By some miracle, Ava had obtained a good lead, staying at least
a corridor ahead of the orderlies. Still dizzy, weak, and a bit off-kilter, it
was difficult for her to think straight, and her efforts were slower than
normal. Still, she was able to keep outdistancing the men. Had they not
been negligent in locking doors, she might never have been able to get
as far as she had. And yet, although unsure of her surroundings because
of her confused state of mind, she easily managed to locate an outside
exit. She knew God was on her side because, fortunately, that door was
unlocked as well. She shoved it open and bolted off into the night.
The elements had increased in severity, but she didn't care,
despite the fact she had on only a thin gown. The frigid wind churned
up spirals of snow and was whipping them around in a frenzy, about the
turbulent, uninviting landscape. Still, she knew she might never get
another chance at freedom and could hear the plodding footsteps
behind her getting closer. If anything, only time and nature's elements
were against her now.She realized her chances for survival on such a bitterly-cold
evening were slight. But, heavens, she had to try! Let them follow, she
prayed, raising her eyes heavenward, but please please don't let them
catch me! I'd rather die out here!
She flinched at the sting of the frigid snow covering her bare feet,
her desire for freedom giving her the determination to brave nature's
dominance.
* * * *
Moments later, Crater stopped before the fire exit, curious.
Pushing open the heavy door, he stepped outside, his eyes searching for
some sign of their fleeing dove. A glance down proved his guess correct
when he spied a set of tracks leading into the field beyond.
"Franklin!" he called over his shoulder, spitting a wad of tobacco
into the snow as he narrowed his eyes to scan the dark field for Ava.
"She's heading out back. Won't get far though cuz she ain't wearin' any
clothes. Why don't you go back and get a hypo and meet me out there.
It shouldn't take long to find her. And bring a flashlight!"
"Good idea," Frank answered, relief in his voice. "Catch up with
you in a bit."
Crater lingered long enough to watch Franklin head off towards
the lab. He braced the door open with a nearby rock, one kept aside for
just such a purpose, then stepped off the stoop into a gale of brisk wind.
He grimaced and shook his head at Ava's stupidity. Wishing he had put
on a warm coat, he struggled to follow her trail since the raging wind
had erased most of her footprints. But it didn't take long for him tostumble upon her about a quarter mile from the building. It was a
wonder he'd found her at all, considering the now whiteout conditions
all around them.
"Hey, bitch!" he spat, angry at having to be outside, when he
came upon her slight form crumpled in the snow. Ava, heedless of the
stinging sleet and wind at her back and against her bare skin, was trying
to warm her frozen feet. "Thought you'd get away from us, didn't you?
Just how far did you expect to get before we found you?"
Realizing her flight had been for naught, Ava brushed aside her
tears of defeat and failure and stammered through numb lips, "I s-sure
don't want t-to st-stay with you p-people. I don't th-think I can st-stand
anym-more of your k-kind hospitality." She shrugged away the large
hand squeezing her shoulder and focused her attention on her
benumbed feet.
"Is that a fact?" Crater drawled with thick sarcasm before pulling
her roughly to a standing position. "Well, sweetie, it would have been
interesting to see how you'd manage to climb over the electric fence
surrounding this place."
"Crater! Find her yet? I've got the stuff!"
"Over here, Frank! Hurry up, will ya!" Crater peered through
the swirling snow, at the dot of light moving towards them. Franklin,
following the sound of Lester's gritty baritone, sauntered up to them,
grinning as he shined a light into their crinkled faces.
"Stupid flashlight conked out when I was halfway out here, so I
had to go back and get more batteries. Want to be sure I hit the right
vein.""Well focus it here, will ya," Lester directed. He grabbed Ava
firmly and pulled her arm straight, turning it palm up. "I can't stand
bein' out in this frickin' storm. Gimme the damn needle."
"Oh, no. I'll do it. You just hold her still." Franklin flicked his
light over Ava's shivering, sweating form, recognizing her need for a fix,
but deliberately prolonged her silent agony. He made a lengthy charade
of pulling a wrapped handkerchief from his pocket and unrolling it
across his palm. Then he slowly sorted out its doleful contents one by
one: cotton, a prepared syringe, and a small alcohol packet. "Here," he
said, handing Crater the flashlight. "Now, lay her down."
Crater gave her a rough shove, as he impatiently kicked her legs
out from under her, ignoring her grunt of pain when she hit the ground.
Kneeling beside her, he put a firm hand to her chest, shoved the
flashlight under his elbow, then yanked her arm out.
"All right," he said. "Make it snappy. My toes are gettin' numb."
"Keep your shirt on. This won't take long."
Moving to one knee, Franklin prepped Ava's arm then took the
syringe from the unrolled handkerchief, its ends flapping wildly in the
wind. Just as he made to plunge the needle into Ava's arm, he suddenly
jerked back on it, dropping it into the snow.
"Now what'd you go and do that for?" Crater blustered, shifting
his gaze from the syringe to Franklin, who was staring past him with
sagging jaw. Following the direction of his gaze with the flashlight,
Crater gaped in astonishment and released his grip on Ava, whose
befuddled form now lay in near-hypothermic shock.
Overcome with fear at the sight presented them, the startled
orderlies grasped one another for balance and stood up."Now what do you want?" Crater demanded, straightening.
"Don't you know this is private property? And how the hell'd you get
inside the fence?"
"Yeah," Franklin said in as brave a voice as he could muster.
"Lookit," Crater dared threateningly. "If you're wondering what
it is we're doing here, it ain't none of your damned business! So, I'd
advise you to get the hell out of here before I decide t—"
* * * *
But those were their last...and final...words.