The Nemesis Syndrome

21. Eliza

Anticipation, Eliza realised, was a worse weapon that any pain. Because it was in the mind. It was waiting for the pain, expecting the worse, hearing danger in every sound and in your own heartbeat.

The second she lost sight of Leo, she knew something was wrong; whether it was in response to them constantly trying to run, or a plan the scientists already had, it was wrong and Eliza was terrified.

But she didn't let them see that. They didn't deserve to see what she thought, these people that only cared about themselves and the money in their pockets. They probably knew her screams better than she did now, and she did not want them having anything else.

So she kept her face carefully empty as they escorted her to yet another- but new- white door. Rather than the notes that surrounded the others, this one had a single block on it, announcing a name.

Dr. T Flitch

Eliza knew who it was even before the door opened to reveal the white-coated female doctor.

'Do you have any other clothes?' Eliza asked as she was pushed into the room. 'Or is the coat, like, surgically attached to you?'

The doctor blinked slowly, as if Eliza was a slightly irritating bug. 'Sit.' She said, nodding towards a chair on the other side of her desk.

'I'd rather stand. It will make me feel like I'm the one in charge in this room.' Maybe she was. Eliza was already scanning everything. Desk empty other than paperwork; actual paper, not the single screen that most people used these days. Which meant the doctor either liked order; or didn't trust the portable screens enough. Paperwork she did not want to be seen. The walls were plain- but a gentle pink, rather than white. No pictures anywhere. Why would there be though; she had turned the names on her wrists red without thought. 'Tell me.' Eliza said, her voice low. 'Did it hurt when you issued his death sentence? Did you feel anything at all? How about when he died; did his last breath feel like your own? Did your own heart stutter before trying to come back to whatever you call this worthless life?'

Every word was a carefully sharpened knife, and it got Eliza what she wanted.

The doctor flinched, the first human reaction Eliza had seen from her. But her voice was toneless still. 'Stop.'

'Why? You didn't when we asked. When we screamed in pain.'

The doctor stood. Sitting, she had been shorter than Eliza, and it had given the girl the pretend confidence to believe she was weak. But standing, she towered above Eliza, and Eliza couldn't help but remember how blank her face had been while Eliza screamed, strapped to a table.

She faltered.

And the doctor smiled. 'Miss Rockwell.'

A careful breath, steadying. 'Miss Flitch.' Eliza mocked. Then paused. 'You know my nickname for you? Dr Bitch. Fitting how your real name just...is perfect for that.'

'You are remarkably brave for someone with a weakness.'

'You are remarkably stupid to think I have a weakness.'

'Leo.' The way she said it made his name more. As if she expected Eliza to fall to her knees and beg forgiveness.

But Eliza could still feel him humming at the back of her head. He was fine. And 'I think he can look after himself, thanks. And if you think having a soulmate is a weakness, you should remember, hearts make people strong. And I think I've already shown you that I would do anything to try and get him back to his sister. You scare me, Doc, don't get me wrong, but if you think that's going to stop me fighting every single day, you are wrong.'

'Exactly.'

Eliza's mouth was already open, ready to carry on her rant. But she paused. 'What?'

The woman smiled, knowing she finally had the upper ground- or maybe she had it all along, and was just waiting to see what Eliza would do.

'You are too...unpredictable.'

'I wonder why.' Eliza muttered.

The doctor spoke over her. 'We cannot get reliable results from you. And we would rather have less outliers than more. This facility costs money, and with you we are wasting it. So you can go free.'

'I don't believe you.' It was impossible. After all that, after everything. They wouldn't just let her go. Kill her, maybe, but let her walk away and pretend that, what, she had been on holiday?

That she was fine.

'Believe me or not, this is your only chance.'

She thought about it, she really did.

She thought about crying her eyes out on her mothers shoulder, the gentle smile her father always shared with her. School, and people she didn't count as friends but now she missed. She thought of summers and winters and evenings curled up with a book.

She thought about it all. But then she thought about the boy who she should not care about. She thought about his loyalty, and the deep heart he had that cared so much- no matter how much he pushed it down.

He was not here which meant one of two things.

Trap.

Or they were keeping him.

She could not chance it being the second. And so she did what the doctor already knew she would do.

Eliza met the woman's eyes and smiled. 'No.' She said quietly. 'I think I'll stay.'

The doctor only blinked. 'Good.' She said.

And faster than Eliza could even think, faster than she could move, the doctor darted to her side and pressed a needle into her arm.

It hit Eliza instantly, making her eyes blurry and her thoughts fuzzy. But she was still awake enough to hear one finally thing. A door opening, and the woman's voice.

'Take her away. I need to deal with the boy.'