My Dark Scientist

18 | Retribution

" Pouring in to put out the pain
Oh, again and again
Now am hyp, hypnotized
Yeah I trip, when I look in to your eyes
...Yeah I slip and am mesmerized"

~ Coldplay, Hypnotized

•

~ E L L O R A ~

I open my eyes -

- and shut them again.

A bright white light hits my eyes all at once which makes me scrunch my eyes and frown deeply.

A few moments later, I try opening my eyes again. This time slowly, as I know better.

My eyes takes few moments to adjust.

And when they do, my brain gets all jumbled up.

For a whole minute I don't remember where I am.

I do a quick check of my surroundings.

A room, which I cannot describe because everything is pretty much draped in darkness.

There is one single low-powered lamp lightening the room with dancing shadows. And illuminated by its light, is a lean figure sitting beside my bed. His one foot resting on the knee of his other leg, with a book open on his lap. The first few buttons of his loose flannel shirt is open. A trail of slight chest hair disappears inside the shirt. He has his glasses on and he seems to be completely immersed in his book.

And the sight of Professor Langdon brings back every single memory like water gushing out of a dam suddenly opened. I now remember where I am - I now remember I don't want to be here.

Professor Langdon looks up abruptly.

Our eyes meet for a fraction of a second- beforeI remove my eyes and start to get up.

"How do you feel?" His voice rings out throughout the silence of the room smoothly.

"Fine." I mutter softly

From the corner of my eyes, I notice him shut his book, keep it aside and mount the bed.

My heart beat increases abruptly.

He places his palm on my forhead. A very safe gesture...the feel of the rough, callused, warm hand sends my heartbeat running for the hills anyway.

"Your temperature is normal now, " he says looking straight at my eyes with a calm look," nevertheless you need rest. I would suggest go back to - "

"Home. I want to go back home." I say interrupting him, thanking the Lord silently that my voice is no more shaking.

He does not say anything. He has his trademark impassive expression, unreadable as always.

After a minute he says simply, "Go back to sleep Ellora."

The nerves of him..

I turn my eyes away and start to remove the warm blanket from over me. "I have to - "

"Ellora." There is a veiled warning behind his calm tone.

I sigh. I know I had lost this war before it had even begun.

So I do as told. I lay back down and turn facing away from him.

Then there is absolute silence.

I don't try to sleep and sleep never comes.

Professor Langdon does not say anything for the next few minutes either.

Until,

"For all the things I said earlier... I may have overreacted a bit." His voice is soft once again.