Ben rummaged through one of the plastic bags and tossed something at the foot of the bed. I reached out and picked it up and saw, oh, it was a dark gray dress.
"I know how bad that robe feels," he said.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a metal ring attached to a carbine. A smile spread across my lips as I watched him search the ring for the key.
"One of them is for the shower room,"
"Do you have the key?" I asked.
I moved on the bed so that I was sitting on my knees. I held my clothes and felt a little excited. Ben also had a smile on his lips.
"Don't get too excited," he said. "They only gave me the key to the door in the lab."
"How did you know?" I asked. "We should try them."
"They are crazy, but not fools."
I took a deep breath. He may be right. Philip had great trust in him. She lets him go to the store and here by himself. She probably wouldn't have kept the key to the basement door with the girl. Ha, then she can fight again.
"Let's go find the bathroom," he said.
"Then what should I do?
"I raised my arm connected to the IV pole. Ben walked over to the pump and pressed a few buttons to disconnect me from the tube.
"How come you do so much?" I asked. "You pick up something," he said. "I'll pick you up after you take a shower."
I put the clothes on one hand. Ben is holding a plastic bag. He watched me take my first few unsteady steps, and he should be ready to catch me if I tipped over. He walked down the hallway with me as I managed to walk straight. It felt weird not having an IV pole to lean on while walking, so I kept my hands against the wall. Gross, reminds me of many past Sunday morning hangovers.
I watched as Ben fumbled with some keys and then unlocked the shower room. He waved me in and placed the plastic bag on the counter. I looked down at the cold white tiles on the floor, the wall separating the three separate shower stalls. A blue shower curtain was drawn between them.
The white was so clean I could almost see my reflection staring back at me.
This room has never been used before. I was the first, but how many people had he prepared for?
"A girl needs this." Ben's voice brought me back to reality. He was looking into the plastic bag.
"It's possible I forgot something. My sister always fills the bathroom with junk. It should smell like oranges."
"Thank you," I said.
"After you finish washing, I'll wait for you outside," he said.
I nodded. I looked at the bag and pulled the items out one by one. It contains shampoo, conditioner, body wash and other toiletries. I smiled when I saw they both had a citrus scent. There are also razors, shaving cream, brushes, scrunchies and deodorant. I was relieved to see a box of tampons. I was supposed to get my period next week. This is a conversation I don’t want to have with Winnie.
I bit my lower lip, my heart sinking. Why am I still here next week? By next week, I'll be running away.
I opened the lymphatic curtain and saw that the white tiles on the wall were bent into shelves and placed shampoo and facial cleanser on them. I turned on the shower and waited for the water to get warm. I peeled off the robe, folded it, and placed it on the counter.
I stepped into the shower and let the warm water wash over my skin. I soaked in the smell of citrus as it overpowered the smell of sweat and blood that followed me. The fire behind my eyes grew louder, but the pain in my skull grew duller. I shaved my legs because I was scratched a few times as I struggled to see.
When I was done, I wrapped myself in a towel and walked into the hallway.
Ben sat in Vinnie's chair with his feet up on the table. Opened a book. When he heard me come in, he closed the book and turned around.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
"As good as I can feel," I said. "Considering the circumstances."
"You've got spunk," Ben said with a smile. "I like it, but as a doctor, you don't want to show off too much, haha."
I sat down on the edge of the bed, my feet dangling. Finally relaxed!
Ben stood up, walked around the bed, and pushed the IV in front of me. He reattached it. He sat down in Pooh's chair and leaned back. His face was blurry and I still wasn't used to the weird hues of color surrounding me.
"I'm not going to that dinner," I told him.
"You don't really have a choice," he said. "They live for this dinner party. They even turn it into a whole weekend. They love showing off their masterpieces."
"So I have to sit still for a bunch of Frankensteins?"
"A Frankenstein doctor?"
"Yes, those doctors who put many people together to make new things. Just like in the novel."
"I know this novel very well."
I couldn't see the details of Ben's face, but I could tell from his tone that he was snickering.
"Look, I don't need to know how to perform for this party. I need to know how to get out of here," I said.
"I've told you I've tried multiple times," he said. "They're smart and they're very punishing. That's probably what we have to do in the meantime. Until we find the perfect way out."
"Compared with the free trade zone, won Hallent?" "It's been three years and you haven't found a perfect way out?"
There was a squeak. He shook his weight in his chair. I must have made him feel uncomfortable.
"I'm trying to help you," he said. "Try running away and you'll know what I'm talking about."
"You're trying to scare me."
"That's not hard to do. Given the circumstances."
I bit my lip. He was mocking me.
"Give me the key," I said. Ben said with a smile. I held the IV pole and walked to Ben's side. I towered over him. His features caught my eye and he raised an eyebrow. I squinted my eyes and saw the keychain through the loop of his jeans. I reached down and he grabbed my wrist. His grip was much stronger than Whinney's, but when I pulled my arm back, he let go.
"Give me the key," I repeated.
"Diana, I told you I'm on your side," he said.
"You're a pervert too," I said. "You want to be here."
I rushed forward. My fingers were wrapped around the key before Ben's warm fingers wrapped around my wrist. Before he could grab the wrist, I slapped his face with my free hand. I pulled his hand away and he pulled me back. I stumbled as I fell towards him. He tugged on my wrist again and pulled me into his lap. The key dug into the back of my thigh. I reached for the keys again, but he held my wrists to his chest. I inhaled sharply as he stared at me with his crystal blue eyes.
"Don't make me sound like an idiot," he said. "I wanted to get out of here and I tried. I told you the key wouldn't get us out of the basement."
"How did you know?" My voice was much weaker than I'd hoped.
"I know them," he said. "When they're up there making love to each other. That would be the ideal time for us to run out and get out of here, but she won't give us that chance."
"What about earlier today?" I asked. "You went to the store by yourself to buy me these things. Why didn't you go to the police? Why didn't you ask for help?"
"Escape from this isn't just about getting out of here."
Ben shook his head and I realized I was still in his lap. I stood up quickly.
I wiped the moisture off the mirror and took a closer look. The swelling has gone down, but there's still a faint yellow bruise running down my cheek. I combed my hair with a brush and braided my wet hair. I put on the underwear and skirt Ben had given me. I took a deep breath before picking it up and standing up, but his fingers dug into my thigh. My breath caught in my throat. Ben's eyes locked on mine. It was as if he was examining my large vertical pupils and their new deep green color.
"What do you think will happen when you leave here?"
he asks. "You can't just go home and have these eyes and live a normal life."
"Can someone change us back to how we were?" I said.
"A doctor or a veterinarian?"
I pushed his hands off my legs and stood up.
"Ben. I don't understand you," I said. "First you said we had to wait for the perfect opportunity to escape, and now you're telling me there's no point in getting out of here? Which one? How could your opinion change in five minutes?"
"I don't want to be here," he said, rising from his chair. "
But getting out of here isn't as easy as you think. They are keeping us alive. Without their medication, my skin would fall off and your eyes would be rejected by your body. Their drug stops our bodies from rejecting these transplants. "
I pushed my fingertips into the tender flesh around my eyes. I never thought about my hormones, never thought that my body would reject them and turn itself against me. I actually have to rely on Winnie? Does he continue to be able to play God in my life?
"That's why leaving is not as simple as you think," he said.
There was a click as the lock on the door turned. I took a step back from Ben. I watched Winnie's figure come into focus. He held two bowls in his hands. When he looked in my direction, he smiled.
"You look good," he said. He handed one of the bowls to Ben. "I hope she didn't cause you too much trouble, Ben." Two bowls in his hands. When he looked in my direction, he smiled.
"You look good," he said. He handed one of the bowls to Ben. "I hope she didn't cause you too much trouble, Ben."
"Not at all, sir," he said with a smirk. "She is very cute."
"I'm going to show Diana her new room and make sure she eats."
"Yes, sir."
Whinney walked toward me, and I tried to avoid the eyes of the man in charge of my life.
