Ashley wakes up in a hospital room.
She takes in her antiseptic surroundings and screams.
Ashley panics. She doesn’t have the most vital extension of her life: her cellphone.
She pleads for the nurse to return it to her.
The nurse reluctantly obliges and hands Ashley her phone.
Ashley
Mark, are you there?
Ashley
Mark, Mark! Where are you?
Ashley
I’m in the hospital. Are you okay??
Ashley
Mark, answer me, please! I need you more than ever now.
Ashley feels the bandage that covers the wound on her stomach.
Ashley
I’m in so much pain.
Mark
I’m still here, babe.
Ashley
Oh my god. I thought I lost you.
Mark
I don’t know what happened.
Mark
Everything went black for a long time but I’m back.
Ashley
I don’t know, maybe Samantha?
Mark
Did they find out who did this to you?
Ashley
I don’t know, baby. I’m still so confused.
Ashley
Where are you? Can you come to the hospital?
Mark
I’m still stuck in this void, babe.
Mark
Yes, as soon as I get out of here.
Mark
But we need to figure out who did this to you.
Ashley
I just need you here with me.
Mark
Why would someone hurt you like this?
Ashley
I don’t know, baby.
Mark
Did you get a look at who it was?
Ashley
No, I don’t think so. I don’t know.
Ashley
Mark, can you just come here?
Mark
I think I recognized her.
Mark
Yes, the woman from the Red Room.
Mark
We have to stop her. We can’t let her attack you again.
Just then, two police officers enter Ashley’s hospital room.
Officer Bender
Ashley, I’m Officer Bender. And this is my partner, Officer Peterson.
Officer Peterson
We just have a few questions for you.
Ashley nods but continues texting on her phone.
Ashley
Oh my god, Mark! There are police officers here.
Mark
Babe, that’s good! You can describe the person who attacked you.
Ashley
We need them to find you first.
Mark
I don’t know if that’s possible anymore.
Ashley
What do you mean? Don’t say that!
Mark
I may not be meant to come back.
Ashley
Why are you saying this to me?
Ashley
If you don’t come back, I don’t want to live.
Officer Peterson
The paramedics said that you kept on calling out for someone named Mark.
Officer Bender
Who is Mark?
Ashley’s heart stops a beat and resumes in her throat.
Ashley
He’s…he’s a very good friend.
Ashley
He went to the…fraternity near my house
Then she starts typing on her phone.
Ashley
Mark, I just told them about you.
Mark
Where did you tell them I was?
Mark
They’re not going to be able to get in, though.
Ashley
Why not? They’re police officers!
Mark
They weren’t chosen, though.
Ashley
That doesn’t matter anymore, Mark. Your life is in danger.
Ashley
Don’t you want to come back to me?
Mark
Of course I do, babe.
Ashley
What do you see now? Are the reflections still there?
Mark
No, they’re all gone now.
Mark
It’s just me and a large video screen.
Ashley
I don’t understand. What’s on it?
Mark
You’re in the hospital.
Mark
No, it’s later. You’re getting discharged.
Mark
A nurse just handed you a prescription bottle.
Ashley
Mark, I hate pills.
Ashley
My same apartment?
Ashley
Does it look the same?
Mark
But you look different.
Officer Peterson clears his throat.
Officer Peterson
Ashley, did Mark do this to you?
Ashley doesn’t answer and starts furiously texting.
Ashley
Mark, they just asked if you hurt me!
Mark
Why would they think that?
Ashley
They think I’m hiding something!
Mark
Tell them everything, babe.
Ashley
I’m so upset. I just want them to find you.
Mark
They’ll get to the bottom of this. They’ll uncover the truth.
Ashley
Do you think so, Mark?
Ashley
I’m scared of what they might find.
Mark
Don’t be afraid, babe. It’s the best chance I have of getting out of here.
Ashley
What is going on there now?
Mark
I can see you just lying on your bed.
Ashley
That’s it? That’s all I’m doing?
Mark
You’re staring into your phone.
Ashley
What am I looking at?
Ashley
What do you mean, nothing?
Mark
There’s nothing on the screen. It’s completely blank.
Ashley
Then why I am looking at it?
Mark
I don’t know but you’re completely transfixed.
Mark
It’s like you’re waiting for something, but you know that it’s never going to arrive.
Ashley
Mark, what is happening??
Mark
You’re looking directly at me right now.
Mark
You told me that I have to escape.
Mark
And that it depends on you.
Mark
Yes, you can’t resist.
The door of Ashley’s hospital room opens.
Dr. Linda Malvern enters. She and the officers confer together in whispers.
The officer’s nod and leave the room.
Dr. Malvern
How are you feeling, Ashley?
Dr. Malvern
It’s okay. It’s just you and me now.
Ashley turns away from the doctor and looks at her phone.
Mark
The woman on the screen who’s you just said, “Don’t resist.”
Mark
And then the screen disappeared.
Ashley
I think I know what I mean. My therapist is here.
Mark
Your therapist? I didn’t know you were seeing a therapist.
Ashley
Yes, I should have told you.
Ashley
The school made me start going to therapy last semester.
Mark
Why didn’t you tell me?
Ashley
I didn’t want you to think I was crazy.
Mark
It’s nothing to be ashamed of, babe. We all need someone to talk to.
Dr. Malvern
Who are you texting, Ashley?
Ashley
Yeah, but I’m afraid.
Mark
Afraid of what, babe?
Ashley
To tell her that I’m talking to you.
Ashley
Because. I know what she’s going to say.
Mark
Just tell her the truth.
Ashley
I don’t know what that is anymore.
Ashley looks up and speaks to Dr. Malvern.
Ashley
I’m texting Mark, Dr. Malvern.
Dr. Malvern
Ashley, we’ve discussed this before. Mark does not exist.
