Sinner

Part 4 Rehabilitation

Breathing into the smothering pillows, I raise my head. I'm lying on my belly spread-eagled on a soft bed. Reaching to scratch my itchy nose, my hand stretches to a limit and was stopped. Belatedly, I realise my wrist has been chained to a bed post. What on earth? Swivelling my head, I notice, to my horror, both pairs of my wrists and ankles are bound to the bed posts at each corner of the bed. Yanking on the metal chains produce no results other than a loud jangle and clanking. Jerking on my restraints only succeeded in bruising and rubbing my wrists and ankles raw.

Taking a moment to gather my breath, I assess myself. Apart from my self-inflicted bruises on my wrists and ankles, I seem to be fine for most parts. My back stings but it doesn't seem to hurt as much as before. There is a pleasant numbing pain that is blocking out most of my agony. If I do not arch or bend my back, there's no debilitating soreness. That being said, it means I can't raise my head or turn my head to observe my surroundings. I'm chained but my jailor takes my comfort into consideration. At least I'm not languishing in a dark and dank dungeon or murdered in my sleep yet.

At the thought of death, irrational fear enters my mind. I shrink back at an unbidden scary memory in which a monster embeds its razor sharp claws into my back. I remember myself falling and an arm catching me. Sharp eyes staring out of a face full of fur, a long snout and sharp teeth comes to mind. A rakish wolfish grin from those intimidating set of teeth.

My thoughts are interrupted by a constant rattling in the room. Twisting my neck, I turn head in the direction of the noise. Seeing a floating tray laden with food and eating utensils suspended in the air heading toward me, I screech loudly in alarm. Yanking desperately at my chains to free myself, I hurriedly move myself on the bed as far away as I can while chained, from the floating objects.

There is a polite knocking on the door before the most gorgeous man I have ever seen steps through it. He announces brightly in a deep voice, "I see you have been acquainted with our resident poltergeist, Mary. Now, Mary died in this very room and has haunted this room ever since. She's the one taking care of you since you entered this room".

Before I can form a reply, he puts a hand up. He stops talking and looks over my shoulder. Panicking, I quickly look over my shoulder and see nothing there. No one is behind me. Hastily looking back at him, I see him cocking his head as if hearing an unheard conversation; he nods his head in agreement. Speaking to an unseen person behind me, "Thanks. I'll take it from here, Mary," he turns his attention back to me and points to the floating tray and utensils, "that's the lunch Mary prepared for you. She'd like you to have a hot meal first before I fill you in on the details".

The food and utensils float in front of me and the aroma makes my mouth water. I gaze at the steaming appetising food in wonder, my stomach emitting an embarrassing growl.

"I have spread a healing salve onto your back. It should heal soon. Since you're injured and it'll be wise not to exert your back while it's recovering, I'll feed you for now".

This is a dream come true. A hot, gorgeous man is feeding me in bed; never mind my state of undress. No, it must be a dream. Such things would never happen to me in reality. Unable to pinch my cheeks with my fingers, I hit my head against the pillows, hoping to wake from this dream and get myself back to reality.

But no matter how many times I hit the pillows, the gorgeous man is still there. His fingers are now holding a spoon and waiting patiently to feed me. Giving in, I reluctantly open my mouth to be fed.

As he blows on the food to cool it before bringing the spoon to my lips, nonchalantly informs me, "I'm Keenan. I'm the werewolf you saw before you blacked out".