Every Rose Has It's Thorn

Every Rose Has It's Thorn Pt 11

Word Count 2,144

When my eyes fluttered open, I felt as if I were flying; weightless. But that feeling vanished amidst the searing pain that held my chest tight in its grasp. My lungs fought for oxygen but struggled with every breath, it was as if my skin had been spread so tight it was constricting each and every movement.

“Hush now, Y/N.” Dr. List’s face appeared above me, blurred and almost unrecognisable aside from the dark expression in his eyes. “It is time for you to rest, we have upgraded you slightly so that you will be more comfortable. Think of it as a reward for your survival.”

“What have you done to me?” I slurred; my mouth was dry – my lips clagging together with each word.

“Shush.” His hand moved to stroke my hair back from my sweat covered face, “sleep now, we will have ample time to talk once you are recovered.”

 

Recovered. The word bounced around my head for weeks as I lay in the bed they had put me in. My chains had been replaced by three iron bands; one around each wrist and one thicker band wrapped around my throat. I presumed they were intended to stop me from using my powers and perhaps give a false sense of freedom in the process. I was weak, probably still too weak to move from the bed. My chest was tightly bandaged, which explained why I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath but most noticeably was the heat radiating beneath my skin – I felt alive. It was as if every nerve in my body had spent all of the years of my life asleep but suddenly a surge of electricity had brought them to life. Even the slightest touch of the bedsheets beneath my fingertips was enough to erupt a shock of buzzing and excitement.

 

Against my better judgement, I swung my legs slowly to the side of the bed. My muscles ached and the limbs seemed far too heavy to be my own. The bruises I’d acquired throughout my time here were beginning to fade though; I allowed my fingertips to trace the remnants of the light purple splotches on my thighs – partially checking I could still feel my own skin. My bare feet came into contact with the cool floor and I tested my ability to move by flexing my toes and tensing my calf muscles. I was certainly still weak but I could feel an air of strength residing in my muscles that hadn’t been there before – or at least I didn’t think it had been there. I’d been trapped in this useless, iron-clad body for what felt like years…I’d grown used to feeling powerless but this felt different. I felt different. I pushed up off the bed and into a standing position, my legs trembling with the strain but still, I forced myself to remain upright. I cautiously moved one foot in front of the other, managing to take five steps before my knees buckled and I came crashing to the floor.

 

I rolled over onto my back and stared up at the blank ceiling and fluorescent lights – blinking back newly formed tears as I tried to remember anything that could tell me what Dr. List had done to me to make me feel like this. I could remember the lab with the observatory…the cold water as they hosed me down. I remembered being naked, terrified, humiliated. I could definitely remember the pain as that pale blue hue and high pitched screech had consumed the room.

As I recalled everything that had happened to me whilst I had been held here, I could feel something mounting at the tips of my fingertips – the searing heat of my powers as they fought their way to the surface. I had no idea what Dr. List had done to me…but whatever it was, I was beginning to wonder if it would work in my favour. My mind drifted back to being held hostage by Colson, the iron chains he had wrapped around my ankle. I thought back to the last time I had seen him; I had asked him to tell everyone I was dead. A part of me wanted to believe he wouldn’t do that, but I knew better than to put trust in the God of Mischief. After finding out that Slim had lied to me all those years, there was a strong possibility no one was coming to rescue me from wherever I was. I would have to do this myself.