Before the World Got to Her

IV. Nightmare

TW: Homophobia, violence, hydrotherapy, drugs, meal skipping (not disordered eating)

Nurse Ratched carefully placed you down on your bed as you panted and cried. You felt every inch of your skin, devoured with the beastly burn at anything came in contact with it.

"You're okay." Nurse Ratched said to you in a calm voice. "You're okay." She repeated now with a whisper. You turned your head as you let out a sob and she moved your hair from your face, tucking it behind your ear. Huck stood in the corner with pity, watching Nurse Ratched trying to soothe your cries. "Shhh. You're okay." She caressed your face a few times as your eyes felt heavy and you gripped onto her hand.

"You're okay y/n. Get some sleep. And we will wake you before dinner." She whispered. Her voice was soothing and it started to break and her eyes watered once again. Huck quickly rushed out of the room, startling Nurse Ratched. She looked back to you and planted a kiss on your forehead, letting go of your hand but you were quick to grab it back. She looked down at you with worry.

"Nurse Ratched, please. Don't let Mrs. Cartwright go through that. Please." You pleaded.

She nodded as a tear streamed down her face.
"I won't." She chased after Huck, closing the door behind her. You heard her call out to him, but her voice trailed off. You closed your eyes as another tear fell and you cried out, missing her touch. You slowly drifted to sleep as you thought about her comforting words.

***

A few hours later, you were awoken by a faint voice. "Y/n. You need to get up." You opened your eyes to see Dolly with her usual red lipstick. You carefully sat up, rubbing your eyes and Huck waited at the door with a wheelchair.

"Why do I need a wheelchair?" You questioned as two other orderlies appeared and held you by the arms, pulling you out of bed.

"Sit down, y/n." Huck ordered in an unusually harsh tone. The two orderlies walked you to the wheelchair and you sat down. They immediately strapped you down by your wrists and ankles, causing you to panic.

"What's going on? Why do I need these?! I don't need these!" You tried letting loose from the straps that were now pinning you against the wheelchair. "Huck please!" he ignored you as they guided you to a familiar room. The hydrotherapy room. You see a nurse across the room with her back turned towards you and she turns around. It was Nurse Ratched.

"Nurse Ratched. What's going on?!" You scream as you try to free yourself once again.

"Haven't you learned by now that this is your treatment?!" She snapped in response. "You're sick, y/n. Your ways are disgusting and you must be rid of these vile tendencies."

Two orderlies open the lid of the bath. "I don't think last time was hot enough." Nurse Ratched stands looking down at you, disgusted.
"140 degrees."

"What?! No that's too hot!" You screech as the orderlies start undoing your straps that forced you down.

"It's just right for your treatment, miss y/l/n. Put her in. One hour should do it."

You kicked and screamed as the orderlies picked you up and placed you in the warm bath and closed the lids. Nurse Ratched turned the handle and the water quickly became scorching hot. You screamed out loud at the heat until someone was beside you, holding your hand.

You shot up from your bed, still screaming and breathing heavily. You were too frightened to notice the hand that had a hold of yours. You soon felt a hand on your back, startling you.   "Hey hey, y/n, it's okay. It was just a dream. I'm here." It was Nurse Ratched. She wrapped her arms around you, shushing your cries, rocking you back and forth. You were still breathing heavily and she held you tighter.