Page 38 of Asylum

He literally pulled an icepick from his kitchen drawer, and used an actual hammer to perform the first transorbitallobotomy. He said the other doctor’s unsuccessful attempts were due to unsturdy instruments.

The man had balls of steel, I’ll give him that.

They later named the icepick an orbitoclast, and people were standing in line to have their brainsrewired. The articles about his work were insane.

Pun intended.

He used shock therapy to render his patients unconscious. He’d peel back their eyelid, inserting the icepick into the orbital socket, giving it a few taps with the hammer to break through the bone plate, and wiggle the icepick around to sever the frontal lobe. A towel would be held beneath their mouth and nose to catch mucus leaking from their orifices.

It was incredible.

I’d give anything to have been around back then, to witness the procedure in person.

An answer to mental illness was uncovered, but as usual, all good things must come to an end. The public got wind of some unpleasant side effects and a few deaths. All hell broke loose, and the doctor was banned from performing any more lobotomies. Convulsions, confusion, partial paralysis, and zombie-like behavior were reported, but with all experimental treatments, there’ll always be failures. It’s part of the process.

After brain hemorrhaging, trouble speaking, and loss of personality were brought to the attention of the medical boards, lobotomies were forbidden, and slowly faded from existence. Some doctors still practice the treatment under the radar, and lucky for me, Dr. Halstead is one of them.

They portrayed the doctor as a monster, deeming himself as a god, his ego too large to see the scope of what he was doing. I see him as an artist, an innovative thinker, a unique man who challenged nature. He may have been crucified in the public eye,but I think highly of his abilities, and I’m beyond grateful to follow in his footsteps.

This will change everything.

While I’ve never performed a lobotomy myself, I’ve watched and learned while Dr. Halstead has on multiple occasions. The anticipation pumping through my veins has it’s own pulse inside my head. I’ve never felt so alive. I couldn’t wait any longer, and I gave Olivia something to help her sleep soundly, instead of sedating her. The familiarity of restraining her brings a smile to my face.

Soon, little doll.

Once she wakes up, she’ll be mine forever without question. She’ll have no choice but to look to me for guidance and answers. I’ll be her hero. Her savior.

Nothing will come between us.

She’ll never be overwhelmed by her disorders again, and I’ll have my beautiful, little plaything at my disposal whenever I want. As soon as Olivia opens her emerald eyes, she’ll be at my mercy, more so than before. While I’m confident she’s healed enough to have the lobotomy, I’ve given her a valium to calm her nerves and mind. The last thing I need is her fighting me during this delicate procedure.

As I sit beside her, watching her sleep peacefully, she begins to stir, and the excitement is like a kickstart to my chest. Her beautiful eyes flutter open, a cold stare pinning me with hatred.

I’ll be glad when that look is gone.

“What are you going to do to me now?” It’s the first words she’s spoken since I’ve brought her here, and I must say, it adds a little pep to my step.

Confirming the strap around her head is secure, my thumb wipes away the lone tear leaking from the corner of her eye. “I’m going to fix you, little doll.”

Her eyes fall shut as she whispers, “I just want to be free.”

“I’m going to free your mind, Olivia. It’ll all be over soon.” Tracing her left eyebrow with my fingers, I grin, knowing my words are true. “Now open your eyes.”

Her gaze finds mine, and so many emotions flash across her face.

Worry.

Terror.

Defeat.

She’s yet to realize she’s being given a gift, not understanding how truly lucky she is to have met me. I’m going to banish the demons from her mind, and give her the opportunity for a real life.

With me.

“The medication I gave you has had time to take effect. Let’s begin.” She blinks in response. “Would you like me to talk you through it, little doll?” I ask, putting on a pair of latex gloves.

“No,” she whispers so softly, I almost miss it.