Chapter 1 - Ana
Outside the window of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the sun rose in the east for the fifth time. Each day the night sky would glow and brighten until the light broke the horizon and morning had made its daily welcome. This one was no exception.
For the past five days, Anastasia Steele watched the beauty of what dawn looked like as she sat behind the counter scribbling notes, checking files, and counting the minutes until she was off the clock. A single check mark was made next to the present date on the calendar. Silently, she congratulated herself. She had made it through her first week as a registered nurse. And what a week it was.
No matter how much training she had gone through nor the countless hours she had dedicated to reaching her newly desired title, she had not prepared for the week she had just endured.
In the grand scheme of things, she had entered the medical field to help people, to nurse them back to life and reality. She had not anticipated the constant weeping, mindless complaints, foul language, and vomit stained scrubs. Sure, all of it came with the territory, but that didn't mean she had to like it. The thought of being cursed out for simply doing her job happened on more than one occasion and it was exhausting to be someone's punching bag time and time again. She had been warned of the temporary, but frequent tenants on her assigned floor when she had accepted her position. It was all common knowledge diving into her first week, and yet she still felt like she had not been mentally and physically prepared for it.
Ana moaned at the imprinted memories of her first week and sighed some relief knowing she was only minutes away from her first and only day off. Thirty-six hours away from the madness that erupted during the night shifts and then she would be back at it again.
"Room 42." A blonde middle-aged woman named Sandy approached her desk and slammed a chart down. "Just never shuts up, even at this hour."
A veteran in the field, Sandy had been her mentor and seen and heard it all. Every horror story imaginable, Sandy had the front row seat. Under her eyes, she wore dark bags. Ana wondered if she would to one day. She patted the soft, tight skin under her lashes and prayed she wouldn't.
Smiling politely in response, she knew Sandy had come to vent. The nurses station, where everyone gathered, collected their patient information for rounds and caught up on data entries was also known as "the bitch station". Passing nurses put their two cents in about their patients as they dropped and picked up files. Some cursed under their breaths while others like Sandy held nothing back. After her first night, she caught on quick and gladly joined in. She hated to talk behind others back, but sometimes venting was her only option unless she wanted to pent up her frustration and lose some sanity.
"So the first week on the job, how was it?" Sandy asked.
"Interesting." The only word that came to mind and was surrounded with sarcasm.
"Hate to break it to you kid, but it only gets more interesting the longer you work here." She laughed but showed no sign of joy behind it. The pile of folders stacked high in the tray next to her and she added to it. "You did great though. I've never seen someone under so much pressure in their first week handled it as well as you did."
"Thanks." Ana bowed her head.
A blinking room number on the computer screen lit up followed by a corresponding beep that alerted them both. One of the patients was requesting assistance, whether it was seriously needed or not. Most of the time, it was urgent, but the few repeat offenders and big time abusers of pressing the red button made them all moan with annoyance whenever it went off.
"Room 42," Ana announced. The excitement in Sandy's face was nowhere to be found.
"What the hell does she want now?" She groaned. "Well, seeing as you're almost off, have a great day, Ana. I'll see you back here on Sunday."
"Good luck with Room 42."
Mumbling something incoherent, Sandy stalked off with her chart again and down the hall. Ana's gaze returned to the beauty outside the window and soon she found herself lost in it as time ticked on.
Saturday 6:35 a.m.
Ana rubbed her tired eyes as she climbed into her small compact car and started it up. For the first time all week, she would not have to fight the morning city traffic and she was grateful for that. The thought of her soft mattress and fluffed pillows sounded inviting and the faster she could get to her warm bed, the better.
Following the arrows that brought her from the second floor of the parking garage down to the main level, she turned right onto Huron Street. Her prediction had been correct. Only cabs filled the normally busy streets with the occasional business men and women behind the wheels of their fancy cars. Early morning risers in their fitness wear jogged up and down the now vacant sidewalks. The honking of horns was a distant sound that would soon echo with more frequency as the hours of the morning grew on. This was the quietest she had ever seen the city and she soaked it in knowing it would not last long.
In the rearview mirror, she saw the sun rise in the east completely over the horizon that was Lake Michigan. While most rose with the beauty she saw behind her, she said goodnight. Ana cranked the catchy pop song on the local radio station louder in her attempts to keep her senses alert and awake as she drove home. It's electronic beats and auto-tuned voices made her cringe. Never one to have fallen asleep at the wheel before, she didn't want to risk it now. Usually, the traffic was enough to keep her mind from drifting, but seeing as that was not the case she opted for her built-in substitution.
As she passed the highly commuted streets like Michigan Avenue and State Street, she pressed her foot on the accelerator hard exceeding the speed limit just enough to not draw the attention of any cops. The quicker she got home, the happier she would be. Her destination was so close, yet so far. A few more blocks and another right turn was all it took.
On the north side of the city she lived with her roommate, Kate. Only residing in their tiny, narrow brownstone for a month, Ana missed the life outside the city zone. Slow paced and less of a headache, she adored the suburbs, but wanting to explore the city and after much persuasion from her best friend, she decided to make the move.
On a good day like this one her commute wasn't bad, but most days were brutal. Weaving in and out of traffic and fighting for a space within reasonable walking distance from her brownstone only added to her exhaustion. She had been warned to dare the streets behind the wheel of her car, and now she understood why. After today she would be opting for public transportation, no doubt about that.
With the hospital out of sight and lost in the sea of skyscrapers that Chicago was known for, she sighed. Who would of thought, a girl like her would be so lucky to find an open RN position at one of the best medical centers in the city? Fresh out of the pool of hopeful potentials, she was the one to land the job. It was no question on her list of hospitals to work for when she was weighing her options that Northwestern Hospital was the obvious choice. She would have been stupid to pass it up.
The street signals up ahead changed rapidly and she slammed on her breaks as yellow turned red. Her body jolted forward letting the edge of the seatbelt dig into her skin. As she huffed from the constricting impact, she scanned the intersection. Not a single car in sight, but her own. Temptation coursed in her veins to run the light, but she knew better than to tempt the law. Every intersection was equipped with cameras nowadays ready to capture anyone and make them pay the consequences of disobeying the law. It wasn't worth the fine. Instead, she waited patiently for the light to turn green and obeyed the rules of the road.
In the cup holder of her car sat her phone that flashed with new notifications. Two missed phone calls, both from Jose. Ana rolled her eyes and slumped in her seat. Maintaining focus on the distraction inside of her car and flickering her gaze nervously back at the stoplight, she checked what time the calls had been received.
Oh, Jose, she groaned to herself seeing both the calls had come in after midnight and were most likely made from an intoxicated state. Most likely he was trying to attempt to mend the rift that he had caused among them from the night before.
He had come over for dinner before she had to leave for her night shift at the hospital. Everything was fine. They laughed and talked over a local pizza from down the block, and then it got weird. As she cleaned up over the kitchen sink, he leaned in and kissed her. Quick and spontaneous his actions were they both blushed fifty shades of red. Immediately, she pushed him away and the apologies flowed like lava from his mouth. She should have seen it coming honestly. All the signs were there. It was no surprise Jose had a thing for her, even though she had strictly made it clear he was forever stuck in the friend zone many times. But that didn't stop him. Politely she had asked him to leave and with a quick turn on his heel he was out the door without a second thought. What he had done had changed
What he had done had changed things between them and she hated it.
The frustration inside her grew and she chose to ignore her phone not wanting to think about the Jose situation anymore. Her long, night shifts at the hospital had put the distance she needed between them. It gave her the time she needed to think about what to say. Eventually, she would have to confront him about his poor choice that had shifted their friendship, but for now, all she wanted was to think about the back of her eyelids.
As the light turned green, she pulled out into the intersection. Half way through, something changed. The deep desire to drift away into the depths of a sleep state called her name in the most pleasant voice. Ana shook her head and hit the gas pedal harder, but it her action failed. The world around her moved in a way she had never seen it move. Her vision blurred leaving nothing defined and faded to black. What was happening? It was like she was slipping away and there was nothing to hold on to. Had her body given up? Had the urge to get some sleep finally reached its limit? No! Not here, she inwardly cried to herself and fought the urge as hard as she could. But it seemed sleep could wait no longer. The wave that came over her was strong. Darkness dragged her away from reality and like that she out like a light.
With no knowledge of how much time had lapsed, she jolted awake.
Ana gasped for air and her body halted violently. Something was constricting her and cutting into the exposed skin on her neck. Ah! She moaned and peeled it from her body giving her relief. A seatbelt had been what had stopped her and suddenly she was very aware that she did not know where she was.
"What the?" She murmured and unlatched the seat belt freeing her from her constraints.
How did she get her? Why was she here?
Her hands ran over the smooth console of the vehicle, the steering wheel, and then slowly back to her thighs. None it made sense. She was at a complete loss for any reason to how she ended up in the car.
As Ana contemplated her new found whereabouts, a terrifying discovery occurred to her. Why couldn't she remember how she got in the car? She had no memory at all. Not a single ounce of it came back to her. Any moment from before now was a blank page. "Holy fuck." Ana exhaled.
A cloud of thick fog lingered in her head and it only got worse the more she tried to find logic in the situation. There had to be a reason she couldn't remember, right? But what if there wasn't? Just the thought sent her spiraling into a panicked frenzy. The only thing she did know for certain was that she was alive, breathing uncontrollably, and freaking the fuck out.
With the sudden urge to bolt, her fingers trembled for the keys in the ignition, but only found empty air. No keys? Ana slammed her back into the seat and huffed loudly. Not entirely sure of where she planned on going, all she knew was she wanted out. She wanted to run. Maybe it was the adrenaline or the fear of the unknown haunting her, but she needed out of this car. The idea of not knowing anything suffocated her. In the attempts of hoping she living out a bad dream, she closed her eyes. But when she opened them again, the same setting presented itself. Placing her hands together in praying motion she rested her fingers on her chin and whispered, "God help me."
Outside the confines of the vehicle, she saw lonely streets hiding in the shadows of the tall buildings that rose many feet above her. Was she in the city? What city? And where was everyone? Where was the madness that thrived in a place like this? Ana carefully opened the door of the car and stepped out half expecting the ground to crumble below her. Anything seemed possible right now.
To her surprise, the ground was sturdy and solid. She stomped her foot on it to make sure. When it didn't move, she breathed a sigh of relief. Ana stepped away from the car circling the middle of the intersection of where she had started this strange journey from. Nervous that she was not fully intact, she examined every inch of her body from head to toe. When she looked down, she noticed she was wearing dirty scrubs from a hospital. Was this her first clue? Were these hospital scrubs a sign of who she was or where she had come from? Why else would she be wearing an outfit like this if she didn't? It was such an odd clothing choice to wear otherwise. Why did this have to be so damn complicated?
Observing the deserted four-lane streets, she searched for a sign of life. No human, no animal could be found. She wondered if anyone even existed at all, which led to the depressing thought that she might be all alone. Why was she alone though? Where was everyone else? They all couldn't just disappear, could they? Ana hugged herself knowing the likelihood of coming in contact with another form of life in this mystery world that she had entered was unlikely. At least it had seemed like it at the moment. What had she done to deserve this?
What had she done to deserve this?
She needed answers.
Upon following her curiosity, she walked toward the corner of the intersection where a diner sat. No lights, no life. It was dark on the inside and her stomach growled from hunger. She peered over her shoulder and walked up to the door. It swung open and she stepped inside afraid of what could happen. Alone and terrified, she wished for a sign to tell her why she was here. She prayed for it as she paused and closed her eyes giving it another shot. Did this alternative universe even have a God? Ana's eyes swelled with tears accepting that she was very much by herself and vulnerable, a feeling she did not like.
Over the counter, she saw chip bags hanging from a line. Her stomach urged her to grab one, but she didn't feel right stealing. With no money, how could she repay the diner for taking some food? You're alone you idiot. Just take the bag! Her subconscious screamed and she looked around once more to make sure. There was no one to stop her. Not a voice of reason but her own to keep her from committing a crime. Ana leaned over the counter and snatched a bag letting the familiar sound of it popping open greet her. Diving her fingers into the bag, she shoved her face in the salty chips. Her stomach thanked her immediately.
Sinking to the ground, she ate and wept. This vicious cycle of self-pity continued as she grabbed another bag and let the tears fall down her cheeks. She honestly could not think of why she deserved to be brought here? Her track record was clean or so she hoped. With no memory of a life before, she had the only assumption of wondering that she had definitely done something wrong to end up like this, but what?
It could be anything and yet she would never know.
Almost completely slipping away and drowning herself in another bag of toxic garbage, a noise from outside the diner startled her. For a place with no life, she jumped to her feet out of curiosity. The car that she had exited remained in place and untouched. That couldn't be it. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw it, another car. How had she not seen it before? Had it been there without her knowing it? She swore the car she woke up in was the only one in the vicinity. It was like this other car appeared out of thin air. Ana quickly ducked and crawled her way over to the nearest booth to get a closer look. As she did, she gasped louder than the noise that had just alerted her that she may not be alone.
There was someone else here.
The first thing she saw was head of dark, disheveled hair that appeared from the other side of the car. It was a man and she sunk lower in the booth as she continued to watch him secretly from the safety of the diner. He appeared dazed and confused, just as she had been when she first stepped out of the car. The white button up shirt he wore was wrinkled and half sticking out of his black dress pants. His skin glowed like the sun had treated him well and he wore a five o'clock shadow that made him appear older. Whoever he was, he was beautiful. Beautiful and lost. The way he spun around searching for something imaginary told her he had was about as clueless as she was. Just as she was getting used to admiring his beauty from afar, he locked eyes on the tiny diner she occupied. Shit!
No longer staying put beside the car, he made his way toward her. Ana quickly slid out of the booth as stealthy as she could and crawled on the floor in a hurry to hid behind the counter. Her heart raced as she crouched carefully out of sight. A few seconds later, the door to the diner chimed open.
She was no longer alone.