Chapter 42
Kayla
When I wake up, I blink up at the ceiling.
It takes a moment for me to remember. When I do, I feel like throwing up.
Jackson. How did we get here? What happened?
Before I can spiral any further, the door opens.
I jerk my head to the side, prepared to see Alicia or the woman from earlier.
I don’t see either. Instead, I see a girl that looks to be maybe around my age.
I instantly take in her pale skin and short, dark hair as well the dark circles under her sunken-in eyes.
The woman from before enters the room and walks over to me.
She makes quick work of undoing the straps holding me down, and I sit up.
I want to wait until the dizziness fades, but she grabs my arm and pulls me off the table.
I stumble forward a few steps. It takes me a minute to get the room to stop spinning and get my bearings back.
When I do, the girl is on the table. I want to ask her who she is, how long she’s been here; but I don’t get a chance.
Another woman shows up. “Let’s go,” she barks out.
I’m led down the hallway to the same room as before.
She pushes me inside and closes the door behind me.
I whirl around and try the door, but it’s locked.
I pound on it one time in frustration before making my way over to the bed.
I sit on the bed and try to get my stomach to stop rolling.
Thoughts assail me, and it’s almost too much.
I stand and pace the room. “There has to be a way out.
I'm not going to just stay here and let them kill Jackson and me.” My stomach growls loudly.
“But first, I need to find something to eat.” I open up the cabinets and am shocked to find dried foods like mac and cheese bowls and ramen.
I grab a mac and cheese bowl and pop it in the microwave.
After eating two bowls, I feel a little more level-headed and ready to tackle my problems head-on.
I start pacing the room again, but now that there’s food in my stomach, exhaustion plagues me.
I look in the bathroom and see a shower and wonder what the odds are that it works.
I turn it on and within, minutes, there’s hot water.
I strip down and step into the hot water, letting it soothe all my achy muscles.
When I finally get out, I’m shaking with fatigue.
I grab a towel off the rack for my hair and another for my body and then walk back out to the room and start looking through the drawers.
Shockingly, there are clothes. Nondescript black sweatpants and black t-shirts are in the first drawer and plain white underwear in the second.
I throw the clothes on, cinching the pants around my waist to keep them up.
I finger comb my hair and drop onto the bed.
I’m almost asleep when I hear a sound at my door.
I freeze, unsure what to do. Before I can decide, the door opens, and a girl rushes inside.
She closes the door behind her and faces me.
Recognition dawns; it’s the girl from earlier.
“What are you doing here?” I ask in confusion.
“We don’t have long; I have no idea how long it will be before they send someone to get me.”
“How did you get in here?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I was on camera duty when you came in here, and I saw and memorized the code.”
"Did someone see you just now?” I ask.
"They have cameras everywhere; they see everything. Somebody will have seen me and is already on their way. I’m Jade.” She looks at me expectantly.
“Kayla.”
“Do you have a plan to get out?” she asks bluntly.
“I don’t even know where we’re at or how we got here.”
“You came with the guy and four females.”
My heart stutters. “What?”
“Four other females. All five of you were unconscious. I happened to be on camera duty when they brought you in. I had audio and everything because they wanted special surveillance on that room; so we were all on it. They gave the five of you something, and then they disappeared. Just you and the guy are left.”
My brain tries to make sense of what she’s telling me. “Where did they go?”
“I don’t know.”
“Was one of them a pregnant girl with long blond hair?” She nods. “And they’re not still here?” I ask.
“No, they left within twenty-four hours.”
I frown. “How long have I been here?”
“Several days.”
My mouth drops open. “Several days?”
“They kept you heavily sedated the first few days. Do you have a plan? You and the guy? I’m assuming you’re working together. He was bossy when he was in the room.”
My heart thunders in my chest. “No, I have no idea. I just woke up here.”
“We have to get free. If they run that machine on you too many times, you die.”
I stare at her. “What?”
Her eyes don’t leave mine. “It happened to the girl that was here before I got here. She got weaker and weaker every day, and then she died.” Her words are sharp, and I can hardly process her words.
My brain goes into overdrive. “How long have you been here?”
“This time? Two weeks.”
“This time?” I ask, almost hesitantly. Before she can answer, the door to my room flies open, crashing into the room.
Two guys I’ve never seen before enter and grab her before I can say a word.
She doesn’t fight them as they drag her from the room.
Her eyes meet mine right before the door slams shut, and I hold her gaze until she’s gone.
The sound of the door slamming jars me, and I take a deep breath.
The reality of everything she just told me threatens to suck me into a deep, dark hole; but I refuse to let it.
“We will escape,” I speak to the empty room, willing it into existence.
“We are not going to die in here.” It’s not until hours later that I finally crash in bed and fall asleep.
The next morning, I’m out of bed before they get me.
I eat a bowl of ramen and try to mentally prepare for today.
“We’re not going to die here,” I speak out loud. When they come for me, I’m ready.
I don’t see Jade that day or the next. By the third day, I’m starting to go stir crazy.
I’m sitting on my bed eating mac and cheese when I hear a faint sound at my door.
I’m on my feet and at the door seconds later as Jade opens it and pushes past me.
“What room number are you?” I ask. I’ve been waiting for a chance to speak.
“Seven.”
“Where’s the exit?” I ask next.
“Two floors up. No stairs. Or maybe there are stairs, but I’ve never found them. You have to know the key codes to use the elevator. I’ve tried, but they change them daily or maybe hourly for all I know.”
I refuse to let the information deter me. “We’re going to escape,” I tell her.
She nods. “Yeah, we are. Here.” She shoves something in my hand. “You can use it to pick the lock at your door; it’s how I get out.”
“I can’t take it,” I start.
“I have another one. Just don’t—” The door crashes open, and they drag Jade from my room.
Seconds later, there’s silence. I open my hand and look at the small piece of metal.
I have no idea where she got it from, but I’m not losing it.
I drop it into my bra; I need to make sure it’s on me at all times.
I shove the rest of the food into my mouth and then stride for the front door.
I try opening it first, but of course, it’s locked.
I examine the locking mechanism. I've never picked a lock before, but I’m going to learn now.
After trying for what feels like hours, I fall into bed exhausted.
The next morning, I’m at it again. When I hear it finally give, elation fills me.
“I did it!” I pull open the door and close it quickly and try opening it again.
It’s locked, but that’s good because they should be here to get me soon.
The two guys that show up to get me are the ones from last night.
They’re rough with me, and I resist the urge to fight back.
When we get to the room, the female that’s usually there all but shoves me onto the bed.
Seconds later, I’m out. It takes me a while to come out of it, and I’m back in my room before I really even realize it.
I rest on my bed a few minutes and then get up to make something to eat.
I really don’t want to, but I know I need to keep my strength up.
This time, though, I can’t keep the mac and cheese down.
I throw it all up and hang over the toilet, groaning.
When the nausea passes, I clean up and then sit on my bed.
I will myself to stay awake; I am going to see Jackson tonight.
I wait until it’s late and then make my way to my door.
It takes much longer than I thought it would, but I finally open the door again.
I pull it open as quietly as possible. Dropping the metal piece into my bra, I let the door close softly behind me and then start down the hallway.
I keep my head high, hoping anyone that sees me will think I’m supposed to be out and about.
I get as far as the elevators, and my heart drops.
They’re closed. I look at the keypad next to it, but I have no idea what the code is.
I’m afraid if I try something, and it's wrong, an alarm will sound. I stare at the elevators a few more seconds and then decide to go back to my room. I don’t want them to drag me back to my room for nothing.
When I get back to my room, I try to open it; but it’s locked.
“Shoot,” I mutter. I see the keypad next to my door and curse myself for not noticing it before.
It takes less than five minutes for somebody to appear.
A guy stands in front of the key code. I try to move so I can see it, but it’s of no use.
He keeps it hidden from me. He grabs my arm before I realize what’s happening.
I react without thinking and kick him. Hard.
Rage contorts his features, and he throws me across the room.
I hit the wall and crumble. He’s on me before I can recover and delivers a swift kick to my ribs.
“Don’t do that again.” He's gone a moment later, and the door slams shut behind him. I lay on the floor trying to catch my breath and vow once again to get out of this place. Thankfully, I’ve learned how to take a hit or two in my day.
I finally drag myself to my bed and curl into a ball.
It’s a long night, and I’m not sure I’m relieved or disappointed when morning finally comes.
When my door opens, and I see it’s the same guy as last night, something crumbles inside me.
He smiles at me, but it’s cold and awful.
“Ready?” There’s something in his face and eyes that makes my heart beat faster.