Chapter Text
Mel quietly paced the room from window to window as the rain continued to pour outside. You could hear the taps on the metal roofing just above their heads. The shutters on the window clicked each time she peered through them to catch a glimpse of the scene that played outside. She’d just finished her shift at the Pitt when she received an urgent call from her sister, Becca. Her brow was nearly knotted together as she started to overthink. Worried that the safe place she made for her sister may no longer be safe.
“Mel?” Becca called from the chair that sat adjacent to a small shelf in the corner of the room. Mel shifted her attention toward her sister and tried to relax her expression in hopes of not worrying her. When things like this happened it made her ruminate, it reminded her of things she didn’t want to remember. Even recently, she started to finally speak to someone, anything to help her with her trauma. The facility offered a family mental health specialist, although she didn’t tell Becca about it yet.
“Mel,” Becca repeated when she didn’t answer her the first time. Mel looked back at her sister, who had made herself busy with a new card game the nursing assistant had given her.
“I don’t think we will be going home tonight.” Mel fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. Usually, she could be straightforward but considering the current events she already knew her voice was shaky so she wasn’t sure how to bring up the why.
“But I wanted to watch my favorite movie ton—“ Becca was cut off by the appearance of her newest friend, Simon. Simon was a nursing assistant who recently got hired on at the facility, Mel had only met him once before. “Simon!” Becca flashed the card game she had in her hands to show him she was practicing.
“Hi Becca, Ms. King may I speak with you for a second?” Upon her arrival at the front of the building, she was told all residents must stay in their respective rooms. Although she did have a difficult time getting into the facility due to the authorities that were stationed outside. He addressed Mel and nodded toward the corridor.
“I’ll be right back.” She told her sister and then swiftly walked outside. Her arms were crossed, which was a sign of stress for her. She glided her thumb over her pointer finger, while she semi-balled her hand, it was a self-soothing method she did unintentionally. Simon seemed to pick up on her stress.
He’d seen Mel numerous times before he’d actually met her. Her normal happy personality was nowhere to be seen and it was a given. In the hallway, Simon guided Mel down toward the end of it. He spoke casually which kind of threw Mel off. “I was told to inform each of my patients' main caregivers of the situation,” he used his hands to speak, his gestures almost adding to how elaborate the incident was. “Although I can’t go into detail, but Ms. King, you are different.”
Mel did a double take, she looked up at him through her glasses, her ponytail swinging to the side as she did so. “Different?” She looked at him for clarification but before he could continue the elevator across the hall dinged. So much was happening all at once that it made her feel dizzy. She closed her eyes and took a step back.
She already knew, she knew what had happened. She found the poor soul who lost their life; normally, she wouldn’t have gone through the alleyway much less by herself. She always took the main sidewalk and she would have, she would have… if not for…
“I suppose they are here for you,” Simon turned on his heel and left. Mel broke her train of thought.
In the room, which was the same one she was in a week prior for her session, she sat across from two detectives. One paced while the other asked her questions. After she explained to them what had happened they continued with their follow-up.
“Ms. King, do you have anyone who would try to harm you or anyone close to you?”
“No sir, not that I know of.” Mel tried to remain focused, she wanted to recall every detail. Even the steps she took to attempt to save the victim's life.
“We found this in the pocket of the victim,” he slid a phone across with a picture of a note, a piece of evidence. It was a warning, one that had mentioned her name in it.
“I’m not sure why I would be in the note,”
“As for the victim’s injuries…”
“They were self-inflicted.” Mel finished.
“It seems she was trying to leave you a message, did you know her?”
“No sir I’ve never met her before not until today at least.” Mel felt a stir in her chest. She wondered what pushed her over the edge, whatever the final straw may be, she didn’t know why she was now involved.
“Can you see how this isn’t making any sense to us?” Mel, who had never met this girl before, ended up with the note inside her pocket. Not only that, she happened to be the one to find her! She was starting to feel like this was a setup.
“I’m sorry but I’ve given you all the information I have.” Mel was starting to feel pressured. “May I take my sister home? I don’t feel comfortable being here any longer.”
Mel finally left the room, and the detectives made an appointment with her for any questions they may have. Although Mel didn’t think she could be of any further help.
“Becca we’re leaving.” Mel started to pack her things. Simon was playing that card game with her but stood up when he saw her. She left no room for questions as she rushed them into the hallway and into the elevator.
“Does this mean we get to watch Elf?”
“Absolutely.”
Once they reached the first floor, Mel walked past two elderly ladies. They were best friends who loved to gossip. Mel remembered the one time Becca thought she liked one of her former coworkers, it spread like wildfire. Her face burned at the thought, even approaching them now felt like a chore. They always made a point to bring it up. In passing she heard them speak of the new clinic that opened up across the street.
“And the doctor is cute too,”
“I thought he was married,” her name was Mariam. She sounded disappointed.
“Not anymore, I asked him but it still seemed like a sore spot,” she laughed.
“You wasted no time making that appointment!” Simon came up behind them.
“It’s not like I’m getting any younger.”
“Let’s get you back to your room, you know you aren’t supposed to be down here,” Simon said.
Mel looked across toward the new clinic. It was already closed for the day, and the sun was starting to set. She pulled out an umbrella. Then she took Becca and hooked her arm in hers as they walked home. It kept lingering in the back of her head. She would’ve never gone that way but.
But when she answered the phone call Becca gave her specific instructions to go through the alley this time. It was clear that whoever had been the reason for this wanted Mel to see it, and this person was someone who was connected to her very own sister. It angered her that someone would use her sister to get to her. She didn't tell the authorities out of fear of what could happen. Especially when it involved not only her, but also Becca.