Page 64

CHAPTER

FORTY-SIX

SARAH

I stare at a crack on the wall, waiting for them to come.

Underneath my skin, Erin stirs, unable to express her anxiety. I wish she’d give it a rest as keeping calm is already difficult enough without dealing with her jittery energy.

“I thought you said we could trust them,” I say in accusation.

“You can!” Erin replies.

“Then will you calm the fuck down?” I snap. “You’re making me antsy.”

I’ve always been short-tempered and quick to act, while Erin was more patient and calculated.

“I can’t help it,” she replies.

“Well, cool it, or I’ll think you out of existence,” I threaten.

Her smile stretches over my mouth. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“You know you only exist because of me, right?”

“You can trust them, Sarah,” she says, seeing past my confident bravado. Hiding anything from her is fucking impossible when she has a front-row seat to every single one of my emotions. “We want the same things. They’ll stop Dad, so he can’t hurt anyone else.”

“But they’re bad people,” I say. “Don’t you remember what they did to you?”

“Who wouldn’t be damaged after being stuck in Sunnycrest for most of their lives?”

“Save it for someone who cares, Mother Teresa,” I say.

“But the videos…”

Although I didn’t see them myself, I caught a glimpse of Erin’s memories. I clench my jaw to shut the images out. I’m already nauseous at the thought of what’s coming next, and I need a clear head.

Erin senses my discomfort and a comforting feeling sweeps through me, like I’m getting a hug from the inside.

“We’re starting afresh when we get out of here,” I say, putting my focus firmly on the future again. “We’ll start over, away from them. That’s our deal.”

“You can’t lie to me, Sarah,” she says. “They hurt you, but I know your feelings for them are strong.”

“Hurt?” I snort. “The only thing hurting me is a headache because of your constant chatting!”

She sighs and falls into a huffy silence. She doesn’t know my own feelings better than I do.

Before I get into another argument with my twin, my cell door flies open suddenly.

This is it.

An orderly with a screwed-up face and slapped-ass expressions steps inside.

“Come with me, Miss Acacia,” he barks.

He’s flanked by two other orderlies, who look like small gorillas and have sullen scowls.

“Where are we going?” I ask, playing ignorant. They need to think I don’t know what’s happening. “Am I going home?”

“Get her arms,” one commands.

The other two grab me and roughly tug me to my feet.

“Hey!” I yell. “Keep your hands to yourself!”

Careful , Erin warns in my head, you’re supposed to be me, remember? I’d follow without a fuss.

The orderlies don’t pay any attention to my comments, though. They have about three brain cells between them, so I doubt they’d notice any changes to my temperament.

“Get the mask,” one gorilla says.

While my arms are held, they put a thick, black band of material over my eyes, pinning them closed.

“What’re you doing?” I ask as darkness descends. “I need to see! What if I fall?”

The other gorilla loosens his grip.

“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.

Doctor Warner removes the jacket, and I flex my fingers, grateful to have regained control. While I’m enjoying the temporary relief, a sharp sting on the side of my neck makes me yelp.

“What the fuck?” I gasp, turning to stare at Doctor Warner, who is brandishing an empty syringe.

“See?” Dad jabs his finger in my direction. “More proof that she’s not acting like herself. My Erin doesn’t curse.”

“The medication will relax you,” Doctor Warner says. “Lie back.”

Do as they say , Erin’s thoughts come to me. They’ll be here…

My arms and legs don’t feel quite right. They’re heavier, and it takes great effort to move. My stomach rolls. Doctor Warner was only supposed to inject me with saline, but there was definitely something else in that shot.

My eyes dart to the doors, willing them to open. “But I don’t need a procedure.”

“Please lie down,” Doctor Warner says.

“Do as the doctor says, Erin,” Dad snarls.

“I don’t want to,” I say.

Where are they? They should be here by now! Aiden promised I’d never have to lie on the operating table.

“Just relax,” Doctor Warner pleads. “This won’t take long.”

“No!” I say, trying to stand. Shooting pins and needles makes me sit back down again. “I don’t want to!”

Dad sighs, then pulls a filled syringe from his shirt pocket. “I had hoped we wouldn’t need to fully sedate you.”

My eyes widen with panic. “No!”

A crash cuts my scream short as the theatre doors burst open. Aiden, Eli, and Lex enter. All of them look thunderous and ready to tear someone’s head off.

“Sorry we’re late,” Aiden says, glaring at Doctor Warner. “It appears there was a problem with our key cards.”

Doctor Warner whimpers like a wounded puppy. “I…”

“Enough,” Lex snaps, grabbing Doctor Warner’s wrist like a limp piece of lettuce and twisting. His bones make a horrible snap. “Now, we’re even.”

Doctor Warner slumps to the ground at Lex’s feet, sniveling and cradling his wrist like a baby.

Eli grins at me apologetically. “Sorry for the delay, sweetheart.”

“See?” Erin declares in triumph. “I told you so.” I’m too relieved to chastise her for gloating.

Dad freezes as his mind turns a thousand miles an hour to figure out what’s happening. While he’s distracted, Aiden swipes the syringe from his grasp in a slick motion.

“We’ll be taking this,” Aiden says.

He tosses it to Lex. Doctor Warner senses what’s coming and tries to scramble away. In the process, he snags a wire and wrenches it out of the machine, causing a deflated, fizzing noise.

“No!” Dad yells as the machine’s screens power off. “Put it back!”

It’s too late. Lex has already injected Doctor Warner, who is now sprawled across the floor, unconscious.

“Erin?” Dad looks quizzically from me to Aiden. “Do you know these patients?”

“We’ve become well acquainted in recent months, Doctor Acacia,” Aiden hisses.

“You’ve had your fun, Zero,” Dad says. “You should have stayed gone. Why return?”

“Maybe because they have a conscience?” I suggest. “Unlike you.”

Dad isn’t stupid. He’s outnumbered, and fighting isn’t an option.