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CHAPTER

THIRTY-SIX

AIDEN

WEEKS LATER…

Lex holds up one of the tubes feeding a mystery cocktail of drugs into Eli’s arm.

“What shit is this?” Lex asks. “I’ve never seen Acacia spend so long on one experiment.”

It’s been three weeks since Acacia took Eli hostage. Despite Acacia’s usual diligence, there are no cameras installed in this room, which makes me more worried. He always documents the worst of his gruesome torture. What is he doing to Eli that’s so bad he doesn’t want to keep any record of it?

Eli’s suspended in a coma-like state and doesn’t respond to anything.

Still, we try to visit him every day. We’ve bribed a few orderlies to get more information about what Acacia’s doing, but no one knows anything.

The other complicit doctors are all Acacia’s loyal disciples.

They won’t be blackmailed into giving out details, which leaves us oblivious to what Eli’s going through.

I cautiously pull back the threadbare blanket covering Eli’s lower half. There are no casts or bandages. We know Acacia gets his kicks from causing pain. In the absence of physical injuries, he must be messing with Eli’s mind, which is far more dangerous.

“We have to get out of Sunnycrest soon,” Lex says. “We can’t wait much longer. He’ll be looking to turn us into vegetables next.”

“We’re not going anywhere without Eli,” I say. “We stick together. Whatever happens.”

“What if he doesn’t wake up?” Lex questions. “He could be stuck like this forever.”

I can’t allow myself to think that losing Eli is a real possibility.

He’s my brother. He and Lex are the only family I have.

I remember when Eli first came to the asylum.

He was the only subject, after me, who made it through Acacia’s first test and remembered his own name.

That’s when I knew I’d finally found an ally, right when I was losing hope. I’ll never give up on him.

“He’ll wake up,” I say. He has to. “It won’t be long now.”

Our escape plan is almost ready. We know the route, how to time everything perfectly with staff shifts, what ruse we’ll create, and even have transportation lined up. All we’re waiting for is the right opportunity and a safe place to go to.

“I thought I heard the phone,” I say, changing the subject. “What did she say?”

Although they’re banned, there are ways to get cell phones into any institution.

Until now, we haven’t needed one, but keeping in touch with Sarah has been useful.

Acacia hasn’t brought Sarah to Sunnycrest since he caught her and Eli together, and not seeing her is driving me crazy.

He’s keeping her locked away like a princess in a tower, and I fucking crave her.

“Apparently, Acacia’s recent dinner party was a bust. The fucker’s too good at covering his tracks,” Lex says, impatience creeping into his tone.

His scowl turns into a smile as he reads on.

“She’s found some useful documents. Financial records.

This could be it! The proof we need to show the world what he’s done and who he’s working with!

There’s more too…” He talks more animatedly, daring to get excited.

“There’s a hunting cabin in the woods not far from here.

Acacia’s associate uses it in the summer, but he’s working abroad for the next year. ”

“Get her to send coordinates for the cabin,” I instruct. “Arrange to meet there on Friday.”

“You mean, actually leave the asylum?” Lex stutters. “What about Eli? You just said?—”

“You should be happy. You’re the one who keeps saying that we need to get out of here,” I snap. “We need those documents.”

“Don’t you want her to smuggle them in or hold on to them?”

I shake my head. We can’t use a third party and risk them getting into the wrong hands, and every posted letter gets checked before it’s delivered. Acacia monitors Sarah closely. What if he finds out she has them? No, we have to meet. It’s the only way.

“We can’t risk any screwups,” I say. “We need to do this ourselves.”

“Do you really think our plan will work?”

“Of course it will,” I say, extinguishing any doubts he has. “We’ve spent years perfecting it. All we need now is a plan for us to get back in.”

“You mean, we’ll come back?” Lex’s shoulders slump. “But I thought?—”

“How many fucking times? We’re not leaving without him,” I snarl. “He goes where we go. End of discussion.”

Lex nods. Despite his resistance, he cares for Eli as much as I do. We’re a team. We’re all we have. Meeting Sarah is a risk, but one I’m willing to take.

“What if we get caught?” Lex asks. “This could be our only chance at freedom.”

“We better make sure we’re not caught then,” I reply with a smirk.

Seconds later, the cell phone buzzes.

“She’ll see us there,” Lex confirms.

Everything is finally coming together. Our plan has to work. It’s got to. If we can make it in and out, it’s only a matter of time before we can leave Sunnycrest forever with the evidence needed to take down Acacia’s entire regime.