A Beautiful New Life by Susan Irene Read Free Book Online Page A

SOMEBODY! I hurt myself. Someone please help me!” She yelled out. The door opened and she remained seated. Was it a trap again, she thought. A man entered with the same slow movements as before and Louise got up and ran to him.
    “Please help me. Get me out of here.” He stood staring at her, saying nothing. “Are you from the resort? What is your name?”
    “W-Why so many questions? J-Just do what they w-want and things will be f-fine.”
    “But I don’t know what they want. Please! Help me. At least tell me your name.”
    “H-Henry, my n-name is Henry. N-Now I’m g-going to get you s-some help for your h-hand.” He pulled her hand up to take a closer look. “You s-sure did do a n-number on that.”
    “Just get me out of here. I can get this fixed later. It doesn’t even hurt much now.” She just wanted to get out of the room and go home.
    “I c-can’t, they are c-close behind.”
    “You keep saying that but I never see anyone else.” The door flew open.
    “Now Megan you know that isn’t true.” Louise took a step back and stood behind Henry.
    “Oh, now don’t be like that. Don’t you want to know my name too? It’s Vince.” He extended out his hand. “Ouch! What did you do?” He looked down at her hand.
    “V-Vince don’t start, I n-need to get her some help for her h-hand. Let us pass.” Henry’s voice shook as he spoke.
    “L-let us p-pass.” He mocked him. “ What are you going to do if I don’t?” Vince stuck out his chest but Henry stood there staring back. “You’re such a wimp.” Vince turned and walked out.
    “He is always f-following me around. I think he s-suspects I’m trying to h-help you.”
    Louise moved to face him. “Are you from the resort? Why am I here?”
    “Come on you p-probably want t-to clean up.” He walked out the door and when she did not follow, he turned back to her and waved her to follow.
    “You didn’t answer my questions.”
    “I, I don’t have t-time to explain, n-now come on.”
    She walked out into a poorly lit hallway. The hanging lights swayed from an invisible breeze. The swaying and flickering made Louise nauseous and she stopped for a moment to swallow the vomit that threatened.
    “G-get m-moving!” He said to her impatiently. She proceeded to follow him down the hallway and up a flight of stairs where they continued in their original direction down another hallway to the shower room. He stepped aside to allow her to go in first and then stepped in behind her. He stood at the doorway that opened up to a room with four sh owers. There were no stalls, just one big room. Henry did not bother to turn around and give her any privacy. She pulled off her clothes and turned on the shower. As soon as the water hit her, the tears flowed; she grabbed the soap and started scrubbing until the water turned cold and Henry walked over and turned the water off.
    "L-let's go." He ordered and walked back to his post by the door. Shivering Louise turned around and walked over to the edge of the shower room where she found a stack of towels. She dried herself off quickly and wrapped the towel around her.
    "F-fresh clothes are over there." He pointed to the locker a few feet from the towels. She opened the locker door and found a set that would fit her and pulled them on. She walked over to Henry and waited for further instructions. He did not say anything; he just walked out of the shower room into the hall again. She followed behind him and looked around trying to see an exit if she was given a chance to run. They continued down the hallway a few feet and from the sanitary smell and stainless steel counter , she knew they had walked into a medical clinic. She looked up now and saw a nurse waving for them to come forward. She was plump, with a bright smile and eyes that twinkled. Was she someone who was going to help her escape?
    "Who do we have here Henry?" Her voice matched the motherly look. It was soft and gentle.
    "This is M-Megan Strauss, B -B etty.