Madelyne
The sky is so enormous, now that I am free. I have been indoors for so long that I feel dizzy as I stare up at the slowly disintegrating clouds, as if I will be overwhelmed if I don’t look away. And it’s not just the sky; the whole world outside the asylum is vast.
I managed to avoid swallowing some of my meds before bed check, spitting them out and flushing them instead. It’s been a good two hours since then—just enough time to slip out and steal clothes from the nurses’ lockers and to hike this far down the road. Problem is, the pills still partially dissolved in my mouth before I could get rid of them, so I’m lightheaded as I turn to the man on the motorcycle.
I didn’t expect anyone to be out driving this late in the middle of nowhere. The fact that he came from the direction of the hospital makes me a little nervous. But Ravenwood is huge—the campus has three separate complexes on it, including the mental hospital.
It’s possible that he doesn’t even work in the same building. I try to remind myself of that fact as he dismounts from the bike and pulls off his helmet. When I see his face, everything else leaves my mind for a few moments.
I don’t know anything about men or attraction. I haven’t had the opportunity to do anything but admire boys from afar. But suddenly my stomach flutters, I feel a warm flush in my cheeks, and the dark thoughts that have been swirling through my head part like clouds before the moon.
His hair is a sort of tawny brown color, like a lion’s mane—shot with gold threads that reflect the glow from the motorcycle headlights in sparks. It stands up from a high forehead, mussed by his helmet. The lean, tanned face beneath is prickled with blond stubble along his jawline. His mouth is generous and well-shaped, and his narrow green eyes stare into mine like he’s looking right through me.
He’s also huge, I realize as he dismounts his motorcycle and stands up straight. He looms over me, and only his gentle expression keeps me from freaking out and putting more space between us.
“What’s your name?” he asks me softly.
I blink at him, reluctant to tell him. He could hear, later, about a missing patient named Madelyne at this very hospital. But then I just shake my head slightly, amused with myself. Unless he’s a regular visitor to the hospital, he’s not likely to hear anything. I doubt they’d let my name get out to the public. “Madelyne.”
“That’s a pretty name. I’m Aaron. Do you need some kind of help?” He tilts his head slightly, and I shrink a little under his piercing gaze. He’s intimidating without even meaning to be, even when he’s being kind.
“I ... no. There’s ... not much that can be done, really. I’m just going to ... spend a little time around here, that’s all.” I struggle to sound casual and wonder why it’s so hard for me to keep the shaking out of my voice suddenly. “You can ... you can go on. I’ll be okay. Really.”
The gorge is deep and shadowy, with rocks like jutting fangs. I can hear rushing water down there. The whole idea of throwing myself over the railing terrifies me.
But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that they will catch me if I stay on the run. I have no family, no friends, no money, nowhere to go. It doesn’t matter that I don’t have any of the illnesses that I was hospitalized for, except, of course, for the depression. The doctor will not let me be free as long as I am alive.
Aaron gives a deep, resigned sigh, and before I know what he’s doing he leans against the weathered railing, not so inconspicuously placing himself between me and the brink. He folds his powerful arms and the leather of his jacket creaks against his biceps.
“I don’t think you’re going to be okay if I leave you, sweetheart,” he says in a calm tone that leaves me with tears brimming in my eyes. “As a matter of fact, I think that if I leave you here, they’ll be pulling you out of the gorge tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense. I—” I start, then realize that I have started fidgeting. “I’m ... I just ...”
“Look,” Aaron says softly, catching my eye. “I don’t know what’s brought you out here like this. I don’t know what you’re going through, and I’m not gonna judge. But I am gonna ask you something.”
I stop fidgeting and lick my lips, gathering my wits. How did he know what I was planning? I wipe my eyes impatiently. “What?”
“If you don’t care whether you live or die anyway, then how about you come take a ride with me instead?” His smile is charming, his tone reasonable. But his eyes bore into mine, seeking my answer.
This wasn’t in my plan. Confusion swamps me again and I stand still, blinking back at him. “Why would you do that?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I can’t just leave you. But I can’t tell you what to do with your life either. If you don’t mind my saying so, you look a little ambivalent about the whole ... situation here. I figure maybe a nice ride will help you clear your head.”
I hesitate. It’s true that I have nothing left to lose. It’s true that if anything, taking this man up on his offer gives me a chance at a running start before the doctor finds out I’m missing.
Escaping with my life might be possible after all. Or if it isn’t, maybe I can just have a little fun before I go back to my first option.
I walk over to the motorcycle, which gleams black and silver in the moonlight. It’s huge and powerful-looking, like its owner. Maybe he’s a biker that was discharged from the emergency wing. Maybe he’s not the type to turn me in.
Nothing to lose but my life, and I was an inch from giving that up anyway.
I look back at him and nod. “Let’s go.”
End of Sneak Peek.
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