chapter 8
Rebecca's POV
"Hey Richie, please pass these reports to Ms Lane for me. You'll find her at the cafeteria" Suzy said and handed the documents to me.
After the fire accident, I changed my name and identity—dyed my red hair brown and wore contacts—So except Susan my friend and boss, no one knows my real identity.
"Sure.." I accepted the papers and walked into the nearest elevator.
I stepped into the cafeteria and noticed the stillness and fear in the air. A psychiatric patient escaped few minutes ago and though the hospital has given an all clear, the patients and their families are no where to be seen. I look around and notice Leah Lane seated ahead with an unknown young boy seated opposite her
"Is she that dangerous?" I hear the young boy ask, making me move to a different table so I can listen to their conversation. Lane sighed looking exhausted and worried
"Not really, she's actually one of the calmest we have right now. But her family brought her here for her safety. If anything bad happens to her, it's on us" she said and I frowned
"Her family brought her here..?" I think to myself
"....and I just hope we find her because she not from around here, she might get lost" She said in between bites of her burger
My frown deepened as I heard her words. Although child isn't mentally ill and that she's from this town.
"She's not from around here? Then how did she get into your hospital" the boy, Noah, I think, asked looking as confused as I was.
"There was a specialist center that caught fire almost three years ago. A lot of people died and the owner didn't have the finance at the time to get back on his feet. So, our dean agreed for the patients to be sent here first. Although, all the other patients have been sent back now she refused to go back so they handed over her file and everything for us to take over" Lane said as she moved on to the next burger
"So… you don't have a way to contact her family?" He asked with wide eyes
"No. It was a nurse that found her on the streets and she doesn't seem to remember either, so we don't know where she actually came from."
"That's bad… and she's out there alone right now. Do you think she now knows that she's not from around here?" He asked
"This boy sure asks questions a lot.." I smile as I thought
"That's a possibility. But breaking out won't help her find them, She should've met someone to ask if that was her aim for leaving." Lane answered and he nodded
"I hope she's safe out there…" he says and his phone rings
"Hey Leah," I sat on his chair as he leaves to a different place to take his call
"Hi Richie..how are you doing?" she beams at me
"I'm okay. Susan said to pass these to you, you need to review them as soon as possible then send it back to her"
"Sure, I'll try to do that as soon as possible" she says and I nod
"That boy isn't giving you truoble is he?" I nod towards the smiling Noah for her to understand and she laughs
"Not at all, I actually enjoy his company. He keeps me on my toes with his questions" she says and I smile
"How did you even know about what happened two years ago? If you don't mind me asking," I add so she doesn't get suspicious
"Oh, I heard Robbie and Lawrence talking about it when I went to the coffee room, about a month ago. They said the lady from the fire incident is at our hospital but no one actually knows who she is. But they were both guessing it was Robin, the girl that escaped." She explained
"Wow.. I can't believe doctors have the free time to gossip" I say laughing and she shrugs
"It's what helps our lives at the hospital feel a bit more normal"
"Anyway, for you to tell him the story it means you also believe she's the person involved. Why is that?"
"Well, the rumors say she's not actually crazy and was sold out by her family member. And Robin really wasn't crazy but she was sensitive to news about her older brother and her boyfriend. So I figured she was the one in the story" Leah shrugged after speaking and drank from her coffee
"Lane you won't belive who called… oh sorry, I didn't know you were talking. I'll come back later" Noah says as soon as he sees me
"It's okay. We weren't saying anything serious and l'll leave soon anyway" I smile to convince him and he nods shyly
"I'm Noah by the way" he says after sitting,
"I'm Richie. Nice to meet you Noah" I stretch my hands
As our hands connect, imagies flash before my eyes and I hastily take my hands off
"I'm.. I'm sorry I need to get back to work" I say with a shaky breath and quickly walk to the elevator.
Luckily I'm the only one in here cause it will be really awkward to pace in the presence of other people.
And I really need to pace, that's the only way I can calm down and understand what just happened with that kid. I mean, I've never gotten my visions that way before. It's always through dreams. And since the incident with Sarah and her cohorts, I've tried to ignore the dreams I get concerning anyone around me.
"What's with me seeing a vision by a handshake?" I think to myself as I walk to and fro in the elevator
"Am I really going crazy from being around crazy people all day?"
"Will I start getting visions of people by just shaking their hands or touching them from now on?"
"What if it's something scary and I start screaming? Won't people think I've gone crazy?"
"Get it together Becca! Now is not the time to freak out! You need to confirm it first then come up with a solution!" I say out loud and interrupt my thoughts
Ding!
"Are you okay?"
I look and come face to face with Austin and realize I've gotten to my floor and the door was open.
"I'm fine. How are you doing?" I ask with a fake smile
"I'm concerned about you" he says with slight frown as he looks me over
"I'm fine Austin, there's nothing to see here" I say as I clear my throat a few times and adjust my clothes and hair before stepping out of elevator for him to go in.
"I'll come see you later Becca. You'll have to tell me what's going on" he says and walks in
"Why can't he let me be!!?" I scream in my head as I watch the elevetor move up.
Austin is my ex boyfriend that I hadn't seen for a long time. We dated in highschool and It was a pretty good relationship till he had to move away and we couldn't sustain long distance, so we ended it.
We met again in this hospital a year ago when he was transferred here and it didn't take him long to figure out who I was. And though I'm really glad to have someone familiar with me here, I can't help but keep my distance from him especially since I noticed the way he looks at me when we talk. And I'm definitely not ready to sail that ship now, not untill I can I figure out away to contact my family.
Meanwhile, Noah will have to figure out his issues on his own.
Noah's POV
"What just happened?" Lane asks as Miss Richie practically runs to the elevator
"I don't know… but that felt.. it felt weird, like I was…I don't really know how to explain it" I stare at my hand and try to out the feeling in words.
Shock?
Cold waves?
Either way there was something and she must've felt it too cause she ran away almost immediately.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure it was nothing" Lane says to comfort me and I nod
"Yeah, I'll just have to ask her about it later"
"So, what were you trying to say to me before?" She asks
"What?"
"Your phone call? You were trying to tell me something about it…"
"Oh.. oh right! My grandma called and was nagging for my family to visit this Christmas. Can you believe that? It's barely august!"
She laughs and shakes her head and I laugh too, briefly forgetting the wierd handshake just now.
"It's what grandparents do. They always want the company of their grandchildren and when they don't get that, they fire up" she says
"Not really. Mum's mother doesn't behave that way. She's all about people being indivuals before family so everyone needs their space. But also loves when we visit her even though she doesn't really appreciate us staying past a week or three"
"So it's your dad's mum that called then"
"Mmm, she loves parties and loves to organize them too. So, every holiday has a special celebration theme and.."
Ring Ring
"Please excuse me, I need to take this" I say to her and she nods
"Noah!?"
"Yes Willow it's me…
"Noah I'm so scared! She's trying to kill me!"
It's quiet in the background so I can't figure out if she's at school or at work
"What do you me–"
"Noah! Someone is trying to kill me! Help!!"