The Forbidden Trilogy(47)

Of course, that kind of stain never washed clean.

A tear leaked out of the corner of my eye. If I couldn't stay lost in my own dreams, I had to stay focused.

The sterile room offered no unique markings or identifying traits, just a sink, chair, bed, stool, and empty tray. Standard medical supplies lined the walls. Nothing helpful.

I instinctively reached for Drake.

And I reached too hard. 'Sam!' His voice filled my head, crushing my mind with the volume.

"Ouch! Shhhh... don't shout. My head is already pounding."

'I'm not shouting.'

I tried dialing down my link to him, imagining it like a volume control; now that the speakers lay closer, I didn't need it so high.

'Are you okay?' His voice stopped splitting my skull.

"Yes. No. I don't know. Drake... Gar is dead. It's my fault!"

'No. It's their fault, Sam, never yours. Where are you?'

I projected my room to him, and he did the same. Our rooms were identical, but that didn't mean much.

A nurse came in, and—

'That's her, my nurse!' Drake said. 'We must be in the same place.'

At least we had that. Would we try another escape?

"Oh, you're awake!" She looked startled.

"How long have I been unconscious?" I asked Drake.

'Since yesterday.'

Twenty-four hours of my life, stolen. What had they done with Gar? What would they tell his family? He'd died trying to save me, and still I ended up in the hands of the enemy, pumped full of drugs. What would all these drugs do to the baby? I forced myself not to cover my stomach in reflex.

Best to act ignorant for now, see what I can find out. "What happened?" I asked the nurse.

If her nervousness was any indication, she wouldn't tell me the truth, at least not out loud. "Oh, I think it's best if I get Dr. Pana. He can explain everything." At five feet, with dark blond pigtails and freckles under her green eyes, she looked barely old enough to drink legally. Even I looked tall and grown up compared to her. Did adults even wear pigtails? Where did they get this kid?

'I hope I don't get in trouble... she shouldn't have woken up... I hate this job... but the money... need the money... hope Mom and Nick are okay... can't afford to get in trouble again... hate keeping these kids here like animals... not right but what can I do... if only I'd never met these creeps... and getting her pregnant... so awful... wonder what the baby will be like... it's growing too fast... but the dad is totally hot... oh God... I need to stop thinking around her... but no... the drugs should keep her out of my head....'

Maybe she would be an ally.

'Can't stand being around these freaks... feel bad for them but they creep me out... no one should be able to do what they can do... not natural... not the way God made us... abominations... no... I'm doing the right thing... taking care of my family....'

Or maybe not.

She left the room without looking back at me, and I left her mind alone when she started thinking of church and her weekend plans. Interesting that their attempts to control my powers had failed. But definitely advantageous to me.

At least we finally had a few things going for us. They didn't know I could still read minds, and Drake and I were together. Sort of. Now we just needed a way of getting the hell out of here. If not for myself, then for Drake and our baby—and so that Gar's sacrifice wasn't for nothing.

"We need a plan, Drake. We can't stay here."

'Agreed. If we can figure out a way to get these drugs out of my system, we'll have a better chance of escaping.'

With renewed hope, my impatience grew. How long would they leave me lying here in this uncomfortable position? My muscles ached and my head still hurt. My arms had some range of motion, but not much.

The door opened again, and Dr. Pana entered. His energy rushed into me and I fought the false calm it tried to induce. I would not be seduced by this man's powers.

"Hello, Sam, nice to see you again. You're a strong girl. We didn't expect you to wake up so soon."

His syrupy sweet voice, the kind of voice that plotted unimaginable tortures while telling you how lovely the day was, enraged me.

"So I gathered." I tried to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Best to stay on neutral ground for now. "What happened?"

He chuckled as if we were old pals. Yeah right. "Oh, I think you know what happened. Your guard made a grave, and ultimately fatal, mistake in trying to escape with you. Did you put him up to that or did he go renegade on his own?"

The moment of truth. How much should I reveal?

Drake answered my question before I could find my own thoughts. 'You need to claim ignorance for as long as possible.'

"And make Gar out to be the bad guy? After everything he did for me?"

'He's dead, Sam. Nothing you do now can hurt or help him. You need to protect yourself. He'd want that for you.'