[ABANDONED] A Series of Oneshots

Attempt #14 part 2

They wheeled me into a room. I barely caught the letters ECT in my haze. I groaned and tried to lift my arms. No luck.

A fog had settled over my entire body. It clouded my thoughts and moved through my body like molasses. A bed with a strange machine next to it stood in the center of the room. I caught the eye of the Caretaker.

"I know," he said, "the side effects of Subject Scorpion's venom are still potent, even when diluted that much. But you gave us no choice."

"Just as you gave us no choice but to use electroconvulsive therapy."

"Mmph, wanna go home," I managed to say through the cotton feeling in my mouth. I knew it wouldn't change his mind, but deep down I hoped he would finally relent.

"Don't we all," he said and helped the Helper undo the restraints. The Helper lifted me onto the bed and started tying me down. I struggled initially, but the Helper was quick and stronger than me. I soon couldn't move, despite how much I tried. Something was shoved into my mouth so I couldn't close it.

"Y'know, you're kinda lucky," the Caretaker said absently. I gave up and watched him fiddle with the strange machine. "You could've been slated to be a Helper, I know you're nearly old enough, and that process is even worse than what's happening here. 2407 over here would know, right?"

He looked at the Helper, who nodded sheepishly and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"See? I used to man the Breaking Machine. Take a guess at what that does."

"Hmph," I grumbled. Just shut up already and get it over with.

The Helper rubbed something on each side of my head while the Caretaker yammered on. I had resigned myself to whatever was going to happen this time, and wished he would stop rubbing in his victory.

"You'd probably be set on medium, especially with your recent escape attempt. Thank you, by the way, for running in the direction we were actually going to go this time."

"Now, let's get started," he said and handed a pair of headphones to the Helper.

...

I woke up in my room, with the Helper sitting in a chair next to my bed. Grey clouded my thoughts, but at least I could move my limbs again. My jaw hurt and a headache was starting to split my skull again.

I tried to get up, but the Helper gently pushed me onto the bed.

"Shh, don't worry," they said, "just rest here. You don't have to get up just yet."

I sighed and closed my eyes.