Page 15 of Ravage
“Hello, Ms. Johnson, I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but…” He trails off, and a scratchy laugh leaves my throat.
“Likewise.” I’m able to croak out.
“How are you feeling?” He asks before looking down at the stack of papers in his hands, taking in the content littering the pages. He finally looks back up at me with a questioning gaze.
I quickly check my body; the nausea has passed, leaving me with a headache and a weak body. “Better than I was, I guess.” I shrug my shoulders. “What’s wrong with me?” I ask him and point at the papers. “You ran tests, right?” He nods his head, his gaze switching between Kole and me.
“Well, see, that’s the thing, Sloane, your tests all came back fine. Everything points to the flu.” He places the papers into the holder at the end of my bed, and my face falls.
“You’re kidding, right? You need to run more tests!” The words come out in a furious outburst that reaches all the way to my toes. “It’s not the flu, I’m sure of it.” My fists clench by my sides in annoyance.
“I assure you, Ms. Johnson, it is most definitely the flu.” His face is stern, and his words feel final, but the feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me that he’s wrong. I get out of bed and pull on the IV that is connected to my hand until it pops free. Drops of blood bead to the surface of my skin, and I let out a hiss at the pinch of pain. “Ms. Johnson, you must get back into bed!” The doctor's voice echoes through the room.
“No! This is ridiculous! I want a new doctor and new tests run!” My screech is loud and scratchy as the words rip out of me. I look over at Kole, and he’s leaning against the wall with a passive expression on his face. “Kole, can you get a nurse, please?” He studies me for a moment and then shakes his head.
“Sloane, you’re acting a little crazy, don’t you think?” One of his eyebrows arches up. “The doctor is right. I looked over your chart, and nothing is wrong.” He shakes his head, looking down at the floor. “Right, doctor?” He looks over at the doctor with a skeptical expression that causes me to shake my head and stomp my foot.
“He’s wrong, Kole! I know that something is wrong.” My voice shakes as I speak, and damn do I sound insane over this. I grab the pillow off of the bed and scream into it with all my might, hoping that it will clear my head, but no such luck.
“Ms. Johnson, you need to calm down.” The doctor clutches his stethoscope and shoves his hand into his pocket, fiddling with something that gets Kole’s attention.
“There’s no need for that, doctor. She’s just having a mental break; she’s been dealing with a lot of stress lately.” Kole pushes off of the wall and stalks towards me like I’m a baby deer.
“No, I’m not!” I shout before throwing the pillow at the door with a soft thud that shocks the doctor. Kole is at my side, pushing me back down onto the bed, and I struggle against his hold. “What are you doing?” I question his actions as he grabs both of my flailing wrists in one hand. He sticks his hand out towards the doctor, beckoning for him, and my eyes widen when the doctor drops a syringe into his hand. “No! Kole, what is that? Stop!” My words have no effect on his actions as he stabs the needle into my neck and depresses the plunger.
“I’m sorry, Sloane, but even you won’t take my obsession away from me.” He throws the syringe onto the floor with a ping, his hard eyes boring into mine. “Sleep now, my perfect girl.” His words seem to come out in slow motion while the edges of my vision blur. My eyes burn with tears that drip down my face as my lids close, encasing me in darkness.
Sloane’s body goes limp in my arms, her eyes going glassy with tears before they finally close. I give her a kiss on the forehead before finally turning to the lurker standing behind me. The doctor’s face is beat red, whether from embarrassment or anger, who knows? Striding over to the chair next to the door, I rummage through the duffle bag that I packed some of Sloane’s things in, grasping the stack of cash I put at the bottom. “Here, $5500. I added an additional 500 for providing the sedative. I’ll take it from here.” He sticks his hand out,tearing the cash from my grip. Zipping up the duffle bag, I sling it over my shoulder before scooping Sloane up from the bed. The doctor gives me a nod before opening the door and letting me out with my prize tucked safely in my arms.
Staff and patients look at me oddly as I carry her through the hospital. I probably should have dressed her in something else, but she will be going back into a hospital gown when we get to our destination. The elevator ride down to the lobby was far too long, leaving my arms burning from Sloane's dead weight. She’s not heavy, but I’ve also never carried a person this long before either. I dodge through the various people milling about the lobby before I make it to the sliding doors that lead to the parking garage. Finding my car is easy among the lower-class ones that litter the parking spots. Somehow I manage to balance Sloane against me long enough to get the car unblocked and the door open. I lay her down in the passenger seat, making sure to lean the seat all the way back before buckling the seatbelt. Safety first and all that shit.
The drive to Wellard was quick; my lead foot never left the gas pedal long enough to come to a stop. Sloane is still passed out next to me when I pull into my designated spot in the employee parking lot. “Hey Siri, call Halstead.” The call rings through my car speakers, and I quickly turn it down so I don’t wake Sloane.
“Where the hell have you been?” Halstead’s annoyed voice filters through the speakers.
“Good to hear you too, Doc.” I say with a chuckle, “Look, I’ve kind of found myself in a little… Predicament.” I look over at Sloane’s relaxed face as she sleeps on.
“What the fuck did you do?” An exasperated sigh sounds on the other end of the line.
“Have Timothy prepare a room in solitary for me and I’ll meet you down there in ten.” I don’t wait for his reply beforehanging up. Pulling my badge from the rearview mirror, I place it around my neck before exiting the car to get Sloane from the other side. My arms are still sore from carrying her through the hospital, so getting her out of the car and into the Asylum was a feat in itself. By the time I make it to the lower levels, my muscles are burning and threatening to drop her to the ground. Timothy and Halstead stand at the end of the hallway by an open door. “Thank fuck.” I say in a breathless voice as I carry my Sweet Obsession into the room and lay her on the bed. Timothy looks at me with a shocked face, and Halsteads holds a little pride and curiosity. I get her wrists and ankles strapped down before I finally cover her with a thin blanket and back up.
“Who is that, Kole, and why have you brought her here?” Halstead walks around the bed, his eyes pursuing Sloane’s body, his fingers fluttering over her pulse point. “At least she’s still alive, I guess.” He gives a shrug before turning to look back at me. “Well?” His brow arches with the directed question.
“She’s mine.” I only give him the two words, because a feral part of me doesn’t want to share.
“Okay, but what’s her name?Whyis she here?” He throws his hands up in the air with agitation.
I stride over to Sloane, my fingers drifting through her soft hair, splaying it perfectly around her head on the pillow. “She’s my Sweet Obsession, and no one will enter this room without my permission.” My fingers brush down her cheek with a feather-like touch before I look back up at Halstead's narrowed gaze. “I’ve been working for you for years and haven’t asked for shit. I’ve done your dirty work and kept things quiet, so the least you can do is let me have this one thing. Yeah?” My arms cross over my chest as my own gaze narrows.
Halstead mulls over my request for a moment before rolling his eyes, “Fine, but she’s your problem.” He strides through toward the door, stopping to look back at me. “Timothy canhelp you if you need it, but the body disposal is on you.” He leaves without another word, and irritation curls inside of me, because it's very bold of him to assume there will be a dead body. Timothy is still frozen against the wall and staring at Sloane’s sleeping form.
“Timothy.” I snap my fingers to get his attention, and his eyes eventually drift towards me. “You can leave now; I’ll page you if I need anything.” Timothy nods his head and scurries out of the room like a timid mouse. I still don’t understand why he’s here in the first place. I step back over to Sloane, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “I’ll be back, baby. Be a good girl.” A smirk curls my lips, and I double-check her restraints and decide she’s not going anywhere.
I leave her room and shut the door firmly behind me, making sure that my badge will still open the door. The hall is quiet, and my shoes clack against the cement beneath them. “Kole!” The feminine voice reaches me from the other side of the hallway. Mara is striding towards me, a clipboard in hand. “Who’s that? They're not on the sheet.” Her eyebrow arches, brown eyes zeroing in on me in suspicion. Her dark curly hair is pulled back into a bun that showcases her high cheekbones and full lips.
“She’s none of your concern, sweet cheeks.” I walk past her, patting her ass as I go, and damn is it a fine ass.
She turns on me, slapping me upside the head with her clipboard, her eyes on fire with irritation. “I told you not to do that shit anymore. Seriously, who is she?” She places her hands on her hips, and her tan skin glows warmly under the yellow light hanging above us.
