Eternal Island (Book 1 in the Eternal Series) Read Free Page B

secret.”
    “The doctors here really need to up your medication.”
    “Look, let’s just go and I’ll show you what I mean. I realize this is a lot for you to take in, but it’s imperative you return with me.” Rainey shook her head in frustration. “Please Ariana, just… please.”
    “Even if I agreed to this crazy plan of yours and went with you to the land of the witches, how would we just walk out of here? I’m sure they don’t let the patients come and go as they please.”
    “Oh, that’s simple. I’ll just put a spell on them. And it isn’t the land of the witches. I said there are a lot of witches; actually, it is the land of… something else entirely different. And it’s an island, Eternal Island, and it’s a long way from here, so could we please get going already, before I get in trouble?”
    “And if I don’t want to go with you?”
    “I will put you back to sleep and you will never wake up.”
    “You can’t do that!” Ariana exclaimed.
    “I woke you up, I can knock you back out. You’ll never know I was ever here. Believe me, Ariana, you will be happy you came.”
    “And if I want to leave, I can?”
    “After I bring you back and erase the memory of the island and everyone on it, yes. Here are your flip flops.”
    “And who is everyone, exactly?”
    “I’ll tell you on the way.”
    Rainey took Ariana’s hand and pulled her resolutely out of the room before she could change her mind, snagging the bag in the doorway as well, as she passed through. They got all the way to the elevator before they were noticed.
    “Excuse me, but it is after lights out and you will have to return to your rooms immediately,” a nurse said as she walked toward them.
    Rainey turned around and smiled at the nurse. “Oh, I’m sorry, you must not have been informed. This is my sister and I am checking her out. I’m not a patient here, see? Here is my visitor’s badge.”
    “No, I wasn’t aware of this and I am the Head Nurse on this floor. No one leaves without a supervisor’s approval. Please come with me.”
    Rainey stepped in the nurse’s path and looked her in her eyes. “Clearly, you don’t understand me. I am taking my sister out of here tonight. Are we agreed?”
    “Yes,” the nurse nodded, “I agree, your sister leaves with you tonight.”
    “Thank you, have a nice night,” Rainey said as she bundled Ariana into the elevator.”
    “How’d you do that?”
    “Do what?”
    “What do you mean, do what? You did something to that nurse to make her agree with you!”
    “I told you I would.”
    “Would what?”
    Rainey rolled her eyes. Were they going to play twenty questions all the way home? “Oh, good grief, put a spell on her – that’s what.”
    “You’re a witch?”
    “Finally! You should play Jeopardy; someone’s got to lose.”
    “I am crazy.”
    Rainey didn’t comment. She wasn’t in the mood for any more twisted conversation, at least until they were airborne. Once outside, she put a spell on the whole hospital, to be sure, and then rushed Ariana to the van.
    After dropping their beautiful transportation outside the airport/auto rental office, now in darkness, Rainey led Ariana to the plane.
    “We’re flying?” Ariana asked, her face a mask of terror.
    “Yep.”
    “Ooohh, I hate flying.”
    Rainey took Ariana’s hand and pulled her up the steps. “Just buckle up and quit whining. You’ll be fine. I’m a pro. Or do you want me to knock you out for the duration?”
    “I’ve had enough of being out , thank you very much,” Ariana mumbled, fastening her seat belt with shaky fingers.
    She leaned back in her seat and looked out the window, trying to focus on calm thoughts so she wouldn’t pass out in fright. Rainey was right – she didn’t seem to handle fainting all that well.
    The plane took off and they were on their way to some place she had never heard of. She didn’t know anyone there or even what they were, for that matter. Ariana wasn’t sure what