Read Unspoken (Speak No Evil Trilogy Book 1) Page 8
Chapter Eight
“Do you think he knows?” I whispered to Toby once we reached the door that was marked with a black one and a six.
“That you talk to yourself?”
My breath came out in a huff but I slid the card into the lock and refrained from talking anymore until the door was locked behind me again. “Do you think he knows I’m from Nine Crosses?”
“I doubt he cares.”
I looked down, trying to see myself through the man’s eyes. Young girl, a little bony and a little short and a little tired, but healthy enough. The hem on my light pink pants were caked with mud and grass stains. There was a large smear of mud across my arm and I didn’t even want to know what my hair looked like. I had fallen asleep with it braided; as far as I knew, it was still braided. I ran my fingers lightly over the frizzy mess.
Yeah, he knew.
“Why doesn’t he call the cops?”
“Because he doesn’t care,” he repeated, louder.
At least Toby hadn’t lost any of his charm. “Ok,” I rolled my eyes. “So we’ll be safe here.”
“For a little while.” He was bent low over the bedside table, reading the bus schedule that I had just put down.
The room wasn’t much to look at, but I didn’t have a lot to compare it to. We’d never been much of a vacation going family. If I had ever stayed at a hotel, it was before I could remember.
I let my fingers brush lightly over the bright floral blanket covering the bed; ran my eyes across the room to take in the windows, the bedside table, and the stiff looking white chair. It wasn’t much, but at least it was clean.
The door to the bathroom was ajar and a thin slice of light splashed out across the floor. I didn’t bother investigating though; it would be just like any other bathroom - only there would be mirrors. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that confrontation yet.
Toby’s eyes followed my gaze. “You need to use the bathroom, Crazy?”
“No,” I sank onto the edge of the bed, clasping my hands tightly in my lap.
I could hardly believe we were here. Against all my doubts, I had managed to get out of the hospital and checked into a hotel room with less difficulty than I expected.
Toby said the police would find me if I slept outside on the park bench and drag me back to Nine Crosses, but they would find me here, too. We hadn't walked that far.
I glanced at the clock placed next to the lamp on the dark colored bedside table. 3:17. We had run longer than I thought. My nerves were still coiled- waiting for the ghosts to come.
“Why do you think they aren't here?” I whispered.
“The police?” Toby bent to peek out of a broken blind on one of the two windows that took up most of one wall. “They'll find you soon enough, but hopefully we'll be long gone by then.”
I bit lightly on the tip of my tongue. I had meant the ghost people, but maybe I didn't want to know where they were. They would find me soon enough, too.
“I wouldn't let it bother you too much,” he called over his shoulder. “Might be kind of cool to be known as the girl who escaped a mental hospital.” He laughed all by himself.
“Yeah, really cool,” I murmured.
“Why don't you try sleeping?”
My gaze snapped up to see if he was kidding. How could he expect me to sleep now? I could barely even sit still. “I'm fine.”
“Yeah,” his eyes widened, “me too.” He bent again over the bus schedule.
“Are we taking a bus?”
“There's no airport here, in case you missed that.”
“We're flying somewhere?”
“Did you not hear me, Crazy? There's no airport here.” He let his finger slide down the length of the paper.
“But you want to take a plane?” That must mean we were going far.
“I want a lot of things.”
He stood up abruptly and pressed his ear against the door. I had never seen Toby nervous. Angry- all the time; but never so jumpy. “Is someone coming? Is it the ghosts?” I halfway rose to my feet again.
“Just when I think you're as stupid as I've ever seen, you say something to surprise me- proving you're even more stupid than I thought.”
“I was just...” I let myself fall back to the bed.
“If it were the Cursed, would I be listening for them at the door? You expect them to knock?”
“No.” I bit down on my bottom lip.
“I really think you need to sleep. It's the only way I'm going to be able to stay in here with you.”
“You are such a jerk.” Not even trying to hide my irritation, I stomped the short distance to the bathroom and slammed the door. It felt good to be able to slam a door.
I didn't look as beat up as I'd feared. The braid had held up well considering the circumstances; and although my face wasn't clean, there were no huge splotches of mud or dirt. My white shirt had seen better days, but it was white- I couldn't expect much there.
Toby said there were clean clothes in the backpack. I sighed at my reflection. The bag was with Toby and no way was I going out there to get it. I eyed the bathtub; contemplating the comfort of the porcelain.
“Hey, Crazy?”
“Yeah?” I closed my eyes on a groan; was I really going to start responding to that?
“What are you doing in there?”
“I'm busy!”
“You don't look very busy.” He was suddenly right beside me in the narrow room.
“Toby! Why are you in here?”
“I go where you go, Princess.” He held his arm out in a mock apology.
“I'm going to bed,” I stormed. “Let's see you follow me there.”
One eyebrow cocked on his otherwise smooth forehead; heat flooded through my veins.