Melanie’s head lifted when the lock clicked. She pushed herself up on her bed and padded over to the door. Her hand trembled as she reached for the knob.
When her hand fell against the cool metal and it turned beneath her touch, she almost sobbed with joy. It had been a week since she last saw Kyle and they led her into her room and locked the door.
A week in which they’d left her behind. A week in which she’d done nothing but ponder if she would ever walk free again while she relentlessly paced the small confines of her room.
Lucy came by every day and talked to her through the door. That small connection helped to keep her from completely falling apart, but it hadn’t eased her terror over the possibility she might never walk free again.
Three times a day, someone came by to escort her to the bathroom. They were always armed, and when they returned her to her room, there was a tray of food within. It was all they gave her to eat and the only time she was allowed to leave. There were more than a couple of times she almost pissed herself while waiting for them to arrive, and she hadn’t been allowed to shower.
Cautiously opening the door, she poked her head outside. She held her breath as she waited for someone to yell at her to get back inside; no one did.
At the far end of the hall, her father turned the corner and vanished. She almost called him back to thank him for releasing her, but he was the one who put her there in the first place.
Instead, dread crawled like spiders over her flesh. He hadn’t come to see her over the past week, and although he’d set her free, it was clear he didn’t want to see her. And that was fine with her.
And why?
Because she went to see Kyle? Because she didn’t believe he was a monster, or because he might have messed with her mind? Or was it because he hadn’t messed with her mind and wasn’t a monster, and they couldn’t have her discover that?
She almost slipped back inside and closed the door. She didn’t want to see anything out there anymore, but she was terrified they would lock it again and never let her out if she retreated.
Leaving the door open, she gathered shower supplies and walked down the hall to the bathroom. She stripped and stepped beneath the hot spray of water. As she scrubbed herself, she cried harder than she’d ever cried in her life.
When she finished, she vowed to get away from this place and to never shed another tear while here. Turning off the shower, she stepped out and toweled off before dressing again.
Keeping her shoulders back and her chin high for the cameras, she strode back to her room. She considered closing the door, but she didn’t dare. After being locked inside for so long, she couldn’t allow them to lock her in again.
Melanie wandered over and sat on the edge of her bed. She lifted the book she’d taken from the small library on the third floor and stared at the cover. She’d tried to read it numerous times over the past week, but she hadn’t made it past the first page.
Setting it back on her stand, she rested her hands on her knees as she stared at the open door. She had no idea how to escape this place, but they had to do something. She refused to sit here and rot. She refused to let Lucy and Kyle rot in this pit of despair.
She’d spent much of the past week trying not to think about what they were doing to him, but the possibilities were endless. She’d never seen any of the experiments done before, but she once overheard someone say they pretty much autopsied them alive.
Shuddering, Melanie gripped the edge of her mattress as her mind spun.
“There you are!” Lucy exclaimed as she appeared in Melanie’s doorway.
Jerked from her morose musings, Melanie’s head snapped up, and she gave her friend a wan smile. “Here I am.”
When Lucy stepped inside and closed the door, Melanie almost shouted at her to leave it open, but she refused to give in to the anxiety gripping her. She wouldn’t let them destroy her while she was here.
“It’s so good to see you,” Lucy said as she rushed over to hug her.
They embraced before Lucy pulled away and sat beside her.
“How are you doing?” Lucy asked.
“Oh, I’m fantastic,” Melanie said. “How about you?”
“Living the dream. I’m so happy you’re free.”
As she spoke, Lucy’s fingers flew through the air. Melanie doubted they’d put a camera in her room since her imprisonment, but she still glanced nervously around.
Lucy tapped her arm, drawing her attention back to her. There’s still no camera in here, she signed.
Are you sure?
Yes. I still have an in with a guy.
As she signed, Lucy continued talking about what she’d been up to for the past week. Melanie barely heard her words as she focused on her hands.
There’s no camera, but there is a listening device, but we already knew that. Pretty much since we got here, I’ve been screwing the guy who runs the afternoon shift in the control room. We hook up in the control room.
Melanie’s throat went dry as she stared at her friend. Have you seen Kyle?
Yes.
How is he?
Lucy hesitated before signing. Not good.
Fresh tears stung Melanie’s eyes, but she refused to shed them.
“I’ve been reading a good book,” Lucy said out loud.
“What is it?” Melanie asked.
She barely listened as Lucy described her newest romance novel; she remained focused on Lucy’s hands.
Billy puts the cameras on a loop when he knows I’m coming.
Who’s Billy? Melanie asked.
The guy I’m screwing. He wasn’t here when we left, but he’s been here for a couple of years. It would be more fun if our meetups were spontaneous, but he doesn’t want anyone to know that we’re fucking in the control room. He could get in a lot of trouble.
Lucy clasped her hands and squeezed them before letting go to continue signing. I can get Kyle out of his cage.
Melanie’s eyes widened as she sat back. Then what do we do?
We get out of here.
How?
I don’t know. I haven’t been able to figure that out, but with Kyle free, we have a chance of breaking out. He’s stronger than any other vamp in this place; he broke the glass, Mel! He has everyone in this place scared, but they’re too fascinated by him to kill him. That might not be the case once they finish experimenting on him.
The blood drained from Melanie’s face so fast she swayed on the bed. Lucy clasped her arm to steady her.
You think so? Melanie asked when she felt more stable.
Yes. And what they’re doing to him now should never be done to another.
Melanie bit her lip. She’d been through a lot this past week, but it was nothing compared to what they were doing to Kyle.
You trust him not to turn on us? she asked.
Lucy studied Melanie as she pondered this before replying. I know you’ve been through a lot since coming back here. I know they’ve put you through hell. But if you look inside here—she poked Melanie’s chest over her heart—you’ll know you trust him too.
Melanie pondered this as she stared at her friend. All her instincts said she could trust Kyle, but her head was still all kinds of screwed up.
I’ve seen the video of what happened; Billy showed it to me. Kyle broke that glass for you, Lucy signed. He broke the glass because he was trying to protect you. So yes, I trust him not to turn on us, and I think if anyone can get us out of here, it’s him.
Melanie was desperate to believe her.
You should also know that I overheard some people talking a few days ago. One of the main reasons Kyle is still alive is because they can’t figure out why he can tolerate the sun.
Melanie’s mouth parted at this revelation. It was one of the things she’d questioned about her memories. One of the things her interrogation had made her question about her memories of him.
So he can be in the sun?
Yes. That wasn’t something he put in our heads, even if they want to make us think it was. He can go out in the sun, and I believe him when he says he can do it because he’s not a killer.
Holy shit.
That’s what I thought too.
So what do we do?
Lucy grinned at her. I have a plan. Not much of one, but it’s better than nothing.