Immaculate

Treadmill of Doom

Part 118

Sang's POV

My arms and legs were being held down, someone was leaning over me, but my heart was beating so loudly, I could hear nothing over the roaring in my ears. Terror filled every pore, sweat dripped off me, a hand was stroking over my hair.

"Sang! Sang!" I could hear my name being repeated, along with other words that made no sense. I could shapes looming over me, but no distinction, just that there was more than one person there. I was unable to get away, unable to move.

"Sang! Wake up, now!" Words penetrated my terror seized brain and I blinked furiously, my vision cleared and with a jolt I realised I had been dreaming. Mr Blackbourne and Dr Green were leaning over me and I realised that they were holding me down. I drew in a shaky breath and they must have realised I was conscious again because they released their hold on me, but kept up stroking through my hair.

"There you are," Dr Green said cheerfully. I was breathing heavily, my eyes flicking between theirs. A hollow feeling started in my stomach, sweat broke out and I launched upwards.

"Sick," I managed to get out as I scrambled from the room and into the bathroom, I just managed to get my head over the toilet as I brought up the previous evenings meal. I heard them come into the room and then the sink tap was running. Humiliation burned over me as I retched over and over into the bowl. Hands pulled my hair back and a cold, damp cloth was placed over the back of my neck as Dr Green knelt beside me.

"It's ok, Sang, it's ok," he crooned, holding my hair back with one hand and stroking my back with the other.

"Oh god, I am so sorry," I moaned between urging. There was nothing left to bring up but my stomach had yet to acknowledge that.

"Sang, you need to calm down," Dr Green spoke firmly and I nodded my head frantically as I sank back from the toilet, my retching easing. The toilet was flushed and then Mr Blackbourne was holding a glass of water towards my mouth. I took it with a hand that shook so much, water splashed over the sides as I raised it to my lips, my teeth clashed painfully with the edge. He placed his hand over mine to hold me steady as I took a mouthful and then spat it into the toilet. I repeated it a few times, Dr Green still stroking my back gently.

The cloth was given to me and I wiped at my mouth and sank back further into the solid warmth of Dr Green.

"That was a bad one, Pookie, do you want to tell us or just phone North and we can listen then?"

"I don't remember it," I admitted. "I don't even know if I was having a nightmare." My voice shook as badly as my hands. Mr Blackbourne set the lid down on the seat and then he lifted me up and onto his lap. I curled into him as Dr Green stood and got my toothbrush from the cabinet, along with my paste.

"You were dreaming, darling," Mr Blackbourne murmured quietly. "You were thrashing around in the bed."

"I don't remember..." I washed my hands and then took the brush from Dr Green with a thanks. I stayed on Mr Blackbourne's lap and I brushed my teeth. As I brushed I tried really hard to remember, but there weren't even any fading memories, nothing except the gut wrenching fear and the weight on my legs, which I realised was probably my brain realising they were holding me down.

"I don't know, I can't remember," I said again when I rinsed off my toothbrush and wiped my mouth.

"Don't worry, you're safe and that's all that matters," Mr Blackbourne said quietly and I sank back into his hold again. The shakes were wearing off as his warmth crept into me.

"What time is it?" I asked, watching Dr Green put my toothbrush away.

"Just after two," he said and grinned at me. "Don't worry about that though. Do you want a drink?"