Going a day without talking to someone you’re sharing a room with was a long time, especially when there was no one else to interact with.

I wasn’t up the whole day since I’d lain awake the entire night before, but this place certainly did not provide optimal sleeping conditions, even with the decent blackout curtains. Fear and stress were the archenemies of sleep.

As the sun went down, I knew the new workday at Sisters of Mercy was only just beginning. A short while later, the lights automatically came on in the room; it was just a matter of time before someone came to collect us for breakfast. By this point I felt starving, yet doubted my ability to hold down any food.

Mallory lay sulking on her bed, her mouth set in a hard line, back against the wall, staring at the door.

We both tightened up when amber eyes appeared in the door’s view portal. The door clicked open and a dark-skinned nurse in black scrubs invaded the room with a rush of energy.

“Rise and shine, sleepyheads!” Her voice had a melodic timber and soothing southern drawl. “It’s a full moon outside. I’m Nurse Dalio.” She first approached my bed, reached over me, and threw open the curtains.

“Pardon me, if I don’t share your enthusiasm,” Mallory said, sourly.

The nurse wasn’t bothered by Mallory’s moodiness and removed two vials of purple liquid from a pocket. “Since you’re volunteers here, you can volunteer to take your medicine. It’s mandatory for all the other patients.”

“What does it do?” I asked, still under my covers.

“It takes away some of the sting,” she said, smiling wide and holding up the vials to give me a clear view.

“None for me, thanks,” Mallory said, her voice still venomous.

The nurse shrugged. “Your choice,” she said and brought her attention back to me.

I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t want to lose my faculties but also didn’t want to be in constant fear and agony.

“What do you mean by sting?” I asked. “Is it a pain blocker?”

“It’s a sedative that will ease your anxiety and slow you down. It won’t block any pain.”

I glanced over at Mallory, who seemed interested in our interaction. She shook her head, almost like a warning.

“I’ll pass too,” I finally said.

“No problem,” Nurse Dalio said. “Can I assume you’re both hungry? Ready for breakfast?” She paused, then added, “Or you can stay here and have some food tomorrow night.”

Mallory scooted to the edge of the bed and stood up. She crossed her arms and stared ahead, into the hallway.

I wasn’t about to stay in the room alone, so I threw off the covers and followed the nurse and Mallory out of the room. I wondered if we’d see Jack or Ashley tonight… or maybe even Matthew? I hoped he’d come and check up on me, but like with everything else in this place, I had no idea what to really expect.

As we navigated the hallways, I felt the same sense of attention from the hospital staff as the night before. Multiple sets of eyes looked me up and down, sized me up, practically undressing me. But I hadn’t gotten that feeling from our own nurse, so I was beginning to wonder if my paranoia was playing tricks on me. An insane asylum had a way of making you feel demented, even when you’d felt perfectly normal the day before. I didn’t know if that was a universal truth, but it sure captured my reality as we headed for the cafeteria.

Nurse Dalia waited against the wall as Mallory and I waded through the line to get our breakfasts—eggs and oatmeal, toast and whole fruit, as well as a dispenser for juice and water. I felt a caffeine headache coming on when I noticed there was no coffee or tea. I was sure their coffee would be terrible, but still needed something to satiate the creeping pain.

“Do you have anything with caffeine here?” I asked Nurse Dalio as we all sat at an empty table.

“Not for patients,” she replied.

“But we’re volunteers,” Mallory said, sitting beside me. “You said so yourself.”

“Volunteers or not, you’re patients first. Eat up. You need your strength.”

Frustrated and aching more from the realization there was no coffee coming, I picked at my food with a plastic spork, the only available utensil. I picked at small bites of oatmeal to see how my stomach would react. Mallory was not as cautious as she wolfed down everything on her plate, followed by her glass of orange juice and water.

Nurse Dalio watched us eat, almost looking envious. I still didn’t know if her kind could even eat regular food.

I watched as other patients filtered in and out of the cafeteria. As I’d seen from the night before, many were young, most appearing withered and hollow. There was no fight in these patients, only the aura of pure helplessness. But if I looked hard enough, I could always find someone who didn’t fit the norm. Though these few lively patients were probably the newest captures like us, there was still the possibility that hope could survive in the direst of places—even here. That alone gave me hope, too.

After breakfast, Nurse Dalio led us to the Common Room, where a multitude of patients sat scattered around, engaged in nearly as many activities. This was where the patients came alive the most, interacting with the largest pool of patients with the lowest amount of supervision; it was a place where these patients could almost be human.

“I have to go check on some other patients,” Nurse Dalio said. “So, have a look around and get acquainted. You may roam the patient wing, but not beyond. Given your situation, I’m sure you have ample motivation to follow the rules. I trust you won’t cause any trouble. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask any of the patrolling nurses or orderlies. Can you handle that?”

I nodded and Mallory simply looked away, focused on the roomful of people.

“Very good. I’ll be back to collect you in an hour or so,” she said, cheerfully, before scurrying away.

“Maybe you can make some friends here,” Mallory said as she began meandering around the room.

I concurred we had spent enough time together—even though we’d been ignoring each other for ninety-five percent of it—and went in a separate direction from her. I snagged a chair against the wall, then flipped through the stack of old magazines on the end table. They ranged from one to five years old, all of them well read. I kept one open on my lap but barely read it. Mostly, I watched others interact, occasionally glanced up at the television, and tried to commit the faces of the supervising doctors, nurses, and orderlies, to memory.

Mallory was already talking to two other girls, proving she could be nice when she wanted to be. It killed me she could make friends so easily, yet actively went out of her way to keep us at odds—which was exactly what had gotten us thrown in here.

As I sat there cursing my luck, my headache intensified. My stomach ached as it fought to digest what I’d recently eaten. Now all I wanted to do was go to bed but was afraid to venture back to my room alone. Among the general population, it felt somehow safer—even if that was merely an illusion.

Several television shows later, Nurse Dalio returned to collect Mallory and me. She led us back to our room, where another nurse was sitting on Mallory’s bed. She had bleached blonde hair up in a tight bun and striking blue eyes. And unlike Nurse Dalio, this new nurse didn’t exemplify any of the same kindness and vibrance. She stood as we entered the room.

“Here they are, Nurse Oleander,” Nurse Dalio said. “The hospital’s newest offerings. You understand Mr. Nelson’s directives regarding these two, correct?”

“They’re in good hands with me,” Nurse Oleander said with a smile that didn’t even attempt to reach her eyes.

“Mallory here will be your fighter.”

“You’re damn right I am,” Mallory spat.

“Noted.” Nurse Oleander’s sneer widened. “Let’s get started. I’d like to take full advantage of my break.”

“Of course. Enjoy your break,” Nurse Dalio said as she retreated, closing the door behind her.

Mallory got into a defensive stance, arms up, knees bent. “Start with her first. She’s easy prey. Do with her as you will. But if you come after me, I swear I won’t make it easy on you.”

“Maybe I like a challenge,” the nurse said, taking a stalking step forward.

I slowly backed away to the farthest corner of the room, my heart now hammering as much as my head.

“I don’t doubt your capabilities among your own kind, but to me—to us—you are no less prey.” Nurse Oleander sprang on Mallory, who quickly maneuvered to fight back, but Mallory was overpowered in every way. Within seconds, Mallory lay on her back with the vampire gripping her throat, a knee digging into her chest. “I thought you said you weren’t going to make this easy on me? Should I give you another chance?”

“Just get it over with,” Mallory croaked out.

“I wish I did have a little more time, then I could really test your abilities,” Nurse Oleander said, her fangs now coming out. “Unfortunately, I have to get back to my shift soon. And others are awaiting their turns.” She then leaned down and sank her teeth into Mallory’s neck.

Mallory tried to buck the vampire off, but might as well have been trying to unpin herself from a car. The vampire was completely unfazed, continuing to feed upon the girl whose life mission had been to make my own a living hell. When Mallory was finally released, she curled up into a fetal position on the floor.

Gazing down at the crumpled Mallory, Nurse Oleander shook her head, then lifted Mallory off the ground and threw her across the room like a doll. Mallory’s body landed half on the bed, bounced, and spilled onto the concrete floor with a thud.

I gasped in horror at what this creature was capable of—the sheer strength, power, and madness.

Blood was still dripping from her lips as Nurse Oleander approached my corner of the room.

“It’s my understanding you chose to come here,” she said in a soft, yet commanding voice.

I couldn’t move—reduced to simply hugging my knees and staring up at her intimidating form.

“I’ve dealt with candidates like you before,” she continued. “In fact, I had the pleasure of feeding on the very first one who came from here. With the way time flies, it doesn’t seem all that long ago. Let me be clear; you won’t get special treatment from me. I won’t make this easy on either of you.” She reached down and yanked me up by my scrubs top, lifting me completely off the floor.

Then my body was soaring through the air, landing hard on my bed. She was on me in a flash, fangs bared, ready to devour me. No sound escaped my throat as I tried to cry for help. And when she bit into my neck, I thought this was truly the end.