Page 156 of Their Little Ghost

“Acacia’s orders were clear,” another says. “Mask and straitjacket!”

I gulp, tempted to knee them in the balls and run, but I wouldn’t get far before I’m caught and plied with sedatives. I can’t miss the moment my father finally gets what’s coming to him.

They force the straitjacket over my head and fold my arms across my front in an uncomfortable position.

Stay calm, Erin soothes me.It won’t be long now.

“Ready to go,” the orderly says.

Between them, I’m dragged through the deserted hallways like a rag doll. It’s hard to have good footing when you can’t see where you’re going, and I pray I don’t trip and smash my face. With my movement restricted and sight robbed, my other senses heighten. My heart thuds in my ears. They’re treating me like a criminal being led to the gallows. I swallow hard. If our plan doesn’t work, then that’s exactly what I’ll be facing…

“I’m right here with you,”Erin says in my head.“I’m not going anywhere.”

Despite our earlier disagreement, I’m grateful she’s here now. We’re facing this together.

“Erin,”I reply through my thoughts.“If this goes wrong and I die, I want you to know that I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“I wasn’t the best sister,”I say.“I kept trying to push you out of your comfort zone. It’s my fault you died. I guess…”It’s time for total honesty. This could be the last chance we get.“I guess part of me has always been jealous because you were the twin who always did everything right. You were the perfect one, and I was… a disappointment.”

“Jealous?”The gravity of her shock floors me.“I was always jealous of you! You’ve always been so confident and brave, never being afraid to say what you think. You stood up for Mom when I didn’t. I’m sorry I didn’t see the truth sooner. I wish I had. Maybe then, things would have been different.”

“We can’t change the past, but we’re trying to fix it now,”I say. “That’s all we can do.”

Whatever happens, at least we’ve made amends, and we’re facing my father in solidarity.

Our bonding moment is rudely cut short by an orderly dragging me around a corner. I stumble, but a flabby arm catches me before I fall.

“What’s happening?” I say.

There’s a series of beeps, the sound of cards being swiped, and then my father’s voice makes my blood run cold.

“Thank you for escorting her,” he says. We’ve reached our final destination. “Return to work.”

“Yes, Doctor Acacia,” the orderlies respond in tandem.

Suddenly, my mask is ripped away. My first instinct is to shut my eyes because of the blinding white light. After being locked in solitary confinement, it’s like staring straight into the sun, and my retinas burn.

“Dad?” I squint up at him. “What’s happening?”

We’re in the operating theatre. A surge of adrenaline rushes through me, willing my legs to run, but I stay frozen. This is where it started, and this is where it has to end.

“Hello, Erin,” Doctor Warner greets me. I hadn’t noticed him lurking around, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here. “You’re here to complete the final phase of your treatment.”

I search his gaze, looking for a flash of reassurance. However, it doesn’t come. He can’t even look at me.

Panic sets in.

What if Doctor Warner can’t be trusted?

My bottom lip trembles. “I want to leave.”

My fear is no longer an act. It gnaws deep into my bones and grips my core, while the various machines around the room hum ominously. These same machines somehow transferred my dead sister’s consciousness into my head. Machines that could kill my soul forever.

“Sit on the edge of this table, and we’ll remove the jacket,” Dad orders.

Begrudgingly, I do as he asks while he studies me closely. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but his scrutiny makes me uneasy, and my skin prickles.