Page 9 of Asylum
“Good girl. Two.”
“Two.” My fingers begin to tap the side of my thigh as I continue counting along with him, his gentle voice soothing my rage.
He says a number, I repeat the number. We do this back and forth until he reaches ten.
Thank you for ending on an even number.
My body relaxes as I take a few deep breaths, my raw throat working slowly to produce some much-needed lubrication. Opening my eyes, Dr. Stone’s concerned gaze penetrates mine, and I know I’m fucked.
“They’re dead,” I whisper, fighting the tears trying to escape.
“They’re dead,” he states. “So is the orderly you managed to kill with a cot spring.” I swear he’s fighting a smile, and that should concern me, but it eases the tightening in my chest. “Tell me what happened, little doll.”
Holding his gaze, I sniffle. “Can you scratch my nose? It’s itching.”
He chuckles, raising his fingers to do as I asked. He watches me for a moment before undoing the leather restraints. I glance down.
Velcro, no metal.
He remembered.
Metal belt buckles trigger my PTSD, which triggers my IED. The sound is forever ingrained in my memory because of my stepbrother. Every time I heard the noise, it was like an alarm going off, letting me know he was about to rape me.
Nurse Carter enters the room, gasping. “Dr. Stone, I don’t think you should release her!”
His gaze remains on me as he speaks. “Good thing you don’t get paid to think, Nurse Carter. Leave the room and close the door behind you.”
She glares at his back, huffing out her frustration before exiting.
“Tell me,” he demands.
I sigh. “He came into my room being rude. I asked who he was. He backhanded me and unbuckled his belt. The switch flipped, and here we are.”
“Why did you wake up in a rage?” He asks, his brows furrowing.
“Dr. Sweeney figured out the hard way I don’t react well to sedatives. He didn’t put that in my file?”
He shakes his head. “I’m sorry about that, but I’m looking into different ways to calm you down during an episode. You had a spring in his neck, bleeding him dry. I don’t think counting was going to help.” He grins this time without trying to hide it.
“Shouldn’t you be upset or horrified?”
He winks. “I’m not your typical psychiatrist.” He stands, holding out his hand. “He deserved it anyway.” I take his hand as he pulls me up from the cot, brushing his thumb across my lip. “He got you good, little doll.”
“I got him back.”
Nurse Carter doesn’t speak a word as she opens the door, glaring at me with disgust. She steps to the side, silently demanding I follow her like a puppy going outside to take a piss.
I follow her down the hall to Dr. Stone’s office where she leaves me at the door. I knock quietly, before opening the door, noticing a paper gown lying across the couch. My head whips to side where he sits behind his desk.
“I’m going to perform your gynecological exam today.” He stands, coming around the desk. “Go into the bathroom and change into this.” He hands me the thin garment. “The open side is for your front.” My lips part, but he doesn’t budge. “Go, Olivia.”
He seems agitated, and it catches me off guard. I knew this day would come, but I thought I’d have more time. I hardly know this man, and he’s about to see me naked. Maybe he’s had time to think about yesterday, and he’s decided it was my fault after all.
Once I’m in the bathroom, I change into the paper gown, pulling it closed as tightly as possible. The material rips from my grip, and I sigh.Fuck.
Opening the door slowly, I find he’s waiting for me. “Climb onto the chair and place your feet in the stirrups.”
I’m unable to meet his gaze, so I turn quickly, lifting myself onto the chair. The paper rips again as I hold it together in a death grip as I lay back, securing my feet in the stirrups. I’m completely mortified, naked with my legs spread, my most intimate parts open for him to see.