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one ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 2024
"Tell me what happened." Doctor Riveria says, her voice like silk covered cocoons, one that wrapped the woman sitting opposite of her in comfort. Annalise Murdock shifted in the leather seat uncomfortably, hating the feeling of the material. She kept silent. The doctor let out a sigh, removing the small little eyeglasses, tapping against the notepads binding, the scratching sound caused Annalise to cringe. There were days when it felt too loud or too quiet, it was a loud one today. She was getting bother by everything today, especially Doctor Riveria. The doctor took note of this. "Ms. Murdock, would help visual it? How about you lay back and close your eyes. I want to try something new today." The woman says.
Annalise obliges, laying down in a stiff manner. Relax, the doctor warns. "So, close your eyes, please. I want you to breath in for four and breathe out for four. Okay? We'll go from there, understood?" Annalise nods, screwing her eyes shut. One, two, three, four. Okay. One, two, three, four. Again. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. "Now, I want you to try and visualize the midpoint of your time in the facility. What happened there? Tell me." The doctor demands. A crease forms between Annalise's brows, before softening. She tries to remember the midpoint of her imprisonment. Annalise feels a click and remembers. "Anna, do you remember?" Anna nods.
"It was May, I think. They played the song everyday and kept me on the bed. There was a handcuff on one of my wrists. I could hear my—my friends, they were screaming, too...I don't want to do this." Annalise tries to sit up, but the doctor halts her. Try again, she urges. "They only spoke in German around me. They were telling me to sleep again. That's all they ever made me do, doctor. Sleep, listen to the same three songs, inject the serum, and hurt me. That's all they did." Schlafen, she could hear the same voices in the back of her head ordering her to sleep. She didn't want to sleep, not anymore. Annalise gripped the sides of the chair, knuckles whitening slightly.
"Have you tried listening to the song since?" Doctor Riveria asked, cocking her head. She watched as Anna shook her head. "Would you like to try it again? This could be a turning point for you, Annalise." Riveria awaited a response from the woman across from her.
Annalise inhaled, then exhaled. "I guess me hearing it under other circumstances is most likely inevitable. It wouldn't hurt to try." She says. It could hurt—it was an...excruciating memory, Annalise knows that. But Annalise wants to learn how to grab her nightmares by the throat, so, maybe this will help. Doctor Riveria stands, walking to the desk behind Annalise, returning with a cassette player. She hands Annalise a dusted cassette.
"I want you to put it in and play it when you're ready." Riveria says, and Annalise nods. She looks at the cassette for a moment, contemplating. Two minutes pass and she leans forwards, sliding the cassette into the player. Part of her hopes it ejects the tape, or the whole thing will combust and catch fire. The eerie melody crawls into her ears, itching and slithering across her skin. Annalise does her best to wind her neck uncomfortably.
