The Experiment

Eighteen

I looked over at Charlie seeing Michael leave.

"Charlie I cant choose how someone gets hurt. Im not like that I cant," I said my heart racing.

"I know just breathe lets do this together okay." He said.

"How when I am the one who is going to be deciding," I said. "Is this some sort of test.."

"No Izzy, its not a test, take some deep breaths," he said holding onto my hand. 

I looked at him taking a deep breath.

"Good," he said.

"There will most likely be a list of what can be done so you wont have to come up with it on the spot," he said. 

I nodded. "Will I have to be present during..."

"It depends. If its execution then yes but if its punishment most likely not," he said.

I nodded and looked down. I tried to stand to pace as I was stressed but he had me lay down.

"I dont want to lay down," I said.

"You need to rest to heal,"  he said with a sigh. He took my hand and pinched it. "And your dehydrated Ill have Ashley bring in an IV fluid bag," he said.

I sighed and closed my eyes. "Can you ask her for something for my anxiety. Im pretty sure Im still on vallium," I said.

He nodded and pressed a button that was attached to his shirt it was a small device. Looked like a fancy pager. "Call Ashley Brown"

"Ashley speaking," she said.

"Hey Ashley, Im sure Michael already contacted you about the cream and you also bring 2L of fluids and some of her anxiety medications?"

"Yes. I was about to ask Michael if he wanted to give her any fluids," she replied. "Ill be up in 10 minutes."

"Thank you," Charlie said and ended the call.

I looked at Charlie still stressed over it all. Everything was so overwhelming the note from Demetri, the punishment, finding out who hurt me. Its all just... so overwhelming.

My heart raced as I stared off into the distance remembering my interaction with Demetri along with the following conversation with Charlie of me yelling at him.

"Izzy?" He said.

"Huh?" I looked over seeing him and Ashley. When did she get here?

"Has this been going on for awhile?" She asked Charlie.

"Yes this happens quite frequently," Charlie said.

"When you blank out like that what is going on?" Ashley asked coming over. She brought an IV set.

"Well, clearly, I dont know how long Ive been like blanking out. I notice I will have conversations with myself or thinking of the past or flashbacks," I said.

"It has been about 15 minutes," Charlie said.

"Does anything ever trigger it? Someone saying something?" She asked looking at my arm feeling around with her fingers on my arm.

"I dont remember the others but I'm very overwhelmed with uh..."

"She knows shes helping too," Charlie said.

" I have been very distressed since Demetri's visit as I wasnt told before hand what was going on and well screaming at Charlie accusing him of lying and throwing a laptop at him and being punished and now the reality of needing to decide someone else's death or punishment. Its overwhelming and I cant handle it and so I just am shutting down,"I sighed.

She nodded. She looked as if she was concentrating real hard. "It seems like sress and anxiety is a huge factor that comes into play here, once we can get the anxiety under control it should help with these eppisodes. I want to start you on buspar its an anxiety medication take 20 mg twice daily," shes said then paused. "When was the last time you ate or drank anything?" She asked.

I looked at Charlie.

"She hasnt had anything since the night before the Endoscopy," Charlie said.

"And to drink?"

"Same as before," he said.

"Really nothing to eat or drink for nearly two days," Ashley said. Have they been brining in her meals"

"No," Charlie and I said.

She groaned and took out her ipad looking through it.

"You have got to be kidding me," she murmered.

"What?" Charlie asked.

"Jennifer forgot to take her of NPO," she sighs.

"NPO?" Charlie asked.

"Nothing through mouth," Ashley said

I said "no eating or drinking," at the same time Ashley said it.

"Ohh," Charlie said.

"She's extremely dehydrated Im going to have someone else come in to do the IV," she said.

"No," I told her. "I want you. Poke me a million times. I only like you," I said.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Ill be back... I have a trick up my sleeve," she said.

I looked at her curious.

"Im sorry you haven't eaten," Charlie said.

"I wasnt even hungry," I told him.

He nodded and took my hand gently. I held onto his hand and Ashley came back with what looked like an ultrasound machine.

"Ultrasound?" I asked.

"Yes. This is made for finding vains," she said.

I nodded and she pressed it against my forearm. "There," she said and got the kit ready cleaning the area before inserting the needle. "Got it," she said and and wrapped it there keeping it in place. She then hooked up the bag of fluids. "Ill get her some snacks," she said and stood and left coming back with some pretzals, Graham crackers and some fruit cups.

"Thank you Ashley," I smiled some.  "Of course," she said "let me know if she needs anything else?"

"One thing actually. Before she has the meeting with Michael I feel it would be best for her to have an anxiety medication," she said.

"Ill get it drawed up and brought up here. Give her IV vallium 5 minutes before going to the meeting," she said.

He nodded and sighed seeing her leave.

I looked at Charlie and touched his hand. "Eat something," he said

I nodded and went over grabbing one of  the packages of Graham crackers.

I sat quietly and ate and surprisingly I really hungry. Charlie then came over to me and grabbed my arm and injected something into tue IV. "Huh?"

"Vallium," he said. I nodded and continued to snack.

Michael came in. "Why is she eating? Its not meal time?" He sighs.

"Jennifer forgot to take her off NPO so she has had nothing to eat or drink since the endoscopy,"

He nodded and sighs. "Lets go dear... I'll hook her back up once she is back in her room," he said.