Page 11 of Retribution

DAISY

I’m running. Being chased through the corridors of The Heath. Blanks watch from the sidelines, all with buttons in their hands to correct me with a zap to the massive GED attached to my leg that slows me down.

I look over my shoulder and I know that Stoke is behind me, ready to catch me, but I can’t see him. I pass John Novelle who snarls at me and calls me an embarrassment. He tells me my mother never loved me.

I try to run faster and then Stoke is in front of me, but it isn’t Stoke at all. It’s Joe Banderville leering down at me. He’s tall and grotesque and he laughs as his hands dart out to grab me.

My eyes open and I scream, but the sound that comes out of me is small and hoarse.

Where am I?

My eyes move around the white room. I can hear beeping coming from next to me and the sounds of people on the other side of the closed door. My breathing accelerates.

It doesn’t smell like The Heath. It’s more modern looking too. Where have they put me?

‘She’s awake!’ I hear a familiar voice say.

‘Blake?’ I croak, my eyes finding him on my other side.

Why is he here? My mind jumps around, not knowing what to think.

My head is pounding. I cover my eyes with my hand.

I haven’t told him that I love him. I’ve told the others, but not him. What if they take me away and I never see him again?

I make a grab for him with my other arm, and I feel his hand tangle with mine, squeezing firmly.

‘I love you,’ I whisper. ‘I love you, Blake. I’m sorry I didn’t say it when you did. But I do.’

As if I’ve used all of the strength I had left just to say those words, my body sinks down into the bed.

I feel him kiss my forehead. ‘I know you do, gorgeous. I love you, too.’

I hear footsteps and shuffling, and there’s more people in the room. Blake’s hand leaves mine.

‘Marguerite?’

A new voice.

‘Can you hear me?’

‘Yes,’ I whisper.

‘Can you look at me?’

I take my hand away from my eyes and squint up. There’s a man in a white coat in front of me, leaning over me. My stomach flips and I’m afraid I’m going to throw up.

I’m in an institution. But not The Heath. The doctor is American.

A light is shined in my eyes. ‘I’m Doctor Redel. Do you know what happened?’

I try to think, but I have no idea. ‘The last I remember is being in theclub.’

‘Do you work there?’ the doctor asksoh so casually, continuing to look into my eyes with his little light.

But I’m not fooled. Stoke used to do this, try to disarm me and the others at The Heath with relaxed questions as if he didn’t really care about the answers. But he did.

I keep it simple. ‘Yes.’