I pulled the IV needle out of my arm, ignoring the sharp sting of pain.

A drop of dark red blood welled up on my skin.

I stood up, my head spinning, and stumbled toward the door.

The corridor was a blur of blue and white scrubs as nurses ran toward the secure unit.

“Owen!” I cried out, my voice lost in the noise of the alarms.

Through the crowd, I saw my father arguing with a security guard at the nursery entrance.

The heavy metal door of the secure ward was standing wide open.

The magnetic lock had been bypassed.

I took another step forward, my hand gripping the cold metal doorframe of my room for support.

A security guard turned to look at me, his face grim.

“Ma’am, you need to step back inside,” he said, moving to block my view.

But I had already seen past him.

The small bassinet in the corner of the secure room was empty.

The striped blanket lay discarded on the floor.

A dark, heavy dread settled deep in my chest.