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Elena lay there for a moment, humiliation the bile rising in her throat. She was a creature of power and control. And there she was, sprawled on the floor of a hospital, unable to manage a simple task. Rage got her off the floor and clawing her way into the chair. She’d lived through the fucking Spanish Inquisition. She should be able to move her body. To get to a stupid chair and out of a place she didn’t belong.

As soon as she landed in the chair, she spun it toward the door. She didn’t know where she was going, but she trusted her instincts would take over as soon as she was free of this hell.

Unsure whether the sun was out because she was trapped in a windowless stall without a clock, Elena wheeled back toward the hospital bed and yanked off the blankets. The horrific fabric wasn’t going to offer the UV protection she was used to, but it would keep her safe. Safe enough anyway.

The patients in the emergency room reeked of pain and apprehension and confusion. Most of the staff stank like apathy.Yanking back the curtain, Elena evaluated her surroundings before acting.

At the center of the ward was a massive round counter. She could sense the staff obscured by massive computer screens and decided not to linger. Rolling toward the red exit sign above a set of double doors, Elena appeared calm even though all she wanted to do was race out. It wouldn’t do to draw unwanted attention.

She was so close to the exit. A few feet and she’d be on the other side of at least one barrier.

“Stop,” a woman shouted.

Elena didn’t even consider stopping. She increased her pace, but forced herself not to push as fast as possible. All she wanted was to get out. To pretend she didn’t know the command was for her.

“Please,” the woman begged, voice closing in like a lion’s hot breath on the back of her neck.

When she finally reached the exit, Elena searched the surface for a handle. A way to open the fucking doors.

Gritting her teeth, she willed her body to stand. To smash through the metal and run even if the noon sun was aimed directly at the other side. She’d rather wither away from exhaustion than stay trapped for another second.

“I’m sorry. I still don’t know your name,” the blonde nurse said when she knelt down next to her like Elena was some frightened child.

Elena had remembered her own name when she was still stripped naked and being prodded by strangers, but she had no intention of giving it to this woman. Even if her energy reeked of concern.

In the face of Elena’s silence, the nurse’s hazel green eyes bled with compassion. “My name is Marisol,” she said softly.“Can I take you back to your bed and we can talk about how you’re feeling?”

“No,” Elena growled. “I’m leaving.” She went back to searching for the release on the door.

“Okay,” she said softly and with infinite patience. “Is someone here to pick you up? Can they give us your name?—”

“No,” Elena snapped. If she weren’t in such a feeble state, she’d kill her way out.

“No one is picking you up?” Marisol quirked a brow. “So where are you going? I can help you arrange a ride.”

Elena glared at her.

With a little know-it-all smirk, Marisol stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “You don’t know your name. You don’t know where you’re going. You sure it’s a great idea to roll out of here?” She glanced at the wheelchair. “That’s the hospital’s property, you can’t take it out of the ER. Do you plan on crawling to your unknown destination?”

“Do you always take such pleasure in tormenting the weak and helpless?” Elena painted her words with all the venom and intimidation in her broken body.

Marisol’s fair cheeks turned bright, highlighting the smattering of freckles on her pretty face. “I do what I have to do.” She walked behind Elena, putting her on high alert before pushing her unceremoniously back to where she started.

“Someone tried to kill me, you know,” Elena groused.

“Do you know who?” Marisol asked when they reached the hideous curtain Elena had stared at for hours before making her escape.

“No,” Elena muttered, bitter and frustrated.

“Then how would you know if you walked right up to them and made their job easier?” Marisol took the blankets from Elena’s lap and redressed the terrible excuse for a bed. “You’re safe here.”

Safe?She could almost laugh.

She watched as Marisol arranged the extra pillow Elena hadn’t used—as if it could make the mattress feel like anything other than packed straw. “I know it must be frustrating, but we have a lot more tests we can run to figure out what’s going on. The weakness on your left side and your memory loss are likely connected.”

Elena debated making a run for it again. Maybe if she snagged the nurse’s access card she could get through the doors. If she burned every ounce of energy, she could make it out. She was sure.

“Give me a little more time, okay?” Marisol’s soft smile was alarmingly kind.