Chapter 12: Swan Room
306 Words
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Code Blue alarms. NURSES running. DOCTOR CRUZ pushes past Mireille into Room 303.
MIREILLE
(back against wall)
She was awake. She said—
DOCTOR CRUZ
(inside, shouting)
Paddles! Charge 200!
The GIRL is on the bed. Eyes closed again. Heart monitor: FLATLINE.
Mireille looks down. Her HAND. She’s holding something.
The SKELETON KEY. It wasn’t on the nightstand. It’s in her fist. Cold.
INT. ROOM 303 - CONTINUOUS
DOCTOR CRUZ
Clear!
The girl’s body JOLTS. Nothing.
DOCTOR CRUZ (CONT’D)
Again. 300! Clear!
Another JOLT.
The lights FLICKER. Once. Twice.
Then:
GIRL
(sitting up, calm)
Stop. That hurts.
Everyone FREEZES.
Heart monitor: BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Normal.
The girl looks at Mireille. Points at the key.
GIRL (CONT’D)
That’s for the swan room. You forgot.
DOCTOR CRUZ
(to nurses)
Get Psych down here. Now.
Mireille can’t speak. The key BURNS in her hand.
INT. HOSPITAL BASEMENT - 10 MINUTES LATER
Old records. Boiler room. St. Martha’s files were moved here after the fire. City never shredded them.
Mireille uses the key. ROOM B. Rusted plaque: STORAGE.
Inside: WATER DAMAGED BOXES. One metal filing cabinet.
She yanks it open.
Top drawer: REVENAR, L.
Inside: Six BIRTH CERTIFICATES. All girls. All 6 years old. All burned on the chin. All named NYX DE LOS SANTOS.
Different years. 2002. 2008. 2014. 2020. 2026. 2032.
Mireille’s hands shake.
Bottom drawer: One file. DON SEVERINO REVENAR.
She opens it.
Empty. Except for a PHOTO.
The BLACK TREE. Taken today. Leaves green. On one branch: A SWAN carved into the bark.
Carved at 3:03 PM.
Timestamp on the photo: 3:03 PM.
Behind her, the basement door CREAKS.
GIRL (O.S.)
Found it yet?
Mireille turns.
The GIRL stands there. No hospital gown. White dress. No shoes.
GIRL (CONT’D)
He says it’s your turn to hide now.
The lights go out.
- Writer
