Page 44

CHAPTER

THIRTY

ERIN

I hold my hands up in the air and rotate slowly, letting the security guard scan a metal detector over my body for the fourth time.

“How long will this take?” I complain.

“We can’t be too careful, Miss Acacia,” my orderly escort chirps. He hasn’t left my side since my run-in with Dad earlier. Clearly, he wants brownie points from the boss.

“All clear,” the security guard says.

“Finally,” I grumble.

The orderly marches me into the visitors’ room. My feet sink into the plush carpet. It’s surprisingly nice here. Pretty landscape pictures cover the walls, and there is comfortable seating. If it wasn’t for security guards loitering with batons and nurses poised with medication, it could be a café.

Only two other patients have visitors. Most patients live out of state, and it’s difficult for their families to visit regularly. Others are deemed too dangerous to be permitted visitors at all. And, worse still, many don’t have anyone who’d even want to visit.

I spot Mom instantly. She sits at a table in a quiet corner, as far away from everyone else as possible, wringing her hands in her lap.

As usual, her hair and makeup are impeccable.

However, her blush appears clown-like against the stark whiteness of her cheeks, and she’s slathered concealer under her eyes to mask black circles.

She jumps up to greet me. “Erin!”

She pulls me into a tight hug, engulfing me in a cloud of expensive perfume. There’s a lot of emotion wrapped into our hug, and words she doesn’t dare say.

“You look…” She dabs her watery eyes. “Well.”

Above us, the red blinking light of a security camera reminds us we’re not alone.

Although Dad is intent on keeping me locked up, Mom has the power to intervene. If she found out that he was behind Sarah’s disappearance, she’d finally be free from his spell. No matter how scared she is of him, I can’t believe she’d do nothing, if she knew he was responsible.

“Why don’t we sit down?” I suggest, keeping my expression neutral.

“How are you, darling?” she asks, then shakes her head. “Silly me, what a stupid question. Your father says that you’re starting treatment?”

“I am.” I lean in and drop my voice to a whisper, “You need to help me get out of here, Mom.”

Her red lips stretch into a nervous smile, and she fidgets in her seat.

“Your father knows what’s best,” she says. “You’ll be home as soon as you’re better.”

“You don’t understand,” I say. “I’m not ill.”

“You’ve had a stressful time at school. Seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of. We’re here for you, Erin.” Her eyes glaze over, like she’s repeating rehearsed words. “Everyone thinks you’re spending the rest of the semester in Europe. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“What about Mia?” I ask. “Don’t you think she’ll find it suspicious that I haven’t called or texted?”

“I’ve spoken to Mia,” she says. “She knows you’ll be out of touch for a while. All you have to worry about is getting better.”

“But I’m not sick,” I reaffirm. “Dad’s only keeping me here to punish me because I snuck into his office without permission. You were there and saw what he did. If you tell them that I’m not a risk to myself, they’ll have to let me go.”

“I’m not a professional,” she says. “Your father thinks you will really benefit from being in new surroundings.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me, Mom,” I emphasize. “There’s something else you should know, too. Dad had something to do with Sarah disappearing. I can’t be certain, but?—”

“You shouldn’t make false accusations, Erin,” she says. “Your father loved your sister very much.”

Although, something stirs behind her eyes. Doubt, perhaps? Fear? Maybe I can get through to her. The mother I remember from my childhood is still in there somewhere. The same mom who gave us warm hugs, snuck us slices of cake, and took us to picnics. She would never let him hurt us.

“He did something to her,” I say. “I don’t know what happened exactly, but he’s the reason she’s missing. I think… I think he killed her.”

“No,” she mumbles. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Come on, Mom. Think about it,” I say. “You know what he’s like better than anyone. He hurts you, and he hurt her too.”

Suddenly, her expression hardens. Any softness vanishes, like she’s become a completely different person before my eyes.

“Your father loves us,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “How dare you concoct such vicious lies!”

“Please, Mom,” I say. “You’re supposed to protect us. It’s too late for Sarah, but you can help me now. You can get me out of here, and then we can report him. We can tell the sheriff what we think he?—”

Her chair screeches as she stands.

“That’s enough!” she yells, alerting the attention of the guards. “Your father is a good man.”

“Saying it doesn’t make it true,” I say, reaching for her hand. “Wake up, Mom!”

“You’re sicker than I thought,” she hisses, jumping back like I’m infected with a contagious disease she doesn’t want to catch. “Your father was right.”

“No!” My voice cracks. “I’m not crazy!”

“Don’t cause a scene,” she warns. “People are watching.”

I don’t care. I cling to her as two guards approach. They grab my shoulders, but I don’t let go. Mom wails as the front of her designer coat rips, leaving a scrap of fabric in my hands as they tear me off.

“No!” I yell, fighting against them. “No! Put me down! Mom!”

Mom shakes her head sadly. “Get well soon, honey.”

“Help me!” I plead, thrashing against their firm grip. “He’s a monster!”

“This is for your own good,” Mom says.

I turn just in time to see a nurse on my left. She jams a needle into my neck, and my limbs go slack. I attempt to resist the sedative coursing through my veins, but it’s too strong, and I’m sucked into a black vortex of nothingness…