Finding Theo

The Woman in the Black Coat

Pennie tried to open her eyes but her eyelids were still so heavy. She could feel the weight on her back still but she was moving now. Her clothes pulled and scrapped across the ground and at the brief moment where she could force her eyes open she could see a mucky green ceiling above her moving from one ceiling light to the next. The air was cold as were the hands around Pennie's wrists. Then Pennie felt the hands move from her wrists to her back and hoist her up onto a table. The table was ice cold and everything smelt like sterilizer. A slicing sound began and repeated itself in a steady and slow pattern. Slice—pause—slice—pause—slice. It reminded Pennie of the machine the butcher at the store used to cut her meat into slices. What was making that sound? She squeezed her eyes shut tightly then forced them open and looked around. She was in a brightly lit hospital room with equipment all around her and to her right was a woman turned away from her scribbling something down on the counter in front of her. The woman was average height and build and she had long blonde locks that contrasted sharply with the black coat she had on. Was this a doctor? Was Pennie in the hospital? Maybe she had fallen and hit her head? Pennie looked down at her arms, strapped to the table. She felt her heartbeat speed up and her body begin to shake. Pennie's forearm skin had been pulled back and the muscle cut away exposing the bone. Blood dripped off the table and landed in a small pool already formed on the ground. Pennie felt sick—her head began spinning and her eyelids felt heavy again. Then she heard a voice—her own voice—asking the woman to her right, "Am I hurt, doctor? Why am I here?" The woman seized writing and slowly placed her pen down on the counter.

"Oh, you're going to be fine my dear." A light airy voice emanated from the woman's body.

"What happened? I was fine before. I was just going to pick up my son. Is he alright? He's probably worried." Pennie couldn't comprehend what she was saying or why. Son? She definitely didn't have a son and her voice sounded calm, almost tired—all she knew was she had to get out of here. "Please, let me go." Pennie begged, her voice sounding more scared and desperate. The woman didn't move—didn't pick back up her pen or turn to face her—instead the woman said calmly,

"You can't leave yet, dear and I can't answer your questions right now. Not until you're better." Pennie peered down at her arm again, still splayed open for her to see.

"Wh-When will I be better?" She mumbled, looking back to the woman. The woman chuckled softly and tapped her fingers on the counter.

"When I've cut all of the disease out of you, my darling." The woman turned and smiled at Pennie a twinge of terror seeped into her very core. The woman had a wide smile and bright blue eyes. She had to be mid-twenties and if Pennie had saw her anywhere else but here her smile might have been calming and charming, but here it was sinister. The woman walked over to Pennie and picked up a small scalpel placed on the metal table beside her. She slowly lifted Pennie's shirt to expose her stomach. The woman placed the scalpel against her skin and pushed the tip inward. Blood seeped out as the woman pulled the scalpel from one side of Pennie's stomach to the next. Pennie watched in horror, unable to speak, as if her voice had been suddenly taken from her. The woman then put the scalpel down and placed her hands on either side of the deep cut. She pushed fingers into Pennie's stomach and pulled, a loud ripping sound echoed throughout the room. Pennie screamed but no noise came out and she couldn't feel any pain. Slowly her vision started to blur and she couldn't focus her eyes on the woman or her open stomach anymore. The woman stood up and leaned over her, her face turned into a terrible grimace. "Don't leave! It's not time to leave, Pennie!" Her voice began to seem more and more distant and then suddenly darkness consumed Pennie.

"Pennie. Pennie, are you okay?" A distant voice called to her. It sounded so familiar but she couldn't focus on it. She tried to move but soon realized she couldn't feel her body or anything. It was like she was suspended in a black hole, in nothingness.