Devil in White

Chapter 3

WARNING : small mention of sexual abuse (nothing too extreme, and only for a small portion)

A pounding in Anastasia's head crescendos as she slowly becomes conscious. Laying against a pillow, she kept her eyes tightly closed.

That was until she realized there were tight straps around her, holding her to the bed.

Her eyes shoot open with a gasp, instantly struggling in her ties. "I wouldn't." Anastasia jerks her gaze towards the white silhouette across the room. "They'll burn if you do that, trust me."

That sickeningly sweet voice echoed in her ears. "Peter... what is going on?"

"You broke the rules."

His expression didn't falter for a second. He was so calm and collected. And the bastard had the nerve to sit back, relaxed, and watch her. "Get out."

A slight smile appears as he moves to stand. "Now now. What happened to that sweet girl from earlier?"

His smile was making her sick. She wanted to break free from the restraints and punch him.

Just as she was about to spit out a nasty comment, the door unlocks to reveal Dr. Brenner. "Oh, good. You're awake."

"Doctor, what is going on. You can't do this."

He lets out a deep sigh as he maneuvers his way towards her. "You deliberately disobeyed me, Ms. Hawking. I told you not to go onto the third floor. And what did you do?"

Her nails dug into the palms of her hands, a prominent vein slightly poking from her neck as she began to shout. "What the fuck is going on here? You are torturing children! You are sick!"

In the corner of her eye, she noticed Peter shifting awkwardly from side to side at her words. "We are not torturing, we are training. The children that you saw are gifted. Each child has a different level of power. Sometimes, they get hurt."

Anastasia looks at him with disgust. "Training? So what the hell do punishments consist of, Doctor?"

"That. Is none of your concern," he spoke with a warning tone.

She tried to rack her brain in any way she could to talk her way out of this. "There-there are people who will look for me. You can't keep me here!"

A deep maniacal laugh sounds from Brenner as he takes a couple of more steps forward. "Do you honestly think I didn't do my research on you? You have no family, no friends. Which is the exact kind of person I hire in case there are... complications."

Tears pool at her eyes as she glanced over at Peter. He almost looked guilty. Fuck him.

"Tell you what, Anastasia. I'm going to keep you here on this bed until you learn to behave. And when you do, you will proceed with your work. If you can prove to me that you are a good citizen who can keep their mouth shut, I will let you go."

She gawks at him with disbelief. "Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"What if I have to pee?", she replies with sarcasm, making Peter smirk. "Well, obviously we'll let you up to use the restroom, Ms. Hawking."

Her gaze once again moves to Peter, his jaw clenched, expressing that Brenner was indeed, not telling the truth about letting her go. "Fuck you."

Sighing, he reaches into his pocket. "I really hope that you will have a different perspective, Anastasia. That attitude won't get you anywhere."

And with that, she felt a sharp sting in her neck. Peter being the last thing she sees before darkness consumed her.

Groggily, she wakes up once more, met with the same damn orderly patiently sitting. "Hi there, sleepyhead."