Last time she’d been here due to hallucinations, but not now.She knew it down to her very marrow.Winston had been here.Reallybeen here.And he’d threatened Eleonora.
Worse, Constanza had been within moments of finally ending his threat forever.
Blast Longview and its drugs.Those horrible drugs.And now Winston was free and she trapped, while he did who knew what to her precious daughter.
Unless she escaped and stopped him.
Constanza ignored what the slickness was and squeezed her hand to its narrowest size, then she pulled at the restraints.The metal cut deep, but with a bit more force, it would slide off.It had to.
Before she could slip even one hand free, the nurse pinned her arms to the bed.Another nurse and an orderly rushed into the room.They didn’t even allow her to speak before administering a new dose.
“No!I have to save Eleonora!”She clawed and fought, screaming as the cold slithered through her and ended the stinging heat.
A minute more of struggle, then all her strength was spent.Limp, she glared at the nurses and the retreating orderly’s back.
“Let me go.”Her words were raspy and strained.
The younger nurse knelt beside Constanza and winced when she took Constanza’s hand.Her pocked face twisted in appall as she fingered the shackle.“Nurse Shreckhise?Why is she in physical restraints?I thought they weren’t allowed.And if she must be in them, why not the leather ones?”
The wiry, gray-haired nurse harrumphed.“I wouldn’t get too close to her if I were you.She attacked a visitor, and she’s determined to get free and finish the job.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”Though youthful of face and feature, Nurse Rhodes was no fool.“What is going on here?Surely Dr.Chalfant does not approve of this.”
“Oh, get off your high horse, Nurse Rhodes.It’s needed for her safety and ours.”By the contempt on Nurse Shreckhise’s face, the metal restraints were her idea.“The last time she was awake, she got the leather ones undone with her teeth.Fought me like a wildcat and has every time I’ve come in while the medication was wearing off.I’d watch your fingers.She’s already bit me six times over the last three days.”
Three days?Three days in which Winston was free to do Eleonora harm without any chance of interference.Oh, God in heaven!Am I too late?Constanza whimpered, afraid of God’s answer.
Nurse Rhodes compassionately ran a hand over her hair.“Shhhh.You are safe here.No one will hurt you, but you have to stop fighting or else you will hurt yourself more.”
“She’s brung it on herself.”Nurse Shreckhise crossed her arms and scowled.
“You have to take these off her.She’s fighting because she’s frightened.”
“You want the key?You’ll have to take on sole responsibility for her.”
“Fine.Give it to me.”
“Suit yourself.”Nurse Shreckhise tossed a metal key to the floor.“That one’s a lost cause.It’s best to keep her sedated and let her pass in her own time.”
Nurse Rhodes snatched it.“No one is a lost cause.No one.”
“You’re new here.We’ll see what you say in a year.If you even make it that long.Once they reach this point, it’s better for everyone if they’re forgotten and left to their own devices.You’ll see.”Nurse Shreckhise marched out.
Regret softened the lines of Nurse Rhodes’s sharp features as she unlocked the restraints.“I’m so sorry.You don’t deserve this.You need kindness and gentleness.Not these inhumane shackles.”Metal clattered onto the floor.
She pulled a handkerchief from her apron and dipped it into the water cup Constanza hadn’t seen but had been too far away to reach anyway.Nurse Rhodes dabbed at Constanza’s wrist, cleaning away the blood.It should have stung, but numbness was all this place allowed.
Nurse Rhodes was kind and Constanza’s only hope of saving Eleonora.“Please, help me.”
“What can I do?”She continued her ministrations, but she looked at Constanza like whatever she said truly mattered and would be believed.
Please let it be so.“Tell Marcellus.Eleonora.Warn them.”The morphine was taking effect.Her words struggled to form and push through the growing fog.“Winston.”
“Who are they?”
Darkness crowded in.Not yet.I need her help!Constanza fought, but she could feel the words slurring.“Eleonora.Daughter.Winston.Danger.”
“Your daughter is safe.”
