Them

Chapter 34

Eventually he made his way over.

"Dan? It's time to wake up now please."

I begrudgingly opened my eyes rolling onto my back, the metal was digging into my hip.

"Did you sleep ok?" He asked giving me a brief smile.

I nodded and pushed myself up onto my elbows.

"What time is the meeting?" I mumbled through a yawn.

"It starts at nine but you won't need to be there for all of it" he explained "get dressed and you can come and get some breakfast yeah?"

"Could I um...could I have some privacy?" I asked, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

He nodded and pulled the chair out of the way of the door.

"I'll be just outside ok?"

I waited for him to shut the door as much as the rules of obs would allow and then got up. Rifiling through my clothes bag I selected a pair of black jeans with rips on the knees and a sweatshirt that would safely hide my elbow. I changed quickly, picking the piece of metal from my discarded boxers and yanking my sleeve up on to my forearm, pulling the bandage out of the way.

I dug the metal in, the bluntness making it difficult to get far. Blood welled up but there was no chip to be seen.

//it's deeper//

"I'm gonna check on you, are you decent?"

"One sec" I called back, frantically pulling the bandage back and yanking my sleeve down. I curled my blood tinged fingers, metal still in hand up into my sleeve and attempted to look normal as Paddy stuck his head round the door.

Please don't realise.

"Awesome, are you just about ready to go get some food?" He asked smiling.

I smiled back, relieved that he hadn't caught on.

"Can I just use the bathroom first?"

He nodded and I made my way into the en suite, Paddy entering the room to take up his position just outside the door.

"Don't shut it all the way please" he said as I pulled the door closed behind me. Reluctantly I opened it again allowing a small gap.

I peed quickly and then used the opportunity to wash the blood from my hand, depositing the metal into my jeans pocket. I wanted to check my arm but it was too risky with Paddy poised just outside the door.

"Ready" I grunted emerging from the bathroom.

"Awesome, hop in then." He replied gesturing to the wheelchair. I frowned, frustrated that I wasn't allowed to walk yet but complied.

"After the meeting Marian will do another set of physical obs" he began, noticing the annoyance on my features "so if your blood pressure is stable you might be allowed to walk again!"

Fuck. They'd see my arm.

My breath became short and fast.

"Dan it's ok, your physical obs are just height, weight and bp. Nothing scary. Just breathe. I'm sorry if I worried you." He explained calmly.

I was so going to get caught out.

We had arrived in the main dining room, clearly Tom had resumed his occupance of the smaller one, and Paddy positioned my chair at a table in the corner.

"Right mate, your meal plan specifies a glass of water and either a bowl of cereal with milk or 2 pieces of toast with butter, what will it be?"

I shrugged.

He sighed and got up, returning a few moments later. "Someone is gonna sort you some cornflakes okay?"

I nodded avoiding his gaze. My arm was burning and I could feel the bandage was slightly damp with blood. A woman in her 60s I didn't know came over with a gigantic bowl of cornflakes, a blue pinafore over her clothing suggesting she wasn't a nurse.

"Thankyou" I mumbled.

"You're very welcome" she replied in a thick liverpudlian accent, "enjoy it pet!" She gave me a warm smile as she left.

I turned to stare at the enormous volume of food in front of me.

I picked up the spoon and reluctantly scooped up a tiny mouthful, my leg shaking violently under the table. I brought it to my lips and allowed the soggy flakes onto my tounge, grimacing at the sugary flavour of the milk.

It tastes so good. I could eat everything in like 30 seconds.

I swallowed, a little unnerved by the quiet in my brain, there should be screaming and yelling and insults being hurled at me by now.

I tried another bite, and then another.

Nothing.

I dropped the spoon into the bowl, something was wrong. The silence wasn't natural. How could I have been so dumb as to eat? Clearly something really bad was in the food, they'd even taken out the people trying to warn me and-

"Dan."

A voice broke my thoughts, I became aware that I had curled up in the chair, my whole body trembling.

"The food is safe. You're doing so well. Just breathe mate." Paddy was giving me a steady look from his seat, features set to 'calm and reassuring'.

At a torturous pace I chewed my way through the remainder of the mushy cereal, stomach screaming as it stretched to accommodate the onslaught of carb heavy sludge.

"I'll let you brush your teeth then we should go to reception to collect Phil for the meeting Ok?"

I nodded as he took the handles of the wheelchair and began to push me back toward the bedroom corridor.