Chapter 16

The lights in the ward dimmed in the dead of the night. The nurse on duty nodded off at her desk at the end of the corridor. Violet pushed herself up from her bed. Slowly, she parted her lips and slipped out a tiny razor blade from beneath her tongue. She had hidden it there when she smashed her head against the barbed fence. The blade sliced through the restraints. It was difficult, but it was sharp enough. Ten minutes later, she was free. So, she walked to the door and peered through the observation window. The corridor was empty. The door had an old mechanical lock. For someone like her, who had grown up on the streets, it was child's play. Violet slid the blade into the keyhole and worked it carefully, holding her breath. With a soft click, the door opened. The surveillance camera had already been disabled earlier, clogged with chewing gum she had planted while pretending to be nuts during the day. Barefoot, she slipped out of the ward like a cat, crossed the corridor, and s