AN: Sorry about the HORRIBLY short chapter. I originally posted this chapter and chapter 19, not realizing it was already posted in the last chapter. I felt too bad to take the whole thing down, so sorry. Without further ado, here's the shortest chapter ever.
Chapter 20:
Making her presence known to the incompetent in front of her, Dr. Harris briskly walked on her high heels only inches behind Dr. Baum. Even though she knew as long Dr. Bum had the videotape her life was in his hands, she wanted to exude an air of power, never letting Robert know how fast her heart was beating.
Spinning around on his heels, Dr. Baum exclaimed, "Would you quit doing that!"
Cassie abruptly stopped mid-step and staggered backwards a bit. "Doing what?" she asked, blinking surprise out of your eyes.
"Walking on my heels," he grumbled through his teeth, the abrupt passion in his eyes quickly fading away.
"Then walk faster," Cassie stated, her voice brewing with confidence. To be honest she never realized she was stepping on her colleagues heels, but it wasn't too far fetched, considering Dr. Baum's saunter compared to her usual brisk stride.
With a casual roll of the eyes and a mutter under his breath, Dr. Baum pressed the elevator button with a bit more vindication than usual. Cassie stayed several feet away from the man, patiently waiting for his inner fire to quell. After waiting several seconds, the elevator doors slid open and the awkward silence continued as they descended to the lowest level. Cassie mentally prepared herself for the blast of air conditioning that floated about the laboratory.
As the doors opened, Robert looked over his shoulder and said, "You can trust me," with a rare calm twinge. Cassie didn't respond but merely nodded her head, silently giving him her approval. They walked down the short hallway and paused for a moment outside the frosted glass doors that boldly stated, 'Authorized Personnel Only'. Cassie silently watched Dr. Baum slide his card through the identification pad and pulled the doors open, completely unprepared for what was on the other side.
Bodies were strewn throughout the hallway like some type of gruesome portrait. Their eyes frozen in their last petrified look, the corpses of once world-renown scientists were now left for eternal decay in the ever secretive underground laboratory. The air reeked of blood and death, warning all visitors to leave before it was too late. Blood was splattered against the walls, dying them forever crimson.
"Oh my God," Robert muttered, placing a shaky hand over his mouth. But his words fell on deaf ears. Pale as a ghost, Cassie stood, motionless, staring blankly at what laid before her. Robert glanced towards the young woman, secretly wondering what was going on in her mind. Becoming worried after a couple seconds of pure silence, he placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping to snap her out of her horrified trance.
Cassie leapt backwards at the touch as if he had shocked her. Slamming against the glass doors, she placed her trembling hand on the handle and pushed, never taking her eyes off the massacre in front of her. Once reaching the other side, she leaned against the immaculate white wall and staggered toward the elevator. "Oh my god, oh my god…" she muttered barely above her breath, as she repeatedly pushed the elevator button.
Robert ran up to her side and placed a warm hand on her shoulder, but she didn't seem to notice. As he guided her inside the elevator, he plainly saw she was as pale as a ghost. "C-Cassie you need t-to breathe," he instructed calmly, even though his voice was high and shaking with fear.
Tears welling up in her eyes, Cassie never heard a word that came out of the doctor's mouth. The small, gray walls in the elevator seemed to be closing in on her, and her vision quickly became fuzzy around the edges. "Jack" was the last thing she whispered before she passed out on the floor.
Cassie was back in her childhood home, years before she became a psychologist. She was in her junior year of high school, just happy to be on Christmas break where she didn't have to face the endless routine of teachers and schoolwork for another two weeks. She had just walked though her door after a long night out with her friends at the movies. Her parents were gone for the weekend, visiting distant family in another state before returning for the holidays.
"Jack!" Cassie called, as she tossed off her shoes. "I'm home!" She waited for a couple seconds, knowing any minute now her older brother would come barreling down the stairs and body slam her into the ground. It was his first year away from home, and even though sometimes she liked having the house to herself, it became lonely after a while. Secretly, she was glad he had a whole month back with her, even if she was going to be in school for part of it.
After a couple seconds of silence, Cassie became slightly worried. "Jack!" she called again as walked towards the family room. "Jaaaack! Come out, come out wherever you are," she chanted as she peered into the bathroom. Seeing the light from the basement gleam under the door, the girl rolled her eyes, sure he was listening to his new set of headphones again. Ready to scare the pants off of her brother, Cassie tiptoed down the stairs, readying herself for the best prank of her life. Finally stepping on the floor, she swiveled around, ready to scream and pounce on her brother. Instead she was faced with the most horrific scene her young eyes had ever beheld.
Her brother was lying lifelessly on the ground, blood pouring out of his head. "Jack…?" she whispered, her heart not believing the sight before her. "Oh my God," she breathed, swallowing back vomit as she eyed the gun lying next to him. It was the last thing she saw before she collapsed.
The psychologist drearily opened her tear-filled eyes, the image of her brother forever scorched within her brain. It has been years since that fateful day that eventually led her into her career. But with every child she had saved, there still remained the one she never could.
"Cassie?" Robert whispered, hovering over her face.
At the sound of the distraught voice, Dr. Harris instantly snapped back to reality. As she placed her hand against the wall, she tried to best to stand up, ignoring the hand of help from her colleague. Seeing the elevator doors slide open, Cassie strode into the parking deck. "C'mon, we have to get out of here," she calmly stated, even though her already mended heart just shattered into a million pieces.
To Be Continued...