Chapter 10 - The Hospital Without Patients

Ruiz found an old maintenance entrance to Northpoint Medical Center. By the time they reached it, the rain had stopped and the sky had turned the color of dirty steel.

Mara refused to stay behind. June handed her a flashlight and a small can of pepper spray.

“It's not a superpower,” June said. “Get close, aim at the face, and run.”

“Thank you for the motivational speech.”

Adrian offered her his hand at the drainage tunnel. She climbed down without taking it.

Inside, Northpoint smelled of antiseptic and fresh paint. Every hallway on the lower level had been stripped of furniture. Empty IV stands leaned against the wall like abandoned soldiers.

“Where did they take everyone?” Mara whispered.

A weak voice answered from a supply closet. “Somewhere bad.”

Ruiz opened the door. A nurse sat on the floor with her wrists tied. Her name tag read TESSA MORROW. She had a swollen lip and dried blood on her chin.

“Dr. Price locked us in,” Tessa said. “They loaded six patients into an ambulance. Nina tried to stop them.”

“Nina Price?” Mara asked.

Tessa nodded. “She gave me this.”

From her pocket she pulled a folded piece of paper. It contained the same childish drawing Lily used to make: two sisters standing under one giant umbrella. On the back was written, Come alone to the rooftop garden. Noon. Please.

Mara glanced at her watch. Eleven fifty-seven.

Adrian shook his head. “That's a trap.”

“Everything is a trap,” Mara said. “But my sister might be up there.”

She climbed the fire stairs while Adrian and Ruiz moved through an adjoining corridor. The garden was empty except for potted trees and a white bench.

“Nina?” Mara called. “It's Mara.”

A young woman stepped from behind the greenhouse. She had the same brown eyes, the same stubborn tilt of her chin. Mara knew her before either spoke.

“Lily?”

The woman began to cry. They crossed the distance and held each other so tightly it hurt.

“I thought you were dead,” Mara whispered.

“I tried to find you.” Lily gripped her shoulders. “But you have to leave now. I'm wearing a tracker.”

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A red light blinked beneath Lily's collar.

“And it's not just tracking me,” she said. “It's counting down.”