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CHAPTER TWO

Phoenix

I preferred the quiet over all this talking.

Everyone coming and going, asking questions, poking me, smiling as if they wanted to reassure me, but their faces were always filled with pity…

and what did they think they could reassure me about?

I didn’t know if he would come looking for me.

I’m not worth anything. I’m useless, ugly, pathetic.

Not worth his time, he’d told me. I’d been honored to have his company, since it was all I’d had.

And when he’d left and it was quiet, everything he’d told me would rattle around in my brain.

I hated the quiet but right now, I’d welcome it.

“Hi, Phoenix, I’m Dr. Weller. How are you feeling today?” She was pleasant enough, pretty. Her blond hair was half-up, her blue eyes sparkled, and she had a straight white grin. I’d been here for a week and every day she’d ask me this, and every day I didn’t answer her.

“Well, I have some good news for you. All your tests show you’re healthy, and there’s nothing permanent that concerns anyone.

” She pushed through, trying to get me to talk, but I had nothing to say.

I wasn’t smart enough to hold a conversation with a doctor, and my voice was annoying.

I nodded, though, and judging by the way her face lit up, she likely thought she was making progress.

“I’m sure you’re overwhelmed by everything going on.” She was attempting to be relatable… Cute . “These officers here are only for protection; they won’t hurt you.”

I wanted to laugh, but I wouldn’t dare. She thought I was afraid of the police? That was hilarious. Maybe once upon a time, but not anymore. There were far worse things to fear.

“They’re going to be moving you out of the hospital today, bringing you home. Your sister said you could go to her place. The police will be with you as well as some FBI agents—how cool is that?” She winked.

Did she think any part of this was cool? If he came for me, they wouldn’t be able to stop him. He was brilliant, knew exactly how to “procure” what he required. That was a word he’d used a lot.

“There’s a wonderful therapy team that will be with you twenty-four-seven. So anytime you want to talk or whatever you need, they will be with you.”

Oh, yay. More people. I regarded my feet.

They’d had to change me out of my clothes.

Not because they were dirty…no, I was always pristine.

He’d bathed me himself and put soft, clean clothes on me.

I’d slept on a mattress in a small room…

possibly it was a room more like a shed, but it was dry and I hadn’t ever been cold, which was more than I’d deserved.

No, they’d needed the clothes for evidence—that was what I’d heard them say.

Now I wore black sweat pants and a white T-shirt. The socks were nice, fluffy. I was sure I’d get shoes at some point.

“Phoenix.” She reached out to touch me, but I pulled back before she could. “I know you’re hearing everything I’m saying. I won’t force you to speak to me, but I really hope you’ll talk to your team.”

My team. Right.

Finally, she stood and walked out. I wasn’t alone; there was a nurse with me constantly.

I lay down on the bed and turned away from her.

Once Hazel returned from wherever she went, they’d leave.

Hazel didn’t bother me. She never prodded, just told me about the news, things she’d been up to.

Random stuff, nothing that required me to answer her.

I stared out the hospital window. It was a gray day, and the wind made the glass shake a bit. I thought about him and hated that I couldn’t get him out of my head.

I hadn’t always been alone in the shed. When I’d arrived, two others were also there, but they hadn’t talked much.

I’d ask them questions if we were alone.

One was a girl. She’d answered at first; but she was removed, and I never saw her again.

The guy only told me his name once.…I forget it now, but eventually he was gone too and it was me, alone.

The door whooshed open, but I didn’t move. Whoever was here would let it be known soon enough. A second later, a man sat in the chair beside my bed. One look told me he was a Fed.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Briar. I’m Agent Rose.”

I’d totally called it.

“Doctors tell me you’re not talking still, and I get that they don’t want to push you, but I really need you to tell us something.

We have nothing to go on, and whoever did this is still out there.

We know he has victims who were just like you, and we’re trying to save them.

Can you please tell us something—anything? ”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” That angry voice was easy to recognize. She was the only one who didn’t shy away from yelling when everyone else was trying to be all Zen. Hazel had always been a firecracker, had always been protective.

“Ms. Briar, I’m only trying to see if your brother will talk to me. The longer he’s silent, the longer this maniac is out there, hurting people.”

“I’m sorry, Agent. How many times have you been kidnapped?”

“I haven’t.” Agent Rose sighed. My sister had that effect on people.

“Yeah, me either. So, I’m not going to pretend to know what’s going on in Nix’s head, and neither are you.

I get that you need information, I do—but my concern right now is my brother and helping him.

I’ve told you that he needs time, he needs to feel safe, and not here.

I also told the authorities and hospital staff that no one is to question him without me present. ”

“Have you watched the news today, Ms. Briar?”

I looked up at the agent. He was scared, angry…something had happened.

“No. I was here; then I had to run an errand. Now I’m back. Why?”

He glanced at me but returned his attention to Hazel. “There was another victim this morning. He’s keeping to his schedule. He has others and he’s killing them; do you understand that?”

Killing them . I’d had a feeling that after the others would leave the shed, he’d maybe been killing them.

But I’d hadn’t been sure. I hadn’t known what he was going to do with me once he’d tired of me.

I’d known he was getting close to that point, though.

He’d told me recently that my time was almost up and that I’d be seen for who I was.

“I’m sorry, Agent. I truly am. My brother needs space, and I won’t have you all pressing him to the point that he shuts down completely. Then you’ll never get his story.”

The agent stood. “Very well, I’ll come by your place in a few days.”

“We won’t be there,” Hazel said.

I turned my head and met her gaze.

“What do you mean, you won’t be there? He needs to be accessible to us for questioning.”

Hazel smirked at me but hardened her expression and looked at the agent.

“He will be accessible to you. I’m trying to make sure he’s not accessible to that monster, too. I will get the information to you as to where you can talk to him.”

He didn’t say anything more. He left, and Hazel was sitting in the chair he’d vacated. When she reached over and took my hand, I didn’t pull away. She was okay.

“I’m going to keep you safe, Nixy. I promise.”

I wanted to tell her that it didn’t matter what she promised. If he wanted me back, he’d get me.