The Ninth Floor

by Liz Schulte

  “But what about you? It sounds like this is all for me again. I don’t want you to freak out again in a few years.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not sure what I want to do, but this is the most excited I’ve been about the future in a long time. If it doesn’t work out, I can always do something else. But I think it will. I think it will be great.”

  It was hard to ignore the trickle of excitement in me as well, but was I setting myself up for another heartbreak? All of this, of course, hinged on us getting back together, and at the moment, it was hard to think of why we shouldn’t. It was the easiest solution. Yes, we’d hurt each other, but wasn’t part of being in a relationship working through the problems? I reminded myself that he didn’t work through the problems though. He just left.

  “I have to think about it. I don’t know.”

  During our short separation, I felt we’d both grown older, had changed—and maybe not in the same ways. I missed Briggs, but moving on with Jack didn’t seem impossible. Maybe Briggs wasn’t the person for me anymore. Maybe Jack wasn’t either. “Do you think we were too young when we got together? Like maybe it would’ve been better to meet a little later in life. Would we even like each other if we met for the first time now?”

  He took my hand. “Even if we just met last week, I’d still want to do this.”

  I wished I believed him. “Why did you come back?”

  “I told you.”

  “And that’s it. You just missed me and came back?”

  “What other reason would I have?”

  I shrugged. My hand moved in a slight circular motion, making the crimson liquid in my glass swirl slowly. I was tired. I was tired of everything. At the moment, the only thing I wanted was someone who understood. Was that person Briggs?

  “How did you know my dad owned the paper?”

  Briggs looked away. “He must have mentioned it.”

  “Why would you go to my parents’ house when you came back instead of calling me?”

  “Why are you giving me the third degree? What does it matter why I’m back? I’m here and I want to be with you.”

  I laughed, though none of this was funny. “Go home, Briggs. When I have everything sorted out, I’ll let you know if there’s a place for you in my life.”

  “You don’t mean that, Ryan.”

  I stood up and got my purse. “Actually, I do.”

  “Where are going? You didn’t drive.”

  “I have a ride.” I didn’t slam the door even though I was sorely tempted. How dare Briggs be one more person keeping things from me? I walked up the driveway, looking for Aiden’s car. Doubt wriggled in. Maybe he hadn’t trailed us out here. I didn’t want to go back inside and admit I didn’t have a ride. On that note, why did Briggs assume I wasn’t lying about the ride and come after me? Was he waiting for me to cave first, or did he know about Aiden too?

  Headlights flipped on about fifty feet from the top of the driveway. I stopped and stared at them. I hadn’t really thought this through. I expected Aiden, but a pragmatic voice reminded me that this car wasn’t necessarily his. My phone rang. I jumped.

  “Hello?”

  “Do you need something, Ryan?” Aiden asked.

  “A ride home.” The car moved forward and stopped beside me. I let out my breath when I saw him. I pulled open the door and got in.

  We drove without talking. When he stopped outside my building, I asked, “How much do you know about Briggs?”

  “What would you like to know about him?”

  A world of possibilities opened up with that question. “Why is he back?”

  Aiden shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  He walked me upstairs and waited until I unlocked my door to say, “I don’t know why he’s back, but I know he doesn’t deserve you.”

  I paused. “How do you know that?”

  He shifted his feet, but his eyes met mine. “He left his job months before he left you, and you weren’t the only woman in his life.”

  I didn’t know how to respond. “Are you sure?”

  “I shouldn’t interfere, but—”

  “But it’s hard to watch someone make the same mistakes over and over again.” I stretched my neck to either side. “Seriously, thank you for telling me. You’re the only person I know who will tell me anything.”

  “Are you okay?”

  I laughed. “I don’t even know what that means anymore. Have a good night, Aiden.”

  I went inside, put the dogs on their leashes, and headed back out. Aiden was still waiting on the other side of the door. I raised an eyebrow at him.

  “I thought you might like some company on your walk.”

  “Even if I said no, you’d just walk behind me.”

  He smiled a little. “Yes.”

  I handed him Sid’s leash. “Then you might as well be useful.”

  He nodded. We went downstairs, and I started down my usual path when he stopped me. “You shouldn’t always go the same way. Try to avoid patterns where someone can anticipate you.”

  “Okay. Where should we go?” I followed him in the opposite direction for a block or so.

  “I think I know how you can get onto the ninth floor of St. Michael’s, if you’re still interested,” Aiden said out of the blue.

  “How?”

  “The hospital administrator is the only one with the key. However, if you knew a hospital board member, he or she could probably get you access.”

  “I don’t know any of the board members.”

  “You’re related to two: Blythe Sterling and Ashley Sterling.”

  “Is that so?” It still wouldn’t be easy, but at least it was possible.

  Chapter 21

  “What would you think about us having a third roommate?” I asked Vivian the next morning as she shuffled out of her room in a fuzzy pink robe and her glasses. I’d been thinking about Aiden through my entire bowl of cereal. He was protecting me, so why was I making his job harder? I’d decided to let him be my driver, though we had to think of something else to call it— driver sounded too pretentious. Once I decided that, it wasn’t a big leap to suggest he stay here with me and Vivian. It made sense. That way if I got spooked, Aiden could take care of it.

  She laughed. “Last night went well, huh?”

  I was confused for a moment until I realized she meant Briggs. “No. The date went terrible. I told Briggs to go back home and that I’d call him if there was ever a place in my life for him.”

  She scrunched up her nose and poured coffee. “Then who would move in? Jack?”

  I glanced at my watch. I had so much to explain, but there really wasn’t time to get into it. “I know I’m the one who brought this up, but I’m actually in a hurry. It’s not Jack either. Just some guy I know. I’ll tell you more about it tonight.” I wanted to be on time this morning since I left the hospital early the day before. I felt like I needed to spend more time with Bee.

  “I found something yesterday that I need to show you,” she called after me.

  “Okay. Later. Thanks, Viv.” I shut the bathroom door and took the fastest shower I’d ever taken. I threw on some clothes and left with my hair wet and no makeup, calling out, “Bye,” as I shut the door and trotted down to Aiden’s car.

  “Do you live in here?” I asked as I climbed in.

  “No.” He put his coffee in the cup holder and looked at me. “I know your routine.”

  “Hmph. Well, come on. To the hospital, James.” I pointed forward.

  “Who’s James?”

  “Just the name of every movie chauffer.”

  He started the car. “What changed your mind?”

  “I didn’t say no before. I said I needed to think about it, and now I have. I’m going to try very hard not to make your job any more difficult than it needs to be.”

  “I appreciate that. As far as I can tell, the stalker doesn’t actually follow you around. For now I think our public interaction should remain the same. If he’s around,
I don’t want to spook him into doing some drastic.”

  “Sounds good.”

  My happy cloud didn’t dissipate until I walked into the hospital, and everything I’d been avoiding thinking about came rushing back. Dread about whatever new challenge the day held for me and Bee twisted my stomach.

  “Good morning,” I said with as much cheer as I could muster when I entered the room. Bee smiled and Jack gave me a curious look.

  “I thought you might miss this morning,” he said, handing me a cup of coffee like he did most mornings.

  “I never miss a day.” I took the coffee and went for my chair. I was aware of every movement I made and I couldn’t quite meet his eye. I’d made a lot of decisions this morning and one was about him. As much as I liked Jack as a person, I just didn’t want to date him. I wanted to focus on what was important and that was Bee and the safety of all those around me. There was no time for romance, and even if there was, Jack wasn’t for me—not really. He was older and at a different point in his life than I was. As right as I knew my decision was, I still felt guilty looking at him. He was such a nice man, and I didn’t want to hurt anyone.

  I cleared my throat, realizing the silence had gone on too long. “So how’s everything this morning?”

  Jack was looking at his chart, his face withdrawn. “Everything looks pretty good. Bee had a good night.”

  I smiled at her. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better, I think.”

  “That’s great.”

  Jack said goodbye and nodded his head toward the door. My hands got clammy, but I followed him.

  “Are we still on for tonight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Great.” He leaned in a little and I took a step back, forcing a smile.

  He searched my face before giving me his own smile, but it didn’t meet his eyes. Jack wasn’t dumb. He probably knew what was coming. I’d almost convinced myself to tell him then, to get it over with, when he clamped his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I’ll pick you up tonight.”

  “See you then.”

  I rubbed my hand over my face when the door clicked behind him. I’d never broken up with anyone, much less two people. If only I could Google this. I chuckled at myself as I went back to Bee. Her head was tilted to the side and her lips were moving fast. I had trouble understanding what she was saying so I moved closer. “Bee?”

  “Getoutgetoutgetoutgetout,” she said over and over again.

  I reached my trembling fingers toward her, touching the paper-thin skin stretched over her weary bones. “Bee?” I barely whispered.

  Her head snapped in my direction, and her eyes were wild. She looked different, distorted somehow. “Get out.” Her bony fingers dug into my arms. “Out, out, get out.”

  “Stop it. Ow.” I tried to pull away, but her grip was too strong. “You’re hurting me. Stop.”

  A cruel laugh spilled from her lips. Her hand released and I stumbled back. My throat tightened as tears threatened. “Bee?”

  She looked up and smiled. “Did Dr. Sadler leave?”

  I nodded, still rubbing my arm. “I’m going to go get a drink. I’ll be back.”

  “Okay, Ryan.”

  I wanted to find her nurses and ask if she also did this with them or if it was just me, but part of me worried that if I asked them any questions, they’d die next. I headed for the elevator, trying to slow my breathing. Briggs and Blair stepped off together, and I stifled a groan.

  “What happened?” Blair asked.

  I shook my head.

  Blair understood and frowned, looking toward her room. “When’s Ashley’s friend coming to give a second opinion?”

  I swallowed hard, forcing myself to be calm. “Monday. It’s okay. I’m okay. I can’t deal with you today, Briggs. You have to go.”

  “Ryan…” he called after me, but I kept walking. I didn’t have anything more to say to him. Bee was completely back to normal when we returned. I let Blair do most of the talking while I observed. She seemed so weak and frail, but as I looked at the angry bruises starting to form on my arm, I realized I never tested the ridiculous possession theory.

  “I’ll be right back.” I left before they could question me too much. Hospitals have chapels. Surely they’d have something in it I could use. It was worse than a long shot, but I didn’t really have any other explanation. I went down to the lobby and asked the front desk for directions.

  The chapel room didn’t look anything like what I pictured in my mind. It was bright and sterile, like the rest of the hospital. It did have little candles in red glass votives and folding chairs set up in rows. A chaplain who looked to be at least 80 came up to me.

  “May I help you with something?”

  “Do you believe in possession?” I blurted. Before I could be embarrassed, the look on his face registered in my mind. He didn’t look shocked at all. He took a deep breath. “Let’s have a seat.”

  I followed him to the front row of folding chairs. “I believe that good and evil exist in this world, even in this hospital. However, evil only has the power over you that you give it. Do you understand?”

  I nodded. “So you do believe in possession?”

  He looked down. “Yes and no. It might be easier for you to tell me why you think you’re possessed.”

  I nearly choked. “Not me. My aunt’s staying here, and she has moments where she is very strange.”

  “And you think it’s a demon?”

  I had never felt so ridiculous in my life. “I think it’s something from the ninth floor.”

  His face shut down and he stood up. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”

  “What?” I stuttered. “But—”

  “You’ve been talking about it, haven’t you?”

  “What?” I repeated.

  “It’s no wonder people are dying again,” he muttered. He looked at me with hard eyes. “You seem like a smart girl, so listen to me. There is nothing on the ninth floor.”

  “I know it’s closed down, but—”

  “No,” he said with more force. “You’re not listening. There. Is. Nothing. There. There is nothing to worry about, talk about, or acknowledge.” His intensity made me squirm.

  “Okay.” I turned to leave but remembered my purpose in coming. “Do you have a cross or holy water or something I could borrow?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  I mentally counted to ten. “Look, my name’s Ryan Sterling. My aunt is a patient here, and she hasn’t been doing well at all. We need—”

  “What did you say your name was?”

  “Ryan.”

  His face blanched and he pulled the cross off of his neck. “You shouldn’t be here, Ms. Sterling.” He handed me the necklace. “If you want to save your aunt, stop visiting.”

  “Why?”

  “You have to go.

  I walked out, clutching the cross so tightly in my hand it dug into my skin. He gave me what I came for, so the rest didn’t matter. My phone buzzed in my pocket.

  “Hello?”

  “How’s Bee?”

  “She’s okay,” I told my father. “What are you doing today? Do you want to have lunch?”

  “I would love to.” He sounded genuinely happy about it.

  “Good. Bring the letters that were left for me by the stalker. I want to see them, and I have other questions I need answers to, Dad.”

  He didn’t say anything for a long while, and when he finally did, it was only one word. “Fine.” All the enthusiasm was drained from his voice.

  Jack was exiting Bee’s room, a deep frown creasing his face, when I got back. A knot of worry sunk in my stomach like a boulder. “What happened?”

  He looked up. His face went through a variety of emotions before settling on passive. “Nothing. Everything seems fine. Why? Did she have another episode?”

  “Yeah, you could say that.” I showed him my bruises.

  He took my arm and ran his thumb over them a little harder than comfortable.
“I’m sorry, Ryan.”

  “It’s not your fault.” I drew my arm back. “Why did you stop by?”

  “I was looking for you. I had a little break in my day. I thought you might like to get some coffee.” He glanced at his watch. “Did you know your ex-boyfriend is visiting?”

  I nodded. “He came with Blair, but I told him to go home. However, I can’t really make him. He knows Bee.”

  Jack studied me, his face inscrutable. “I have to get back to work, but I’ll see you tonight.” His lips brushing mine took me by surprise. He pulled me in tighter, not letting me move back, and kissed me harder. The sound of my heart echoed in my ears. I hadn’t expected him to kiss me out in the open where any of the nurses could see us.

  “Jack, we should talk,” I said.

  He winked. “Later. I have to go.” He walked down the hall, whistling. A nurse went into Bee’s room after flashing me a knowing smile. I couldn’t go in there now. I headed for the stairwell.

  I went down to the ninth floor and stared at the doors. Anticipation filled the air between us, like they were waiting for me to find my way inside. A padlock clinked against the concrete floor and slid toward my feet. I stared at it, shocked. Maybe I didn’t need a key at all. I took a step forward and nothing happened. Another step. Nothing. One more step …The doors were only an arm’s length away. I could touch them if I wanted to. The anticipation changed into a buzz I could feel all over my skin.

  “What do you want?” My voice startled me.

  The door bulged, the chain stretching tight, then sucked back in. I reached toward it.

  “What are you doing?” Aiden’s voice was sharp behind me.

  I yelped and whirled around, a hand over my heart. “You scared the crap out of me.”

  “You shouldn’t be here, Ryan. Do you know how easy it would be for someone to attack you here?”

  “I just needed to think.”

  “And talk to doors?” He blinked as his eyes strayed to my arm. “What happened there?”

  “My aunt had an episode. It’s not a big deal.” My eyes filled with tears though, and my lower lip started to quiver.