,” Ethan said between clenched teeth. He started to turn back to his prey.
“You ain’t killed her yet? Damn, can we get on with it already? I’m about done with all this.”
Ethan seethed. The interruption. The impatience. But it was the impertinence that drove him over the edge. “You’re done when I say you’re done. This isn’t your call. It’s mine.”
“But you keep drawing it out—just get on with it so we can leave!”
Ethan bit back a scathing retort. Instead, he drew in a breath and grabbed the roll of duct tape near the corner. He was not about to speed up the process one bit for that imbecile. This was his operation, and he would savor every moment. He wouldn’t give Nicodemus the satisfaction of ending this quickly, and he wouldn’t hurry with Kelsey either. They still had plenty of time, and he would enjoy every moment of it.
“Hold out your hands,” he told the impostor. He pressed the knife against her throat until she obeyed. He bound her wrists and feet but didn’t gag her. She still might scream, and he wanted to hear the last sound fight its way out of her throat when he ended her life.
“Take her to the back of the truck and watch her,” Ethan said. “I’ll be back…when I’m ready.”
The darkness was cold, and it made Kelsey tremble. Nasty, fabric walls surrounded her, the stench of lingering body odor and stomach acid nauseating her. A straitjacket bound her arms, offering little give, and no matter how much she tried to wriggle free, she couldn’t get out of it. After another extended attempt, she stopped, breathless, and lay her head back against the wall.
This room hadn’t been used for its original purpose in decades. Before they’d transferred everyone to the new wing, these rooms had been used for storage. Treatment laws had changed years ago, and keeping difficult patients secluded in padded rooms such as this was finally deemed inhumane.
In college Kelsey had been shocked to learn about the antiquated tactics once used and the way the mentally ill had been treated, almost as criminals.
Never had she imagined that she might be trapped here in one of these old rooms, strapped down like she was the ill one. It gave her chills, like a forgotten nightmare.
How did she get here? She couldn’t remember anything after taking Hugh back to the ward. Had she been knocked out? Chloroformed? Her head didn’t hurt, and she couldn’t smell any chemical odors. All she knew was one moment she’d been in the children’s ward and the next, she was here.
Hugh had been right about the bad man, whoever it was. She feared for his safety—and the other kids in the ward. She didn’t know who’d trapped her, because she couldn’t remember seeing anyone. Was it Ethan, come back for her? Or someone else?
There was no way out of here. The straitjacket was connected to something behind, and her wiggling and squirming didn’t loosen it.
If only she had her phone, she would crush it against the wall until it dialed someone. But she was still in the formal gown, and her cell was in her office. Dragging around baggage once the gala began hadn’t seemed prudent, but now she wished for it.
A creak at the doorway snapped her back to attention. Her eyes went wide as a soft glow outlined the doorway. The door swung open. She shivered again.
A silhouette appeared in the doorway.
The footsteps were nearly silent as the figure made his way toward her, and she couldn’t tell who it was.
“What do you want?” She tried to sound put off despite her inner panic. “Can’t you at least leave me a light?”
The figure burst forth with light, his pale skin illuminated from within somehow. For the first time she saw his face. “Hugh?”
He radiated a bright glow that lit the room and made Kelsey squint. He stepped farther into the room and held his palms outward, as if presenting himself to her.
“Hugh!”
The boy gave a soft smile, showing teeth that glowed in a way that was both eerie and stunning.
“Hugh bright.”
Relief and astonishment flooded over Kelsey and made her feel giddy. She laughed out loud, feeling water pool at the corner of her eyes. “You are bright!” Understanding dawned on her, and it was so sweet she couldn’t help but beam at him.
She had no idea how he was doing this, but it didn’t matter. “I need help, Hugh. Can you help me?”
“Bad man.”
“Yes, a bad man put me in here. Did you see him?”
“Bad man take Kelsey.”
“That’s right. Did you follow us?”
Hugh nodded.
Kelsey’s heart flooded with a mixture of concern and affection for the timid boy who had risked so much to help her. They had to get out of here before the man came back. She didn’t want to think about what he might do to Hugh.
“Can you try to get me out of this jacket?”
He nodded and came close, kneeling next to her. His glow almost seemed to soften in intensity a little, and she wondered whether he was controlling the illumination or whether it was just her eyes getting accustomed to the brightness.
“You’re my bright angel, Hugh. Can you get me free?”
He put his palm on her back and turned her sideways so he could see behind her. At least he didn’t need a flashlight. There was a gentle tugging at her straitjacket, but he pulled back with a frown lining his pale brow.
“What’s wrong?”
“Locked.”
“Okay.” Kelsey blew out a breath. The jacket’s leather bands must be fastened to a ring in the wall.
“Kelsey locked.” Hugh’s voice had a note of anxiety. His frown deepened, and he clenched his hands together.
“It’s all right, Hugh. We just need something to cut the straps.” She thought hard. If she sent him back to the mental ward, the nurses would keep him in his room. Even if he managed to talk to them—something he’d never done—they likely wouldn’t understand what was happening. Meanwhile, a killer might be stalking the halls.
She met his eyes, trying to instill confidence into his own worried gaze. “Here’s what I need you to do, Hugh. Go to the security office and tell them I’m locked up. Do you know where that is?”
He shook his head.
“Okay, listen carefully. Go back how you came. When you get to the light, turn left. You’ll be in the lobby. There will be a door—on your left, again—open that door and you’ll be in the security office. Tell the men to come get me, and tell them to bring a knife.”
His eyes widened with concern, and she realized it was too much. Too many directions. She took a deep breath. “Go out to the light, go left, door on the left. You got that?”
He gave a subtle nod.
“Okay, good. You’ve got to talk to them. Can you do that?”
He stared at her.
“Tell them ‘Kelsey is in trouble. Bring a knife.’ Bring them here. That’s all you have to do.”
Still, he didn’t respond, only watched with wide eyes. It looked as if fright had seized him.
“You can do this, Hugh. I know you can. You’ve been doing great. You came and found me. All you have to do is this one last thing. That’s it. Can I count on you?”
His head bobbed. She knew it was as much affirmation as she’d get.
She gave him an encouraging smile. “You’ll do great. Don’t worry. I’ll see you in a bit, okay?”
He nodded and started to walk to the door but turned back.
“
Hugh bright for Kelsey.”
The glow beneath his skin faded, leaving the room dark once again.
As the door thudded closed behind him she realized that this was his secret. They both had secrets. Hers had been the ex-boyfriend she’d escaped, and his was this. She shared the depths of hers with only a select few.
But he’d shared his with her, like he’d shared his words with her. She only hoped he could overcome his fear of speaking to anyone else.
Her life depended on it.
~
Hugh’s knees shook as he stepped into the darkened hall. He crouched, listening. His breath wheezed past his throat in a loud rush. He imagined he was in a twister, like he’d seen on TV. A tremendous, powerful wind rushing by him. Through him. He clapped a hand over his mouth and felt the moist wind. It was just his own breath.
He stood focusing on the sound but then remembered. Must save Kelsey.
He’d never saved anyone before. How to do it? Batman had a mask. Superman had a cape. All he had was this pale skin, white like snow. He’d never seen snow, but he knew it from TV. Snow was supposed to be white and fluffy and cold. But the word snow made him cringe. Snow brought slaps or kicks. The kids in the ward weren’t allowed to hurt people. Not like the school kids. But they could still be mean with their words. Sometimes they called him “Snow” and made faces. Other times they said it behind his back. People often thought Hugh couldn’t hear since he didn’t speak.
Snow, Snow, Snow.
No, no, no.
“Snow” wasn’t the name that mattered right now.
Kelsey. He had to help Kelsey.
What did she say? First, get to the light. Then what? One step at a time. Get to the light. He’d figure out the rest after that.
But it was dark. So dark. He couldn’t see. Not his hands, not his feet, not the floor. Was the floor still there? Had it vanished in the darkness? Maybe the next step would suck him in like quicksand. Or take him over a cliff.
But that wasn’t possible. It was just his imagination.
Must get to the light.
He held his breath and took a step. He let it out. Only carpet. There was no quicksand, no hole in the floor.
Walking to Kelsey had been easy. Walking away was hard. So hard.
She’d called him her angel, but she was the angel. He was bright. She was light. Her eyes saw inside people. They put hope there. Her eyes made him strong.
But now he was going away. Each step made him farther from her. He took three more steps. The hope faded.
His hands were cold. He balled them into fists. Kelsey’s hands were warm. He needed them. A shiver raced down his back, and his teeth chattered. Cold. So cold.
Like snow.
But he had to keep walking. He had to find the light. But that wasn’t right.
He stopped, suddenly confused. Kelsey was his light. How would he find it, going away from her?
His breaths came faster again. Must find the light. Must find Kelsey…
But he knew where she was. He turned around to go back.
He heard a noise and froze. Muffled voices came from ahead. A creak and a bolt of light. It showed him the outlines of doors on either side of the hall. His eyes shot to where Kelsey was.
Loud voices. Too loud. They stomped through Hugh’s head. He winced. Then he recognized one. It was the bad man. Not one bad man: two bad men. He had to get away.
The voices came closer. Almost around the corner. Almost in this hall. They would see him. They would get him. The bad eyes would grab him, and he would turn off.
He had to get away!
Hugh clamped his hands over his ears and ran away from the men. Away from Kelsey.
Bad man. Bad…men. Must get—
Hugh saw light. Bright light. Safe light.
Away…away… He pushed through doors and tumbled onto his knees. He clenched his head with his hands and buried it in his lap. The twister rushed from his throat.
Muffled speech.
Hugh dropped his hands.
The voice spoke again. “Whoa, there, buddy. You all right?”
Hugh raised his head to see who had spoken. A man. Not the bad man.
This man pulled his hands out of his pockets and wrinkled his dark eyebrows. His eyes reminded Hugh of the honey he liked on his toast. His eyes were kind.
Hugh stared at the stranger.
“Are you okay? Need some help?” The stranger watched him. His eyes darted behind Hugh. “Did you come from back there?”
Hugh gave a tiny nod.
“Did you…was there anyone else back there—with you?”
Kelsey. Kelsey needs help. Hugh’s brain screamed, but he couldn’t speak.
The man squatted. “Listen, I think there’s something going on around here. I want to help. But you’ve got to talk to me. I think there’s a very bad man—”
“Bad man,” Hugh whispered.
The stranger’s eyes widened. “Did you see him? Did someone hurt you?”
“Bad man.”
The man waited for him to say more.
“Away,” Hugh said. “Get away.”
The man raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I won’t hurt you. I’m just trying to help.”
Help. Kelsey needs help. The words were stuck. Like Velcro. His tongue was frozen. He had to tell someone. Kelsey was trapped. “Help.” It came out in a breath, nearly silent.
The stranger bent closer and his frown deepened. “What?”
“Kelsey…needs help.” Hugh cringed at the sound of his voice. But the man didn’t seem to notice.
“Kelsey? He took her?”
Hugh stared at him a moment. Then he nodded.
“Can you show me where?”
Hugh raised a trembling hand and turned to point at the dark hall behind him.
“Down there?” the stranger said. “Okay. Outside?”
Hugh shook his head.
“Where, then?”
“Room.”
“A room? Which one? There are dozens…Do you remember where?”
Hugh nodded.
“Can you show me?”
Hugh swallowed. His heart was loud. His breaths were like wind. But he nodded.
The man stood. He held out his hand.
Hugh stared at it for a moment. He paused then let the man pull him up. His hand wasn’t soft like Kelsey’s. It wasn’t smooth and didn’t smell like paints. But it was warm. It was protecting. It was safe.
“I’m Logan. I want to help Kelsey.”
Hugh studied the honey-colored eyes of the good man. He was a protector.
“After you,” the good man said, and they went into the darkness.
Hugh’s legs shook, but he kept walking. The protector was with him. He would be okay.
The whoosh of the twister sounded loud in his ears, the breath wheezing in and out, in and out of his lungs.
“Are you o—” The protector was cut off by a clattering down the hall.
Hugh heard the voices again. He froze.
The protector pulled him into a room.
Hugh huddled in the dark, thinking about the bad men. The protector peeked past the door frame, watching the hall. Light flickered from somewhere.
“Gimme the flashlight. Can’t see a dadgum thing.”
Bad man! Desperate but silently, Hugh looked at the protector.
Another voice. “Just keep the beam low. You know I can’t see with it.”
“I need it. It’s pitch black.”
A thump and a groan. “She’s heavier than she looks.” The bad man cursed. “Feisty, too.”
Hugh’s fingers clamped tight.
The protector spoke in Hugh’s ear. “They’re taking her out of the room. She’s bound, but struggling.”
Still okay, Hugh thought. Still, he shivered again. The shakes wouldn’t stop.
The bad voices again. “Stop it. You’re just making it worse.”
“Where’m I s’posed to grab her? Gimme light and we can do it
my way. The easy way.”
“I’ve had enough of your way.”
The voices kept arguing but got farther away.
“They turned the corner,” the protector whispered. “I can’t see them anymore.”
There was a faint creak and a thud.
The protector stepped into the hall. “They went outside. I’m sure of it. There’s a truck out back. We’ve got to stop them before they leave.” The protector grabbed Hugh’s sleeve again. “Listen, I can’t let them get away. I’m going after them. You should go back, though. Go get help.”
“No.” Hugh couldn’t stop shaking.
The protector put his hands on Hugh’s shoulders. “Are you all right?” He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry I can’t help you right now. I’ve got to go after her—you can see that, right? I’ve got to save Kelsey.”
Save Kelsey. Must save Kelsey from the bad man.
“Are you—will you be okay?”
Hugh couldn’t speak.
“Go back out to the hall. If you take a left, you’ll find the security office. Tell them the men took her outside. Can you do that?”
“Bad man—”
The protector sighed in frustration. “Yes, I know. Bad man. I—”
“Bad eyes.”
“What?”
“Bad man. Bad eyes.” Hugh shook even harder now, but he had to say this one thing. He had to speak.
“Sorry, buddy. I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me. But I’ve got to go.” The protector let go, and Hugh went cold all over. Cold outside, cold inside.
The protector’s pounding footsteps thudded down the hall, away from Hugh.
“Bad eyes! Bad…bad…bad!” Hugh wailed after him.
Everything was dark. He was alone, and he was in a wind tunnel. The iceberg was back. The breaths wracked him, and he bent in two, clenching his chest. Cold. Like ice. Like snow.
Snow.
Hugh tried to grab warmth, but he could not glow. The dark was a cold, angry monster.
The protector was gone. His Light was gone, and his bright was gone. Hugh crumpled onto the floor, trapped under an avalanche.
Protector: The Flawed Series Book Three Page 19