No Escape

When Shania’s eyelids fluttered open, confusion flooded her mind. Where was she? Locked in isolation? Had she been set up again by Quinn? Then she remembered. Quinn was missing. Not only did that come back to her, but so did the earthquake, the failed attempt to exit the building, and then… nothing. Lauren! She took in her surroundings and found that she was in a bed partially curtained off. There was no way to tell how big the room was. “Well, well, look who’s waking up,” said an unfamiliar voice. She struggled to focus her eyes and clear her head. A freckly-faced redhead came into view. “Hi, I’m Angie,” she said with a smile. “How are you feeling?” “Thirsty,” Shania said, aware of her parched throat. Her tongue felt like a slab of sandpaper. “Okay. We’ll take care of that with some nice cold water.” Angie poured water into a cup from a carafe on a wheeled tray beside the bed. After she sipped some water, she asked about Lauren. “Lauren Cohen, the therapist?” Shania nodded. “Is she alive?” “Oh, yes, she’s alive.” Relief flooded through Shania faster than the speed of light. “She your therapist?” Angie asked. Shania nodded. “Oh, well then, I’m sure she’ll be around to see you as soon as she can. Meanwhile, we’ve got to get you on the mend.” Shania tried to move, but a sharp pain in her right arm stilled her. “You’ve got a broken arm,” Angie explained as Shania eyed the IV in one arm and the cast on the other. “Just be glad things didn’t turn out worse, which they certainly could have. It was a clean break that’s highly mendable and it’s within the ulna—that’s the outer, longer, and skinnier bone in your lower arm. It’s a good thing you didn’t break the humerus bone in your upper arm. You’ll be in the infirmary for about a week, then you can return to your room. If the part of the hospital where your room is has been demolished in the earthquake in any way, they’ll relocate you elsewhere. You’ll still be in a cast, but not for long. Could’ve sent you back to your room a lot sooner if you hadn’t cut any blood vessels like you did. Doc Avery wants to make sure you don’t get any clots, so you’re going to be here more under observation than anything to do with the break itself.” The nurse’s bantering was beginning to make Shania’s head swim. “How—how long have I been out of it?” she struggled to ask in a raspy voice. “A few days now. The good thing about it was that you were too out of it to know it when they set that break of yours.” “Is this the clinic’s infirmary?” Angie nodded. “Do I have a roommate?” “Yes, but she’s in a coma and probably will be for another week or two. Meanwhile,” she said, throwing open the right side of the curtain, “you’ve got the bed by the window, and it’s a beautiful day out there. See?” Shania nodded, though she had to squint until her eyes adjusted to the light. “How many people from the adult ward made it through okay?” “Can’t say for sure, hon,” answered Angie. “This is the only department I work in, so I couldn’t say what’s up with who on each of the wards. I only know you’re very lucky to be alive.” Am I? Shania wondered as she drifted back to sleep and to a land of dark comfort. When she came to a while later, an African American nurse was taking her vitals and checking the IV tube that ran into her arm. “Hi there. I’m Sarah,” said the nurse once she saw that Shania was awake, her white smile contrasting against dark skin. “Feeling alright?” Shania tried to move again. “My arm hurts, and I’m so groggy. I feel like I’ll never be fully awake again in my life.” The nurse chuckled. “Sure, you will. It’ll just take some time, is all. What can I get you? A glass of water, perhaps?” Shania nodded. “Yes, please.” She was given a drink and some codeine to help with the pain. Later on, she again inquired about Lauren. “We’re really busy here in the infirmary, what with the recent tragedy,” Sarah told her. “She’s no doubt very busy seeing folks that are laid up here, and I’m sure she’ll work her way around to you soon enough.” It wasn’t until the following evening that Lauren was able to see her. “Hey, hon,” she said, concern evident in her eyes. There was also joy evident in her expression at seeing her alive. Shania clutched Lauren’s hand, who squeezed it reassuringly in return. “I was so scared and so worried about you until I was told you made it.” “Me too,” said Lauren. “How did you manage to get out? What exactly happened?” “I was in my room when the tremors began. Sue, Larisa, and I ran down the stairs, but the door was jammed. Then we ran up to Geriatrics, and that’s when I got hit with something that knocked me out. What about you?” “Fortunately for me, I was right by a door, so I was able to dash outside before I could get hurt or worse.” Shania smiled, overjoyed to see that Lauren was unharmed. Lauren smiled back and said, “It’s okay, sweetie. Everything’s going to be okay from here on out. You’ll see.” “Did he make it?” Lauren shook her head. Shania took a moment to digest the news, then said, “Gosh, I never thought I’d be so glad to hear of someone’s death.” “But under the circumstances, one can surely understand how you feel.” Lauren’s expression turned solemn. “The bad news is that most of the people on the adult ward were killed, and they were mostly good people.” “That’s too bad. What about Cathy, Sue, and Larisa?” Lauren shook her head dubiously. Tears began to well up in Shania’s eyes, especially when she thought of Larisa. Lauren put a comforting hand on her arm. “So how do you feel?” she asked, obviously trying to take her mind off the deaths of those who didn’t deserve to die. “I hurt like hell at times, and I get these pounding headaches, but they keep me well-supplied with codeine, and that seems to help somewhat.” “You’ll be as good as new before you know it,” Lauren said encouragingly. “You’re a little toughie.” “And then what?” “Well,” Lauren began, looking toward the doorway to make sure no one was hanging just outside in the corridor, “there’s no saying how long you could be here with Hoffritz gone. His death could mean they’ll either let you go real soon, or it could mean you’ll be here for about a year.” “Great,” Shania said with a sigh. “Just great.” “Now, now, don’t go getting all down.” She leaned closer to Shania and softly said in her ear, “You’re on the ground floor, not too far from an exit that’s only locked from the outside. Just hang in there for now by concentrating on getting your arm better.” “But they’re going to ship me out of here before I’m out of the cast and able to walk, let alone go running through any doors.” “Shh,” Lauren said, putting a finger to her lips. “I’ll be the one to get you out of here. You’re just going to have to trust me. It’s all a matter of timing. Right now, I want you here until the bulk of the pain lets up and your injuries aren’t so critical. Besides, if I were to even think of attempting to bust you out of here tonight, we’d never make it. This place is swarming with too much activity. Today’s Monday, but by the end of the week, we shouldn’t be buzzing with so many patients. Most will be discharged from this area by then, and those with injuries like yours will at least be as placated as possible. For now, just stay cool, do as they tell you, and keep your lips sealed, okay?” Shania nodded. “But how do we know they won’t come looking for us?” “I’m almost sure they will, so that’s why I have a plan in mind.” “A plan?” Lauren nodded. “Courtney will help us. We had a long, long talk last night. Meanwhile, the less you know, the better. Now take care until I can get back to see you again. I can’t spend much more time with you than the others, as much as I wish I could, or else it’ll raise red flags, and we certainly don’t want that. We’ve come much too far for any dumb moves.” “Gotcha,” Shania said, trying to muster up a hopeful smile. Glancing toward the door one last time, Lauren gave her a quick peck on the cheek and was gone. Shania lay back against the pillow. She was exhausted. Did broken bones really sap the energy out of you like this? She closed her eyes and let her mind wander freely. It was hard to believe that after nearly two months in captivity, she might soon be free. With that, she let the week drag on in slow motion as it did. Although she was taken off the IV after a few days, the doctor assured her that her arm would be fully functional in six weeks, though it would be weak and require additional weeks of physical therapy to regain its strength. Mindy came to visit and brought her books to help pass the time, and Lauren came to see her once or twice in the evenings. They spoke mainly of trivial things that they both enjoyed, each not wanting to discuss Hoffritz or the events surrounding his death. He was someone they wanted to put out of their minds forever. However, there was someone else who didn’t. Someone who had him weighing on her mind quite heavily. She was slowly floating upwards, ready to break through the surface between sleep and wakefulness, when she heard shuffling sounds within the room. Her eyes snapped open, alert. Though she could not see through the drawn curtain, she first assumed that the comatose patient next to her was waking up. She heard more stirring sounds as well as footsteps. Then the dividing curtain began to rustle. Anxiety pressed down on Shania. There was something creepy about it. “Who’s there?” she asked. The curtain continued to rustle. The person seemed to be looking for the area in which the curtain parted, and Shania could now see the feet of a woman. They were about her size, maybe slightly bigger. Whoever it was wore black pumps. At last, the curtain parted and the woman came into view. She had long, black curly hair and was clad in a maroon turtleneck and a black wool skirt. Who in the world was she? Some kind of fancy nurse’s aide? An overdressed candy striper? Once the woman was inside the area her bed was in, she shut the parted curtains behind her and then turned to face her. “Hello, Shania. Fancy meeting you here.” Shania froze, chilled to the bone. She knew that menacing voice. Knew it really well. Anger began to dispel her shock and fear as she studied the familiar, snobbish features. “The disguise won’t work, Maureen. I know damn well it’s you.” “You better know it’s me, bitch!” she hissed. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done, and that’s a personal promise from me to you. One that will never be broken.” “All I’ve done is get a promotion, which you yourself just had to have, and I’ve already paid for it, you sicko. Now get your twisted ass out of here!” Shania screamed, hoping a nurse would come running to her rescue. “No, that’s not all you’ve done. You killed my baby and my uncle!” Maureen screamed back, voice now trembling with emotion. A lock of red hair was visible at her left temple, peeking out from under the black wig she wore. Shania stared at her incredulously. “You’re insane! Get out of here!” she finally managed to shout. “Because of you and the stress you put on me by making me always worry if you’re going to break out and kill me, I lost my child. Because of you, my uncle had to work late the day the earthquake struck to help ensure you a year’s stay in this place.” Shania struggled to pull herself upwards. “You see, you now have a guaranteed ten more months to go in this joint, and that’s at the very least. More time will be added on if I can help it, and then when you finally do get back out there, your ass is mine. Mine, Shania, mine!” “Get your sick, delusional mind out of here now, or I will kill you first chance I get!” “Next time we meet, you’re dead!” Maureen spat, spinning on her heel to leave the room. Shaking violently from her encounter with someone that Shania could now see was just as crazy as she was mean, she summoned a nurse by using the pull-string near her bed. When Angie appeared a moment later, she told her of her visit from the highly unstable woman. As it would turn out, however, Maureen had been very sneaky in putting in her appearance, for no one else had seen her come or go. When she told Lauren about the incident later on, she was clearly upset by it, appearing to be both angry and worried. “Do you think she’ll come back with me lying here all defenseless and actually do something to me?” Shania asked, still shaken four hours later. “No, honey, she won’t. Everyone knows to watch for her now. Also, if you remember to pull the string the instant you see her—if the nut does have the guts and the stupidity to return—someone will be here in plenty of time to stop her from doing you any harm, okay?” Although reluctantly, Shania nodded. “Don’t let that crazy loon worry you,” Lauren said, soothing her hair back from her face, which Shania found comforting. “I wish you could stay here with me.” “Me too, sweetie, but we’ll be together soon enough.”