her, she was hysterical. She swore that she was only making candles to give to the other girls as presents, so they would like her. But Esther didnât believe her. The girlâs demeanorquickly changed to blankness. Esther knew there was something really wrong with the girl.â
âWhat else?â he said to Vera.
âThe girl was safely outside the cabin when the fire happened.â
It all fit together, horribly. The girl had been damaged and dangerous since childhood. Isaac had a sudden flash of insight. âShe ⦠must really hate people. And I have a feeling she really doesnât like people who play the piano. She used to torment her dolls and pull their limbs off.â
âHow could you possibly know that?â Vera asked him, her voice despairing.
âItâs a long story. It has to do with what I learned from Joey Haynes, the boy who had the mirror box.â
âBut heâs dead! How could youââ
âI mean, from his grandmother. I went to see her. She lived in our house before we did. She told me a lot.â That was a lie, but it was something that Vera might believe more easily than what he had seen in the mirror box. âJoey Haynes played the piano, like you.â
Vera looked scared. âI just want to get out of here, now,â she said.
Isaac glanced at the open door of her room. Heturned and said, âI know you canât walk, so weâll have to use a wheelchair. The other nurses
seem
nice, but I donât know. We should play it safe and come up with a story. We could say weâre just taking a little ride around the hospital to get you some airâand then escape.â
Vera held up her hands, showing him the IV lines, which were inserted with a needle and secured by bandages. As before, the IV lines were attached to a tall metal pole that had bags hanging from it. âIf we were going to leave the hospital, weâd have to remove all of this. Nobody would let out a patient on an IV.â
âMaybe we could find a bathroom and take it out ourselves. You can ride in a wheelchair while youâre attached to the bags. Iâll ask Vicky if we can get one,â Isaac said, his heart beginning to beat faster.
âAsk her now, please!â
Isaac went out to the nursesâ station and found Vicky. âMy mother feels so much better today,â he told her. âBut sheâs getting achy from lying in bed all the time. Would it be possible for us to take a little ride around inside the hospital? Just for a change of scenery?â
Vicky looked both worried and apologetic. âMy instructions are to keep her on complete bed rest,âshe said with a sigh. Isaac sensed she was questioning her instructions.
âOh, come on,â Isaac pleaded. âPlease? She really needs to get out of that room.â
âIf I let her out of her room, Iâll lose my job,â Vicky said.
âSays who?â
Vicky hesitated. âDr. Ciano and Candi,â she said softly. âTheyâre my superiors. If I donât follow their instructions to the letter, Iâm out of hereâwith no recommendations and no possibility of getting another job. I just canât risk it. Your motherâs condition is too unstable because of her arm.â
Isaacâs shoulders slumped. He turned and went back to Veraâs room. âThereâs no way theyâll even let you out of the room.
All
the nurses will stop us.â
Vera bit her lip, trying to hold back tears.
So they couldnât get out now. There would have to be another plan. Isaac looked at his watch. It was six forty-five already. He needed to get to school earlyâwith the spiral aftereffect. âI promise weâll get you out of here before anyone can do anything else bad to you,â he said. âGrandpaâs helping me.â He brightened a little. âHeâs almost the way he used to be. He remembers things. He might be in
Kent Flannery, Joyce Marcus