Lana POV

Shelly has been in the infirmary for three weeks, and now she's finally going to be allowed visitors. I've been checking up on her as best I could by taking the job of getting clean sheets and putting them on the beds, but every time that I have been in, she's been asleep.

She's sitting up and attempting to eat, but seems to be having trouble with her limbs, which makes sense considering how long she's been under.

"Can I help you?" I ask, and I see her jump. She must not have heard me come in. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm just happy they finally brought you outta the coma they had you in. I wanted to be the first friendly face you saw. I've been seeing you at night. I took the job with the linens so that I could make sure you were okay everyday. Now that I'm explaining it, it sounds creepy…"

She laughs. "Yeah, it does sound creepy. But the coma they had me in means that nothing hurt, which is pretty big, since Arden didn't believe in using morphine on his experiments." She attempts to say it with her normal "devil may care" attitude, but I know better.

I settle myself down beside her on the bed. "You don't have to put up that act with me. I've seen the real you, no matter how briefly. Once you're feeling better, we're going to escape. I don't care what we have to do. I'm going to get you out of here, and we will start over if we have to, but at least we won't be in this hellhole."

"Lana, my best chance at escape was that night. I can't go anywhere now. You should still try to get out, but I won't be going with you. I would be a liability, and I won't be the reason you don't get out. With me there, it just wouldn't work."

I sigh and pick up her spoon she had been reaching for whenever I came in. I know I won't leave her here, but now I probably not the best time to discuss it with her. I know I can't, and I guess I'll be spending my time showing her that I need her there in the real world with me. I just don't want to have a big fight with her as soon as she wakes up after a three week hiatus.

Shelly POV

I know Lana means well, but I just can't allow her to waste more of her life here, especially if I am the thing that is holding her back. Sure, we could possibly have been more, but with what Arden did to me, I know I don't have a future outside of these walls, and I won't condemn Lana to the sort of life that would await me outside of the walls. I know she would stay with me, and not just separate once we get out, and that would be the worst part for me.

She has Wendy outside. Maybe if I could somehow get ahold of her, and convince her to convince Lana they could have a life together, that Lana could go back to the way things used to be… But who would be able to get ahold of Wendy? Thredson, maybe, but I don't know if I trust him…

And what if Lana decides she doesn't want to be with Wendy anymore, even though it would be a better life than with me or someone else? What then?

Lana helps me eat, and after a few more words, she is forced out so that I can rest. Sleep is the last thing that I want to do, but as soon as Lana is ushered out, with a promise to return tomorrow, I can feel sleep overcoming me.

Lana POV

I'm forced out of Shelly's room sooner than I had expected, but it may be a good thing, because I see Thredson on his way out.

"Doctor Thredson, could I talk to you for a moment?"

He turns towards me, a smile on his features, and responds with a nod, and leads me back into his office.

"What can I help you with Lana?"

"I have a question for you in reguards to Shelly. It's about transferring her, possibly to a regular hospital. I plan on escaping with her, but I want to get her proper medical care before we run."

"Why are you telling me this Lana? I could turn you into Sister Jude, and you would never see the light of day again."

"Doctor Thredson, I know you won't turn me in, because you're a good man, and you know that most of us don't belong in here, Shelly and myself included. I just want to make sure she gets the care she needs, and then I am going to take her with me. I would be so much easier to take her from a normal hospital. I worry that she'll refuse to come with me if I try to get her from here."

"Alright Lana" He sighs, takes off his glasses, and replaces them after a cleaning I'm almost positive they don't need "I'll help you and Shelly as much as I can. Shelly's transportation will be relatively easy compared to what we are gonna have to do. I'm going to try to get you out legally. I'll go home tonight, and start working on what we will have to do. We start two days from now, because tomorrow I work with Kit."

I thank him and he nods again, then puts on his jacket and leaves. I feel like I can trust him, but there is something about him that has always seemed a little off to me. I can't put my finger on it, but as long as he gets us out, I don't think I care too much.