The stinging smell of strong disinfectants burned the tip of my nostrils, stirring my consciousness.
I groaned, feeling annoyed that he had chosen the 'perfect timing' to clean the bedroom while I was having a catnap.
But the sounds of several footsteps drawing near startled my anger away, replacing them into confusion.
Unknowingly, I gripped the blanket as though my life depended on it, ready to save myself and my eyes shut even tighter when I have yet to open them.
"Maisie?" Hearing Edmund's voice, while I still find him annoying for using such a strong smell to clean the room, surprisingly calmed my nerves. "Maisie, can you hear me?"
I lifted an eyelid, trying to take a peek but the surroundings made my eyes fly wide open! My heart raced, seemingly in sync with the sound of the machine beside me. It felt ominous!
With trembling lips and tears welling up, my shaking hands stretched out calling for Edmund. I was too frightened to see the rest of the room and my sight was locked looking only at him.
"Ed–"
He clasped my hand and patted it but it was not enough of a consolation. This terrifying feeling did not subside at all. Instead, it turned intense as the doctor approached me closer.
"No! I don't want!" I shouted, pleading for Edmund to save me.
My arms were hitting the air desperately, creating a safe space between me and those white robed uniforms.
"It's nothing, Maisie. He's just going to–"
"NO!!! Please, Edmund! Please!!" I could hear the echo of my voice escaping to the quiet hallway but Edmund was not budging.
"It's okay, I'm here. I'll never leave your side."
He caressed my face but I was not buying it, shaking my head fervently. "It'll be over and done with before you know it, I promise."
I was beyond hysterical as soon as he said those. I screamed to a pitch I never knew I had in me that Edmund immediately wrapped me in his arms, and sang with his soothing voice in my ears.
It felt deja vu.
But what scared me the most was what we last discussed. Is this an attempt to erase my memory?
I could not help and kept my eyes on my enemies. As soon as one person drew nearer, I shrieked. The man was standing close to my drip and fiddling it dangerously.
"Edmund, look!!! He's putting something in!!! Stop him. Please please please please!!! I'm sorry!! Edmund please, I promise I won't ask many questions!!!"
It was too late. I could already feel a cool liquid running down my veins and I screamed even when I knew it was hopeless, "No no no no noo – Aaaaaaaaah!!!"
And just like it was the first time, I was knocked out cold and in my chest, there were pent up frustrations and fears waiting to be released.
* * * * *
The next time I woke up, I was still in the same hospital bed in a VIP-looking ward. Edmund was still clutching onto my arms just as he promised he would.
But this time, he was sleeping on the bed next to me. It felt surreal.
I still remembered begging him to stop the doctor but I could not remember how and why I ended up here.
Could it be that something sinister had happened? That would explain why he did not stop the doctor.
How strange… I knew I should be afraid but the feeling did not come. Why is that?
My eyes lazily wandered across the dim room. The IV drip that was still connected to my hand still had some content in its bag.The heart rate monitor I was attached to was beeping in a steady and soft rhythm.
It was calming. Yet, something felt off and I could not put a finger on it. I blamed it as a leftover feeling from before.
I also noticed there were two doors in the room. One where white light penetrated through the gap under the door and the other was completely dark.
Out of nowhere, I had the sudden urge to pee upon glancing at the door. And an emergency one at that too!
I moved my legs hastily but the haste never came. It was beginning to scare me. Not only did my body feel heavy, it was taking its sweet time to simply move my leg from the bed to the floor.
What is going on?
"Dewdrop, what's wrong?" A husky yet tired voice resonated in my ear, enough to startle me.
Somehow in that short moment, I had forgotten that his hand was still entwined with mine.
"I gotta pee. Really bad," I squeaked.
He was quick on his feet that everything felt like a blur. Next thing I realised, I was already standing in front of the ceramic throne. I pushed the door closed for privacy, only to have met its resistance.
"Don't!" He sounded urgent and scared. His hand stopped the door from being fully closed. "It's faster this way."
I did not understand what he meant but I obeyed all the same. I just did not have the energy to argue.
Or so I thought until I realised what he had done to me.