Page 87 - NS 2024

storage rooms in the back of the house. The girls had explored that part of the house on their first day and there had been nothing but boxes. None of them bothered to go back there anymore – or so she thought.
Lyssa stood slowly and soundlessly made her way to the door. She opened it slowly, careful to listen for any creaking of the hinges. There was none and she assumed that they had been freshly oiled in preparation of their Journey. She squinted as she opened the door, as the hallway was blazing with light. The men’s voices grew louder and Lyssa crept down the hallway, careful to keep her footfalls silent. Her heart was beating rapidly and her mind was racing with fear and confusion. No one should be here...They should be alone.
One of the doors in the hallway stood ajar and Lyssa cautiously peeked her head in. It was empty, save for three computer monitors lining a desk. Lyssa almost continued on when one of the screens caught her attention. The screen was extremely bright, showing a room that was lit by harsh fluorescent lighting. Lyssa crept closer and on the screen she saw Elaine, lying on a table, surrounded by three men. The voices had fallen silent as the men consulted notebooks and paperwork. Elaine didn’t move except for the rising and falling of her chest and Lyssa assumed that she was still asleep. She was wearing her nightgown, but it was pushed up over her knees. Lyssa stared in horror as the men approached her friend, who was not nearly covered enough for comfort. They began talking again and she could hear their voices being emitted through a low
13
speaker in the monitor. She listened intently, but couldn’t make out their entire conversation. She could only hear certain words: Procedure, drug, flower. She couldn't wrap her head around what they could mean.
She glanced down at the desk and saw that it was littered with papers. She shuffled