Flutter

Flutter: Huit

Nora woke up to the sound of someone tip-toeing about her room. Sniffing the air, Nora sensed that it was Mary and she turned around to face her.

"Mary?" Nora questioned, eyeing Mary who was dusting an end table.

"Oh drat. Caught red-handed." Mary stilled, throwing up her hands in the air. "I was hoping I wouldn't disturb you, hoping you could sleep for the next hour."

"Why? Is there something I have to be up for?" Nora righted herself, curious.

"Your medical examination, dear."

Nora groaned and fell back on the bed with a thump.

"I forgot about that." She said, running her hand down her face.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news." Mary said, apologetically.

"No it's no problem, Mary. You didn't cause all of this." Nora said softly, staring at the blank white ceiling above her.

"It would help if you happened to know about a secret passage that leads out of this building?" Nora said wistfully.

"Actually, come to speak of it, there is one. I am duty bound to Quinton and participating in your escape would be treason."

Nora looked at Mary, wishing that she  could in fact help her leave this place.  She wouldn't ask that of her. For Mary,  helping  Nora to leave would mean banishment from the only life she's ever know. Nora knew first hand what that felt like. She wouldn't let another person go through the same trouble if she could help it.

"I wasn't actually expecting there to be one and I would never do anything to make you lose your job."

"I appreciate it, miss. Now that you're up, you might as well get ready. I was told to tell you to dress in comfortable slippers and a loose gown. They prefer that you not eat beforehand."

"Where am I supposed to meet the doctors?" Nora rose out of bed then, stretching her muscles, hearing the cracking and pops of her joints.

"I'll direct you there. They are stationed in one of our rooms on main floor. "Anything else?"

"Nothing. Thanks, Mary." Nora said. Mary left quietly and Nora began disrobing, thinking about what the doctors were going to do with her later. Worry began to fill her belly like fast growing vines, tangling themselves into a thick mass of apprehension.

As she stood in front of the sink, she looked at her face in the mirror, her hands reaching up to touch her lips. She thought about last night, and what it had brought. What would mean for her and Quinton in the future? It was easy to feel spite and contempt towards Quinton for his behavior towards her. Now, though, a new feeling had been introduced - wanting.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o  

"You're strangely quiet Miss Nora. I assure you that nothing will go awry. Quinton would damn himself before making you doing anything that would be dangerous."

Mary and Nora were walking down the staircase to Nora's appointment.

"I really doubt that." Nora said, her voice bitter.

"Now, now. Just relax. You're in perfectly good hands. These are one of the most prominent physicians that we know of. Nothing to fret about."

"How did they come to study...well wolves?"

"They could answer that question better than I."

Nora was quiet from then on. Lost in her thoughts, she was still not relieved by Mary's words. They approached the room. It was near the library that Nora had been to several times, but she'd never gone father down the hallway.