I inhale and the dust stings. I start to cough and choke. I can’t breathe, my lungs are going to explode. A silent scream echoes in my head.
Wait, it’s not silent.
My scream echoes around the cold room and my vision darkens.
Slap.
A hand smacks me hard, walloping my cheek.
“COME BACK,” a voice calls. Who? What’s happening?
Air.
I suck in a deep lungful then exhale. My eyes begin to focus.
Once again Janine Hart's face hovers over me. Her eyes seem almost a solid black.
I let out an involuntary moan as she reaches down a hand and strokes my cheek. “Ah, there you are. David, release the restraints.”
My head is spinning.
Spinning.
I lean to the side and vomit.
“You’ll feel better momentarily, dear.”
Slowly I begin to feel a little more, not exactly normal, but less like I’m dying.
“Get her water, Wesley.”
Water. Yes. I need water. More than I’ve ever needed something in my life.
A hand helps me up to sitting. With my wrists now unbound, I take the paper cup.
“So, my dear Theodora. This is a new chapter for you.”
And now I need to act.
“Yes, ma’am,” I mumble through chapped lips.
Dr. Hart claps her hands. “See, Wes? Placid and docile. She’ll become our fattened calf, isn’t that right, Theodora?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I repeat, internally shuddering at her words.
“So, tonight you will return to Validus Vale. Once there, you are to be a good student, stay out of trouble and do anything that Wes tells you to do. Understand me?”
“I understand.”
“Good girl. I also don’t want you fraternizing with lower levels. Your ally is Wesley. Also Jordan Singleton-Smith and Cosmo Drakeward.”
“Wes, Jordan, Cosmo…” The words echo around my head. “No lessers.”
“Excellent.”
“May I ask a question, doctor?” the lab tech asks.
“You may.”
