Finding Riley

It had been twenty four years since she’d last seen it but the place looked exactly same; the emptiness of the clear white walls. The two bunk beds against the walls. The stain of crimson and pain painted on the white tiles- marking the pain she’d endured in this cold room all those decades ago. The room which would change her life forever.

“Is this where- uhm... is this the room?” Redford softly asked at the sudden silence of his friend.

She gave a light nod before taking a step into the room. Even the air still had a suffocating element within which managed to drain the life in the room. The echoing sounds of silence still rang vibrantly in her ears. With each step she took forward, the deeper she fell into her nightmare.

“You know what’s funny?” Lea chuckled.

“I can’t imagine anything being ‘funny’ about this place. Maybe we should-

“It actually feels... smaller ya know? I mean I always knew it was small but I never knew it was this small-

“Lea-“

“Do you know what else is funny? I’ve spent my entire life trying to run away from this place and these people. Escaping what they did to... yet look at me now. Now I’m chasing after those very things into the dark abyss of my nightmares. You know I still dream of it-“

“Lea-“

“Their cold bodies lying on the floor. Mum’s beautiful blue eyes which once offered love and warmth stared at me lifelessly, carrying the pain she endured in her last moment. A- a- and dad’s scorched... I was only 9!“ Lea cried as she fell to her knees in pain.

“It’s okay Lea. I know. I know,” Redford kneeled down to comfort her. “Let me see it; your wound.”

She cleared her tears off her cheeks and lifted her shirt, exposing the blood soaked bandage stretching across her abdomen.

Redford gasped as he took a further inspection, “Bloody hell Lea. Why didn’t you say anything? I knew it was a bad idea to climb the wall but you didn’t listen to me. Now you’ve probably ripped your stitches. We could’ve waited-

“Riley couldn't wait! Can’t wait! He needs us! Me!”

“We don’t even know if he’s actually-“

“He is!”

The room fell silent.

“Well in that case Riley still needs you alive. Come on; let’s go find you a first aid kit then keep moving.” Redford extended his hand to Lea. “This place is way too depressing for Leo.”

She smiled as they helped each other up. “Lucky for us the Good Doctor always kept a first aid kit in his office. Which also happens to be where we should find Riley’s file and know what really happened to him.”

“Killing two birds with one stone, I like it.”

The two walked towards the door to leave the room. Lea stopped by the door and turned to face the room once more. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as memories of her once perfect family played through her mind. The song her parents would sing to them before they went to bed, the games they played together in their big old house out in the woods. I miss you guys. She tightly grasped onto her charmed necklace. I’ll find him. No matter what. I’ll protect him.

“You okay?” Redford asked placing his hand on her shoulder.

“Yes. Let’s keep moving.”

They walked through the endless channels of narrow passageways, passing dozens of rooms all the same, until they finally reached the old oak door leading to the Good Doctor’s personal quarters and office.

Redford read the golden plaque next to the door. “Dr Earnest Goodman,”

Earnest Ian Goodman. The ‘Good Doctor’. Head of the Independent World Research Group and man directly responsible to the horrors of this facility and many others.

"So how do we get in?”

“Mhm, if only I had a trusted side kick and aid to help out ya know?”

“Oh? So I’m your side kick now?”

“Less talking and more opening. I’m hurt, remember?”

Redford pulled out his tools from his bag and started working on the door. After unlocking it, the two entered the dark office which was in total disarray. The bookshelves which once stood proud with collections of rare literature now lay ruined on the floor. Watchful Window which overlooked the town was broken with leading to a cool breeze filling the already cold and lifeless office. Papers and files lay scattered everywhere.

“What happened here?” Lea asked.

“Place got robbed after Good and his group abandoned the place last year. Guess the winter became too much for them. Know where the lights are?”

A distinct strong pungent smell surrounded Redford and Lea.

“That smells like-

Lea switched on the light revealing the decomposing body draped over the stairs leading to the Good Doctor’s quarters.

“Redford! Check right now! Please!” she screamed turning away. “Is it him?”

“No.”

“How do you know?!”

“Because it’s a her. A guard. Just ignore her. You look for that first aid kit and I’ll look for proof that Riley’s alive. Still holding up?”

She hesitated before reluctantly moving closer to Redford holding onto her wound, without looking at the women’s body.

“Yes I’m fine. How will you find Riley’s file though? It’s a mess in here. We wouldn’t know whose file is whose-

“P-207 Lea Teresa Thompson. Female.” Redford read. “So your middle name is Teresa?”

“Where did you find that?”

“Here.” Redford lifted the file. “On the desk. Guess luck favours us.”

Lea ripped the file out of Redford’s hand and paged through it rigorously.

“Maybe it has something on Riley here... nothing!" She threw the file across the room in frustration.

“What now? We don’t have the time to read through this before sunrise and we can’t risk being seen-

Just before Redford could finished the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor. The two dived under the Good Doctor’s desk and waited silently as the footsteps became louder until they finally stopped by the door.

“Now I know you are in there! Come out now or I’ll- I’ll shoot you!” the frail voice threatened.

Lea recognised the voice. It couldn’t be. After all this time? Lea poked her head out from under the desk and a large grin overcame her face.

“Nurse Walters!”

~~~

Nurse Walters’s house had changed since Lea was last there. It looked cleaner and tidier. All her old paintings and mounts were replaced with pictures of her touring the world and ugly statues and memorabilia. The nurse worked at the facility back when it was still a normal hospital. Now she’s retired.

“You know you’re not supposed to be here! Why aren’t you in New Hambridge? The IWRG will find you and have my hind for being stupid enough to help you,” the nurse questioned as she dressed Lea’s wound. “And what in Mary’s name happened to you?”

“She went into a knife fight without a knife. Bloke would’ve killed her if it weren’t for me,” Redford recalled. “You can call me a life saver because she won’t.”

Nurse Walters stared at Redford then chortled.

“Mhm, well you did save her life so thank you for that,” she turned to Lea. “Beware those red headed demons, okay?”

Lea broke into laughter while the nurse giggled, brining a level of uneasiness in Redford.

“Ok that’s enough now. Stay still.” The nurse said as she put on her glasses and grabbed the machine. “So, are you going to tell me why you’re here?”

“Three months ago I got an anonymous letter saying that my brother, Riley, was with the IWRG,” Lea began.

“Your brother? Impossible! Your family was killed, dead. You would be too if I hadn’t said you were. There’s no way he could be alive-

“But there is. Before it happened, Riley was sent to another room by the Good Doctor where we never saw him leave. But that doesn’t mean he died.” She continued.

“Nonsense!” the nurse rebuked stapling away. “Why not?”

“Because Riley was a Special. Is a Special. He’s the reason why mum and dad took us to live far away. They didn’t want the IWRG to find him. But they did. And tested all of us. It all makes sense. If they found out that he was a Special, they would never harm him.”

A grim look fell on the nurse’s face.

“A special?”

“Wait a minute, you didn’t tell me we were looking for a special! I thought he was just a kid but a bloody Special? What have I gotten myself into?” Redford put his hands on his head.

“That why I didn’t want to tell you. No one wants to go head to head with the IWRG or the Good Doctor, neither do I but he’s my brother ya know and I have to get him back.”

“So what now?” the nurse asked.

“I need to find out where he is. To do that, I need classified information. And I last I heard the Crom is looking for recruits.”

No one spoke for the next while. The nurse stood up and downed two blue pills with water.

“Are you mad? The Crom? You want to work for the IWRG now?!” Redford burst.

“Just as a guard. So I have access to the files. I won't be involved with them.”

“And what if they find out who you really are?” Redford pushed.

“How would they?”

The nurse slammed her hand against the wall.

“Please stop chasing ghosts! All you have are theories and secret letters from nobodies! I told your mother I’d make sure you are safe if something were to happen to her and n- n- now you want to put yourself in harm’s way?! No!” the nurse cried.

Lea stood up and hugged the nurse.

“I have to do this. Or I’ll never be able to live with myself.”

She grabbed her jacket and bag and walked towards the door of Nurse Walter’s house.

“Come on Lea, you’re hurt. You’re supposed to be recovering. This is a suicide mission.” Redford said.

She knew Redford was right, so was the nurse but all she could think about was finding Riley and that was all that mattered.