Home ||~~Elax/Elmax~~||

Full circle

Eleven woke with a start, breathing hard. Confused at the images still lingering in her mind, she looked around her room for the familiar things that would comfort her, familiar things memorized over her short life; her metal bed, the unit which always contained 3 white towels, the 2 cameras on the walls, the purple flowered plant, the stuffed lion toy.

As her breathing slowed, the door opened, "did you have another dream?"

She contemplated lying, denying that she'd had yet another one; it had been so vivid and clear, like all the others recently, but they always knew and the punishment for lying was far worse than the 'treatment'. She nodded 'yes' whilst glancing quickly at the camera on the wall facing her bed, knowing they monitored her every move, even her sleep.

"What was it about?"

She mumbled something so quietly that it couldn't be heard.

"Speak up, Eleven, I can't hear you. What was the dream about?"

"Her."

"I see. After breakfast, you'll speak with Dr Holtz and, if she deems necessary, treatment after lunch. For now, you have 10 minutes to get dressed before breakfast."

She gulped slightly with her head down, "yes Papa."

As he left the room, she pulled the stuffed animal onto her lap and fiddled with its ear absentmindedly, staring into nowhere. She didn't understand some of the things in the dream at all and also didn't understand how it had made her feel. By the time a guard came in to escort her, she had completely zoned out, replaying the dream over in her mind and a smile making its way to her face. He proceeded to watch as she got ready which she hated him for. She didn't know the word but she felt violated.

Dr Holtz was waiting for her in the usual room, as usual without her lab coat so as to make El feel a little more comfortable. "Welcome, it's good to see you" Holtz said warmly, actually meaning it despite herself and the lab, but ensuring it never became obvious. Today especially she was playing a part, today she knew that Brenner was watching. He had started becoming a little concerned at El's progress, even though it had literally only been a few weeks since they first met, Holtz had been expected to mould El's thoughts and mind and get her back on track. Despite Dr Brenner's brilliance as a scientist, he didn't know much about how memories and that part of the brain functions Holtz scoffed to herself when she had realized.

"So, Eleven, tell me about your dream." She had been careful to refer to El as Eleven to ensure that Brenner didn't start getting suspicious about her attachment or motivations, she just hoped El wouldn't say anything.

Eleven opened her mouth to say something but didn't know where to start. She was especially thrown by Holtz calling her Eleven but decided not to question it. Questioning things never worked out well for her.

"Ok" the Dr continued, "tell me who was in your dream."

"Me and..." she was reluctant to say. Despite all their prior conversations she was still reluctant to talk about the girl in her dreams, especially this dream. But she knew she couldn't avoid it forever.

"And who, Eleven?"

"...and her" she said quietly.

"The same person as usual?" Dr Holtz asked, and El nodded. "I see, and what happened with 'her'?" El tried to avoid her gaze, looking down instead.

Holtz knew she'd have to push, Brenner would ask questions and she wouldn't be able to think of a legitimate excuse for not doing so.

"Eleven, unless you tell me what happens in these dreams, I won't be able to help you. I need to know what's going on so I can work out how to stop them, they aren't healthy and we need to work through them to give you some peace and quiet in your head, understand?" Wow, I can sure spin the bullshit when I need to Holtz thought to herself.