Chapter Three- humility?

ZUMA

I awoke to the sounds of monitors beeping and the sickening smell of disinfectant, there was a dull ache in my head accompanied by a slow but steady thrumming, I let myself grow attuned to the room, taking in the white but plain surroundings, a couple of machines seemed to be hooked up to me, other than that the room seemed depressingly empty and bland, causing my head to spin, the lack of color making me sick.

I managed to sit up but then I realised my hands had been bound rather tightly to the sides of the bed and I shivered slightly at the thought of having him finding me here, completely tied and bound up, Just imagining the nasty smile he would have was enough to make me lose rationality and completely immerse myself into attacking my restraints.

I was still fiddling unceasingly with my restraints when the Matron walked in, she was her usual tall and stout self with a height most women could only dream of, her hair had just began to show some sliver of aging and she would have been very beautiful if she didn’t give off such an unnerving look when you focused in on her piercing blue eyes.

“So the runaway finally awakens” She said in a slightly accented voice “How are you feeling?”

“W-where am I?” My voice came out broken and parched like I’d gone on for weeks without water

“Considering the fact that you clawed your way here yourself, you ought to have figured it out yourself now” She said

A small smile snuck it’s way across my face, I’d made it, it held an incomparable amount of pleasure to have that small victory, almost like a tiny hope could be lit up in me, The Matron completely ignored me as she proceeded to check the machines I was hooked up to letting me bask in the small victory that I had just gotten, at least before reality hit.

“Where’s he” My voice came out shaky, completely unmasking the tough facade I was trying to put on. “Is Paul here?”

“Hmm, On first name basis with that lecher already?” She replied with a slight frown “Don’t ask for things that are bad for you girl, relax we’ll discuss the matter of him after you’ve recovered, I’ll go send for some food”

Her tone left no room for disobedience, I was used to such assertive dominance so I lowered my head and nodded meekly, I had one hand freed during lunch and the attendant kept an eye on me as I wolfed down the food, not that I could perform a proper escape even if I had wanted to, after seconds and thirds of what seemed to be the best tasting porridge/sludge that I had ever tasted, I once again drifted off into sleep.

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This became sort of a steady and constant routine for me, falling asleep and then waking up to eat with only the fear of Paul haunting my dreams with his long whip whistling in the air as it arced towards me with a deadly force, I woke up in constant fear and sweat dripping from every pore of my skin as the ghost of his hands trailed its way across my body.

By the fourth day I was well enough to get about on my own and under supervision I was allowed to take walks around the wards, I half expected Paul to pop out from some hidden corner with his evil glint in his eye and try to forcefully take me back and so I opted for the quiet and solace of the room, only taking walks when it was completely deemed necessary by the Matron.

It was day 6 and the sub had found it’s path midway in the sky when the Matron walked in, this was the first time she’d come back after our first conversation

and instantly the temperature of the room seemed to drop off by a few too many degrees

“How are you feeling?” She asked with a smile that felt like she was trying too hard

“Better thank you” I replied shortly and calmly with my head facing down

“Good, then you have no qualms in taking a walk with me” she said beckoning on the attendant to loosen my restraints

I trailed behind her in a silent fashion as she led the way to a secluded ward downstairs, the stench of blood seemed to hit hard as we got closer and I could see the blood splattered on the door and caught a glimpse of the headless body inside, just before it was covered up

“Thats Paul” She said her tone completely devoid of emotions “he went out to look for you when you ran and he had a terrible accident, someone took his head last night, he’s dead”

He’s dead.

He’s dead.

The word seemed to echo repeatedly in my head over and over again, a slow burn started in my chest and I couldn’t help the tears that flowed from my eyes, I was free, it left quite a taste in my mouth but I was free, karma had been fucking exacted.

“I know he was cruel to you, the others are being moved away as we speak and….”

The rest of her words trailed off into nothing as the burning feeling in my chest seemed to spread and intensify, something was wrong, my vision blurred and I keeled over just as the Matron’s loud voice yelled for assistance.

My head was groggy and a bitter taste was left in my mouth as I stumbled in and out of consciousness, whispers of conversations forced their way though enveloping my subconscious.

“Can this even be called cancer?” A thick male voice boomed “ there are effects of radiation all over her, did she go running through a nuclear bomb site?”

“What can be done?” The Matron’s voice wafted into my ears sounding very panicked “she cannot die, you should be-“

“I am not a miracle worker Elena, the worst I can do is keep administering the prototype, it would slow the effects of the cancerous growth, but it will leave her in a vegetative state or in a coma forever, you have to understand that the drug isn’t perfect yet, we-”

“Do it” The Matron said stiffly “ I will take full responsibility for your actions”

“You have to understand, you are condemning her to a fate worse than death!”

“Do it Melnik or I will!”

Arid hands grabbed mine and held onto them tightly

“You’re all that’s left of him” The Matron whispered, her hot breath blowing across my face “you are all that’s left of my memories of him, I can’t have him but I’ll be damned to hell if I let you die!”

“Do It Melnik!”

The feel of a needle assaulted my senses and as the drugs found it’s path in my veinsI felt my grip on consciousness slipping and the dark reached out for me.

A fate worse than death. Just what had I done to deserve this.