It's My Life

Chapter 12 - My Lips are Sealed

Once at the lab a guard carried me to the room that had been prepared for me, lay me on the cot and left. Brad went to advise Director Jones of what had happened. Jones listened in obvious amusement.
"Interesting that she was on the beach and didn't go for the water." Jones said. Brad frowned.
"She did, at the end. How did you know?" Brad asked. Jones shrugged and rummaged through his drawer.
"Tomorrow morning Dr. Shields will start testing. She doesn't leave her room without a guard, though she wouldn't get far, if she tried." Jones said. Brad nodded. He didn't like leaving Cassi here overnight, but he had no choice. He left Jones's office and stopped by my room on his way to his office, but I was still asleep.
"I want to be notified when she wakes up." Brad told the guard that was watching the monitor.
"Yes, Dr. Thompson." He said. Brad nodded, looking at the monitor again, then went to his office.

The first thing I felt as I woke was a groggy feeling in my head and nauseated to the stomach, and for the moment I stayed in a prone position until the sick feelings subsided. When I finally felt I could move without throwing up, I sat up slowly, then looked around me. The room was sparse, a simple bed, a plain chair, and a door that led through to a small  bathroom that had a shower and a toilet. I hated watering down in a shower, but it sometimes couldn't be helped. Looking up at the ceiling I saw the camera aimed at the bed, and felt a stab of anger. How dare they hold me like this?

"She's awake, Dr. Thompson." The guard said through the phone, and Brad thanked him and hung up after telling the guard to notify Dr. Shields. Brad immediately stopped what he was doing and made his way to the holding room, dreading was was about to happen.

I stood up, moving around the room to scope out how much room I had, and tested the door to the bathroom. It shut, but there was no lock on it. I was about to take the chair into the bathroom when the door to the main room opened. I turned quickly to see a guard enter, another man in a lab coat, then Brad. I gasped in fear and anger and moved back, looking from person to person.
"Stay away from me." I gasped.
"Don't be scared, Cassi. We won't hurt you." Brad replied. I glared at him.
"How dare you tell me how to feel! Take me home! Where are my parents?" I cried, angry at them all. Brad sighed.
"If wouldn't do to be scared.  There is no other way. We will take you home once all that needs to be done is done, and your parents are safe, for now." Brad said. I looked at the guard, then at the man in the lab coat. Brad looked where my gaze had rested.
"Cassi, this is Dr. Shields. He analysed the small blood sample on the towel." Brad said. I turned my gaze from Shields to Brad as he spoke, then looked back at Shields.
"It is nice to meet you, Cassi. You're such a..." Dr. Shields started, but I cut him off.
"Well, it's not nice to meet you. You had no right to do anything with that bloody towel except wash it, or throw it out. Neither I, nor my parents, gave you permission to do anything." I said angrily. Dr. Shields blinked in surprise, looking at Brad, who frowned and looked at me.
"That was rather rude. And we didn't need permission. I was concerned." Brad said.
"I don't care. I thought you were my friend, Mr. Thompson. I see now that I was wrong." I replied. Brad stiffened.
"I am sorry you feel that way, Cassi." Brad said.
"Call me Cassandra, or better yet don't call me anything at all." I snapped. Brad almost flinched.
"First thing tomorrow you will be escorted to the lab where you will do everything you are told. If you do as we tell you, you and your parents can leave and we will never cross paths again. Disobey, and things can, and will, be difficult. For you and them." Brad said. I felt anger flare through me, my hands clenching into fists.
"You soulless creature!" I cried. Brad kept his eyes on me for a few moments. 
"As  you feel, Cassandra." Brad said. He turned and left the room, Dr. Shields following, then the guard, locking the door behind him. I felt tears well up, my body shaking violently, and at first thought I would use the chair to break the camera, but another thought crossed my mind from earlier. I grabbed the chair and moved it into the bathroom, then grabbed the blankets and pillow off the bed and went into the bathroom as the main door lock rattled, the door opening.
"Stop that!" The guard said, and I slammed the door, pushing the chair up under the handle to stop the guard from opening the door.
"Get Dr. Thompson." I heard the guard call, and then the door shook slightly as a shoulder connected to the door. I moved back, holding the pillow and blankets, trembling, tears falling as I heard the thud again.
"Cassandra, open this door at once." I heard Brad say. I shook my head, not saying a word, tears falling faster as my shoulders shook. There was a pounding on the door.
"Cassandra Silver, do as I say. If I have to break down this door I will, and you won't have a bathroom door." Brad called through the door.
"Leave me alone!" I screamed at them, trembling. I gasped as the thuds continued, and the door splintered under the onslaught, and a hand appeared, pushing the chair out of the way. The door was opened and people swarmed in, grabbing me and pulling me out to the main room. Brad pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped at my face gently. I tried to pull away from him but I was held firm.
"That was a clever move, but foolish.  They will replace the door tomorrow whilst you're being tested, but do not pull a stunt like that again or I'll make good on my threat." Brad said. Tears welled up again.
"I will not be tested on." I said angrily. Brad's eyes narrowed.
"That's enough of that. Just remember, the sooner you co operate, the sooner you can go home. All of you." Brad said. I struggled hard.
"Let my parents go." I said. Brad watched me.
"That's not going to happen until we're finished. Make your bed." Brad ordered, then left the room. The guards followed him, leaving me standing in the middle of the room. The door locked behind them, and I was alone. I stood there a minute or two, just staring at the door, then turned and moved to the bed, spreading the blanket and putting the pillow back in place, then sat down slowly on the new-made bed. I wanted to curl up on the bed and cry, but I was also feeling rather dry, so after moving the chair back into the main room I entered the bathroom and closed the door, looking at the hole, undressed and turned on the shower, stepping under the hot stream. I kept my head and hair free of the water, just letting the water flow over me. I didn't stay in the shower long, just a few minutes, but I felt a little better. I got out, dried off and dressed, then went back into the main room to see my bag and suitcase sitting by the door. I immediately went over to them and rummaged through them for my keys, my purse, and my toiletries, but all three were gone. I understood why the first two were missing, as well as my mobile phone, but not the toiletries. There was no way they would be able to know that Mum and I put sea water into the toiletries. I felt angry that they had rifled through my belongings.  I lay down on the bed facing the wall, wanting to cry, but stopped myself. I didn't want to show weakness, especially to them. Instead I felt dread fill me. Would they seriously test a bottle of shampoo? Conditioner? Body wash? Toothpaste? Surely not. Everything was back in their bottles, seemingly untouched.  I don't know how long I lay there thinking it over, but it was probably at least a few hours, as my stomach rumbled and I realised I hadn't eaten lunch. The door opened and the smell of food hit me, but I felt suddenly sick. I could smell fish.
"Eat your dinner." An unfamiliar voice said. I turned over to look at the guard.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Tuna bake." The guard replied, putting the black plastic container on the chair. I shook my head.
"I can't eat that." I said. The guard sighed.
"Are you going to be difficult again?" He asked. I shook my head.
"I'm allergic to fish." I said. He blinked.
"We didn't know that. I'll see what I can find for you to eat." The guard said and took the food out. I tared up at the ceiling.