PROLOGUE
“NEXT!”
NURSE TRISHA called out, and with me being next in line, I stepped forward. Underneath my bare feet, the cold hospital floor sent chills up my body.
Nurse Trisha sat behind a desk, protected by a thick piece of glass with only a small circle at the bottom to allow her to hand us our medication.
She was a short black woman whom you didnotwant to mess with.But me? I had fun with her.
Although she’d never admit it, I knew she secretly loved me.
“Trouble,” she slightly tipped her head, looking at me over her black rimmed glasses.
“My sweet, Trish,” I smiled, sliding both hands into the opening of the glass window. Her dark eyes narrowed in on me, wrinkling at the corners.
“It’snurseTrishato you.”
She placed a single pill in my left palm and a small plastic cup in my right. I lifted the pill to my mouth and then tipped my head back as I drank the little water I had been given. I smiled, handing the empty cup back to her, and she raised her sharp, well-done brow at me.
“Open.Now.”
I opened my mouth, sticking my tongue out, and she inspected my mouth. After her littleinspection, I turned on my heels but heard her voice once again.
“Lift your tongue.”
I froze, taking a deep breath in. I forced a smile as I turned to her, lifting my tongue. I flicked my tongue back down so she could be sure, and she gave me a nod of approval.
“You know, Trish…” I started off, trailing my fingertip along the edge of the desk. “If you wanted to see what my tongue could do, all you had to do was ask,” I lifted my eyes to her, resting my arms on the desk. I lowered my chin to my arms, making sure to bat my eyelashes at her.
“Get back to your room,Trouble. Now,” she commanded, and I rolled my eyes.Somebody’s in a mood today.
I lifted myself, dragging my feet in annoyance to my room. I immediately halted, seeing one of the orderlies—Archie—walking in my direction. “Hi, Archibald,” I flirtatiously grinned, sending him an innocent finger wave, and he blatantly ignored me.
“Your room, Nirah,” he ordered as he passed me, and I smiled, turning around as I watched him continue down the corridor. I dropped my eyes to his ass, letting out a soft humph.
“Nice ass!” I called out, and he dropped his head—shaking it—as he tried not to laugh. I couldn’t help but giggle at the impact I had on him most days.
I made sure the hallway was empty before entering my bedroom. It was dark. The moonlight that shone through my window barely reached enough to light up the room.
I climbed onto my bed and laid down on my back. It was 9 pm. Bedtime was at 10:30 and shutdown was at 12:00 am. The hospital would be empty, other than the few guards roaming around and night shift nurses.
But all of them slept through most of their shifts anyway.
Tonight was the night. Whether I was ready or not. It had officially been three hundred and sixty-five days since I was admitted into this hell hole. And it would most certainly be the last.
* * *
Quietly, I tip toed down the empty, dark corridor, clutching my black knee-high boots—that my brother Nereus had snuck in for me—to my chest.
The air reeked of antiseptic, bleach, and something sickly sterile, like the place itself was trying to suffocate me.
Goosebumps rose on my arms as I made my way down the cold corridor. All the doors on either side of me were slammed shut. Not a single peep from either.
The only light available shone out of Todd’s office at the end of the hallway. The dull, yellow light flickered every now and then, adding to the eerie feel of this place.
I could feel my pulse thudding in my ears as I got closer to his office. I crept up, hearing him snore. I giggled. I peeped through the door and saw his head thrown back—his mouth hanging open with drool slipping from the corner of his mouth.Ew.
I scanned his desk for the keys, and as soon as I laid my eyes on them, I carefully snatched them, staying as quiet as possible.
