CONTROL ➳ D. HALE [2]

29 ; wrong

29 ➳ WRONG

It was all dark and wrong, like the world had been twisted and reformed into something it wasn't. This wasn't what it was supposed to be. It was too hot and dry, like all of the moisture had been vacuumed out of the air.

Elise opened her eyes, finding nothing but a grey ceiling above her. She closed her eyes again, then opened them, hoping to find a different setting. When that proved useless, she made to get up.

At even the slightest of movements, something around Elise's wrists tightened. The brunette craned her neck and strained her eyes, barely able to make out the leather restraints that held her down.

"No," Elise gasped, fear settling in the pit of her stomach. "No!"

Suddenly, the door burst open to reveal a woman in pale blue scrubs lugging a silver tin tray. "Oh," a familiar voice said upon catching sight of the struggling brunette. "You're awake."

Elise forced her eyes to move away from the restraints and toward the woman. She immediately recognized the dark, tight curls and the tanned skin. "Mom?" The woman felt some of the fear fade as she took in the sight of her mother. "Oh, thank God you're here, Mom. Get me out of these."

"No can do," Melissa said. "And, dear, I don't know how many times I have to tell you this. I'm not your mother."

"What?" Elise breathed. "Mom, I mean, I get that there's a whole biological factor, but I thought we agreed-"

"I'm going to need you to stop talking now," Melissa said, the sweetness in her voice gone. "Don't move."

A hard knot formed in Elise's stomach as she fell silent. She only able to watch as Melissa plucked a small bottle from the tray and filled a syringe with the contents. "What's that?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.

"I said be quiet," Melissa repeated, taking a step closer to the brunette.

Elise struggled against the restraints, her heart pounding in her chest. This isn't right. I shouldn't be here. Where is here? A million thoughts ran through her mind as Melissa inched closer. "What are you doing?" Elise cried. "Mom, stop! Let me out of these!"

The door to the room was opened once again, though instead of familiar faces, two large men walked into the room. "Finally," Melissa frowned. "I was beginning to think I'd have to do this by myself again. Can you hold her down?"

"Don't," Elise pleaded with the strangers. "I'm not sick, I don't need to be here!"

The men moved toward her, prompting Elise to shrink away. When they reached her they both leaned forward, unstrapping the restraints at her wrists and waist. Whatever relief Elise had received by that action was quickly destroyed as the men forcefully grabbed her.

They forced her to sit as Melissa moved closer. One of the men held Elise still as the other one forced her arm out toward Melissa. "Please," Elise begged. She meant for her voice to come out solid and firm, but all that was produced was a shaky cry. "Whatever is happening, don't do this!"

When neither Melissa nor the men acknowledged her pleas, Elise finally realized that words would get her nowhere. The brunette paused in her struggle against the men, desperately looking for a way out. There was no way she could get out of their grip without distracting them, but she had no way of doing that.

Then, a single option popped into her mind. It was insanely childish and rather gross, but Elise didn't see much of an option.

She craned her neck toward the man holding her shoulder. Then, she bit him.