Disclaimer: Holes I do not own.
Chapter Nine
Elizabeth sat, at two o' clock in the morning, watching the rain slide down her window. Few actually hit the window, blocked by the steel bars that completed her prison. A sigh escaped her lips as she thought back, back to the dry sand, the putrid tents, and him.
A tear slid down her cheek as she stared with hate at the bandage around her wrist, holding back the blood she longed to spill. Why had he stopped her? Why did he care?
A flash of lightening drove him out of her mind as she listened lovingly to the thunder. The only time she felt calm was in the midst of a storm, but she could not be with the thunder, bounding the beat that led her heart, for she was held captive by the steel bars, both physically and mentally.
Zack didn't like the rain. He'd never received joy and peace from standing in the pouring rain, arms spread wide, and face to the heavens.
More tears fell as she thought of her beloved Zack. If she hadn't been there…if she hadn't distracted him…maybe he'd be here.
"NO!" she abruptly shouted as she stood from her chair. In three quick steps she was across the room, as far away from the window as she could be. The rain was betraying her, bringing back thoughts which she hoped to forget.
Her hands had unconsciously found their way to her mouth, attempting to silence anymore unexpected noise. If they heard her…
She shivered at the thought. She knew what they were planning. They were going to end her suffering, put her away from this insanity. More tears ran down her pale cheeks as she thought of her fate. Her plan had been to die at her own hands, not to be murdered.
Then she heard the footsteps.
Footsteps cautiously coming toward her door, accompanied by the humming of the night nurse. Elizabeth jolted across the room and cowered under her blankets, willing herself to sleep. But sleep wouldn't come quick enough.
She stared as the doorknob turned slowly, and just as she always did, the night nurse peaked her head in the room. Through the darkness, she could not see Elizabeth lying under her covers, wide-awake. She only saw her lying there, not moving. The humming ceased as she made her way to Elizabeth, who quickly shut her eyes.
Once the night nurse caught sight of her breathing, she turned back to her trolley and began sorting out different medications that were to be injected into Elizabeth. A clap of thunder shocked her, and she jumped, dropping the needle to the cold tile. She chuckled to herself, realizing it was only the storm.
The nurse glanced back at Elizabeth, who still lay "asleep", and continued to walk over to the window and shut the blinds. Elizabeth sat up slowly, and stepped silently from her covers.
A chill surged through her as her bare feet met the tile. The nurse was distracted, and Elizabeth was almost free.
Lightening flashed across the sky as the nurse turned to find the bed empty, and Elizabeth gone.
Stealth was the last thing on her mind after she heard the nurse scream. Elizabeth ran down the all turning this way and that, letting her feet carry her to freedom. Finally, she saw the door, and thrust it open as she welcomed the rain to her skin. Alarms rang through the air, and Elizabeth kept running. She ran to the fence of the Mental Institution and unsteadily climbed it, gripping the metal the best she could as the rain blessed her skin, comforting her anxiety. She couldn't feel anything, not even the barbed wire cutting into her flesh as she jump off the fence, and ran from her prison, beaming from ear to ear.
"What do you mean, 'she's gone'?" The Warden screamed after catching wind of the news. Dr. Pendanski flinched at the tone of her voice, but did not back down completely.
"The hospital called this morning, she escaped. The nurse said one minute she was lying in her bed, sleeping, and the next she was gone."
The Warden jumped from her seat and paced across the room, massaging her temple with her withered hand.
"The police are searching for her, but they don't have a lead." Dr. Pendanski continued, waiting for some kind of verbal response.
"What about her parents? Could she have gone to them?" Mr. Sir suddenly blurted out.
"Impossible, they're dead." Pendanski stated, motioning to his clipboard. The warden let out a sigh.
"Well, what do they plan to do when they find her?" She asked, looking absolutely flustered.
"Send her back. Here, that is." Pendanski said, to which the Warden let out a relieved sigh. "They don't believe she's mentally distraught, considering she was sane enough to run away, but she has been piling up some charges." The Warden looked up, waiting, as Pendanski hastily consulted his clipboard.
"Well…first off she never paid her term for gang violence, plus she attacked her psychologist and is avoiding the police. They'll grant her a mental analysis, but she'll more than likely be returning to Camp Green Lake."
"Good." The Warden stated as she rose from her desk. "We can't afford to lose that state funding."
Pendanski nodded, and excused himself from her presence. Walking out the door, he quickly jumped into the water truck, and drove off before the heat could catch him off guard.
Once night had fallen, she stepped from the safety of the run down home. The rain was falling again, and she smiled as she danced and skipped in the blanket of rain. The air was cold, but she didn't mind. Her body was numb to the cold as long as she focused on the rain. For the first time in what seemed like forever, she was at peace. She didn't think about anything but the rain, each drop kissing her skin with love.
Her walk was clumsy, and her vision was blurred, but the rain healed all her ailments. But her peace wouldn't last forever.
Her eyes snapped open and to attention as wailing sirens reached her ears. They were coming.
Her legs reacted and sprinted into an alley. She ran this way and that, putting as much space between her and the street as she could. She didn't pay attention to where she was running, only paid attention to where she was running from. Until her feet ceased to move, and her knees hit the pavement.
Her eyes came to focus, and her heart stopped as she recognized which alley she was in.
Author's Note: CLIFF HANGER!! At least, I hope so. All my faithful and loyal readers probably know which alley she's in, but what will happen next? I'm even excited, and I know what's going to happen. WEEEE!! I love suspense! Please review, and tell me if you like it, or if you hate it. Please, be honest, it really helps.