Clockwork Minds

Chapter 10: Dark Beginnings

The sterile room buzzed with a low hum, a constant reminder of the control they thought they held over me. I sat there in that sterile, nauseatingly clean room, watching Nurse Lorraine's every move. She was the perfect picture of arrogance, her footsteps sharp and deliberate, clipboard clutched like a shield. I'd asked her for more time in the library—simple, really. I didn't even expect her to say yes. But I didn't expect her to brush me off either, acting like I was some mindless case, barely worth her time.

That was her first mistake.

As she started to jot something down, I made my move. Grabbing her wrist, I twisted it, feeling her bones strain, a jolt of satisfaction coursing through me at the subtle crack. Her eyes widened in shock, her mouth opening in a silent scream, too stunned to react. I clamped her other arm behind her back, locking it tight, forcing her whole body to contort at my mercy. It was like engineering, really—bending the frame of a machine to see how far it would go before something snapped.

"Why?" she gasped, voice barely a whisper as I tightened my grip. The question was ridiculous. Why? I didn't need a reason. Not really. But then again, I suppose I did hate the way she looked at me—like I was some animal, or worse, some project she couldn't wait to clock out from.

I pressed her forward, pinning her against the cold metal of the door, feeling the thrill rise in me. Her struggle was useless, pathetic really. I tightened my grip around her throat, cutting off her air, just enough to make her understand how fragile she really was. Her breaths turned to ragged, wheezing gasps as she clawed at my arms, but I held her steady, her fight only feeding my calm.

"I bet you wish you'd just said yes," I whispered into her ear, leaning close enough that she could feel my breath.

The door opened with a sharp click, and I released her in one swift, calculated motion. She staggered back, pressing a shaking hand to her throat as she tried to regain her composure. Dr. Mendez stood in the doorway, his gaze flickering between us, taking in Lorraine's flushed face and her heaving chest. His eyes narrowed, but his voice remained calm.

"Everything all right here, Nurse Lorraine?"

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod, though her eyes never left mine. "Yes, Doctor. Everything's... fine."

She straightened, smoothing down her uniform, her mask slipping back into place, but the fear still lingered beneath the surface. She knew I was more than they thought, that I was something beyond their control.

Dr. Mendez turned to me, his calm gaze locking onto mine with a hint of curiosity. "Elmara, I think it's time we talked. I have a few questions about your behavior today."

I returned his look, a faint smile tugging at my lips. They thought they could control me and contain me. But they had no idea who—or what—they were dealing with.

"Of course, Doctor," I said, my voice light, polite. For now, I'd play along.