Luke eventually came to, still in the dark room. He bit his lip, aware of severe pain in his torso. Faith was also in the room, she hovered just above him. Her face was drained of colour. She carefully dabbed Luke's forehead with a cloth. He groaned and tried to move.
"I wouldn't do that yet," Faith warned. Her blonde waves were gently tousled and dark bags loomed beneath her eyes, "you're going to be sore for a while."
"How long was I out?" Luke asked, sleepily.
"Long enough," Faith replied with a nod.
Luke looked down at the source of his pain. The hem of his shirt was still pulled up. Two incisions were visible, though sloppily stitched closed.
"What did she do to me?" Luke pleaded.
Faith shrugged.
"Not sure. She removed something. Your pancreas, maybe?"
"Why?"
Still preoccupied with whatever it was that she was doing, Faith began to retell the woman's story.
"She used to be a doctor. A surgeon, actually. She was fired though, after she began doing unnecessary surgeries. She enjoyed it for some reason. Anyway, she was put in the loony bin, but escaped. Now, this is what she does. She calls herself the Surgeon."
"Why me?"
"That I'll never know."
"Why are you here?"
"I owe her. When Ashton had appendicitis a few years back, she was the only one around. She was the one who saved him. But for a price. Ash doesn't know that, though."
Faith shifted her glance around the room suddenly.
"I have to go," she sputtered, before bursting out the door.
Almost immediately, the Surgeon entered, sporting a smile.
"Hello precious. How are we feeling?" She hissed.
"What did you do to me?" Luke demanded.
She shrugged.
"I've only made you better. That pancreas was bound to give out soon."
"No it wasn't! You're lying! Why did you do this to me?" Luke shouted.
"Calm down, Luke. You're only straining yourself," she cooed.
"Please, just let me go," Luke pleaded, "and that little girl, too."
"Now, now," she cooed, "I saved that girl's brother. She knows good and well that she owes me. As for you, why should I let you go? The fun's only just beginning. Speaking of..."
She pulled a stethoscope from the depths of her jacket. Carefully, she laid it upon Luke's chest and listened with a grimace.
"Sounds like you've got a lung on the verge of collapsing. We'll fix that next. Girl?!" She called, holding the door open as Faith entered.
The girl avoided eye contact with the Surgeon and instead walked directly to Luke. Her expression was undetectable.
As soon as the door closed, panic registered on her features. She fumbled with the leather straps that fettered Luke to the table.
"We've got to get out of here. Now."
xxx
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