Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO COULDN'T MOVE
Vivian woke at 3:17 in the morning.
Her eyes opened.
Nothing else did.
Grant was sitting beside the bed when the monitor changed.
"Vivian?"
"Baby, can you hear me?"
One blink.
Grant began crying.
Rosa stood near the doorway with both hands over her mouth.
The neurologist entered.
"Mrs. Holloway, don't try to speak. You've had prolonged exposure to a paralytic agent. We don't know how much muscle control you have yet."
Vivian blinked.
"Can you move your fingers?"
Nothing.
"Can you blink twice for yes?"
Two slow blinks.
Grant touched her hand.
"I thought I lost you."
Vivian's eyes filled with tears.
The doctor brought a letter board.
He pointed row by row while Vivian blinked.
It took nearly fifteen minutes to form one word.
E.
Then L.
Then I.
Then S.
Then E.
Rosa felt her stomach drop.
"Elise?" Grant whispered.
Vivian blinked twice.
Detective Brooks was called back.
"Did Elise hurt you?"
One blink.
No.
Brooks tried again.
"Did Elise know you were alive?"
Two blinks.
Yes.
"What?"
Vivian began breathing faster.
The monitor alarmed.
The doctor intervened.
"Enough."
But Vivian forced her eyes toward the board again.
Brooks understood.
They continued.
M.
E.
R.
C.
E.
R.
Grant's face hardened.
"Adrian."
Vivian blinked twice.
Then another word.
N.
O.
T.
A nurse frowned.
"Not?"
Vivian blinked twice.
"Not Adrian?"
One blink.
No.
"Then Mercer who?"
Beside her was their father, retired judge Thomas Mercer.
May you like
Vivian's eyes filled with terror.
And for the first time since waking, she tried to scream.
