Private (Private 1)

and felt an unexpected jolt of hope.

Dr. Meloni stared at her. She was gripping the arms of her metal Oh, just try something, please. Touch me inappropriately. Try to hurt chair now, her heart pounding. As he stared, Ariana realized that she me. Whatever you’re thinking, do it so that I can get your pathetic, low-had just shown emotion for the first time in a year and a half of these rent ass fired.

daily sessions. She had let the pressure get to her. And Meloni was Dr. Meloni leaned down and braced his hands on the arms of her

now smiling.

chair. He brought his face within inches of hers. His breath smelled

“One mistake that ended someone else’s life,” he said.

like soy sauce. Ariana wanted to recoil, but she forced herself to stay I know. I know this. I see him every night. Every night as I start to fall completely still.

asleep. Every night I jolt awake in an ice-cold sweat. I haven’t really slept

“I have been working with psychopaths like you for the past in almost two years, thinking about how he made me kill him. How he twenty-five years,” he said quietly. Up close, she could practically see didn’t give me a choice. Isn’t that torture enough?

her image reflected in those teeth. “You are not capable of change.

“I just want this to be over,” Ariana mumbled. She straightened If you were ever to be released from this facility, I am categorically her posture and stated it more firmly. “I just want this whole thing to certain that you would kill again. So no, Miss Osgood, you are never be over.”

getting out of here. Not today, not tomorrow, not five years from now.

Dr. Meloni leaned back in his chair again, the creak setting Ariana’s Or ten. Or twenty. Not as long as I’m the one signing your chart. And arm hair on end, and let out an amused yet frustrated-sounding groan.

believe me when I tell you I plan to stay in this job until they wheel He looked up at the wood beams that crisscrossed the ceiling and shook my cold, dead corpse out that door.”

his head.

He pointed at the solid metal door for effect. Ariana held his gaze.

“It’s always the same with you girls,” he said.

Held it and tried not to smile. Willed herself not to smile. He had no

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ariana snapped.

idea how wrong he was. How very, very wrong.

10

K a t e B r i a n

Finally, judging by the silence that his point had hit home, Dr.

Meloni leaned back in satisfaction. His grin lit his entire face.

“Guard!” he shouted, his eyes still locked on Ariana’s.

The door instantly opened, and Miriam, the bulbous Ward Two

guard, appeared, filling the doorway. Miriam, with her dyed red hair and piglike nose, had an impressive collection of steel-toed boots.

Shoes that meant business. Ariana had never even rolled her eyes at the woman.

“You can take this one back to her cell. I’m done with her,” Meloni said disgustedly.

“Let’s go,” Miriam barked.