Page 21 of Ravage (The Wellard Asylum #6)

I slowly flip the lid of the box open, and my brows furrow at the contents.

A stack of photos lies within the box, the one on top being me when I was sleeping.

I study the photo, and it has to be from one of the first nights I was here.

Grabbing the stack of photos in my hand, I thumb through several more photos of me at various angles until I get to ones that are of someone completely different.

A woman with a brunette bob and blue eyes stares back at me in the photo; she looks happy as she laughs at the cameraman.

The next few photos are of the same woman in different poses and outfits, and some are candid shots when she’s completely unaware that the picture has been taken.

The last photo in the box makes me drop the rest of the photos to the floor; my heart pounds in my chest at the image that I’ve already seen before on my computer screen.

It’s a copy of the photo of the woman who was spread out on the sidewalk in the middle of the night.

Chills run up my spine when the puzzle pieces finally slot into place.

“Bailey…” I whisper out into the empty room.

The photo drops through my fingers, landing on top of the pile that is already there.

My stomach turns with fear for the secrets hidden away in this box.

I gather the photos, attempting to return them to their original order, and as I place them in the box, I notice a clump of hair at the bottom that I hadn’t noticed before.

It’s neatly tied together with a thread and tucked into one of the corners.

I shove the photos back into the box and rush to push the box back under the bed where I found it.

I jump to my feet and start to pace the room, but don’t get too far into my spiraling before Kole comes back into the room.

I jump and squeak, turning out to see him carrying another bowl of soup in his hands with a bottle of water.

“Everything okay?” He asks and then sets the bowl and water on the nightstand. “What are you doing out of bed?” His brows furrowed with confusion.

“I just… I had to use the bathroom, and I was tired of lying down.” The lie slips off my tongue easier than others I’ve ever told. Something about the contents of the box has told my brain to be a better liar.

“I brought you some more soup, chicken noodles again, I’m afraid.” He gives a smile and waves his hands towards the food. I waste no time plopping back down on the bed and picking up the steaming bowl of soup, scooping a spoonful into my mouth. “Good?” He asks.

“Tastes great, thank you.” I give him a smile and busy myself with eating the soup and polishing off the bottle of water.

“Want to watch another movie?” I make myself comfortable in the bed and pick up the remote, thumbing through the available options until I land on an action movie that I’ve already seen before.

“That one looks good.” He says, seeing my selection on the screen while he climbs back into bed next to me.

I snuggle into his side like nothing is wrong and press play on the movie.

My mind is moving at a mile a minute, thoughts drowning out any noise from the movie.

I play with the hem of the blanket that Kole dragged up over us and try to figure out a plan on what the hell I’m supposed to do with my newly acquired information.

“You okay?” Kole asks, looking at me with worry, “You’ve been fidgeting this whole time.

” He stares pointedly at the blanket clutched in my fingers.

“I’m good, just restless, I guess. I feel like I’ve been in bed for days.” I give him a frown while I try to remember the last time I even left the apartment. “What day is it anyway?”

“It’s Sunday; is there a problem?” He asks with curiosity, grabbing my fidgeting hand in his own to stop my picking at the blanket.

“Just making sure I don’t have to work again for a few days.

I go back on Tuesday though, so I hope I’m feeling better by then.

” I give him a smile and turn back to the movie.

By the time the credits start rolling, so does my stomach.

“I think I jinxed myself earlier.” I say in a panic as I climb out of bed.

“What do you mean?” Kole looks at me frantically as I rush towards the bathroom and take my spot in front of the toilet.

Hands gather my hair up right before I start heaving into the bowl.

I groan at the sour taste in my mouth from the soup, which definitely doesn't taste as good coming back up. After what feels like hours, I manage to completely empty my stomach. I’ve slumped down to lie on the floor because the cool tiles soothe my burning skin.

“Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” Kole asks with worry in his eyes, and all I can do is nod my head in exhaustion.

“Sloane.” I hear the deep voice in my ear through my dreamless sleep.

“Can you hear me?” My fingers twitch at my side, and I turn towards the person speaking, but I'm just so tired.

“Let me see those pretty eyes, baby.” A soft touch runs down my cheek, and I eventually get my crusty eyes pried open.

“Ah, there she is.” Koles' smiling face is taking up my view, his head outlined with a bright light, looking every bit of an angel.

His hands grip under my arms to help sit me up in bed.

The light in the room burns my sensitive eyes, making them watery.

Kole gets me positioned how he wants and then steps back from my view.

“The doctor is here.” As he speaks, I notice the doctor standing near the door with a pitying smile.

“Hello, Ms. Johnson, I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but…” He trails off, and a scratchy laugh leaves my throat.

“Likewise.” I’m able to croak out.

“How are you feeling?” He asks before looking down at the stack of papers in his hands, taking in the content littering the pages. He finally looks back up at me with a questioning gaze.

I quickly check my body; the nausea has passed, leaving me with a headache and a weak body. “Better than I was, I guess.” I shrug my shoulders. “What’s wrong with me?” I ask him and point at the papers. “You ran tests, right?” He nods his head, his gaze switching between Kole and me.

“Well, see, that’s the thing, Sloane, your tests all came back fine. Everything points to the flu.” He places the papers into the holder at the end of my bed, and my face falls.

“You’re kidding, right? You need to run more tests!” The words come out in a furious outburst that reaches all the way to my toes. “It’s not the flu, I’m sure of it.” My fists clench by my sides in annoyance.

“I assure you, Ms. Johnson, it is most definitely the flu.” His face is stern, and his words feel final, but the feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me that he’s wrong.

I get out of bed and pull on the IV that is connected to my hand until it pops free.

Drops of blood bead to the surface of my skin, and I let out a hiss at the pinch of pain.

“Ms. Johnson, you must get back into bed!” The doctor's voice echoes through the room.

“No! This is ridiculous! I want a new doctor and new tests run!” My screech is loud and scratchy as the words rip out of me.

I look over at Kole, and he’s leaning against the wall with a passive expression on his face.

“Kole, can you get a nurse, please?” He studies me for a moment and then shakes his head.

“Sloane, you’re acting a little crazy, don’t you think?

” One of his eyebrows arches up. “The doctor is right. I looked over your chart, and nothing is wrong.” He shakes his head, looking down at the floor.

“Right, doctor?” He looks over at the doctor with a skeptical expression that causes me to shake my head and stomp my foot.

“He’s wrong, Kole! I know that something is wrong.” My voice shakes as I speak, and damn do I sound insane over this. I grab the pillow off of the bed and scream into it with all my might, hoping that it will clear my head, but no such luck.

“Ms. Johnson, you need to calm down.” The doctor clutches his stethoscope and shoves his hand into his pocket, fiddling with something that gets Kole’s attention.

“There’s no need for that, doctor. She’s just having a mental break; she’s been dealing with a lot of stress lately.” Kole pushes off of the wall and stalks towards me like I’m a baby deer.

“No, I’m not!” I shout before throwing the pillow at the door with a soft thud that shocks the doctor.

Kole is at my side, pushing me back down onto the bed, and I struggle against his hold.

“What are you doing?” I question his actions as he grabs both of my flailing wrists in one hand.

He sticks his hand out towards the doctor, beckoning for him, and my eyes widen when the doctor drops a syringe into his hand.

“No! Kole, what is that? Stop!” My words have no effect on his actions as he stabs the needle into my neck and depresses the plunger.

“I’m sorry, Sloane, but even you won’t take my obsession away from me.

” He throws the syringe onto the floor with a ping, his hard eyes boring into mine.

“Sleep now, my perfect girl.” His words seem to come out in slow motion while the edges of my vision blur.

My eyes burn with tears that drip down my face as my lids close, encasing me in darkness.