In the darkness, my tears finally ran dry.
I don’t know how long it was before the room fell completely silent.
When I heard the soft click of the door closing, I began to move, inch by inch, forcing myself to push the cabinet door open.
Cold air rushed into my lungs. I crawled out in a tangle of limbs, disheveled and trembling, bracing myself against the bedframe to catch my breath.
‘Sherree. Payton. I will make you both pay for this—down to the last debt!’ I swore.
Just then, the door opened again. A nurse entered, startled at the sight of me bound to the bed. She rushed forward to unbuckle the leather restraints on my wrists.
Instinctively, I turned my head—my eyes landing immediately on Hallie.
The heart monitor… was gone!
There was no steady beeping sound anymore!
My breath hitched. I stumbled forward, nearly tripping over myself.
“Hallie?!”
My throat felt raw as I reached out, trembling, to check for her breath.
A moment later, my world collapsed into a bottomless void.
“Doctor! Doctor!”
My scream tore through the air, ragged and frantic. My whole body shook as the nurse slammed her hand on the emergency button. Finally, the doctor arrived with a crash cart and emergency equipment.