So, I've been busy with some final year work for Uni for the past 6 weeks, so I've had little time for writing. Here's another chapter... Thanks again for your reviews and lovely comments. Keep reading :) Special thanks to those select few who have been avidly reading and continually reviewing. I'm glad you're enjoying it. x
When Nikki arrived at the Thomas Lyell Centre, the receptionist had gone. The office lights were on, so she headed towards her desk. The bottom drawer was slightly ajar. She laid her sequined clutch down on the desk and looked through the drawer; nothing missing.
As she looked up, the glare from the corridor light leading to the mortuary caught her eye, so she walked over, only to find that an unusual rustling noise was coming from the cutting room. It seemed strange for Zak to be in this late, the student interns would be out partying the night away, and the other 2 pathologists, she had just left celebrating Harry's birthday. Her heels clicked on the floor, echoing through the empty corridor.
Dr. Alexander entered the mortuary and seeing a compartment door left open, walked over to it, the label read 'Sarah Barrett (Uncomplete)'. The young girl had been brought in during the early hours of the morning, only for the PM to have been halted; this was the case that had been giving Leo grief all morning. She crept slowly towards the doors of the post mortem room, and pushed the door open gently. She peered through. Instinct told her to run, as fast as she could out of there. But she couldn't leave it; there was no-one else here. She scanned the room for any signs of life and saw the body of the young girl lying on one of the slabs. The poor girl's body hauled from its temporary resting place.
Sorrow shrouded Nikki and her decisions as she decided to cover up the body. Nikki couldn't help being human.
She heard breathing. Not hers. She twisted around to see what was there. Her heart skipped a bit when she realised the mistake she had made in coming here. Her breathing became uncontrollable within seconds. Suddenly pulled from behind, her breath escaped her as a vice like grip took hold of her, turning her around and pushing her up against the wall.
She felt his breath on her face as he held her there, her neck clamped in his grasp, her vision beginning to blur. She tried to scream but there wasn't enough air in her lungs or power in her frail body to force it. He clamped his hand over her mouth so she couldn't try it again. She struggled against his weight, her resilience temporarily resisting him. Nikki calmed so that her attacker would give her the chance to speak. He removed his hand slowly from her mouth so he could place it around her throat once more.
"Who are you? What are you doing to her?" stuttered Nikki, looking over at the girl lying there motionless.
The man remained silent, focused on Nikki's eyes.
"Look, I want to help you…just tell me your name." she urged, gasping for breath.
Nikki saw the fire in his eyes rage. His mind was a chaotic mess. The thought of him harming her was the least of her worries. This man was prepared to spill blood. The tears began to stream down her face, the salty taste wetting her lips.
"Answer me this then…If you're going to hurt me anyway, surely it wouldn't hurt to tell me who you are? Please." Nikki's heart beat faster in her chest, as she thought of Harry. The thought that tonight would be it. She found comfort in the fact that she would die on good terms with all her friends. Nikki thought of screaming again, but needed to search her body for the energy. Screaming was instinctive, but she struggled to fight right now. However, the man interrupted her thoughts…
"It was an accident don't you get it? You have to tell them it was an accident…I needed to see her again, say goodbye, tell her I was sorry. But it's too late now! You see it's too late…she's dead and you're gonna file some stupid report and blame me for it. But it was an accident…but you found me here so I can't let you leave. Do you understand? Do you understand why I can't let you leave?" he punctuated every sentence with a deep breath and by tightening his grip on Nikki, pushing her harder against the wall. His breath smelt of nicotine and beer.
From somewhere, Nikki managed to muster a scream, hoping someone, anyone on the campus would hear it; a last attempt at survival. But she knew the consequences of her actions. The fire within him burned, and any rational, coherent thoughts were lost in his crazed mind.