Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 124341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
He’d dared to dream the surgeries were finished. He’d endured so many already. Too many to count. Oh God, the pain. The pain, the pain.
“Now then,” Dr. Heathrow said, giving Sam a slight push so that he sat up. The doctor wiped his hands together, done with the conversation.
Sam came slowly to his feet, his legs shaky.
The doctor glanced at his watch and then stood as well, giving Sam the ghost of a smile. “Go lose yourself in a video game, eh? Have some fun. There’s always a game to join.”
Yes, there always was. The other boys loved games. The girls did too, but mostly the boys. Sometimes Sam did. Sometimes they bored him. Sometimes they even disturbed him, but he’d never tell Dr. Heathrow that. He didn’t know why they disturbed him. They were only games on a screen. “I’d rather read, if that’s okay.” There were comic books and a few other titles on the tables in the lounge, but those weren’t the books Sam intended to read. “I’d like to be alone for a while. To prepare my mind.”
Dr. Heathrow smiled proudly. “Prepare your mind. Yes. Good. All strength begins in the mind.” He tapped his own skull. “But the body is what we use to fight. The body must be strong too. See you soon, Sam.”
Sam nodded once and headed toward the door.
He didn’t cry out loud. But inside, he roared.
Chapter Seven
The nurse pushing the wheelchair carrying a small, bony boy who was staring straight ahead stoically turned the corner and went out of sight.
Autumn waited a moment and then moved from behind the tall hydrangea bush where she was standing, half-obscured. She hardly dared a glance as she rushed past the path where the nurse had turned, ducking into the doorway just beyond. She stood there for a moment, catching her breath as she listened. There was only the gust of the wind and the call of a distant bird.
She leaned out, turning her head in both directions before once again stepping onto the path that led to the newer section of Mercy Hospital, the one she’d been told was mostly used for research and development and the occasional surgery when the other operating rooms were all in use.
She reached the high fence that she’d only seen from afar, gripping the wires as she peered through. The building was much newer than the brick and stone structure used for the children’s home and mostly devoid of windows. Odd. Researchers and scientists weren’t known for their conventionality necessarily, but surely, even they liked a ray of sunshine now and again. Or maybe they developed products whose ingredients fared better in very specific conditions. What did she know about any of that anyway?
There were KEEP OUT signs along the fence, but clearly, the warnings didn’t possess teeth as there was no barbed wire at the top. Her eyes moved to her hands on the links. And it’s not going to shock you if you touch it. She was glad she hadn’t considered that before she’d gripped it, or she might not have tried. Then again…why should there be barbed wire or any other physical deterrent? It wasn’t as if the kids at Mercy had the strength to scale a fence anyway, even if they wanted to.
Well…except her.
A spiral of pride wound through her, making her feel slightly delirious. What a dizzyingly delightful thought it was that she was now strong enough to scale a fence! The realization gave her courage, and she let go of the wire, stepping back and looking at the entirety of the chain-link fence, deciding on the best place to climb. Only the side of the older building was visible. There was no window view to this area.
A spear of indecision poked at her, but she brought his face to mind, remembering the motivation that had led her to this fence in the first place. He was real. The hair she’d plucked from his head and placed beneath her tongue proved it.
And if he was real, he lived somewhere nearby. Where though? He obviously didn’t live on one of the floors above or below her. The only place she could think of was this place. This windowless laboratory. And though she was afraid, the monster with the soul shining from his midnight eyes was too much of a lure. I have to know.
She gripped the fence, beginning her climb before she could talk herself out of it. Grip, pull, find a foothold. Grip, pull, find a foothold. Halfway up, she made the mistake of looking down. A small whimper escaped her throat. What are you actually doing, Autumn? Have you lost your mind?
That question gave her fortitude, because she was clear on the answer, and she turned back, continuing on. Grip, pull, find a foothold.