Making Monsters by Kassanna Page B

increased, and she hurriedly shuffled to his arm.
Outside the high windows lightening split the air, flashing in the sterile surgical room. Thunder cracked , and the glass panes trembled. Her side throbbed, and she took a peek. Fresh blood made
the circular stain wider. Her fingers on one hand weren’t as nimble as the other, and they kept
slipping off the smooth material holding his arm to the molded plastic. Come on, come on, come
on, became her mantra. Paul in his delirium, kept yanking his hand and destroying her progress.
    A staccato echoed down the hallway followed by squeaky wheels, she looked over at the
doorway then spun in a circle. Their time was up and she needed to find a place to hide. In the
corner she spotted an old divider. Malia patted Paul’s hand, and he gripped her wrist. He opened
his eyes, and she could see him trying to focus. She could only imagine what she looked like
through his dilated pupils.
“Malia?” His voice was a gruff murmur.
     
“Yeah, babe, you have to let me go. Someone is coming, and I need to hide.”
     
“You’re dead.” His head lolled to the side.
     
“Not yet, but I will be if you don’t let me go.” She jerked her wrist from his grasp and
dragged herself to the corner.
    Tears of frustration rolled down her cheeks when she saw the cardboard boxes stacked
behind the divider. The squeal grew louder. She studied the tower in front of her, pushing at the
cases while hoping one of them would give. Tapping her toes against the cartons on the floor, her
foot went through the side. She dropped to her haunches and bit back the ache howling through
her. It would be a tight fit, but she could squeeze in. The noise stopped, and she glanced up, sure
she’d be found.
    Victoria stood at the entry way, but she wasn’t looking at Malia. Paul had managed to sit up
and was trying to rise from the bed. He slipped off the side and crumpled to the floor. His one
arm was still trapped by the bindings. Malia took advantage of the distraction he made to fit her
body halfway into the box.
    “How did you get free?” Victoria screeched as she pushed another gurney farther into the
room, next to the empty one. She brushed her hands against each other and mumbled.
“Medication was always my weakest study. I guess I didn’t give you enough poison.”
    Paul grunted but didn’t move, and Malia squinted her eyes. She noticed how he kept his free
hand hidden. Victoria moved into her line of vision and stood above him, tapping her foot. When
he didn’t move, she dropped to his level. Suddenly, there was a rush of movement, and
Paul swung his unfettered arm out. The scream that bubbled past Victoria’s lips sent chills
skittering down Malia’s spine.
    Her nemesis rose and swung around. The silver handle of a scalpel protruded from her eye
socket. Malia reared back and fell on her ass. Cases above her tumbled down around her,
blocking her sight. The painful yells continued as Malia crawled out of the carton and pushed the
other boxes out of her way. Victoria clawed at her face and bumped into cabinets.
    Fear paralyzed her. The bed Paul was tied to slid across the floor every time he yanked his
arm. Malia took a deep breath and crawled to Paul. He swung at her when she touched his
shoulder. She ducked out the way and leaned in to grip his face.
“It’s me!” She raised her voice to be heard above Victoria’s wails.
    He tilted his head, but she wasn’t sure if he saw her. Adrenaline spurned her on a
nd the
aches became dull throbs. She tried to work her fingers into the tight knots, ripping her nails at
the quick in her haste. The ties unraveled, and she pulled his arm loose.
“Paul. We have to get out of here. There is at least one more person here.” She shook him to
get his attention.
     
“Malia, leave,” he groaned.
    Victoria toppled onto the bed above them, and Malia looked up and met her half gaze. She’d
managed to pull the instrument free and she’d drawn