“What were they saying?”
“One of them said, ‘The transfer is scheduled before midnight.’”
A chill ran down my spine.
“And the other asked, ‘Does the mother know?’”
Lily’s voice dropped.
“The first one said, ‘She doesn’t need to. The paperwork will explain everything.’”
My heart began racing.
“That’s when they noticed me,” Lily continued. “They stopped talking and just stared at me.”
She rubbed her arms nervously.
“Then I tried to find Dad. I walked toward the elevators.”
“Did you find him?”
“No.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because that’s when the woman stopped me.”
I felt my breath catch.
“She looked like a patient,” Lily said. “Gray hair, hospital gown. But she was walking around by herself.”
“What did she say?”
“She asked if I was the girl from room 312.”
Our room.
“I told her yes,” Lily said.
“She looked terrified and whispered, ‘Listen carefully. They’re going to take your brother.’”
My stomach dropped.
“When I asked why, she just shook her head,” Lily continued. “Then she shoved the note into my hand and told me to run.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
I glanced at the clock on the wall.
10:42 p.m.
Less than two hours until midnight.
If the warning was real, we didn’t have much time.