Saving Meghan(111)

CHAPTER 55





MEGHAN


When I heard Dr. Amanda Nash’s voice, I thought I was dreaming.

“Meghan … Meghan, are you awake?” she called out.

My eyes opened. Slowly, my foggy vision cleared. I propped myself up on my elbows to see her standing just inside my room. She came toward my bed, calling my name in a gentle, motherly tone.

“Meghan, wake up, sweetheart. I’ve something to tell you.”

I became instantly alert. My body tensed as a terrible feeling came over me, a gnawing knowing that something awful had happened.

Dr. Nash sat on the edge of my bed and placed her hand on my shoulder, the way someone does before they break bad news. “Meghan, sweetheart, there’s been some trouble.”

“What … what kind of trouble?” I asked in a shaky voice.

“Your mom is in the hospital. She’s here at White. She came in and was very sick, but she’s okay now. She’s going to be all right, and she wants to see you.”

My heart began to jackhammer. “What … what happened to her?”

“She had some … breathing difficulties. But we treated her quickly, and she’s making a terrific recovery. Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll take you to her.”

I was on my feet in no time. I didn’t have to get dressed, since I was sleeping in sweats. One look out the window told me it was night. I got the sense it was late.

I slid my feet into a pair of slippers Mom had brought me from home. My mouth had that gross taste of sleep, but I wasn’t about to take the time to brush it away. As we walked down the hall toward the locked exit, Dr. Nash gripped my arm like she had that first day, the day I came and never left, holding on like I might try to escape. I guess I’d given her good reason to be cautious.

Dr. Nash paused at the front desk. “I’m taking Meghan to see her mother,” she said.

Nurse Amy, who often worked the overnight shift, gave a nod as she typed something into the computer. A moment later, the door clicked open, and Dr. Nash escorted me out of the BHU for the first time since my inauspicious homecoming.

“What happened to my mom exactly?” I asked.

“I told you, breathing troubles.”

There was a funny edge to her voice, an anger I hadn’t picked up on before. I figured we’d take the elevator to wherever my mom was, but Dr. Nash took me to the stairwell instead. I didn’t even think to question it; I just went with her as she led me up floor after floor.

“Where is she?” I asked again, my voice echoing in the stairwell like I was calling up from the bottom of a well.

“She’s here, up a few floors. Just keep walking.”

“Why didn’t we take the elevator?”

“What’s the matter? You don’t like exercise?” Maybe she was trying to be funny, or cute, but her voice sounded strangely menacing to me.

“No, I’m fine,” I said, even though I felt fatigued because I hadn’t exerted myself in ages. We went up four flights … and then five … then six, and so on. With each step, I could feel my cells starving for air, each of them dying slow, painful deaths. I slowed my ascent, but Dr. Nash gripped my arm tighter, all but pulling me up those stairs.

“Hurry,” she said darkly. “Your mom is eager to see you.”

But where is she? I wondered. We were near the top of the stairs, and yet Dr. Nash took me even higher.

My uneasiness increased with every step. I knew I wanted to go down, no, had to go down—now. A surprise burst of adrenaline gave me a spurt of energy I hadn’t felt in ages. I spun like I was dodging a defender on the soccer field, quickly putting two steps between Dr. Nash and me. But before I could make it to step three, Dr. Nash grabbed my arm with crushing force, pulling me back toward her with a violent yank.

I screamed, “Help!” loud as I could, my voice bouncing off the walls. Dr. Nash let go of my arm to cover my mouth with her hand, and at the same time I felt cold, sharp steel pressed against my throat. Terror coursed through me when I peered down to see what looked like a scalpel clutched in Dr. Nash’s hand. The blade was hidden from my view, but I could feel it digging into my flesh. I became as rigid as a block of ice.

“You think needles are bad, Meghan?” Dr. Nash hissed in my ear. “Try having your throat sliced open. That’s as bad as can be. Now, keep walking.”

“Why … are you doing this?” I asked.

“Walk or bleed—those are your two choices.”

I headed up the stairs, because it really wasn’t a choice at all.





CHAPTER 56





ZACH


He had his cell phone out, and within moments was connected to the duty nurse on the BHU. He put the call on speaker so Becky could hear the conversation.

“This is Dr. Zachary Fisher,” he said with the authority of someone who still worked for the hospital. “I need to speak with Meghan Gerard right away, it’s urgent.”

There was a pause that made Zach’s stomach turn over with worry.

“Meghan left a few moments ago with Dr. Nash. She’s bringing her to see her mother in the ICU.”

“How long ago exactly?” Zach’s tone was sharp.