Never Let Me Go

Chapter 18. She Can't Continue Like This

The nurses' arrival was a whirlwind of panic and chaos. Lucy thrashed against their grip, her screams filling the hallway as they wrestled the blade from her weakening grasp.

Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the blood that coated her hands. Their expressions were a mix of concern and fear, but she couldn't bring herself to care. All she could think of was the crushing weight of failure bearing down upon her.

As they dragged her towards the medic's room, she caught fleeting glimpses of shocked patients being ushered back into their own rooms by security. Their horrified stares pierced her soul, each one a stark reminder of the mess she'd made.

She wanted nothing more than to curl up and disappear, to escape the harsh reality of her actions. But escape was impossible, the cold metal of the restraints biting into her skin, the sterile scent of the hospital invading her nostrils.

As they finally reached the medic's room and the door slammed shut behind her, Lucy's screams morphed into sobs, her entire body shaking with the force of her despair.

The medic's touch was gentle as he administered the painkiller, his eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and determination.

Lucy felt the world grow hazy, the edges of her vision blurring as the drugs took effect. She winced as she felt the first tug of the needle, her body involuntarily tensing. The medic spoke soothingly, "It'll be okay, Lucy. We need to clean and stitch these up." His voice was steady, a lifeline in the storm of her emotions.

The sting of antiseptic washed over her, followed by the rhythmic tugging of thread through flesh. Lucy bit back a whimper, her fingers digging into the edge of the bed. *This is my fault*, she thought, the weight of her actions crashing down upon her.

*I promised to get better, and I broke that promise.* Each stitch was a punishment, a physical manifestation of her failure.

The crisis team entered the medic's room, their faces somber as they assessed the damage Lucy had inflicted upon herself. They exchanged glances, their expressions speaking volumes about the severity of her situation.

One of them knelt beside her, taking her hand in a firm but kind grasp. "Lucy, we need to take you somewhere safe for now." Her heart sank as she heard the words 'isolation room'. She knew what it meant - white padded walls and floor, no sharp objects, constant supervision. A cell designed to protect her from herself.

Lucy's fight against the crisis team was fervent, fueled by terror and desperation. "No! Please, not there!" she screamed, thrashing wildly as they attempted to guide her into the isolation room.

Her mind recoiled at the thought of being confined in that tiny cell, surrounded by nothing but padding and her own dark thoughts. The team moved swiftly and carefully, trying their best to minimize her distress while ensuring both her and their safety.

One nurse held her shoulders, speaking in calm, soothing tones, "Lucy, we need to keep you safe right now. This is for your own good." Another nurse moved to restrain her legs, her face etched with compassionate determination.

Lucy's panic intensified, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape route. *No, no, no!* she thought, her heart hammering in her chest. But despite her struggles, they managed to get her inside and secure the door.