Page 94 of No Asylum Here

Rook loomed over me with that noseless leer.

Fuck. He looked awful. While the angry claw marks marring his face were rapidly healing, they were still visible, making it known to everyone who looked at him that he bled just like everyone else.

“It’s about respect, girl. My staff must respect me. Be grateful I’m not leaving you outside with the failed experiments. I have hope for you yet. You just need a little obedience. So, I think throwing you in general pop for the next several decades or so will teach you a thing or two about how good you had it before.”

The audience pushed forward, pushing closer to the surgery floor. If it weren’t for the orderlies surrounding the gurney, they’d be crowding in on me.

If I were just another soul, perhaps they would have left me alone. There had to be some sort of organized alliance among the patients.

I wasn’t naïve enough to convince myself into the false security that they wouldn’t take the opportunity to hurt me just because I’d been nice to a handful of them. Even if I wasn’t a doctor anymore, I was an outsider. The prominent veins on my arms and legs marked me as one of the staff. That made me the enemy.

“Fuckin’ bitch,” one yelled.

“We don’t want her with us,” another said. “Put her in Ward Four!”

A woman made a sign of the cross over her chest, and a man yelled out in Spanish, “Demonio!”

“Everyone play nice with your newest playmate,” Rook mused, loving every moment of this. “She’s been masked for your safety. But be careful, this pussy has claws.”

I glared at Rook, taking what satisfaction I could from the red ribbons I’d sliced into his face.

“Next time, we’ll get him in the dick and make him eat it,” the voice of my demon promised in my ear.

“Welcome to your new home, Doctor,” Rook said, his eyes flashing green. “You’ll find this ward far less comfortable than your old accommodations. But you chose your side. I gave you a chance to have power in this place, meaning. You could have helped me further my research as my employee. You’re still going to help, of course, but now, you’ll do so as my experiment.”

Without another word, he turned and left.

To my horror, the orderlies followed him out in a single file without anyone bothering to free me from the gurney.

“Wait! You forgot to unstrap me!” I tried to keep my frayed nerves from taking over as the angry mob of tortured souls poured onto the surgery floor and closed in on me. Hands—so many hands touched me. They plucked at my hair and groped my breasts. Several were already wedging their digits between my legs.

Groping. Pulling. Penetrating me with crusty, nail-bitten fingers.

No. No. No!

I closed my eyes and tried to summon the strength of my monster to free me. She didn’t answer. I couldn’t control it.

All I could do was lie there and count.

One. Two. Three.

One. Two. Three.

Counting wasn’t working. Anxiety ate me alive, sending me into a spiral. This was beyond cruel. At least I’d made Rook’s death a quick one. But that evil bastard didn’t play fair. He’d thrown me to the wolves with no means of protecting myself while strapped down and muzzled.

Rook’s only answer was a distant laugh as he exited the surgery theater.

“Keep your shit together, Tuesday. And no matter what, don’t cry.”

“Stay away from her!” a feminine voice shrilled loud enough to make everyone present fall quiet. The hands lifted from me, and suddenly I could breathe again.

“Back off, you fucks! She’s with me. I know her. Dr. Beckett!”

Like an angel out of heaven, Bunny emerged from the crowd and elbowed her way to the front.

“Bunny!” I cried out for joy at the friendly face. Knowing everything that I did about her now had my heart thrumming hard, a deep pang of relief warming me all over. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you. Untie me so I can hug you. Please.”

With an eager nod, she crawled onto the mattress with me and started undoing my restraints. She’d gotten as far as releasing one arm before someone snatched her off the gurney. “Let go! She’s my friend.”