8

Chapter Eight: Escape

The door opened a moment later, and the light clicked on. “North?” asked Carol softly. “Are you awake, sweetheart?”

The endearment made her skin crawl, but she struggled to keep her repulsion out of her expression as she turned over slowly and blinked her eyes as though they weighed a thousand pounds each. “Is that you, Carol?”

“It is. I have your other pill.”

She feigned a yawn. “I don’t think I need it. I’m feeling much calmer now, and I’m still pretty sleepy.”

“We must listen to the doctor. Take your last pill like a good girl, and maybe tomorrow we could—”

She yawned again, though this one was authentic. “I was hoping you might be able to take me shopping tomorrow, Carol. I have no clothes with me besides the one outfit.” It was imperative to get to the mall, which seemed to be her only option to escape whatever was going on with the Allises and the mysterious doctor. If her mother thought she was an enthusiastic participant, she might drop her guard and give