Page 38 of Taking Adalisa

“I’m looking for someone, and I think she might be here,” I cautiously say.

The girl just blinks at me, and I clasp my hands in front of me, clenching them tight as I wait for her to talk. But she doesn’t. She continues staring at me as if I’ve grown two heads and don’t know what I’m doing.

I don’t.

“Her name is Margery, and I’m now realizing I’m a shit friend because I don’t know her last name.” My shoulders sag. “But you have probably heard of her, or well, her ex-boyfriend. Ethan. He died in a horrific car crash several years ago.”

The woman’s eyes slightly widen before going back to normal.

“She says she keeps seeing him, so I told her to check your facility out so she could get some sleep for a couple of days and get regulated again,” I ramble. “I haven’t heard from her, and I just need to see whether she is here or isn’t so I can stop stressing or continue to stress and look for her in other places.”

I run my hand through my hair, and I watch as her eyes stay on my bracelet the whole time. Is she part of Matthias’ world? Does she know what this bracelet is, or is she just admiring it?

“Margery, yes, I think I do know someone is here with that name,” the kind woman sweetly replies. “Let me check to see what room she is in and if you are permitted to see her.”

“Adalisa is my name,” I offer. “I should be on there. We are all we have to each other.”

I don’t know why I told her that, and I feel like I shouldn’t have. It is private information.

The girl types on the computer, clicks around, before looking back up at me. “Yes, we do, and you are on the list. Let's get you to a room and then we’ll grab her for you.”

A smile blossoms on my face, and I sigh in relief. “Thank you so much.”

“Don’t mention it. Please, follow me,” she says, walking behind the desk.

I follow her down a cold and darker hallway, the uneasy feeling growing in my stomach with each step I take. Several nurses walk out of rooms, staring right at me and smiling before looking at my wrist.

Creepy.

But I continue to walk toward wherever the lady is taking me. Why do they keep looking at my wrist? Why are they smiling at me strangely?

“How long do you think it will take for you to get her?” I ask as she leads me into a room. “I have somewhere I need to be in an hour. People are expecting.”

Lies, but I’m not going to let her know that. The uneasy feeling still hasn’t left, and I need her to know that people will be looking for me. Who? I don’t know. Matthias definitely will when he realizes that I’ve gone. Maybe he’ll get worried and rescue me from this place if I need it.

But that’sifI need it.

This place could just be sketchy and nothing happens. Maybe I’m just working myself up about something that isn’t going to be a problem.

Taking a deep breath, I look at the girl as I stand at the door.

“So, how long do you think it will be?” I ask. “I just need to make sure that I tell people I’ll be late if it’s going to take longer than expected.”

I grab my phone out of my bag and turn it on. Who would I text to make it seem like I’m messaging someone? If they have Margery’s phone, I can’t text her. The only other people I have in my phone are Matthias and my boss. I can’t text my boss, and I’m definitely not texting Matthias.

I take a step into the room and sit in the chair.

“It will only take a couple of minutes for us to get him,” she replies, walking to the door.

“Him?” My eyebrows furrow. “Margery isn’t a guy.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean him, I meanther. We’ll get her and bring her to you. You just sit tight in here.” She smiles and walks out of the room, shutting the door behind her and locking it.

Wait.

Locking it?

I suck in a breath as I stare at the door. There must be a really good reason for locking it. Maybe some patients don’t like an unlocked door, or they are trying to keep me safe? I don’t know.

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