by West, Shay
Alex was ready to go back to the hospital after only two days in Agnes’ apartment. Though she didn’t think it was possible to die of boredom, Alex thought she had come pretty close. Agnes’ taste in books did not match with Alex’s. They were long and flowery and convoluted. Alex found herself re-reading paragraph after paragraph and ended up tossing the book on the floor in frustration. She spent much of her time staring out the window, thinking of Chandon, wondering if he was thinking of her, hoping time was passing very slowly back in her time so that she wouldn’t be discovered by her mom.
She was due in the trauma ward all day so she mentally prepared herself. While treating the patients came from Agnes’ skill, Alex still had to deal with the blood, the dying, and the screaming. She had to fight tears with nearly every patient. Agnes was a seasoned nurse and would never allow tears to fall where others could see her. If Alex cried, it might cause suspicion.
Alex went about her duties, keeping an eye out for Stygian and yet trying to look like she wasn’t trying to look for someone. The man never made an appearance.
When she left the ward to eat lunch, Alex thought she could use a few minutes to snoop around without getting caught. She made her way slowly back to the laboratory, pretending that she had every right to be walking down that particular hallway. Her skin prickled as her senses stretched out for any sign of Stygian.
She stopped short of turning down the final hallway. With her back against the wall, Alex moved to the corner and peered around the edge.
There were two guards on either side of the doors to the laboratory. Both carried wicked looking rifles and looked they would have no problems shooting her down if she stepped into their view. At the very least, they wouldn’t let her get anywhere near the lab.
Alex turned and walked to the lunchroom, feeling disappointment and relief at not being able to get near the laboratory. As she ate her meal, she debated her next move. She couldn’t force her way into the lab; that much was clear.
Maybe there’s another way in.
That thought filled her with excitement at first but she soon came back to reality. Stygian wasn’t a fool. If there were multiple ways into the lab, he’d have them all covered. Especially after losing one batch of the medicine.
Alex was no nearer a solution after lunch than before. She made her way back to the trauma ward to finish her afternoon shift. Each minute that passed brought elevated anxiety. Stygian would have more L-DOPA made soon and then he would take it to Hitler. Alex had to stop him, somehow.
As she finished helping a doctor with a patient, she felt the familiar skin crawling and nausea that signaled Stygian’s approach. He was walking with two of the doctors who were helping to make the drug. Their heads were close together and they barely spoke above a whisper; Alex couldn’t hear a word they were saying. All three headed down the hallway leading to the lab.
Her work in the trauma ward, finished, Alex took a deep breath and followed the three men. On the way, she snatched a head mirror off a small table, a plan buried in the back of her mind. The idea was ludicrous, dangerous, and necessary. Alex knew she was nearly out of time.
She walked down the hall like she had every right to be there, hoping the men wouldn’t turn around. The door to the lab was guarded by the same two men as before. Alex turned down a different hallway just as Stygian and the two other doctors pushed their way through the doors. She had held out a small hope that the doors would be unguarded. She cursed her bad luck and wondered how she was going to get into the lab and get Stygian alone.
Alex tiptoed to the corner and peeked around, sending up a prayer that the two burly guards would be magically gone. She rolled her eyes when she saw them still standing on either side of the doors, guns at the ready.
“What are you doing?”
Alex squealed and spun around.
“What are you doing sneaking up on me, Christoph?” Alex put her hand over her belly, trying to catch her breath.
“Why are you acting like you don’t want someone to see you?” Christoph asked. “And why are you carrying around a head mirror?”
“I was just curious about the laboratory. Aren’t you wondering what’s going on in there?”
“It’s none of my business. The guards are there to keep the doctors safe. I, for one, am glad they are here. Someone in this hospital attacked a doctor. And it has something to do with what’s in that lab.” Christoph frowned at her. “Do you know something?”
“No, why would you even ask that?”
“I can tell when you’re lying to me. Did you see something? You have to tell someone,” Christoph reached for Alex’s arm, but she moved back, looking to the left and right, hoping no one was noticing the scene.
“I don’t know anything! I told you, I was just curious about the guards,” Alex whispered fiercely.
“The guards are not a secret. You can speak to them if you wish; I have seen them conversing with many nurses. You were acting like you didn’t want them to see you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You must tell someone what you know. If you won’t do it, I’ll give them your name and let them question you.”
“Why are you doing this to me? Is this because Ag—“ Alex took a deep breath to steady her nerves. “Is this because I won’t allow you to take me out?”
Christoph’s eyes widened and he backed up a few steps. “Of course not! This has to do with someone in this hospital being attacked, something to do with the laboratory, something bad enough that guards are necessary. I want the person caught and punished. What if he attacks someone else? Maybe even one of the nurses?” Christoph moved toward Alex and she was mesmerized by the naked worry and desire in his eyes. “Don’t you see? If this man attacks you, I couldn’t bear it. Please, if you know something, you have to tell someone.”
Alex turned away and put her hands over her face. This was a development she definitely didn’t need. She needed to find a way into that laboratory so she could get rid of Stygian. She couldn’t afford the distraction of this handsome young man. Her shoulder blades itched. She could almost feel his eyes boring into her back, willing her to turn around.
“I sense there is something different about you. I can’t put my finger on it.”
The blood rushed from Alex’s face. She turned slowly. “What do you mean? I’m the same as I’ve always been.”
Christoph was standing so close Alex could feel his breath on her face. “You look the same, smell the same, dress the same. But there is something...” He reached up to gently stroke her face.
Alex wanted to melt into this man’s arms and tell him everything. Fighting a mad man alone was no job for a teenage girl. It would be such a relief to spill her guts and acquire his help.
“You can tell me. I see something in your eyes.” Christoph smiled crookedly, attempting to lighten the mood. “If you don’t tell me what’s going on, you’ll never be rid of me.”
Despite Agnes’ obvious objections to opening her heart to this young man, Alex didn’t think she had a choice. She was running out of time. If Stygian had more of the drug for Hitler, he could be packing it up right this moment and on his way.
“I’ll tell you what I can but you have to accept the information I give and not seek more. And you can’t speak of this to another person,” Alex said.
“I promise.”
“Several of the doctors have been working on a medicine for Hitler. His physicians think he has Parkinson’s Disease and this drug is supposed to make him better. The person who attacked Doctor Haussen poured the drug down the commode.”
“Why would they do such a thing? If Der Fuehrer is truly ill, and the medicine can make him better, why would someone throw it out?” Christoph’s eyes widened. “Are you saying we have a spy in our midst?”
Alex sighed and hung her head. She hadn’t expected this level of fervor.
What am I going to do?
“It’s more than that. I can’t tell you everything,
but you have to believe me that throwing away the medicine is the best thing that can happen.” Alex felt a rush as an idea came to her. “The medicine isn’t safe. Don’t you see? If this doctor manages to get more of the drug made and gives it to Hitler, it will make him sicker.”
Alex hated saying the words. She wished she could tell Christoph the truth about the coming war, make him see reason. But he believed in Hitler and she would never gain his help if she spoke out against the German leader.
“So the culprit is actually trying to help Hitler? What does this have to do with you?”
“I found out about the drug. I can’t tell you how. But I have to stop the doctor from making more of the drug and giving it to Hitler.”
“Have you told anyone else about this?”
“I was sworn to secrecy. I can get in trouble by telling you.”
Christoph pulled Alex close. “I will die before telling your secret.”
She felt a little guilty about using Christoph but she didn’t have any other choice. There was more at stake than the feelings of this one person. She hoped Agnes wouldn’t go back to ignoring him after all this. The more Alex thought about what she had just done, the worse she felt. Not to mention the fact that she wasn’t even sure if Agnes was aware of anything going on or whether she would remember any of this. If Christoph started talking to her about their plot to stop the production of medicine for Hitler, she would think Christoph was insane.
Oh my God, was what I thinking?
Alex wanted to go back in time and take back her stupid decision to tell Christoph anything. By opening her big mouth, she had probably made things worse.
Get a grip, Alex!
It was too late to worry about it now. The damage had been done. She would have to trust that Christoph and Agnes would be fine after she returned to her own time.
“What do we do to stop these men?” Christoph asked.
Alex pulled back. “I need to get into the lab.”
“Don’t you mean we need to get into the lab?” Christoph said with his adorable crooked grin.
“Okay, we need to get into the laboratory. After that, what needs to be done I have to do alone.” Alex reached up and put her hand over his mouth just as he opened it to protest. “Remember, you promised.”
Christoph frowned and nodded sharply. “Fine. But if your life is in danger, our agreement is off.”
Alex didn’t argue. There was so much that could go wrong and probably would that she almost considered giving up the whole thing and just letting Stygian win. Maybe life won’t be so different.
She shook her head, shutting up the voice. She had a job to do and she would see it done.
“Question is, how do we get in there? Those guards are there all the time as far as I can tell,” Alex said, getting back to the first obstacle that was in their path.
Christoph looked deep into Alex’s eyes. “Oh, didn’t I mention it before? I know of a back way in.”
CHAPTER 35
“YOU WHAT?”
Christoph stood with his hands on his hips. “I know of another way in.”
Alex blinked a few times and fought to keep her voice steady. “And why did you fail to mention this until now?”
“I was too busy trying to absorb what you told me about Hitler’s life being in danger.”
“Well, I’m sure there will be guards on that one too,” Alex said, unwilling to get her hopes up.
“Not likely. It’s kind of a secret entrance.”
Alex crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. “Secret entrance?”
“Sort of. It’s an old hallway that got closed off after the renovations. Me and a bunch of the other custodians found it in a broom closet years ago. We sneak in there to smoke while we’re on duty.”
“And this hallway goes from this closet into the laboratory?”
“It opens behind a set of metal cabinets. We’d have to push them out of the way but that shouldn’t be too hard.”
“The noise alone would alert them,” Alex said.
“It’s in a back store room that’s full of boxes and cabinets of old notebooks. It doesn’t get used much. If we’re careful, we can get in undetected.”
It seemed too good to be true. But Alex didn’t see any other option. “Let’s go.”
She followed Christoph as he led the way. Alex gripped the head mirror, hoping that she would have the opportunity to use it. If things didn’t go smoothly, she would have tipped her hand to Stygian and Agnes’ life would be in danger and she would never get another chance to get anywhere near him.
The pair passed several nurses and doctors in the hallways but no one paid them any mind. Alex was nervous that some doctor would demand her aid with a patient and she would miss Stygian. She already pictured him on his way to see Hitler, medicine in hand.
Christoph looked both ways before opening the small broom closet. He ushered Alex inside and closed the door. It was a tight fit. Alex was aware of his body pressed against hers. Christoph grabbed her shoulders and switched places with her so he could have easier access to the back wall.
In a few moments, part of the wall moved aside, revealing a dark hallway. Christoph grabbed a flashlight from his belt and led the way.
“Why did they cover this up? Is it dangerous?” Alex asked.
“There are a lot of these around. Me and the other guys think they are some sort of emergency escape in case of attack. Then again, they could just be nothing.”
“If there’s more than one, I doubt they’re nothing. Do any of them lead outside?”
“Most of them do, yeah.”
“Maybe they are a way for the elite to gain access to the hospital without the general public knowing about it.”
“That makes sense.”
“Do you know which ones lead outside the hospital?” Alex asked.
“I know several, yes. Why? Are you thinking we will need to make a run for it?”
“We have to plan for that possibility.”
“If it comes to that, I can get us out. Don’t worry.”
Their footsteps kicked up dust but not as much as Alex expected for the hallway being abandoned. It seemed to lend weight to her idea of the hallways being used, even if it was infrequently.
Christoph bent nearly double and hid the light from the flashlight. Alex followed, walking on the balls of her feet to make as little noise as possible. Christoph pulled back on another section of wall. Instead of open space, Alex saw a metal wall.
“Ready?” Christoph whispered as he turned off the light and hung it back on his belt.
Alex nodded and placed her hands against the cold metal. Christoph held his fingers and did a countdown to three. They pushed. Alex gritted her teeth as the cabinet squealed against the floor but she admitted it wasn’t nearly as loud as she was expecting. They pushed the cabinet only as far as they needed. Alex followed Christoph, squeezing between the cabinet and the wall.
Christoph was right about the room. A thick layer of dust covered a dozen or more tall filing cabinets and even more boxes. Alex breathed through her mouth to avoid getting dust in her nose. The last thing she needed was to sneeze just when she was about to sneak up on Stygian.
Just before they reached the door, Alex pulled on Christoph’s arm, pulling him up short.
“The doctor behind this, he’s very dangerous. He’s killed people and won’t hesitate to do the same to us. I have a way to stop him that will seem ridiculous and crazy to you but you have to trust me.”
“A plan involving that?” he asked with a smile.
Alex looked down at the head mirror. “Yes, involving this. Please, I know this is hard. But I can’t tell you more. When I spot the doctor, I’ll point him out.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“We’ll need to take out the other two doctors before I face the one in charge. I’ll need you to hold him down while I do what I need to do. And you can’t let go no matter what.”
Christ
oph looked around the room and grabbed an old fire extinguisher off the wall. Alex looked around for a weapon she could use. She found an old piece of metal that looked like it used to be a table leg. She swung it a few times to get the feel for it, then nodded at Christoph to take the lead.
He slowly opened the door and peered around. When she saw him gesture to follow, Alex made her way through the door, heart racing. She strained her ears for the slightest sound but all she could hear was the blood pounding through her head.
Christoph made his way through the unused lab area toward the populated areas. Alex had no idea the laboratory was this big. She had only seen part of it when she had attacked Doctor Haussen and assumed it wasn’t much bigger than that. But comparing what she knew of the layout of the hospital and where they were at now in relation to the room directly behind the guarded doors, the laboratory must be many times the size of that one room she had seen.
Christoph moved in the general direction of the main room behind the guarded doors. Alex smiled, loving how smart he was. All of the men she had encountered in the past had been not only handsome, but also smart, which was something Alex knew she wanted in that special someone in her life.
She cringed when she thought of how much she had crushed on Beau Johnson. She had been so attracted to his looks and had overlooked his personality. At first, his arrogance had been daring and she had thought he was so hot, but over the years, she had come to know his true colors and he had grown uglier with each passing day. She hadn’t even missed him much when he had walked out of her tutoring class.
I have someone better.
Alex didn’t know anything about Chandon other than the fact that she knew him better than she knew herself. He was like the men from the past so Alex figured he would be kind and smart, just like they had been.
Thinking about Chandon made her worry about how long this latest excursion was taking. Days would pass here but only minutes would pass back in her time. She only hoped that trend would hold true. The last thing she needed was her mom walking in on her while she was traveling.
If all goes well, I will be home very soon.