Chapter 24 It's amazing how some people defy the laws of survival. Confidence and ill-thought wisdom tend to occupy the space in people's brains where they ought to have common sense. Especially in a place like Lilydale. How anyone could become complacent here is beyond me. Even without the knowledge of what lies below, we're constantly surrounded by other patients who could slip into their trauma at any given moment, and so-called professionals who get off on playing God. I've been following this asshole for twenty minutes and he's still none the wiser. Grey would have realized within seconds if I was tailing him. Probably Damon as well. But Rian Thatcher? Walking around as if he's taking a casual browse through a shop, completely oblivious to his surroundings. I have half a mind to just take him out now. I'm almost at the point where it seems pointless to follow him. Clearly, he's not up to any good. Most patients are either in their cells or attending professional sessions. So, the fact that he's just strolling freely through the halls, peeking into rooms and wandering aimlessly is suspicious enough. Especially since Avery is nowhere to be seen. Grey, Damon and I waited at the table the entire time, head-counting every patient that was escorted into the hall for mealtime. She never showed. It wouldn't be the first time that Avery has been kept from the patient eating schedule, but something about the timing feels off. My gut tells me this isn't a simple case of assigned duties or punishment. None of us waste our time with the bullshit therapy sessions. After we returned to the male dorms following breakfast, we quickly formulated a plan. The other two are currently sourcing information while I volunteered to check the facility for signs of her. I'm just hoping she's not downstairs. Part of me wants to smash the stairwell door in and check, but given they have patients down there already, we put everyone at risk if we burst in suddenly. It was the first place that came to mind, but all of us quickly agreed that it's unlikely Whittingham would pull the same move twice. I could sense the panic and uncertainty in Grey and Damon's tones when we had that discussion-it matched mine. One wrong move and it's all over. One incorrect agreement about her whereabouts and we run the risk of getting to her too late. But we have to think clearly and act rationally. They let her get away once. If she was down there, they wouldn't allow that again. She'd be killed and there's too many witnesses with the other patients. I'm attempting to be empathetic, but despite our warnings, those patients signed the fucking form. For all I care, they are a low priority right now. I know the others don't agree and Aves would give me a mouthful too if I relayed those thoughts, but she is the only one I care about. She is the one I'm going to save first. I'm volatile and on edge with the idea that someone has their hands on her or could be hurting her again. If that's the case, they can consider this their last day on Earth. After searching and being unable to find her anywhere, I was just about ready to head back when I saw this asshole lurking about. He came out of the dorms without a guard which only means one thing-he has access in and out. And knowing that the luxury of Cirque des Morts hasn't been provided to him, I can only assume someone else has. And the only reasonable suggestion points directly to Whittingham. I knew from his arrival that he was up to no good. Something is off with his body language, the way he conducts himself-as if pretending to be intimidated while saving face and acting brave. While I definitely believe he spiraled during his run-in with Grey, I'm willing to bet he's got a lot of motivation coming from somewhere. It's a good act-I'll give him that. But I see through his charade. The way he was staring at Avery. The way he's kept himself small and seemingly out of view. It doesn't exactly scream mental patient. At this point, either he's searching for something, knows I'm tailing him, or he's genuinely shit with directions because we've visited everywhere and nowhere in Lilydale. The free time rooms, the hallway near the staff offices, the meal hall. I can't help but notice he glanced at the library door as he passed but didn't attempt to enter-exactly like he's trying not to be cornered. If someone was actually trying to hide or have personal space, that would be one of the safest places. No-this fucker is up to something. Rian never checks behind him, not that he'd spot me. Finally, he starts making an intentional beeline toward the psychiatry rooms, vanishing into Elsher's office when the previous patient exits to an awaiting guard. Shame. I was really hoping to have a one-to-one chat somewhere private. I could wait for him, but I suspect he's going to be in there for a while and I need to see if there's been any updates about Avery. Heading back to the dorm, I find Grey and Damon in the latter's room. 'Well-anything?' I ask straight away, inviting myself in without a care. The two glance up, faces tight with matching expressions. It's Damon who speaks first though. 'They found our camera in Arthur's office. We've lost signal so Byrone assumes it's been destroyed.' 'Avery was there,' I state confidently, reading between the lines. Grey nods, rested fist clenching atop his knee. 'Connor said there's two scheduled guards missing as well.' That familiar burning rage flares up again as I narrow my eyes in his direction. 'Missing or stationed elsewhere?' 'They clocked in for their shift,' Grey replies and it sounds like he's on the cusp of escorting me on a murderous rampage. 'The main camera feed captured them heading in the direction of Arthur's office, chatting about a day trip.' 'What?' I snap. 'She's not in the building at all? They've taken her outside Lilydale?' Initially, I kept myself in control by deciding anything was better than her being downstairs in the hands of the fucked-up doctors. It never even occurred to me that there was a possibility they would take her outside of Lilydale. We can't get to her if that's the case. They'd kill us before we'd even make it to the front gates. She's out of our reach. I'm going to make them hurt so badly that every last moment of their existence is nothing but pain and suffering beyond comprehensible measure. When neither of them answer, I break, turning to leave. I'll knock down every single door until I find Whittingham and make him talk. 'Theo,' Damon calls out, demand clear in his tone. Out of respect for Avery's love of him, I do actually pause. He has five seconds to voice whatever it is he wants to say before I go-with or without them. 'That's your wife, Damon. My girlfriend. Your girlfriend,' I direct to Grey. 'I'm not waiting around to see if they return her in one piece to us.' Damon stands, crossing the room until he reaches me by the door. 'I am in complete agreement with you. But if we do anything right now, we don't know if they will hurt her. We need someone on the outside to try to track her down.' I raise my eyebrow. 'And who would we ask?' I question sarcastically. 'Christopher,' he answers simply. 'He's still out sick. They likely won't anticipate him searching. We need to go dig further to see where she could have possibly been taken so we can narrow the location down. Byrone and Jillian are looking into it. Once we have an idea, we will send Christopher.' Begrudgingly, I nod. It's probably the best plan we have. I don't like feeling helpless, but he's correct. Last time we confronted them, it ended with Damon being shot and people dying. No one needs a repeat of that-especially when the sole target is Avery. To my unpleasant surprise, Damon reaches up and gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. I bat his hand away with a scowl, but the asshole just dryly laughs, turning back to Grey. 'I'll contact Christopher to let him know the situation and to be on standby. In the meantime, lunch is about to start so we should go. Keep our eyes and ears tuned for any information or her return.' Grey appears as though he wants to disagree as well, but he nods once, standing up. 'And classes after lunch?' 'Same deal,' Damon replies. 'We go and we blend in. We don't know if any of the teachers have intel, so we need to be on guard. That way, we're also in the public spaces if she does return.' 'Do either of you have Thatcher in your class?' I ask, the two of them giving me a puzzling look. 'Mine,' Damon answers. 'Why?' 'Because I just followed that asshole aimlessly around the building before he disappeared into Elsher's office. He can get in and out of the rooms by himself.' I end the information there, letting them fill in the blanks. Grey suddenly pushes past us with a low throaty growl. 'If Avery isn't back soon, I'm going to make Elsher piss himself and then I'm going to drown that cunt Thatcher in it.' ** Two Years Ago ** I hear it. The moment I step into the house, soft sobs travel to my ears, unsettling me. Madison. Heading to the living room, I find her curled up on the couch, face red and puffy. 'What happened?' I demand angrily. She jumps slightly, dissociating too much to register my presence until now. 'Hey, little brother,' she murmurs, quickly wiping her eyes. 'I didn't hear you come in.' Deflecting again. It's becoming an annoying habit. She can spare me the protection privilege. I don't need to be shielded from her pain. I'm her brother, after all. Her being older is irrelevant. It's my job to protect her. 'Madi, tell me what happened?' I ask again. 'It's nothing,' she mumbles, waving her hand dismissively. 'I was watching The Notebook.' I raise an eyebrow, slowly turning my head to deliberately look at the unplugged television. 'Want to try that again? Come on-give me another bullshit excuse. I've got plenty of time.' I fold my arms, ready to stand here for as long as it takes. The thing that Madi doesn't realize is I already know. I overheard her talking to our mother while the parents were packing for their bi-annual vacation. They leave next week, and apparently, we're old enough now to stay behind. Decoded-kid free vacation even though we're adults. I just need to know which asshole it is this time. Joseph had her in tears three days ago and Richard the week before. These crying episodes are becoming so frequent lately that I can't remember the last time I saw her genuinely smile. Madi is miserable all the time, and typical Mom in all her wise glory merely said, 'That's just how men are, sweetheart.' No. We are not. It isn't a chromosomal trait to make women cry. Nor is it something to be proud of. After all, those two assholes started this mess. From my physical inquiries I was able to deduce that Madi was a competition-two old friends vying for her attention. What they failed to realize is that her heart is big enough for more than one, and instead of accepting that, or doing the sensible thing and walking away, they decided to fight over her. Except they turned their sights onto Madi, insisting she picks. My people pleasing sister whose greatest fear in life is to upset others. Of course she can't choose. She apparently loves both of them. If they loved her like they claim, they wouldn't be making her cry every chance they get. Even our parents have turned a blind eye, uncertain how to feel about the whole situation. I know they judge her silently. They can't seem to grasp their heads around the fact that Madi has feelings for more than one person. Who the fuck cares? It's her life. Except she's not living. It's a ticking time bomb. Which is why when the parents are away next week, I'm going to try to sort this mess out before Madi suffers more irreparable harm. She deserves better. And I'll be damned if anyone hurts my sister.