In The Shadows || A.I

Chapter 2

I was a nervous wreck as I paced the dull lighted hallway, waiting for someone or anyone to reassure me about Kate. Luke was leant against the wall, not a word said between us as we waited. My phone started ringing, breaking the dreadful silence that has settled in the corridor. I answered it without checking who it was.

"Hello" I said numbly.

"We locked her in the closet, we couldn't think of anything else. How's Kate? Is she okay? Have they said anything? How long-" I cut him off his ramblings.

"They haven't said anything Mikey I don't know what's going to happen". The silence dragged on as neither of us said anything.

"But she's going to be okay right?" He said barely above a whisper.

"I really hope so" I said quietly.

Minutes felt like hours as we waited for any news on her. Doctors kept on whizzing past but none had the answers that we needed.

"Family of Kate Richardson?" A female voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I stood up immediately.

"We're her friends" Luke said before I could say anything.

"I'm sorry but it's only family that's allowed to visit" she said reading her notes on her paper.

"Fuck she hasn't got any family other than her mum who's gone to visit her grandma in Southhampton." I said losing my patience. She was thinking for a minute but Luke interrupted her.

"Please I'm begging she's out best friend we're practically family" he begged.

"Well okay this one exception, I'm going to put you down as her brothers"

"Thank you so much" Luke and I said in unison.

"The cut wasn't too deep, the doctors managed to stitch it up. She should be discharged tomorrow morning, just to make sure she doesn't react badly to the medicine we have her for the pain" she informed us, we have her a small nod in response.

The walk to Kate's hospital room was quiet after that. But it didn't last long as we approach her door in a matter of minutes.

"Wait out here, I'll check if she's awake and ready for visitors" the nurse said and we both nodded to her response. A few minutes later she came back out of the door and gave us a hand gesture that meant that she could go in.

I took the first step into the room and saw Kate lying on the bed with a weak smile on her face. I took large steps towards her and engulfed her into a hug.

"I'm so sorry" I repeated into her ear a couple of times as I hugged her.

"It wasn't your fault Ash" she whispered.
I backed away and sat on one of the chairs near the bed. Luke then hugged her and they both had a silent conversation.

"What happened to Lauren?" she said looking down at her bedsheets.

"We don't know. Mikey and Calum have locked her in the closet as that's the only place where she can harm anyone". Luke said, also looking towards the ground.

"I'm still hazy about what happened there but what came over her?" She said ever quieter. I just shook my head in response.

"We need to tell someone" she said looking straight at me. I stayed silent for a few moments.

"We actually do, this isn't normal" Luke added.

"So what are we supposed to go and tell the police that my sister suddenly turned into a psycho killer and tried to kill us all? She'll be put in prison for all we know." I said with slightly angered.

"I heard that people from Bethlem escaped this morning and started killing innocent people in the streets maybe-" she started saying until I cut her off.

"She's not a psycho Kate, she's not like the people from Bethlem" I said my anger rising.

"Well she kind of is considering she did try and kill us not too long ago" Luke said.

"He's right Ash, we have no choice. How long till she actually kills someone? Harry? You?" She said, emphasising her words. I just looked at her and then towards the ground.

"I don't know what to do. She's my sister for gods sake. Say we did want to tell someone, who would we even tell?" I said sighing.

"We could call Bethlem, ask them if they have any idea of what was happening to their patients?" Luke imputed.

"Say we do that, then what?" I said rather harshly.

"They'll tell us to bring her in or something I don't know" he replied back.

"Give me your phone, I'll call them" she said to me. I took out my phone and passed it to her. She went on google and found out the hospital's number and called them. You could hear the ringing of the phone over the silence in the room.

"This is Bethlem Royal Hospital, press '1' for patient enquiry or press '2' for hospital enquiry" a monotone recorded voice spoke. Kate took the phone away from her ear and pressed a button and put it back against her ear.

"Hello, this is Bethlem Royal Hospital how can I help?" A woman spoke after a few seconds.

"Uh hi I have a question about these recent killings caused my the patients and I was wond-" Kate started speaking until she was abruptly stopped by the woman.

"Do you know any of the patients?" She said sternly.

"No but I know someone who is acting very similar to the patients" Kate said quickly in fear of getting interrupted again.
"Hold on one moment let me just forward you to one of the doctors" she said quietly. Kate looked at me and I just stared blankly back at her.

"Hello my name is Doctor Dawson and I have just been informed about your knowledge of someone having similar actions to the patients in this hospital. Is there any way of you getting this person to be as soon as possible please it's a matter of urgency". The doctor said hastily

"Yes yes uh we'll get there as soon as possible" Kate said, stuttering a bit.

"Okay thank you can I take your name and the name of the person who's affected." The doctor said.

"My name is Kate Richardson and the name of-" Kate started off.

"Richardson?" The doctor cut her off.

"Yes" she replied.

"Do you know of any patient in this institution Kate?" He said questioningly.

"Uh not that I know of why?" She said unsurely. Oh no how could I have been so stupid. Oh god. I looked at Luke and his eyes widened in realisation. She doesn't know. Mrs. Richardson never told her fuck.

"Do you know of a Da-" the doctor started off saying before I snatched the phone from her hand and ended the call.

"What the hell Ashton?!" she basically shouted at me.

"Um I need to call the boys. See how Lauren is doing and to see if Harry's back from school." I said lied.

"You couldn't do that after I finished the call?" she said, narrowing her eyes at me.

"Nope sorry it's urgent." I said standing up and walking out of the room.
I rubbed my eyes and started calling Calum. It rang twice until he picked up.

"How is she?" was the first thing he said to me.

"She'll be fine, it isn't major. Is Harry home?" I replied.

"He's he's home, he doesn't know about Lauren though" he said quietly.

"Okay keep it that way. And is there anyway for you to get Lauren to Bethlem as soon as possible? They know what's going on apparently." I informed him.

"Yeah that should be alright but Harrys going to have to stay home alone" He said.

"Yeah he'll be fine, just leave him by the tv. I'll meet you at Bethlem in half an hour or so" I told him.

"Okay sure see you there" he said before hanging up. I sighed and leant against the wall, racking my brains for an excise to tell Kate why I was being so weird, I really hope Luke sorted it out.