Tethered Souls | Books 1, 2, and 3

42 | Siren

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• Luna •

"Nurse Wilson, take Ms. Carlyle to the canteen so she can eat before taking her medicine," Dr. Kim instructed his staff member early the next morning after a routine check-up on Luna.

"Yes, doctor."

Stepping into the hallway, Luna turned toward her and said, "So what's on the menu today?" 

Nurse Wilson scoffed, keeping her eyes straight ahead. Her short reddish-blue hair waved in Luna's view. And the black fingernail polish on her fingers was chipped at the ends.

"Seriously, what is there to eat?" 

The soldier who was guarding then stepped forward. "You will see when you get there." 

The trip to the canteen was an uneventful one. Luna kept her eyes peering down each opened doorway and large corridor, hoping to catch a glimpse of Amir. But he wasn't anywhere in sight. She missed him like she missed eating her favorite candy bar. Three Musketeers. 

"May I ask you something, nurse?" she asked her. The nurse finally looked at Luna. "I can see that it's sunny this morning. Wouldn't you rather have time with your family?" 

She stopped walking and spun on her heel. "What's it to you, Luna?"

"I was just wondering," she said. "I've seen pictures of you on the walls with your family, and you came to work instead." 

"Unfortunately, bills don't pay themselves. My work status has nothing to do with you." 

Ooh, did I hit a nerve? 

"You are here, and you are under orders by Dr. Kim that involves me. I know you have a daughter like I do, so I know you understand where I'm coming from." 

"I do." 

"But coming to this hospital is more important?"

The nurse's gaze sharpened as she inhaled deeply. "You don't know about my situation, Ms. Carlyle."

"Hey, you and I are in the same boat. We are parents. And yet, both of our children can't see us because of the one place we have in common. It's sad." 

The nurse held Luna's gaze for a moment, then turned back the other way to continue their walk. "Sometimes we don't get choices. Sometimes things just happen." 

"That sounds like a cop-out if you ask me." 

"No one asked you in the first place." 

Luna smiled tightly. "Nobody had to. I was just trying to have a decent chat with you." 

"You can try, but I don't have to respond to you." She paused for a moment and surveyed her tablet, pressing check marks into the boxes, and then peered back at Luna. "We should keep our conversation to a minimum. We have to walk." 

"Really?" Luna laughed. "I am only trying to connect to you on a parental level here." 

She believed Nurse Wilson was a recipient of the money Chase was donating to the hospital. Otherwise, she would have refused to come in. Luna took a glance at the schedule and she was scheduled off.

Before the nurse could respond, a siren sounded, and she shifted her eyes through the barely vacant corridors. Lights on the ceilings flashed different colors, and patients and doctors flooded the hallways. The guard who was monitoring them pushed the people against the wall and listened into his earpiece.