Voiceless

Chapter Eighteen

 I yelped as he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me up. He pulled me forcefully into the room where the woman was breathing heavily and crying for her baby. Sweat slowly rolled down her forehead and glistened under the bright light hung above her - but the baby was nowhere to be seen. 

"Where's the baby?" I asked through gritted teeth, fearing the answer to my question. Dr Jeffrye stared at my face and then glanced at the hopeless woman strapped to the bed. 

"Gone"

The actual meaning of his answer dawned on both of us and the mother sobbed harder as she realised she had become childless without even holding her baby. She lost control of her emotions and uncontrollably wept, struggling against the leather belts strapped around her weak and raw wrists. The doctor began pulling me onto another bed that was left to the side. I pulled and screamed, attempting to escape from this nightmare but a man from the swinging doors arrived and forcefully pushed me down. I did not want to be in the same position as the woman beside me.

"Who are you? Why are you helping him?" I screamed but I was only met with blank stares. When I thought he wasn't going to speak, he opened his mouth.

"These scientists are doing these tests with the women in their best interest. I think that all of this will lead to better child births so I fully support them in all of this... no matter what others think" he answered in a monotonous voice.

I froze. His answer... it sounded familiar. I closed my eyes, trying to reach out for the little memory niggling at the back of my head. My eyes opened as he placed my arms above my head and strapped them to leather belts. I wriggled under his heavy weight, scratching at his hand as he tried to secure the belt. He hissed as my nail ran a long cut across the left of his wrist. He glared at me but rather than witnessing the intense inferno I expected from this man, I just viewed an empty dull void. That is when I recognised the hostility on his face and the monotonous voice. It was exactly similar to the newsreader who first announced Merudoxin on air. 

Remembering that broadcast made me feel as if it was years away. Was the goverment in on this too? What was happening to everyone? Was there truly no escape to this unexplained madness?

Making sure I was secure in the leather contraption the man moved away, allowing Dr Jeffrye to appear and inspect me. The woman was also nowhere to be seen. Peering up I remained determined under his menacing scowl but I was just hoping he couldn't see behind my false exterior because behind all the pretense I was overwhelmed with worry.

"You honestly don't think about your well-being do you? For a person who claims she cares about her baby so much you have absolutely no idea how to look after yourself"

"Hey-" I began but was cut off by the mad man hovering in front of my face, "- That baby must be so unfortunate to have a careless mother like you. Must have been the reason why you lost your first baby too"

I gasped and two small tears rolled down my cheeks, collecting at the bottom of my chin before dropping. "You have no right! How do you even know?" 

"You don't think I wouldn;t have researched each and every one of my guinea pigs? This is all just an experiment! Your medical records have been my very own library! I learn something from each and every one of you, things you probably wouldn't tell anyone. Some women are solely here to prevent their secrets from leaking. Too scared of the outside world with the babies they carry in their wombs and so they're here for solace... pathetic!"

"Why are you doing this? Please!" I sobbed, losing the will to even fight against my straps. 

"How long have you been spying on me Hazel? Hm? After the death of Chichi? Before the death of Lola? When?"

"I don't even know a Lola!" I cried, banging my head against the headboard, trying to create a ruckus that may catch some passerby's attention. But I was only met with empty silence that strangely spoke volumes. It roared at me that no-one was going to help. In this horribly pristine room I felt alone, frightened and disgusted. Disgusted that this man was capable of something so inhumane. The only presence other than mine belonged to a man whose psychotic mind was overpowering his reasonability. 

"I'll tell you everything you need to know Hazel" Dr Jeffrey announced. He placed his hand into his pocket and brought out a silver packet. Popping out a pill he attempted to push it into my mouth but my clenched teeth prevented an entrance. He glanced at the man waiting at the corner of the room who came up to me and squeezed my cheeks. The pill was forcefully shoved into my mouth and I gagged as I dry swallowed the pill. 

"I'll tell you everything you want to know... after I've induced your labour. You're almost 9 months pregnant now aren't you? This pill will work fine on you, my own creation" he announced with a smirk. My heart pounded. Induce labour? But I wasn't ready! It's not even my ninth month!

"Why are you doing this to me?!" I screamed. I couldn't even regurgitate the pill out as my arms were strapped above my head.

"I want to use your baby as an example. Don't worry, everything will be perfectly fine Hazel".

Sorry for the late update! Tell me if you like the way the story is going!