I slowly made my way to cell 24B. Once there, I looked through the one-way mirror at my cousin. She was strapped to a medical bay bed. Her hair was strewn across a pillow, her skin awfully pale, but the worst part was her empty eye sockets.
A chill ran down my spine, and I looked away feeling sick. Sitting in a chair beside her was Rex. He was holding her hand delicately, and she was digging her nails into his skin so hard he was bleeding. He didn’t seem to mind. The only emotion on his face was sadness.
I reached for the doorknob, but it was locked. Rex must have heard me because he lifted his eyes to the door. After a moment he stood up, let go of Alliea, and approached the hard door. It activated at his voice and opened.
“Hey, Lou.” He smiled softly.
“Can-can I be with her?” I asked. He looked back at Alliea, and sighed.
“Sure. But I will be outside watching in case anything happens.”
Without another word I walked in past him, to the chair he had been sitting in. I sat down slowly.
“Hey-hey cous. I know you can’t hear me, but I-I want you to know I-I’m here, and I... I am so-so sorry.” A tear ran down my cheek and I clasped her hand, “I love you cous.” Before I knew it, a steady stream of tears was running down my face. I squeezed my eyes shut, and took a deep breath. I had to be strong, strong for her.
“Lou?” Whispered a raspy voice. I opened my eyes. Alliea had turned her head towards me. “Is that you?” Her mouth hardly moved as she spoke.
“Yes it’s me, I’m-I’m here.” I couldn’t tell if she could hear me, or knew me by touch
“Why won’t anyone talk to me? Why...” She licked her lips, “Why won’t people talk to me? They keep sticking stuff in me, but they won’t talk.” And why can’t I open my eyes, or think clearly?” There were tears pouring down her face as she croaked.
“What is the last thing you remember?” I asked slowly.
Her cracked and bleeding lips trembled, “Being consumed by that-that thing. I didn’t want it to pull me away, so I dug a knife in the ground and held on for dear life. And then-and then...” she began shaking, “I couldn’t see or hear anything, but needles were in my skin and I was being hurt.”
“So you can hear me?” I asked. My heart pounded. Alliea slowly moved her head up and down.
In the next moment, Rex had burst through the door and was on his knees by the bed. “Alliea, it’s Rex. Can you hear what I’m saying?” Alliea didn’t react
There was a moment of silent confusion before Alliea spoke again, “Lou, why did you stop talking?” She asked, with a whimper.
Rex’s face scrunched up in confusion and disappointment. He had always cared about Alliea. It had never been romantic, they were like siblings
“I’m still here, and so is Rex, can you hear him?”
Her face lit up, and she moved her head around, “I still can’t see anything. I can only hear you” she started to cry again. Her whole body trembling. "Oh Lou, I-I'm just so-so scared."
“Hey-hey cous, it’s ok. You can hear me, which is an improvement.” I squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back cutting into my skin. I winced slightly but didn't pull away.
“Please, please don’t leave me.”