Insangel

Chapter 4

Mother lapses into deep thought for several minutes while I wait with bated breath.

     "I... have come to a decision," she says eventually, taking her time on each word. My heart is beating so loudly that I can barely hear her, "Doctor Forfax, I feel that it would be beneficial to Charmaine's health if she receives treatment from you for her 'halo' problems.

      "No! I do not accept that!" I blurt out, quickly rising to my feet.

      "Restrain her!" Och commands several guards, who rush forward and grab my shoulders unnecessarily tightly, forcing me to my knees. Where I belong.

      "Oh, Charmaine. What is happening to you?" Mother says, tears welling up in her eyes.

     "What is happening to me? I am not the one who has been brainwashed by some... some... cult! And, M-Mother, you want to form an alliance with them?!"

Mother stands up from her throne and approaches me, an unusual gesture in a hearing such as this, and embraces me.

      "Stay strong, Charmaine. We will get through this. Together."

Releasing me, she composes herself and turns to Doctor Forfax.

      "I release Charmaine into your care to treat her for this illness she has," she says formally, her official tone restored.

      "Thank you, Your Majesty," he says with a bow. No! I cannot be left with him!

     "Guards, escort Miss Charmaine to my laboratory," he says, turning to leave.

     "Please, no! Not his laboratory!" I shout, my window of opportunity closing fast. Any attempts at applying the brake are in vain as the guards lift me off the ground, my legs kicking the air uselessly.

The corridors and stairwell blur into dark red as my face becomes wetter, the distinctive chemical stench of disinfectant that permeated his laboratory, heralds my approach.

Down and down we go. Deep beneath the palace, in the places where natural light was a legend that was passed through the generations.

The laboratory is just how I remember it, even though I try hard to forget. The metal cupboards, filled with tools of torture, were cold and clean. Not 'healthy clean', but rather 'indifferent clean'. The operating table, where I would receive my 'appointments', stood ominously in the centre of the room.

      "I can take it from here," Doctor Forfax says formally, though it sounds like he can barely contain his eagerness to begin. Once the guards vacate the room, he locks the door.

Alone with him. Trapped with him. All I can do is stand stock-still, arms and wings wrapped protectively around myself.

     "No need to fear me, Miss Charmaine, I can make you better" he says in a fake concerned tone, reaching out a hand, which I recoil from.

      "You are hysterical, my dear. Here, I can give you something for that," he says, retrieving a syringe and vial of black liquid from the drawers.

      "No!" I cry out, clambering over the operating table to maintain distance.

     "Making this difficult for me only makes it more difficult for you!" he says, lunging forward without warning and grabbing at my sleeve. On reflex, I lash out, striking him in the face with my fist, his skin burning slightly where I inadvertently release a spark of angel-lightning.

     "Ah!" I yelp, jumping back. I have never struck someone before and very rarely discharge angel-lightning.

     "Well, are you not a feisty little princess?" Doctor Forfax snarls, vaulting over the table and slamming me into a wall. Before I have a chance to struggle, he plunges the syringe into my neck.

     "N—No... S—S—Stop..." I try to wriggle myself free, but my energy is rapidly escaping me. Darkness begins to spread from the shadows and fill my vision until I am blind.

I try to call out 'Help!', but my voice has failed me.

And then... black.