The next day, Luke immediately went to work on his secret assignment. He started out by contacting an old professor of his, doctor Lewis.
"Doctor Lewis, it's Luke Ward. I was wondering if you could spare some time for me? There's this situation I'd like to get your opinion on."
"Sure Luke, I'm always glad to help out an old student of mine. What's the matter?" Doctor Lewis replied.
"It's a bit complicated, but it comes down to this. I work at this institute, and I have reason to believe that something illegal is going on here. I believe they are holding at least one, but possibly more patients against their will. Someone who doesn't have any real disorder. I think this might be done in exchange for money."
"Luke, that's a pretty serious accusation you are making there. How certain are you really?"
"I've spoken to people related to this one patient, I've seen reports, and from all of that, I'm really pretty certain."
"Did you speak to the patient?" Doctor Lewis asked
"No sir, I have not yet."
"In that case, speak to him or her first. If you're still certain after that, I would advise you to file a complaint with the National Medical Committee. They will conduct an investigation. But you need to be one hundred percent sure before you do anything like that Luke, they are not happy with false alarms in these sort of cases."
"Thank you so much doctor Lewis, I will keep that in mind."
Luke now was determined to speak to Marissa.
Later that night, Luke came back to Foster's. He pretended to have forgotten something, so the security guards let him in. After all, he was an employee so there was no reason for suspicion. They were used to doctors coming in and out the place at all times.
He made his way to the forbidden wing instantly.
Somehow, doctor Hamilton was as stupid to believe that a 'restricted area' sign alone was enough to keep nosey people at bay. He could walk straight through the heavy doors.
"310, 311, 312, 313, 314. That's the one." He mumbled to himself. The door had no window, it was just plain white. As he moved his key-card through the card reader, he heard a beep, then a soft zooming and then a click. The door was opened.
Marissa had been lying on her bed for a few hours. She had been writing again until the moment her arms and shoulders started to hurt. By that time, it had become pretty quiet and dark. At Foster's that meant most doctors had left for home and that most patients had been put to sleep for the night. Sleep however, was the last thing Marissa had on her mind. She closed her eyes to bring forward the memory of Alex.
Alex's hairstyle, her eyes, her lips, the feel of them. The feel of her perfect body, spooning her own from behind, arms wrapped around her. The simple things, like Alex standing at the kitchen counter in the morning, brewing the best coffee Marissa had ever tasted. The way Alex would always insist on opening the door for Marissa. And of course the way Alex would plant a tiny kiss on Marissa's forehead each morning, thinking Marissa was still sleeping when really she was wide awake. It pained Marissa she never got to tell Alex that she knew about this little loving gesture. If only she could get the chance to tell her just that…
Marissa got pulled out of her train of thought by the familiar beeping of the card reader. Someone was unlocking her door.
Cautiously she sat up. Never before in all of the seven years she had been at Foster's, a doctor or nurse came to visit her at this unholy hour. The door slowly opened and she heard a whisper of her name. She couldn't see anything else but the shadow of the person entering.
"Marissa?"
"Who is it? Doctor Hamilton, is that you?" Marissa replied uncertainly. She didn't know what to think of this strange visit.
"Marissa… listen, you've got to be quiet. It's Luke, Luke Ward."
As Marissa heard the uttering of these words, she let out a heavy breath. She felt a wave of dizziness rise to her head, then the spinning of the world. She passed out.