Dangerous Trio

Invitation

I carried on with my days as usual, but in the back of my mind, I still yearned to know what had happened that night. Despite my unease, I couldn't deny how much better I felt. This was just after one session—imagine the possibilities with more. Even my coworkers noticed, teasing me in good fun. The change was palpable. I even went ahead and booked a trip back to France, just like I had promised myself. Maybe it was premature, but it felt right. My abuser wasn't even a passing thought—just pure bliss. Dr. Lecter was nothing short of a miracle worker.

I finished my work early in excitement. Tonight was another session and I was ready this time. I parked my car in the lot. There was only one other car parked, a black 2000's Bentley. It was in impeccable condition. It had to have been Dr. Lecters.

As I stepped out of my car, I glanced up at the sky. Baltimore greeted me with another gloomy day, a week of relentless rain. Normally, I would fall into a deeper depression, but even the weather couldn't get me down.

The red room welcomed me as always, its beauty seeming to grow with each visit. My shiny black heels clicked effortlessly across the flooring. To my surprise, Dr. Lecter's door was already open. I paused, the eerie quiet filling the space around me.

I soon heard footsteps, then Dr. Lecter called out.

"Miss. Amon, come in" I heard him say almost disembodied. I couldn't see him.

I walked in slowly, taking in the full view of his office. His desk appeared oversized, dominating the room. Beyond it, a fireplace caught my eye, its warmth contrasting with the clinical atmosphere. To the right of his desk, a large sketchbook was open. I moved closer, intrigued by the sketch of a man, but Dr. Lecter's voice interrupted my curiosity. He was on the second level, overseeing me from a small library above.

I looked up to him smiling at me. I smiled back. He carried a leatherbound book in his right hand.

"I have been researching new techniques to lessen your symptoms for your next treatment." Dr. Lecter said

I stood there, looking up in amazement. Looking at him up there was like gazing at a painted ceiling in a grand cathedral.

"I wanted to talk to you about that, Dr. Lecter" I said with a weariness to my voice. I did not know how to tell him I was worried about what happened last time. I knew it was working, but I just wanted reassurance.

As he descended from the ladder my heart started to slowly ascend.

"It's just a little scary. I don't remember much of anything from that night, and while I feel better I want to make sure those symptoms don't happen again." I said, fidgeting my fingers. He soon took notice of my nervousness and walked over cautiously.

"I can assure you, you are in good hands. Given my experience medically and psychological there is nothing I cannot handle. I can however make changes to the treatment, perhaps decreasing the time of the light therapy will allow you to acclimate better with less symptoms." He suggested.

"Yes. I would like that" I said

Instantly a smirk flashed across his face. While walking over to the leather seat, he soon stopped me.

"There is something I need you to sign Miss. Amon." He said, interrupting my stride.

He walked over to his desk, where a piece of paper lay with a pen beside it.

"I need you to sign a new agreement. At the start of our therapy, you said you were opposed to medication, however last night you gave me verbal consent to administer medication. If you had not given me verbal consent there would have been nothing I could have done." His words lingered in the air.