Page 36 of Sadistic Obsession (Rise of Phoenyxx #1)

P hoenyxx

I gasp for oxygen as I tear into the med building, the guys hot on my heels. I come to a dead stop once inside, not sure of where to go. I turn to look back toward the guys. “Where the hell is it?”

Frost steps up. “I don’t know for sure, but Purge has been studying the schematics of the property.”

“I think there are stairs somewhere; it’s the only thing that makes sense. Let's split up,” Purge responds. “Iskra, go with Frost and Ghost. Razor and Trikk, with me. Whoever finds it first, call the rest of us.”

We take off in opposite directions. I stumble when I look at Hunter’s door. I’m very tempted to go get him to help, but I think we can do this ourselves. I veer right, walking along the farthest wall, feeling and pressing. There's no way there aren’t more tunnels like the one Ghost brought me to.

I guess Ghost has the same idea, as I see him doing the same thing on the left. I am completely wrapped up in my task, so I startle when I hear Ghost whisper-yell, “Guys! I found something!”

We all rush over, peering into the dark space he’s uncovered. “Is there a light?” I ask.

He starts feeling around the inside and finds a white cord hanging from the ceiling, which he pulls.

“Light!” Trikk observes, and I roll my eyes in a rare second of not panicking.

We see a small staircase winding upwards.

I'm the first one to hit the stairs, taking them two at a time. At the top, there’s a large set of steel double doors, and a small callbox next to them.

I anxiously look at the guys, biting my lip with my split-second idea.

“Razor, give me your blade.”

“What? Why?”

“Just give it to me dammit!” I hold my hand out expectantly.

He pulls it out, doubt crossing his face, while he hands it to me. I unfold it, heaving a breath as I prepare myself. I whirl around, looking at them all. “Get me the fuck in there. Hit the callbox, pound on the door, I don’t care, as long as they take me in.”

Before they can respond, I yank my sweatpants down my butt to expose my upper thighs.

I slash the blade across my left thigh, deep enough that blood starts seeping out.

Not good enough. I slash again, this time blood running down my leg.

Satisfied, I drop the blade with a clatter.

In a rush of heat, my legs start to shake.

My limbs get weak, and I hit the ground.

“Motherfucker!” Frost roars, reaching me first. He gathers me up in his arms. “What the hell did you do, Killer?”

The others start banging on the door and yelling. Purge hits the button for the callbox repeatedly. "Help someone! Our friend is bleeding badly!” They continue the racket for a minute, as I start to fade. I force myself to stay awake. I have to get to Synn.

“What the hell is going on out here?” A nurse shouts, opening the doors. “Where did you kids come from?”

“Never mind that! Malishka needs HELP!” Ghost screams in her face, shocking me. Two orderlies dressed in basic scrubs rush out, pulling me from Frost’s death-grip. He lets go with a deadly-sounding snarl.

“Where do we take her?” one of them asks.

“Put her with the other bleeding student. We’re full as it is!” she snaps, her lips tight, like she tasted something sour. Full? With who? And who the hell is all this staff? My heart feels like it’s pounding out of my chest with fear and uncertainty.

“Bambi!” Trikk calls out. “Love you, baby!”

My eyes widen like saucers, especially when Ghost calls out, “Love you too Malishka!” Holy. Fucking. Shit. Tears brim my eyes, but I blink them away.

I get whisked down a long hallway, hearing shouts and commands from around me. My energy falls even more, and I succumb to the darkness. For now.

Bright overhead light pierces my skull, and I go to bring an arm up to shield my eyes. I can’t though; something has my arms strapped down. What the actual...?

“Doe?” an incredulous voice croaks out.

I move my head to the side and see another bed right next to mine—and stare right at Synn.

“Thank fuck!” I breathe out. I look him up and down.

He is so pale. He is hooked up to an IV, bags of blood and fluids above his head.

His arms, though, are strapped to the side of the bed.

That must be my situation, too. “Why are we strapped down, Synn?”

“Why the hell are you here? Why did you help me? You saved my fucking life! Why?”

“How could I NOT? I couldn’t leave you there. Seeing you like that—it broke something inside of me. I can’t explain it...”

His face twists in anger. “Well, you shouldn’t have! How did you even get in here?”

I manage to kick the thin sheet down my body a bit. “Look at my thigh. Any more questions?”

“What the...why? Did you do that to get in here?”

“Hell, yes, I did! I wasn’t leaving you, not knowing what this place even is!”

His eyes cloud over with some kind of emotion before he fixes his usual mask over his face. “We’re in danger here. We are strapped down so we can’t leave or wander around. They are giving us God-knows-what in these IVs. I have to get you out of here...” he mutters that last part.

My face loses all its color as I realize we’re going to be drugged. “No, no drugs! Fuck!” I wait a beat, then say, “We only have each other in here, Synn. We have to work together to get out.”

He nods, resolution on his face. “Fine. For now—a cease fire.”

“I wish I could touch you...” is all I manage to get out before whatever they gave me kicks in, and I fade out.

I wake abruptly, hearing people yelling outside the room Synn and I are in. Well, it’s technically not a room; it’s a cubicle-like space, with a curtain instead of a door. “What the fuck?” a sleepy-sounding Synn grouches. “What’s going on?”

“I have no clue,” I wheeze out. My throat is so dry it’s painful. “Has anyone even been in here? I need water.”

“Nope, and same. Who the hell is screaming?”

I focus my hearing, stiffening when I recognize Hunter’s voice. “HUNTER!” I scream, panic filling my chest.

“Hunter? You mean Doc Harris?” Synn comments. I look at him and see a storm brewing in his eyes. I can’t worry about my slip-up right now, though.

I strain and wriggle against the restraints. It's causing a lot of skin burn, but I don’t stop. Before I can yell again, a nurse comes rushing in. “Oh dear, no need to yell.” She consults some kind of chart in her hand. “You’re due up for more pain medication,” she nods to herself.

“Fuck no! I need water! Let me talk to Dr. Harris!”

She just tuts at me. “Now, now. Be still, child.” She turns to grab a syringe.

Out of nowhere, Synn roars, “Don’t you touch her!”

Whoa...

“I don’t want that! I want to talk to a doctor RIGHT FUCKING NOW!”

She pauses, but with a determined expression, she walks over to my IV bag, opening the port to add whatever is in that syringe.

Synn is yelling and thrashing, and my heart stalls in my chest watching her inject it into the IV. “What is that? I need water...Please. And remove the restraints?”

She is shook up; it’s obvious in her jerky movements. “I’ll get the doctor,” she says, as she leaves the room in a rush.

“Synn? Please don’t leave me,” my shaking voice betraying my fear.

“Doe-mia Pazzesca—Phoenyxx…I am not going anywhere. We'll get out of this. Together.”

“Promise?” I whisper, as I spiral again into the black.

Hunter

I stand in shock as I see five of the guys plus Pretty Girl race past me. They're so frantic, they don’t see me. What the hell?

Phoenyxx and Ghost split, both checking the walls. I hear his intake of breath when he clearly finds something. He yells, and she rushes over to him. I creep closer and see a doorway. What the actual fuck?

“Light!” Trikk observes.

I come even closer, jaw dropping when I see a staircase, winding upwards.

What is going on in this place? Pretty Girl rushes in, followed by all the guys—minus Synn.

I don’t hesitate to follow, coming to a sharp stop when I see the steel double doors at the top.

I get the feeling I need to record this, so I start recording on my phone. I discreetly palm it, waiting.

They start murmuring, then the next thing I know, Razor hands her his blade.

She yanks her pants down, cutting herself on the thigh.

I start to rush towards her, but I somehow hold myself back.

This is pertinent information I need to pass on to ZYGOS—the mercenary group I’m working for.

ZYGOS loosely stands for “Scales of Balance.”

The boys start pounding on the door, and it opens. A nurse and orderlies I’ve never even seen are taking over. A pale Frost grips Pretty Girl tight, not wanting to hand her over. She is limp—likely unconscious. I can’t just do nothing for much longer...

She disappears behind the doors, and they abruptly shut in the boys’ faces. They scream in frustration, and Ghost turns, seeing me in my hiding spot. “Doc? What...?”

“Boys!” I bark out. “I need filled in. NOW!”

“What the...Doc Harris! Can you help us get to her? And Synn?” Trikk pleads.

“Synn, too? What happened?”

They briefly fill me in, talking fast, panic edging in. “So...that's an inpatient area? One I know nothing about?”

“Apparently!” Razor growls. I turn to him with a scowl. “We have to table this shit to get to those two. We work TOGETHER. Understood?”

“Yeah, Bro,” Trikk agrees, the others nodding. “How do we get Bambi back?”

“I have to get in there. I'm staff. They can’t turn me away. Boys, go huddle up at the bottom, just inside the door. Wait for my signal. I'll have those doors open. Hang tight, I'll do all I can.”

“Please,” Frost pleads. My lips part, surprised to see turmoil in his eyes. The sociopath, the one with no emotions. I keep the words in, cutting to the bottom with my eyes. They all turn and head down, settling down as best as they can in the tight space.

“Dude, my nuts.”

“Just sit on my lap, dumbass...”

“Shush!” I whisper loudly. Once all is quiet, I press the call button. There's no answer, I press it again, a few times, with a frown on my face. “It’s Doctor Harris! I need inside immediately!” I demand. After I beat on the door, it finally opens.

“Yes?” an older, stout, angry-looking nurse answers. I flash my clearance badge.

“Dr. Harris. I believe you have two of my patients admitted?”

She scoffs. “Sorry. Only prior authorization from Director Augustine can get you inside.”

My face reddens with anger. “Move aside, nurse!” Just as I’m ready to barge past her, several male orderlies file in behind her.

“Trouble?” one asks, pulling out a loaded syringe.

She cocks a brow at me. “Is there trouble, DR. Harris?”

Dammit!

I back away, speaking loudly enough for the boys to hear me. “I WILL be back for my patients!” I swear I hear Pretty Girl yell my name, but my hands are tied for now.

The nurse slams the door in my face. I clomp back down the stairs, the glowers on their faces being noted. Once we clear the door, I say, “My office, all of you. It's time we come up with a game-plan.”