Chapter Five

Day 7

Calla noted the sky above her she watched the sun rise and set twice and, if he was telling the truth, then today Beautiful would return for her.

If he’s telling the truth
Liar!
He’s tricky
Liar!
He won’t come!
He’s abandoned us!

All she did for those two days was sit in her corner cuddling her doll and praying for the time to pass quicker and the voices in her head to just be silent.

Early on the third morning Wylie woke her and took her down to his special testing room. Wylie said it was his special game room but they did not play games here even an insane woman knew that much.

“We’re going to play a game, does that sound good?” Wylie asked and watched her face fall. “No, not like the other day.” He assured her and was glad to see that she might have some level of recollection left to her.

Hopefully not like that! That was a terrible game! Wylie and a few orderlies came  into her room very late one night and they took her down to some place cold and musty. They shoved her through a doorway and then locked the door behind her.

Calla found herself in a dark dank room that she didn’t know. She banged on the door with unbound hands but no one came. Then a very hot burst of air came up through somewhere that she couldn’t see in the dim light and it shot between her legs and through the flimsy material of the pjs. Calla moved to be away from it and soon found she was being herded along a maze. When she made a correct turn she was rewarded with a bit more light so she could make out her surroundings. When she made a wrong turn something not as nice happened. More hot jets of air and even electric shocks (thought she couldn’t have told that’s what they were).  She didn’t know how long it took her to get through the maze the first time but by the time they made her do it for the third time she was certain that she was very fleet of foot and did not make a single wrong turn. He made her do it several more times after that by the time they let her go back to her room she was exhausted.

Wylie produced a small deck of cards from his desk. “Look at this.” Again from the desk he produced a sheet of paper on which were seven shapes then he fanned the cards out to show her they had the same shapes as the paper. “I’m going to draw a card and you’re going to tell me what shape is on it, ok?”

Her brow furrowed and she looked around as she breathed a heavy sigh. Wylie pointed to the paper with the shapes. “Remember, we played this game in session yesterday, in my office. Ready?”  He drew the top card. “What is it?” Wylie asked pointing to the blue back of the card in his hand then to the shapes on the paper. “What is it?”

Nothing.

Sitting there watching him Wylie turned his card around so she could see the image; three wavy lines then he pointed at the same image on the paper in front of her.  Calla looked from one to the other and back again.

“Try again.” Wylie said stuffing the card in his hand below the deck and drawing another. “What is it? Which picture is on this card?”

Calla’s finger tapped on the crude image representing sunrise (or sunset depending on how you looked at it).

“Very good.” Wylie said with a smile and turned the card around so she could see the pictures matched. He reached into the big bowl on his desk and handed her a soft minty candy. “One more. What’s this one?”

They went on like that for the better part of an hour each time she got one right he went faster. In the beginning he gave her a mint each time but after five and he just went faster stopping to give a mint with every fourth or fifth one right. She tried so very very hard to be good and comply. She tried to concentrate and see the image on the card but it was difficult.  After a while she stopped trying and her mind wandered off to parts unknown.

With the cards now back in his desk Wylie typed notes into his laptop and was very pleased. Calla had scored twice as high today as yesterday.  It was clear she still a good deal of psychic abilities left to her no matter what Dr. Jackson reported.  However, like yesterday she just sort of fritzed out after a little while and sat there with that blank expression on her face. Her empathic ability was growing as noted by last nights crying fest.  The way she negotiated the maze the other day had been very impressive! It seemed that it was just her cognitive and communication abilities which were lacking now. Sooner or later she could be reached, he was sure of it.

“Did you like seeing Daniel yesterday?” Wylie asked. “He said you recognized him. That you spoke. Can you speak, Calla?  Are you bullshitting me?” Calla just sat there with her hands in her lap staring at him with those wide blank eyes.  Wylie was not a newcomer to the ‘I Can Fool The Shrink’ game it was so very difficult to tell with her. “Mr. Taylor, if you would please.” The orderly came across the room to stand behind Calla. “Remove her top, I want to get more photographs of the bruises on her shoulders.” 

Mr. Taylor reached out to slide the top off and Calla spit in his face not just any lump of spit but a nice chunky one she got from her nose and the back of her throat. As he stumbled back a few steps she tore off from the couch only to be caught by Wylie’s cold hand. “Stop that my dear, you’ll only make it worse.”  She didn’t want to hear any crap like that so she kicked him square in the balls—which she doubted he had but he still went down.  (Only briefly, Mr. Taylor was a long-time orderly and knew enough to wear a cup to work on a daily basis). She turned to run but still she was not quick enough. Mr. Taylor and tackled her from behind. Wrenching one arm up behind her back he reached for the hem of the top with the other.

“Doc says take this off so off it goes.” He pushed and twirled her around as though she were no more than the rag doll she had hidden in her room until the flimsy cotton top slipped over her head.  “Get up so the doc can take your pitcher.” He wrangled the small woman to her feet. “Nice ones.” He remarked looking her up and down and taking in the entire right side of her body which was bruised shoulder to hip from throwing herself into the door.  “Titties with no nipples….it’s fuckin’ funny, huh, doc? She got a pussy with no hair too, did’ja know that, doc?”

“Yes, I did.” Wylie told while he snapped pictures with a Polaroid camera. He even fished a ruler out of his drawer so that the bruises could be measured and noted and snapped more effectively. The dark ugly bruising was not healing as swiftly as Wylie would have liked, for that matter neither were the gouges on her face and he’d been keeping just as meticulous track of them. Surely an Olympian would have better healing powers than this. Then again, Wylie wasn’t privy to the information regarding Blue Energy and the Brothers Jackson. “That’s good. All done with this...for today.”

Calla flopped down to the couch.

“No, no, no. Get up my dear, we’re going to play another game. It’s called ‘I Can See Inside Your Mind.’ Sound like fun?”

Before she knew it Mr. Taylor was hauling her topless body from the couch and pushing her over toward another type of testing area. This area had a big chair in which a person laid down—and was strapped into—it had computers and buttons, and whizzbangs and gizmos of all sorts. The one time she’d sat there she didn’t like it so as they neared the chair she started to resist and from her throat came low guttural grunts and groans. Mr. Taylor was a very big man who accepted no guff from her when she started to pull away he just picked her up like she was nothing more than a football then he dumped her into the chair. Wylie put the straps on her wrists and her ankles then they put the sticky things on her head. She hated them They were awful.  Wylie said they did hurt but they did! Every time he turned the knobs and the buttons the pain got worse!  “We’re going to try this today, sound like fun?”  In front of her eyes he held up a small device that Calla thought she should know but couldn’t place. Mr. Taylor finished putting the sticky suction cups on her head and was now putting more of them on her chest.

 “Secure them tightly this time.  We want to get accurate readings.” He turned his attention back to Calla. “Everything all right now, all comfy?”  Wylie leaned in closer and put the small device on the left side of her head. “Just a little pinch now.”

THOINK

“Ahhhh!” Calla screamed and wriggled in the chair. Little pinch? Was he crazier than she? Something in that little device sunk into her brain! She felt it go right through the skull and attach itself to the gray matter beyond.  “Ahhh, n-n-n-….”

“Stop that, you’ll only make it worse.” Wylie told her. Still she struggled and she whimper and cried out.  Then he turned it on. If she’d been in a better state of mind she would have recognized it for what it was; a goa’uld mind device. Eros used one on Daniel years ago to make him think he was David and Eros used the same nasty little thing on her to make her believe she was his Wife.  “If you’re faking then I’m sure this will let me know.”

**

With his experiments over for the day Willie had Taylor carry Calla back to her room and then he proceeded to make several telephone calls. Daniel was due to come up in two hours and visit with his Wife but that wasn’t going to happen today. He couldn’t have Dr. Jackson seeing her like this.

“Hello, Daniel, it’s Willie. Didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I?”

“No, I’m just finishing up a few things.”

“Look, I know you’re looking forward to seeing Calla but today isn’t a good day I’m afraid I’m going to cancel your visit….Nicholas’ too. I see he’s slated to see her in an hour. Would you….”

“What happened?” Daniel demanded. “I promised her I’d be there today.” If he knew her at all she’d been counting the sunrises and hoping he would keep his word.

“I’m afraid she had a rather bad episode in session today. I had to sedate her very heavily, Daniel.  Perhaps in another day or two you could…..”

“Damn it!”  Today made a full week that she’d been there. One week and one day to go and he could take her home.  If she could just hold on that long everything would be all right. He’d bring her home where he could take care of her and the kids would dote on her and make sure she had everything she needed. They’d be so much better for her spirits than Willie and his band of merry mis-fit orderlies. “I’m sorry, Willie but isn’t there some way I could….”

“Not today Daniel. I’m sorry. I’ll call you in a day or so and let you know how she’s doing. You will tell Nicholas wont you? Thanks. Bye.” Willie hung up only to dial a second number.  “When can we get together? I’ve got some interesting new data to show you.”

“What have you got? Is she talking?”

“No, just calm down.” Willie looked over the read-outs in his hand. “Her brain is pretty well scrambled but her talents are still there.”

“Really? Well that’s good to know.”

“I thought you’d be pleased, Senator.” Willie remarked and he and Senator Kinsey made plans to get together over drinks in the early evening.  “What about the pregnancy?  It’s still too early to do a paternity test but the chances are looking good at the fetus is at least three-quarters Olympian.”

“We’ll talk about that some more too. When’s the soonest you can get one done?”

“Without much risk to the fetus….after birth but other than that another month or so. I take it we’ll be keeping her as our guest?”

“We will. Start whatever paperwork you need to in order to make that happen. See you tonight.”

The line went dead in Willie’s hand but he smiled nonetheless.

**

Calla didn’t remember much of anything after being put in the chair. The next thing she really knew is that she was back in her room huddled on the floor with the rag doll in her hand watching the silvery light of the moon pass by over head. The day was gone.

Beautiful did not come.

Told he’s a liar!
False!
A Trickster!
We Can’t Trust Him!

he knows that’s why he doesn’t come

Shut up! No one asked you!

We can’t trust anyone!

Something else that did not seem to arrive was a meal of any kind.  The only reason she had any concept of that was her grumbling stomach. The lights overhead dimmed signifying bedtime and she began to cry. Another cold lonely night in this awful place. How many more could she take?  Then she brightened a little as she thought that, perhaps, just maybe, her nocturnal visitor might return tonight. At first she was afraid of him but not so much now he seemed very nice and concerned just as Beautiful and Poppa had been but they were gone and they were not coming back no matter what they promised or how sincere they sounded. She’d been abandoned by them and could not look to them for help or comfort.

Their word isn’t worth shit!

he knows and he hates us for it

Knows what?
Shut up you little sniveling princess!

Behind her the door opened and in crept another nurse with another needle. Couldn’t they see that she didn’t need anything to calm her? She could hardly move as it was. Something drained all the energy out of her but she couldn’t remember what that had been though she was quite sure it was something monstrous.

No more needles! Please no more needles! Calla screamed out in her voice in her own head but the only ones who could hear her were the other voices that lived here. They laughed and told her to enjoy the ride to come don’t fight it.  No more needles!  The nurse rolled her over, swabbed a bit of wet cotton on her cold forearm then slid the sharp instrument beneath her alabaster skin injecting its venomous contents into Calla’s body. My baby...please...don’t...no more…

Nurse Nancy McGee who’d been the night nurse on the 9^th floor for over ten years had seen and heard absolutely everything concerning every single one of the hundreds of patients which had come and gone through lockdown.  Dr. Willie discovered the rag doll yesterday and said she was to be allowed to keep it for the time being and that no one was to say anything about it they were all supposed to totally ignore its existence.  The damn thing was filthy, it a real disease infested rat trap if anyone were to ask her opinion, which they didn’t. Undoubtedly Willie was going to use the doll as some type of control device in the near future. Give her the doll when she’s good. Take it away when she’s bad and when you’re feeling a bit sadistic hold it high over her head and make her jump for it!

Blanket? Pillow? She tried to send the thoughts to the woman who was now taking the needle out of her arm, capping it and putting the used syringe into the pocket of her jumper.  Cold. Please I’m cold just one….

One what?

Just one….

ONE WHAT?

She couldn’t remember.  Calla knew what it was and couldn’t remember that the thing she wanted was called a blanket. Feeling incredibly frustrated and just as stupid as they all claimed she was, Calla closed her sad eyes as she brought her legs up tight under her chin and wrapped what she could of her arms around them knowing only that she was cold, alone and her stomach, the one with the real baby it, was grumbling uncontrollably.

More asleep than awake she heard a voice say; “What a tough day you’ve had, Little One.”

Not sure she’d heard the voice that was becoming familiar and welcome Calla rolled over and saw a shadow in the far corner move. Her visitor had returned! She crawled over to him. He never came out of the safety of the blackened corner she thought maybe he was afraid of the camera—well, on the rare moments she had a coherent thought anymore.

“I’ve brought you something.”  In the darkness the moonlight coming in from high above bounced off something gold in his gloved hand. “I want you to drink this. It will help you.”

Calla couldn’t take the cup he was offering she looked down at her still restrained hands longingly.

“Animals, who do they think they are to keep you chained this way?”  Waving his hand in the air the restraint belt at her waist fell away as the cuffs on her wrists opened. “Better.”  She smiled a sad insane grin for him and rubbed her wrists. “Drink.”

Drink. Something wet. Maybe even cold!  They always gave her warm milk or juice…tasted bad it never quenched her undying thirst. Calla grabbed for the cup before he could decide to snatch it away and drank down the entire contents of the warm but very sweet liquid. Swiping the back of a hand across her lips she held it the cup out for him with the other. More?

Very good, Little One.  Yes, you may have more. In his hand the cup magickally refilled itself and once again he handed it to her. Drink.

Cup in one hand and doll in the other Calla was very grateful for the drink as she’d had none all day but she was even more grateful just for his company and to know that she wasn’t alone at least in these five minutes.  Haddie was her visitor’s name and he looked so very much like Poppa, Haddie said that was because Ares was his nephew and that they were related. He commiserated with her and said she should not have to stay in a place like this. He gave her drink and sometimes food always did he promise he would take her out of here when she was better and they would go to a place where they played good games all day long and everyone was happy and no one ever died. Mother was there and she was waiting for Calla with much anticipation.  The nights Haddie came were the bright spots in her days.  Haddie told marvelous tales of Gods and Goddesses, he even said they were relatives of hers, he told of how they used their powers to help the lesser Mortals among them. These tales were so fantastic that she often dreamed about them later and the dreams were even more vivid than his stories. Calla didn’t much believe he told the truth and the deep part of her mind that could still reason thought he must be a patient here as well—although a much better one than Mr. Shitflinger!

With his gloved hand Hades reached out and touched the doll in her arms. “You know, I remember when the Graces made these for you.” He recalled easily. “Do you? Humm? They made, what, six of them? One for all the members of your family: Ares, Aphrodite, Eros, Zeus, Hera and…” he tugged on the doll, “you, right, Little One?”  He watched her nod. “Still can’t find your voice?  That’s all right. The drink will help.” Why didn’t Jackson take her out of here? Why did they let her languish this way?  Why did they let that horrible little man keep poking and prodding her? Didn’t they understand he’d begun sucking her brains right out of her head? Hades couldn’t let that happen to the only other Olympian on this rotten planet.  The Nectar he was giving her wouldn’t return her mind but it would help prevent further damage from being done.  He’d try to get her to eat Red Ambrosia but Ares and the others took the last of it with them and the harvest wouldn’t be in for a few weeks yet so in the interim the Nectar would have to suffice to stave off further harm.  “Come and sit with me.” Hades moved down the wall to sit on the padding while Calla followed him and then curled up at his side, one of his arms looped around her shoulders so that her head rested on his.  “I will tell you stories of the Underworld, sound good?” Against his shoulder she nodded. “You will fall asleep.  In the morning things will be better. Cerberus misses you, do you remember him?” Hades was a God, an Olympian, and at any moment he could snap his fingers and whisk both of them out of here but what good would that do him? Sooner or later Jackson would figure it out and he’d have to deal with him, his brother, Nicholas, Colleen and well….he’d really rather not.

Not very far from this very spot something wicked was brewing.  Hades knew they would need her in the very near future.  It was best if he stayed close by and if Jackson did not act in her best interest and damn soon then he would have no choice but to take her away from here and away from those who sought not to heal but to harm her. Yes, going to Jackson and kicking him in ass would probably be beneficial but, like his nephew Ares, Hades preferred to take a less active role at least for the moment. After all, where was the fun…the sport…in it if he had to point everything out to the foolish man?  “Comfortable, Little One?” Hades asked in a soft voice and felt her nod against him. “Good, now, Cerberus….”

End Chapter Five Of Faded Rose
By Moon Mistress
Continue to
Chapter Six