“Yes, doc.”
“I’m ready when you are, dear.” He gestured to the long leather couch.
She walked around me, still refusing to acknowledge my presence. I took the seat the doctor indicated while Zayne dropped to a chrome stool next to the couch. Sensing her anxiety, my stomach muscles twisted as she ran her tongue over her lips and settled on the couch. Avoiding my gaze, she focused her nervous eyes on Zayne. He winked then offered her a comforting smile. Jealousy meandered through every nerve as I wished for that same reaction of comfort and trust from her.
Pulling up another stool, Dr. Landers sat and gently patted her arm. “Relax, dear, there’s no need to be nervous. You’ve done this before. Okay?”
Nodding, Ashrika reclined fully on the couch. Landers made a few adjustments to his watch then eased a gold pendulum hanging on a chain out of the top pocket of his coat.
“All right, I want you to take a deep breath.” He gave her hand another gentle squeeze. “Try your best to rid your mind of all thoughts and concentrate your energy on this pendulum, okay.” Slowly, he swayed the object in front of her face.
I watched as she fixed her eyes on the pendulum, following its sway for what seemed like an eternity but was a couple of minutes. Her eyelids drooped and she appeared to be fighting the lethargy. But as Dr. Lander’s soft words of encouragement filtered through the air, her features relaxed until she finally closed her eyes in surrender.
“She’s gone under now.” He looked at me. “Do you want to swap seats with Zayne? I nodded. We stood and exchanged seats. “I’m going to ask her a few random questions to necessitate her calm then I’ll begin the in-depth ones, okay with you?”
“Yes.” I clenched my fingers in anticipation.
For the next minute, Landers asked her a selection of general questions. I reined in my impatience for him to begin questioning her about the kidnapping.
“I’m going to take you to a specific date now, and I want you to remember the last thing before you woke up in the hospital.” his soft statement had me fully focusing my attention on her. I didn’t want to miss out on any information she might recall. Her brow creased briefly before her relaxed expression transformed into panic. Her body tensed and her fingers latched onto Landers’ arm.
“Easy, dear, you’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you,” he soothed. “Tell me what you see.”
Without giving any thought to my action, I reached out and gently clasped her hand. Immediately, the tension in her body slackened and she released her hold on the doctor’s arm, holding on to mine with both hands. He and Zayne gaped at me.
“What do you see, Ashrika?” Landers coaxed once more.
While her features remained calm, the rapid movement beneath her closed lids signaled she was either afraid or forcing herself to see something. I had no idea how the treatment worked, and I prayed like hell it did.
“It’s dark. I can’t see anything. Smells rancid...like dead fish. There’s...” she broke off and tension nipped the tendons in my neck until she began speaking again. “Light. A sliver of light on my left. It...its...looks like a crack in the wall—a window. Outside,” her voice remained whisper soft as though she feared someone would hear her thoughts.
“Go on,” Landers urged.
“There’s noise outside...sounds like seagulls and heavy vehicles...machinery—noisy. I can’t tell. It’s blurred.”
“Do you see any people?”
“No one...my eyes...”
“What’s wrong with your eyes?”
“Hurt. My hands...I can’t move my hands...tired. Thirsty, Water. I’m scared, please, I need to get out...please—help me!” Her voice rose in a crescendo, her fear so tangible I felt it in the tight grip on my hand. She let go, her hands flailed helplessly as though grabbing for a lifeline. Her breathing sped up, her chest rising and falling in quick succession.
I opened my mouth to say something and Landers shook his head. “It’s all right, Ashrika. No one’s going to hurt you. Listen to my voice. I’m right here with you. Take a deep breath and clear your mind,” he whispered, his tone gentle.
With my heart in shreds, I reached for her hands once more. Bringing them to my lips, I kissed each one softly. “Bring her out, doctor,” I whispered.
“Are you sure?”
“Trent?” Zayne stood and neared me. “Are you sure you want that? She hasn’t said anything yet.”
My stomach muscles tightened. As much as I wanted to hear the details that led to her kidnap, I couldn’t stand her pained expression. “Yes. She’s scared, Zayne.”
“All right I’ll—” Landers began.
“I have to get out. My hands...I can see...my head hurts,” Ashrika’s abrupt babble cut him off.
“What’s outside the window, Ashrika?” he asked, his eyes on me. I nodded.
