Chapter Fourteen

Bella

Somehow I knew I wasn't in the basement any longer, I could smell the antiseptic air of a hospital or clinic so was I in a hospital now? Had my dad come back for me? I was warm at last but I didn't like the needles and pipes running in and out of my body or the hiss of the oxygen in the mask over my face but I didn't move. I knew if I opened my eyes the questions would begin and I would see my dad sitting there watching me and waiting to hear what I said.

I knew instinctively that he would be angry with me for this, it would reflect badly on him if someone had found me in the basement and brought me to the clinic and I had no idea what I could say that would put things right. My head hurt, my stomach ached, and my skin still tingled. Who had found me and where was I now? Was this the clinic in Forks? Or the small hospital in Port Angeles? And what story could I give them that might be believed?

I heard footsteps that halted just outside my room and listened hoping for some answers. The first voice I heard was a female and not one I recognised which ruled out the clinic in town, it was small and I knew all the staff.

"Doctor? Doctor Frost asked if you could join him in the staff lounge. I'll keep an eye on your patient don't worry, she'll probably sleep all night. Has anyone managed to get in contact with her family?"

They were walking away and I missed the doctor's reply but my heart beat fast, my dad didn't know that I was here? Oh God, I was in real trouble now. He would kill me when he found out I had been discovered sick and locked in the basement. He was sure to think I had told my rescuers that he was responsible for locking me in there. I could imagine his anger and it made me tremble with fear. He had always warned me that if I ever shamed him he would take me out into the forest and shoot me, make it look like an accident, and I knew it wasn't an idle threat, his image and standing in town were everything to him.

I had to get out of here before he found out and came for me and although I felt weak and groggy I knew I couldn't afford to wait, that would be far too dangerous, so I hauled myself up and sat on the edge of my bed until the room stopped spinning and my stomach settled down then got unsteadily to my feet.

When I felt I could trust my balance I made my way across the room and checked the closet but it was empty, where were my clothes? I was so weak I found it difficult to stand but I knew I had to force myself on, I needed to get out of here.

Looking around and screaming at myself inwardly to think, I noticed my arm was bleeding a little from where I had slid the tubing out and I rubbed it away absently with the edge of my gown. My throat was sore but apart from that and a terrible headache I felt almost human, very afraid, but human.

Rested my head against the cold glass of the window I peered out. It was snowing heavily, I had no clothes, and I had no one to call on for help. I knew I was in Seattle, it was written at the top of my medical notes clipped to the end of my bed and on my plastic name bracelet.

I needed to get out of here, away from the city before my dad arrived but I couldn't leave the hospital without warm clothes and money and I had neither. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself and tried to formulate a plan.

Carefully I opened my door just a crack and checked that the corridor was empty. I could hear a nurse's voice in another room at the far end but there was no one in sight so I crept to the stairway in the opposite direction and went down a floor checking the corridor here was empty too before sliding through the door and investigating the first darkened room I came to.

I noticed someone was asleep in the bed and tiptoed over opening the closet door very carefully. Yes! I was in luck, I found a jacket and jeans plus a sweatshirt and a pair of thick boots and I just prayed they would fit me.

Making my way down a floor at a time I changed in a visitor's restroom discarding the jacket and boots which were way too big and replacing them with others I had taken from other rooms on my journey down.

In one pocket I found a ten dollar bill and a handful of change and noticed the hospital restaurant was open but it was too well lit and there were too few customers, I might be spotted. However, the vending machine in a dimly lit corridor supplied me with coffee which I sipped hidden in a dark corner and then I found my way to the public phones. I felt light headed and nauseous now but I knew I had to go on, to stop and rest risked being found and I had to avoid that at all costs.

Dredging Lizzie's number from the fog that clouded my brain I rang it with shaking fingers, stopping twice to wipe a cold sweat from my eyes. As I heard it ring I prayed she would be there, Lizzie was often away with her job and I could only hope that this time she would be home for me, she was my only hope.

I almost cried with relief when I recognised her voice fuzzy with sleep.

"Hello?"

For a moment I couldn't speak then when I realised she might put the phone down thinking it was a wrong number or something, a babbled into the receiver making no sense whatsoever.

"Bella? Bella is that you? What's the matter, Bella? Take a deep breath, calm down, and start again. I can't understand a word you're saying my love."

I tried to explain in as few a words as I could, worried my money might run out and looking around constantly alert for danger.

"Your father did what? Renee said he was a son of a bitch and she was right. Where are you now my love? Is he there?"

I explained my situation as best I could, after all, I didn't know all the details myself, and waited for her to speak.

"Can't you go to the authorities? Or tell the doctors what's happening?"

"NO! They'd never believe me, Lizzie, besides once he gets here I know he'll get me all mixed up and I'll end up going back to Forks. I think he'll kill me, Lizzie, he threatened to and he'll make it look like an accident. I don't know what to do Lizzie, I'm so scared."

"Well. You can't hide in the hospital for ever Bella, they're sure to search for you once they realise you are missing. Do you think you can stay out of sight for a few hours? Get out of the hospital and find a diner or somewhere open and hide."

I explained about the blizzard conditions outside,

"I think that's why my dad hasn't arrived yet but I can hide in here, it's a huge building and in a couple of hours it'll be teeming with people."

"Right, do what you can but be careful Bella, I don't trust that bastard, Swan. I'll catch the next plane to Seattle if the airport is still open. Then we'll get you a lawyer. I'll find a way to keep you, safe girl."

I found myself weeping with relief at having someone on my side at last. Talking to her had helped me tremendously, I felt hope for the first time since my mom died. For now, though, I had to stay out of sight which was going to be more difficult until the hospital filled up in a couple of hours.

Unsure what to do I checked rooms on this floor until I found a vacant one, I could hide in the closet here until dawn, hopefully, no one would be admitted in the meantime. It was very quiet, only the sound of low voices passing from time to time and curling up in a ball I tried to calm myself and clear my head, I needed to know exactly what had happened to lead me here but my thoughts were still fuzzy and I found myself scratching my arms which were already raw.

I was nervous about the idea of hanging around the hospital until Lizzie could get here, what if I were recognised? Worse still, what if my dad found me? I had to stop thinking like that. I needed a plan if I was going to escape detection and I only had a short time to come up with one, the hospital would swing into life soon.

Then it occurred to me that there was a way to stay hidden in plain sight. It would be risky but it gave me a slight chance of running if I were discovered, here in this closet I would be trapped if I were found.

Venturing out again cautiously I crept down the dimly lit hallway until I found an unlocked storeroom and helped myself to a robe and some towels, then risked going a little further until I found another room stocked with medical supplies and helped myself. Getting back to my vacant room was nerve racking but I managed to slip inside just as I heard voices coming along the otherwise deserted corridor.

"Do they think she's hiding somewhere in the building?"

"They don't know where she is or why she ran away so maybe she chanced it outside. She'd been drugged and they're afraid she might still be suffering the after effects. She could have staggered outside and fallen into a snow drift. Security is searching for her and we've all been asked to keep our eyes open for a young girl. They're starting the search inside on the top floor and working their way down."

"That'll take hours."

"I know but apparently that's the best way because if she is up there she'll be shepherded down to the ground floor."

"It should be easy this time of night, all our patients are tucked up in bed."

"You'd think so wouldn't you but she's eluded the search so far so keep your eyes peeled."

Their voices faded away but at least I knew what they were doing to find me and there was still no word of my dad arriving.