I could see her jaw moving as her teeth clenched. Anger radiated from her. I stared, questioningly, wanting so badly to uncover all of the secrets but also thinking about the janitor and what secrets he knew. Was it worth it?
“We know you snooped in his files. We know you’ve been asking a lot of questions. Stay out of it. Okay? We know more about him than you. There’s no point in dredging up the past.”
“Does this have something to do with the experimental treatment? You didn’t make him better, did you? You made it worse. It’s Redwood’s fault he is the way he is.”
She roared now, slamming her hand on the banister by the stairs. “You can’t make someone who is a lost cause already any worse. And who cares if we did? It’s not like he has anyone to care about him. It’s not like his donor’s still paying his way. Do you realize that? We’ve been housing him here for free for the past year. The donor signed off on him. Do you think we’d all have jobs if we let that kind of thing go?”
“That doesn’t mean you can experiment on him like he’s some creature. I need to talk to him. He did some horrible things, Anna. I need to talk to him so I can get rest for the families . . .”
She grabbed my wrist, an icy hand with sharp fingernails grinding into it.
“You will do no such thing. Walk your ass back to floor two, or so help me, you won’t like what happens. You’re not calling the shots here. And whether 5B did or didn’t do something, it doesn’t matter. He’s our property now to do with as we please. I suggest you remember that.”
She practically flung me down the stairs. I stood on the landing for a long moment, two choices spread before me. I could comply and return to my job, or I could move forward to get the answers I needed.
Get out while you can.
The words echoed in my brain as if they were being shouted down the stairwell. I needed to be smart. Maybe I could solve it without seeing him. After all, what would he really tell me? I just needed more to give to the police. Once they learned I was telling the truth, they’d have to show up. They’d have to believe me about 5B, but about everything else too. I would go from villain to hero if I played my cards right. I turned and walked toward the door.
“It’s a lost cause, Jessica.”
“What is?” I asked, turning to look at her.
“All of it.” And with that, she went back to floor five to guard her territory and her secrets. Still, she’d forgotten one detail.
The dead still talked, and I was able to listen.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ileaned against the stone wall outside of Redwood, the break a temporary reprieve from the insanity, fear, and dread that swirled inside. Looking out into the tree covered grounds, I rubbed my hands on my arms. The darkness of the forest around Redwood filled me with a claustrophobic dread. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to go back inside.
I sunk to the ground, the cold cement of the sidewalk seeping through my pants as I steadied my breathing and considered all that had happened. I was getting closer to breaking the code: the code of 5B, of Redwood, of everything. It would all come tumbling down soon. The only question left was: would I still be standing?
I looked down and saw my shaking hands, which had become my hallmark these days. I inhaled the cold night air deeply, looking out again into the solemn distance. How many had perished here? How many secrets still haunted these grounds? As if in answer, I heard footsteps from the right. The crunching of the ground caused me to turn my head, wondering who had followed me out. Dreading what I would see, in truth.
My gaze landed on her. In the middle of the darkness, the yellow dress was an unmistakable beacon glowing in the darkened forest. Red pigtails flopping as she stalked forward, her face was still a mushy, indistinct mess. My heart caught in my throat, and I prepared to scream. Who would hear it? Who would care?
Tears welled as I scrambled to my feet backing against the stone wall. I slid to the left, trying to creep to the door, even though I knew the interior walls of Redwood offered little if any reprieve from the haunting sight. I tripped over my feet, flashes of all that had happened striking against my brain and clouding my reasoning. I shook my head as the screeching noise drifted on the chilly air, warping my senses as I cried out.
“Please, stop.”
The figure stalked toward me, faster now, as if she were carried by invisible wings. Her whole being was a dusty aura of light, but distinct enough that a chill of recognition rang through my bones.
No. Stop. It isn’t. Stop. Don’t think about that night.
My mind clung to the words in my head as if they were lifelines. They perhaps were. Because I needed to forget. That’s why I came to Redwood. To forget. To move on. To escape. Still, you can’t always outrun the past. 5B had learned that. I had learned that.
As the figure came closer, I scrambled toward the door. Locked. I plunged my hand into my pocket, greedily grabbing for the badge. I needed to get inside. The scream intensified as she stalked closer, her presence right in front of me. The screaming was so intense, I abandoned the badge to cover my ears. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping she would go away. But she didn’t. She stood inches from my face, her gooey skin smelling of death and rubber. I gagged, both from the smell and from sheer terror.
Her
