Chapter 7
It was late Sunday evening, way after end of the working day and permitted visiting hours. Gillian was on her way out of the hospital.
Digging through her purse for ever elusive lip balsam she rounded the corner separating hallway of the second floor and stairways, when she bumped in to a good looking tall and muscular man in a white gown. Apparently he was one of the night shift's doctors. From the force of impact and surprise Gill lost her footing and if it wasn't for guy's quick reaction, she would have hit the floor. Iron grip on her arm prevented the fall.
"I'm so sorry, It was my fault, I was not paying attention..." reeling from initial shock and kneeling to gather several objects spilled from her open purse Gillian apologetically rambled.
"No problem" the man replied politely "Here, let me help you with that".
"We haven't met before. I'm Gillian" with embarrassed smile Gill awkwardly stretched out her hand at the same time desperately balancing open bag in a way to prevent her other possessions from scattering across flooring.
"Dr. ... Hunt" the man shook her hand.
"I haven't seen you around before"
"It is my first day"
The man was not acting threatening. On the contrary, he was very polite and calm, considering that Gill had bumped into him, but something in his dark gaze made Gill's skin crawl and cold shivers ran down her spine.
For some reason she felt threatened by his proximity. Maybe it was play of shadows, but the smile on handsome face seemed almost plastic, insincere, like a mask pulled over cold and merciful heart. It was not that she had consciously seen something on his face or in the posture, more a hunch, a gut feeling.
Whether he had sensed Gill's discomfort or was in a hurry, the man quickly rose and apologetically smiling handed over several items that had fallen from her bag "I'm sorry, I have to go".
The polite smile never reached his eyes.
"Sure. Thank you and once again sorry"
"No problems"
The man stood up and headed down the hall never looking back.
Gill picked up remaining items, rising up closed her bag and rounded the corner. A thought made her stop dead in her tracks. The strange man was headed in the direction of Lena's room!
Maybe she was overreacting; maybe her fear came from David's bizarre behaviour and unvoiced warnings. Already before on several occasions she had noticed that the whole situation had gotten her paranoid.
Nevertheless Gill decided to follow her intuition and check. Just to be safe.
For some unexplainable reason she took off bumps before rounding the corner the same direction she just came from.
The man unhurriedly passed the empty hallway with hands in his pockets. His posture was not tensed or worried. As a matter of fact it was very casual.
He just passed Lena's room and Gill released breath she didn't know she was holding.
It had been her imagination after all!
She was about to turn around when the man stopped and looking to his left took several steps back.
Now he was standing right in front of Lena's room.
Gill quietly moved forward hiding behind large column at the other end of the dark hallway, heart pounding in her chest.
The man took out small piece of paper, looked at it and moved towards the doors to peek through barred window. He put his hand on the doorknob and swept his gaze in both directions of the dark hallway. Gillian pressed closer to the column she was hiding behind.
As soon as he opened the doors, Gill left her hiding place and as silently as she could ran across the hall.
Through the open doors she saw the man leaning over the sleeping child with a full syringe in hand. Without second thought she stepped inside and reached for the table lamp that was standing on the commode. As she prepared to smash it on the man's head, he turned around.
Instead of hitting the back of his head, she broke glazed item against his face.
The man was taken aback by surprise; he hadn't expected such strength from slim lady, but next moment his face was decorated with cold and soulless smile. Now he would have at least some fun in this dull assignment.
Gill watched in fear as he advanced on her. Running away and leaving Lena behind was not an option. She had to fight, the only problem being that she didn't stand a chance in terms of physical strength.
Before she had a chance to think, the floor give away and she painfully collided with the floor, all air knocked out of the lungs. Dull ache ran through her head and wave of dizziness almost made her sick. Next thing she knew was heavy weight on top of her and merciful cold hands tightening around her neck. She was being strangled.
More desperately she tried to fight, stronger the viselike grip became, lack of air and paralyzing fear only cultivated upcoming panic attack. The crushing weight on her chest was becoming unbearable.
Just before Gill felt that she would black out from oxygen deprivation, above the dark masculine figure she saw two familiar eyes staring at her in mute terror.
The noise had woken Lena and she was standing on feet in her bed.
New wave of adrenalin ran through Gill's veins.
She couldn't give up.
For Lena.
If she did, the girl would be lost; her already traumatised psyche would be too severely damaged. At that moment it somehow didn't occur to Gill that it might not be the main problem. That considering scene she interrupted the man most probably was here to kill and not traumatize the girl.
Adrenalin gave her strength she didn't know she had. She fought. She fought with all her might. There was no place for 'if'. She had to win.
Desperately searching for anything that might help from the corner of her eye Gill saw syringe that had been in the man's hand. It was lying on the floor just outside her reach.
If only she could get a hold on it!
Desperation mixed with fear and adrenaline was powerful combination. The man groaned and loosened his grip a little when a knee slammed into his side. It was a small breakthrough, but it was all Gill needed.
The moment her fingers laced around glazy object she lifted arm and injected whole dose in his jugular. Maybe she was not that kind of doctor, but she definitely knew where to stab.
"Bitch!" the man cursed under his breath smashing her head against the floor and pulling his left arm to check the incision on the neck.
"You will pay for this" he gritted through clenched teeth as he lifted his fist to smack her face. Gill closed her eyes prepared for blow, but it never came. Next moment dead weight dropped on top of her. Emphasis put on 'dead'.
It took almost inhuman effort and considerably more strength that she had to push heavy body away. At least enough to crawl from underneath, but she managed to do it anyway.
There was no time to lose. It was not safe. They had to run. Gill was panting heavily as she rose up, vision doubled and blurred. Courtesy of her head's last meeting with the floor. If only she felt a little less dizzy. There was no way she could pass out now. Not until they were safe.
"Come sweetie, we have to go" Gill murmured lifting scared girl in her arms. Lena didn't have to be told twice. As soon as Gill reached out for her, she grabbed Teddy and enlaced arms and legs around Gill's thin frame in a strong grip.
Holding the trembling child Gillian ran.
Barefooted.
Terrified.
She didn't have a plan or slightest idea where she was going or how she would get there. The fear was looming over her like wild animal, clouding her judgement.
She couldn't ask the staff for help, as they might be involved. She couldn't call the police as she didn't know whether it would be safe for Lena. David had never told her what was really going and from which direction the threat came. It had been her own conclusion that she had made a while ago. Otherwise this whole secrecy wouldn't make any sense. Lena could have received necessary care through official channels and not as a personal favour.
Gillian didn't have a car, as the hotel was within a walking distance from hospital. She couldn't call David, as the cell was in her purse. Luckily she had memorised the number, but what use was of a number if you didn't have a phone.
If only she could get to one, but all offices were locked for night and she was not trained in breaking and entering.
Maybe the reception on the first floor was her best option after all?
Maybe.
Just to be on the safe side she decided to avoid main stairs, but use emergency staircase.
###
Reaching the first floor Gill gently removed sobbing girl from her neck and ushered her under the stairs. Lena refused to let go.
Gill paused a minute to hug her "I'll be back shortly. I promise. But you have to be strong. Strong and brave. I know you can do that."
Lena nodded.
"Teddy fill be here to protect you, you just have to stay quiet, quiet as mouse. Can you do that for me?"
Girl nodded again, clenching the teddy bear to the chest up to the point where her knuckles turned white. Gill's heart broke, but there was nothing she could do for now. First they had to get to the safety.
###
After settling Lena, Gill opened the doors that lead to the corridor. Two corners later she was carefully looking through the barred window of the left side corridor.
The huge round lobby was empty besides the night shift receptionist that idly watched some soap opera on the small TV screen. Gill felt relieved and was about to enter when she heard front doors burst open and a second later several armed men in black entered.
Before the receptionist had a chance to react a bullet shot from the gun with silencer entered her forehead. The dead woman fell back into the couch, blood running freely from the place were just a moment ago her face had been.
In horror and utter disbelief Gill jumped back from the door. Although it was the first time in her life that someone was mercifully executed right in front of her eyes, it was not what had gotten her paralyzed from shock.
Gillian's body shook so violently, that she leaned against the wall and slid down, palm pressed across the mouth to prevent a desperate scream of terror. Panic attack blocking her airways tears running freely down the face, heart pounding in the ears with such intensity as if trying to burst.
She had recognised one of the men.
It was David Burns.
