Chapter Eighteen Noah

Please note, at eleven a.m. there will be a two-minute silence observed for those staff and patients not able to attend the Memorial Day service this morning. All staff are to cease duties to pay their respects.

As Noah loaded a washing machine in the laundry, he felt sick. Flynn was going to die today. And what was he doing? Washing the Bellator women's clothes.

He had barely slept the previous night.

He longed to escape the hospital, to leave the drudge-disguise behind and head out to save his father. But without a plan or backup, what could he, an Eremus male, do? Alone, he'd be more likely to get himself killed alongside Flynn. Still, he couldn't stand idly by and do nothing.

As another drudge began loading the machine beside his, Noah returned his attention to his task. Adding the soap, he switched it on, hoping the man next to him hadn't noticed his complete lack of focus. But as he turned to leave, he felt a hand on his arm.

"S'me." Liam's voice was low. "Keep working."

Noah collected another laundry bag and returned to the machines. "What's up?"

"Overheard something." Liam didn't look at him. "Might be of interest."

Another drudge appeared. Noah worked at looking busy, until the man had passed them by.

"Know Sanders?" Liam kept his voice low. "Doc in charge of your friend's case?" Noah nodded. "She was on the phone to someone in the alleyway behind the building. I was on the other side of the bins, so she couldn't see me."

Again, Liam paused while another drudge collected several empty laundry bags and moved away with them.

"Long story short, she was complaining about the girl being taken. Ruining her experiment. Said Danforth was going to scour the city looking for her, but Sanders told her not to."

"What?" Noah had to force himself not to face Liam. "Why?"

"Whatever drug they had her on, it had to be given consistently. Regular doses of the correct amount. If not…" A shiver ran through Noah as he paused. "If not, there'd be severe withdrawal symptoms for the patient."

Noah felt like he'd stopped breathing. "What do you mean, severe?"

"I mean irreversible." He felt Liam shake his head. "The rats in the previous tests, in cases where they were taken off the drug abruptly, they died. All of them."

Noah went cold. Sophia had been taken from the hospital six days ago. Without a constant dose of the metraxilone, she was in real danger. And Anderson was giving the same drug to numerous girls at the academy. The second anyone figured out they'd been replaced by placebos, they were in real trouble too.

He stilled. "I have to warn them."

Beside him, he felt Liam tense. "Thought you might say that."

"They'll be at the memorial service today."

"You need to be there. Try and speak to them." Liam went back to his task, switching on the machine before he spoke again. "Know the alleyway behind the drudge dorms?" He paused, waiting for Noah's answering nod. "There's a section at the end which twists to the right. It's fenced off, but it's easy to climb, and there's no camera once you round the bend."

"So I can get out–"

"Without being seen."

"But I–"

"I'll cover for you as long as I can. Give you a chance to get clear."

"You're sure?" Noah exhaled slowly. "Thank you."

"S"fine." He felt Liam shrug. "You're not coming back, are you?"

"Probably not. But look on the bright side…" Noah found himself attempting words of comfort. "In a couple of days, you'll have Rowan back."

There was a silence, then Liam leaned close enough to bump Noah's shoulder. It was the closest drudges came to physical contact, the equivalent of a hug.

"Go safely, then." Liam's voice was gruff. "And… keep up the good work."

Nudging Liam's shoulder in return, Noah hoped it conveyed his gratitude. "Do my best."

Liam was already moving away from him. After waiting a few moments, Noah followed, shuffling at the usual drudge pace towards the exit his friend had suggested. If he was careful, he could get out of the hospital without being spotted.

Now all he had to do was make it to the ceremony, speak to a Resistance member, and pass on the information about the metraxilone withdrawal. None of it would be easy. But with so many lives at risk, he had to try.

In the back of his mind, he was glad to have an excuse to be in the square when Flynn was brought to the stage. If the Resistance rescue didn't go to plan, perhaps he could do something. He had no idea what, but at least he'd be close enough to mount an attempt to save his father.

If nothing else, at least he'd get to see him one last time.