Chapter 3 - A Roommate with Secrets
The afternoon sun slanted through the blinds of the semi-private room, slicing the air into shafts of dust motes. Leah lay in the hospital bed, the weight of her exhaustion pressing down on her chest like a heavy stone. Beside her, Simone was awake, her silhouette outlined by the harsh glare of the overhead light.
Simone was a study in polished contradictions. She sat propped up with expensive-looking pillows, wearing a silk robe that contrasted sharply with the sterile white of the room. Her manicured hands, tipped with a deep crimson polish, were wrapped around a gold cell phone.
Leah watched her, feeling a pang of wistful envy. Simone seemed to have it all—wealth, calm, a life of ease. Leah, clutching her newborn with one arm, felt a sharp pang of inadequacy. If she had Simone’s money, she wouldn’t feel so trapped by the constant vigilance of the nurses.
" The retreat is booked," Simone was saying into the phone, her voice a melodic contralto that didn't match the frantic tension in her posture. "Yes, I need the room key. No, I can’t leave the baby alone. Not tonight. I’m not leaving him alone."
Leah’s ears perked up. Retreat? Maybe Simone was going on a spa vacation while Leah was stuck in this hospital. It seemed unfair.
Simone hung up abruptly, her face pale. She looked at Leah’s baby, her expression twisting into something unreadable—a terrifying mix of fear and a cold, possessive hunger. She quickly averted her gaze, turning her back to the bassinet.
The intercom buzzed, a jarring electronic screech. "Mrs. Vance to see you."
A man entered. He was tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a tailored suit that looked expensive enough to buy Leah’s apartment. He walked with a predatory grace, his eyes scanning the room before locking onto the bassinet. His gaze was cold, clinical, like a butcher inspecting meat.
"Simone," he said. His voice was smooth, devoid of warmth. "We need to talk."
Simone stood up, her legs trembling. "Please, Marcus. Not here. The nurses... they’re watching."
" They’re busy," Marcus said dismissively. He took a step toward the bassinet, reaching out a hand. "I need to see the child. Just for a moment."
" No," Simone said, her voice cracking. "I told you, I’m not leaving him alone. Not with them."
" You’re being paranoid," Marcus snapped. He stepped closer, invading Simone’s personal space. "The transfer is tomorrow. I need to make sure he’s... ready."
Leah felt a chill crawl up her spine. The way he looked at the baby—there was no love there. It was calculation. It was exactly like the look Doreen had given the baby in her nightmare.
" I’m not going anywhere," Simone whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "Please. Just sit with me for five minutes. Don't leave me alone in this room."
Marcus hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I have to go. The board meeting is in an hour."
As he turned to leave, Leah noticed a faint, jagged scar on the side of his neck. It looked like a burn mark.
But when Marcus turned back to the door, the scar was gone.
Leah blinked, rubbing her eyes. She must be hallucinating from the lack of sleep. She looked at Simone, who was collapsed back onto her pillows, sobbing quietly into a silk handkerchief.
" He's back," Simone whispered, not looking at Leah, her eyes fixed on the empty doorway. "He's not Marcus."
Leah froze. "What?"
" I told you," Simone said, her voice trembling with a terror that made Leah’s blood run cold. "The man from the lobby. The one with the wrong tie. He’s back. And he knows where the baby is."
Before Leah could ask what she meant, the door clicked open. A nurse walked in, clipboard in hand. She stopped at the bassinet, looking down at the sleeping infant with a look of professional detachment.
" Bassinet scan," the nurse said, her voice flat.
Leah watched, paralyzed, as the nurse pointed a small device at the crib. The nurse looked up, her eyes dead. "Everything looks secure, Mrs. Vance. But... I’d keep a closer eye on the door. Someone’s been asking about 'the package' in the hallway."
Leah looked at the nurse, then at Simone, whose face had gone completely white.
" Who?" Leah whispered.
May you like
Simone didn't answer. She just stared at the door, her hand trembling as she clutched the sheet.
" He's here," Simone choked out. "And he's not alone."
