I started gagging and my eyes felt sticky. Something went down my throat and I was going to throw up. As the contents of my throat flowed into my nose, an unpleasant smell hit me. I started coughing, wheezing, and feeling uncomfortable.
My eyelids opened and I could see Oliver leaning against me. He was more blurry than usual. He flashed like a light into each of my eyes. I shouted. I tried to push him away, but my hand was stuck.
"You must keep an eye on her tonight, Ben," said Oliver. My eyelids drooped again. "This shouldn't cause respiratory depression, you don't understand the key."
"Yes sir."
"You told me she was doing a great job," Bethany said.
I tried to open my eyes and see where they were standing? But I can't.
"She is," Ben said. "She just had a little time."
"She was like that this morning," Oliver said.
"She'd better not do anything over the top at dinner," Bethany said.
"She won't," Ben said. "I'll make sure."
"Thank you, Benjamin," she said. "I'm glad I can trust you."
I heard the door click shut. The bed sank and warm fingers ran through my hair. My eyes opened for a few seconds to see Ben next to me. His lips formed a thin line. He shook his head and curled a strand of my hair between his fingers.
"I'm not a bad person, Diana," he said. "I really wasn't. I was just trying to protect you."
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. He traced his fingers along my cheek and across my jaw.
"I don't want you to be sedated and I don't want them to put a feeding tube down your throat," he said. "This happened because you didn't listen to me." Ben cupped my face in his hands.
I wanted to raise my hand and push him away, but I could only twitch my fingers.
"The only time I'm with someone like me is at a dinner party, you know!" he said. "For the past few years, I've only had Bethany and Oliver. I had hope when Oliver started his experiments, but his patients kept dying. And then there's you, and you survived. We were surprised."
I saw Ben move closer. A bright smile spread across his lips. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my vision. Next is the lamp next to the bed which is the only light. It glowed faintly, casting a shadow on Ben's face.
"For my own selfish sake, I need you to live, Diana," he said. "All I've had these past three years has been the two of them. You need me and I need you. You're going to keep me sane. Please listen to me and you'll be okay."
My fingers stung, but I managed to lift them off the mattress. My hands were shaking as I brought them to Ben's hands on my face. He misunderstood my intention and intertwined his fingers with mine. I winked
Shut your mouth and turn your head towards Ben.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to my cheek. He let go of my hand. He turned off the light. He lifted up a corner of the quilt and got into the bed. He grabbed my hips and rolled me onto my side. He pressed against my back. His arms slid around my waist.
"Don't hate me," he said. "We have to practice again and do better this time."
Ben's breath tickled the back of my neck. His hands left my waist and went up to my arms. His fingers pulling down on the exposed skin of my arms sent shivers down my spine. The dress I was wearing earlier covered my arms. They must have changed me while I was unconscious.
"You know, you're right," Ben said. "I slept with Bethany and it was disgusting."
His hands returned to my waist. His nose pressed against the crook of my neck.
It snowballed faster than I expected. I guess she thought she had hurt me," he said. "Once it happens, it's hard to stop it. I use it to gain privileges. A terrible thing, but there is no other way to exercise it. "
Ben took a deep breath. My eyelids almost fell off. His fingers traced my stomach. We lay in silence for a few minutes and I fell asleep again. His voice pulled me back, but I couldn't open my eyes.
"That's good," he said softly. "I never thought I'd be able to do this again."
I yelped as someone shook my shoulder. My eyes shot open and there was Oliver leaning over me. He lets light into my eyes, light into my eyes. When he let go, I pushed up and sat down. I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands.
Ben sat in the corner of the room. Sit against the wall. He put on jeans and a plaid shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His dark hair was slicked back. He looked up from the novel in his hands and looked at me.
"Here's your medicine," Oliver said.
Three pills and a glass of water. I swallowed the pills without argument. I looked over at Ben and he raised an eyebrow.
"Thank you," I said.
The corners of Oliver's mouth twitched into a smile.
"Open your mouth," he said.
I opened my mouth as he looked at me to make sure I swallowed the pill.
"Very good," he said. "How are you feeling today? I hope you don't lose your temper again."
"No. Sorry."
Ben was looking down at his book, smirking. I'm doing what he wants. He is right. I needed to gain Oliver's trust, and fighting back was useless.
"I love hearing that," Oliver said. "Look, breakfast. Eat it obediently and get ready. I'm going to check your eyesight in an hour."
"Thank you," I said.
Oliver put his hand on top of my head.
"Have a nice morning," he said, running his hand through my hair. Then he turned and walked out of the room.
I. I looked down and saw that I was wearing a thin pair of pajamas.
"Are you hungry?" Ben asked, "Eat breakfast. Change your clothes. Come out when you're ready."
"Okay," I said.
Ben closed the door. When I looked, the plastic bag full of clothes was no longer on the ground. I opened the closet and saw a row of clothes hanging on the hangers. There are several small bins on the shelves. I took out one and looked at it. It was full of stockings. I pulled out a pair and grabbed a skirt hanger off my clothes. I rummaged through the dresser looking for underwear and bras. I put on a new set of clothes and combed my hair. I avoid looking in the mirror.
I walked to the main room. The pleated skirt of my dress stuck to my leggings. I tugged at it and cursed under my breath. I'm used to wearing yoga pants and tank tops, so I wasn't used to this!
When I got to the end of the corridor, I saw him peeling an orange. I sat in Oliver's office chair. I saw a pile of toast and a bowl of strawberries. I grabbed the bowl and popped one into my mouth.
"You and Oliver had a great conversation," Ben said.
"Thanks," I said, and popped another strawberry into my mouth. "You're right. I need to be nice so I can survive."
"I think we need to add 'good table manners' to our list of things to practice."
I rolled my eyes and took another strawberry. A few minutes passed as we ate in silence.
"Are you angry with me because of what happened last night?" he asked. "No," I said. "I was like that at the time, but now I understand why you did it. I know I need you and you need me."
He looked up from the orange with wide eyes.
"Do you remember last night?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "You think I can't?"
"No. I thought the sedative would make you lose your memory."
"Is that what you mean?"
Ben slid off the bed and poured the orange peel onto the tray. He wiped his hands on his jeans and turned to face me.
"Yes," he said. "You have to be nice to Oliver to get the privilege."
I bit my lip. I wanted to ask him some more questions, but I didn't know how. Did he mean more than his words? What's with the kiss on the cheek and lying on my bed? What was it about him holding me tight as I fell unconscious again from the drugs? Did he stay there all night? He was up and ready before Oliver walked into the room.
The door at the top of the stairs opened and Ben looked back. Oliver descended the steps. "Have you finished your breakfast?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "Thanks."
"Come with me," he said, waving to me.
I walked over to Oliver and he put his hand on the small of my back. I tried to break away from his grip, but I looked at Ben. He nodded and told me that was it. Oliver avoided me and went to the hallway on the other side of the stairs. He took his keychain out of his lab coat pocket. He opened a door and I walked in.
I squinted and saw a big chair and several big machines. It reminds me of the doctor's office my mom used to use
"Have a seat, Diana," said Oliver.
I sat down. Oliver rolled a stool towards me. My fingers twisted at the hem of my skirt.
“I didn’t know all doctors did eye exams,” I said.
"They didn't," Oliver said. "I'm an ophthalmologist."
"What?"
"An ophthalmologist. That's why I was able to perform your surgery." Oliver opened the stool and picked up one of the devices used to look into my eyes.
"Where's Mr. Carlyle?" I asked. Oliver frowned, I could tell he was confused. "The first night I was here, I overheard you talking to Mr. Carlisle on the phone. You asked about his new kidney."
He chuckled.
"You have an extraordinary memory," he said. "This might be useful. Do you know anything about nursing?"
"My sister is a nurse," I said.
"It's good to know," he said. "Anyway, Mr. Carlisle is a regular client of mine. The cataracts are severe. He also suffers from kidney failure and has finally found a suitable partner."
Oliver began having eye exams. He asked me to read lines of letters and choose between different shots. He shined a few more lights into my eyes and asked me to look left and right. When he was done, he wrote it down.
"Have you ever worn glasses before?" he asked.
"No," I said.
"Well, your vision has improved," he said. "Your peripheral vision is much wider now and you can see better in the dark, but it will make you nearsighted. I will order your lenses and have them rushed out. Hopefully have them tomorrow morning."
"Thank you," I said.
"You can wear it here, but you can't wear it at the dinner. Do you understand?"
I nodded. Oliver stood up and stuffed his pen into his pocket.
"You can go now, Diana," he said.
I stood up from my chair and forced a smile.
"Thank you, Dr. Sweeney," I said,
I left the room. I hurried down the hall. Ben is no longer in the main room. I went to another hall. I wasn't sure which room Ben was staying in, so I went downstairs to the room with the TV. I looked inside and saw Ben sitting on the couch. His feet were on the coffee table and the book was spread across his lap.
"I'm done," I said.
He slammed the book shut.
"How is it?" he asked.
"Okay. It's just an eye exam," I said. "I'm going to get glasses."
"Let's go train."
Ben walked behind the couch. A small stool is placed on the carpet. I took a deep breath and stepped on it.
