The Breaking Wheel

Chapter 18: Words Can Break My Bones

Dr. Collingwood woke up in that endless room again. But this time, she was tied up in a chair.

The tall man in the white three-piece suit was standing at a table a few feet away, facing away from her. He looked up.

"Ah, you're awake." He turned, revealing his yellow eyes.

"I was always awake," she growled.

"In a sense."

"Who are you?"

The man laughed. "Really? Really? Molly, my dear, you are a senior researcher. Logic, analysis, and deduction is your job. You humans are dumber than I thought."

"Well, I don't have much to work with. And anomalies are living 'f*ck you's' to logic."

The man turned away for a second and picked up what looked like a disk for a record player. "Ah, I love this one. It's one of my favorites, actually. You like it too?"

"I can't even see what it is. It's all but pitch-black here."

He didn't seem to hear her and picked up a book, flipping through its pages. "I must say, the secrets the Foundation has entrusted you with are fascinating. Such knowledge."

She bristled. "Keep your hands to yourself! Those are not for you to know!"

The man rolled his eyes. "Hmph. Anyways," he put the disk in a record player and turned it on, "I have a fun game for us to play. It's called 'What Makes Molly Tick?'"

"Don't you dare."

He looked back. "Ah, so this snake has fangs."

She fell silent.

The man turned away again, hands tucked behind his back. When he turned back, a wide, sinister grin stretched from ear to ear.

"Your mother died when you were a child, didn't you? On Mother's Day, of all days!" He cackled, as if it was something to laugh about.

Her hands curled into fists and her nails dug into her palms as hot, angry tears built up in her eyes. A lump began to form in her throat.

"Don't you remember Lawrence? Your knight in shining armor, your Prince Charming?" the man said mockingly. "A fine individual, I must admit. Would be a shame if something..." his grin grew wider, "happened to him."

She snarled. "Leave Lawrence out of this!"

His grin became even wider and he placed a hand on his chest. "Oh, how touching."

He circled Dr. Collingwood, stopping when he was behind her. She directed her gaze down to the floor. He leaned down next to her ear.

"What are you willing to give up for him? What price are you willing to pay to save him?" His voice dropped to a snakelike hiss. "Your life, maybe?"

She tried to tug her hands out of her restraints. No luck.

He placed one hand on her chin and the other on top of her head and twisted her skull at a painful angle. She pressed her lips together in a thin line. There was no way she was letting this demented man the pleasure of seeing her squirm.

"I understand. I've seen so many others who would do anything for their loved ones too."

He let go and walked around in front of her, regarding her for a moment, then punched her across the face, knocking out several of her teeth and dislocating her jaw. Her head fell onto her chest.

He patted her shoulder. "Get some rest. You'll need it."