Page 33 of Beautiful Prey

I was appalled. “Why keep trying then? If he refuses to take it, isn’t it clear it only upsets him and makes things worse?”

They looked at me as if I was speaking a different language.

“Many patients might not like to take their medication, Eve,” Dr. Langley said, “But it is very important for their treatment and recovery.”

“But maybe there are other methods that can help instead.”

“Of course there are other methods,” Dr. Hannah said. “But medication, even paired with these methods, is a solid and well researched source to help the majority of people. Did they not mention that at school?” She laughed.

I pursed my lips even though I wanted to clock her on her tight-lipped mouth. But I realized they didn’t know or understand like I did. It wasn’t just an aversion to drugs or an avoidance of side effects. Drugs were the very thing that caused Emery emotional, mental, and perhaps even physical pain. The very trauma of his past. If the connection I found between him and my father’s company was true, I had a clear idea of what drugs had done to him.

“What if drugs are the cause of his trauma?” I said to them, “That they play a role in his abuse as a child.”

Dr. Langley’s brows furrowed. “Did he mention this to you?”

I glanced at Dr. Hannah who watched me with a sharp gaze, then turned back to Dr. Langley. “In a way…yes.”

“There are no records of his foster parents drugging him,” Dr. Hannah stated before Dr. Langley could open his mouth. “He very well could be making up reasons to avoid taking his meds.”

“He’s not making it up.”

“How do you know?” she asked.

I glared at her. But I couldn’t exactly just say I know. And I wasn’t about to tell them what I had found out either. Not when that would give me away and compromise our sessions. “I trust what Emery tells me. He has no reason to lie.”

Dr. Hannah glanced at Langley and I could see the silent conversation they were having. “That’s very…honorable of you. But we have to think of Emery’s health first. Even if he doesn’t want to. Many patients don’t want to better themselves so it is up to us to do it for them because in the end it’s what could save them.” She shifted in her chair to face me. “He trusts you. It’s clear. Keep working with him as you are and eventually you can convince him to take his medication.”

“I told you he won’t—”

“If you don’t help him in this, then I think Dr. Langley and I will have to discuss whether your sessions are improving him at all or are just a distraction from honest treatment.”

“Talking is helping,” I said in defense.

“Talking is talking. It only does so much. Anyone can talk to him if he’s willing. But it only goes so far.” She chuckled. “Do you think just talking to a schizophrenic—”

“Emery isn’t schizophrenic,” I interrupted coldly.

“Or,”she continued,“someone with severe psychosis helps them to live a normal and fulfilling life?”

I bit my lip. I remembered how Emery would turn his head as if someone were speaking to him. And then there was the mention of the smiling woman. There was no denying the drugs they forced on him as a child had damaged him mentally.

“Regardless,” Dr. Hannah said. “He must try. If he doesn’t…if he refuses the proper treatment, then this facility can do nothing for him. The state will consider him unworthy of these services. Services someone else could desperately use. If Emery doesn’t start receiving his medication…he will be transferred to a less accommodating situation.”

Transferred.

I remembered what Liam told me. They were already considering putting him in a prison instead. A place that would only make his situation worse.

I shouldn’t give a shit what happened to him. If I didn’t know what I did now, maybe I wouldn’t care at all.

But…things had changed.

Still, the very idea of having me try to convince Emery to take drugs felt so fucked now that I was sure about him and my family’s past.

Even I couldn’t think of a crueler revenge.

It should be someone else. I should just stop the sessions now and leave.

I swallowed hard, my mouth turning dry. “Alright,” I said softly. “I will…try to talk to him about it.”

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