The Key to My Hart

Chapter 19

Rough hands shook me awake. I lashed out but the person was much stronger than myself. I had grown a lot over the years under Carroway's care, if it could be called that, but at 14 I still wasn't strong enough.

"Come on girl, get up." One of Carroway's lankies drug me by the arm. His fingers were wrapped so tightly around my flesh he was leaving indents. I tried to swipe one of his legs out from under him, but he didn't even buckle. He just laughed and down the white hall we went.

We passed several silver doors but didn't stop at a single one. My bare feet skidded and stuck to the cold tile as I tried to slow our progress. There was a small elevator at the end of the hall. I knew where we were going. I knew what was coming. Dr. Carroway had been hinting at it for the past couple of years.

It was finally happening. Hot salty tears left streaks down my cheeks. The closer we grew to the elevator, the more frantic my attempts came. All self defense moves I had been forced to learn over the years fled from my mind as panic set it.

I clawed at the man's hand. "Please!" I begged. "Please don't do this! I'm begging you. Have a heart! Please don't let him do this to me!"

The man just laughed. His bald shiny head reflecting the bright white lights overhead. At the elevator, I used my free hand to grab the crack, not allowing the doors to shut. The bald guard just sighed and pried my fingers loose before hitting the button to go down.

At that point, I started screaming. I screamed and screamed as loud as I could. It didn't phase the man. Nothing seemed to phase this man. He just stood there stoically staring at the elevator doors, waiting for them to open.

I kept screaming, even after the doors opened. He started dragging me again. Past a few more doors before we finally made it to our destination. There was a sign that read "lab" above the door.

I deflated. Collapsed to my knees. It was no use. They were going to rob me. They were taking something away from me. It wasn't fair. Why did my life have to play out like this.

The guard leaned over and scooped me off the floor. Despite my dead weight, he showed no signs of struggle while he carried me into the room. Carroway was already there, with his white lab coat, gloves, and a mask on. He had a team of nurses at his disposal. To my surprise, Thomas was in the corner.

I perked up a bit at the sight of my best friend. Had he managed to convince his father to not go through with the procedure. Thomas scowled at me. My heart stopped beating for a second. What was that look for?

The bald man placed me on the hospital bed and began strapping me down. I flailed my legs and tried shouting at him, but my voice was too raw from my earlier screaming. A couple of the nurses rushed in to help hold me down. My body thrashed. One day, I'd look back and know I didn't go down without a fight.

"Thomas... would you like to do the favor?" Carroway loomed over me grinning as my arms and legs were now strapped to the table.

Thomas lurked closer, still wearing a scowl. He grabbed the anesthesia mask. I shook my head back and forth. "Why, Thomas?" I croaked out. "Why are you helping him?"

He looked uncertain for a second before his dark look returned. "Because you're a whore and you deserve everything my father does to you." It was the last thing I remembered before going under.

When I woke, I was back in my small room. I ached. My body hurt. My throat was raw. And even though I knew it wasn't logical, I felt a piece of me missing. A sniffle came from the corner of my room.

I tried to sit up but couldn't. I craned my neck and saw Thomas crouching down in a corner. His knees were drawn up to his chest, tears and snot running down his face.