Page 156 of The Dark Stranger
Survive.
Not escape.
Not fight.
Survive.
The word sits in my chest like a stone.
Another sound from next door.
A low, broken sob.
Then silence.
The kind of silence that's worse thanthe screaming.
My stomach twists again, and this time I can't stop it. I lean over the side of the bed and retch, nothing coming up but bile and spit. My ribs scream in protest, and I gasp, tears streaming down my face.
The doctor steps back, his face pale.
The guard doesn't move.
Doesn't react.
Like this is normal.
Like this is just another fucking day.
Footsteps hit the door again.
Heavy.
The guard steps in further, irritation written all over his face. The gun lifts slightly as he looks between us.
"Hurry the fuck up," he snaps. "We're not running a hospital here."
"I'm done," the doctor says quickly, stepping back.
"Then move."
The gun shifts toward him.
And he flinches.
Not subtle.
Not controlled.
Real fear.
He backs up fast, heading for the door without another word. He doesn'tlook at me again.
The guard lingers for a second, eyes dragging over me like I'm nothing.
I go still.
Completely still.
