Page 71 of Mind Maze

Did she run away?

Did she die?

Maybe she didn’t like to be pat on the head and told her brain is a liar.

The burst of anger makes my skin hot. I’ve learned to hold in these bursts because if I get upset and have a fit, Dad will spank me. I don’t like getting spankings because it makes Bastian’s face crumple in a really awful way that makes me want to cry. It hurts worse than the spanking itself.

“She used to make that same face.” A warm chuckle follows those words. “It’s okay, sweet one. You’re not in trouble. Remember, I’m here to fix you. That’s what I do and I’m really good at it.”

A woman in a white dress and white hat approaches from behind us. When she comes into view, I have the urge to run. Running will get me in trouble, though.

“Keep her distracted,” the woman says. “It’ll only take a sec.”

What will take a sec?

“Did your doll come with this pretty dress?” I’m asked, pulling my attention from the woman to the doll. “This doesn’t look like any I’ve seen in the department stores.”

I note the pink lace over the doll’s silky pink dress. It’s so pretty. Bastian uses his allowance to buy special handmade dresses for all my dolls. They’re so special and—

“Ouch!” I cry out, jerking away from the woman.

She pulls away, a big shot in her hand just like the ones the doctors give me at my checkup. I look down at my arm and a tiny dot of blood forms.

“There we go,” the woman says. “You did well. Let’s get you a pretty pink bandage to cover your boo-boo.”

Fat tears well in my eyes as she quickly places a Band-Aid with Barbie’s face on the blood dot. I feel as if they played a trick on me. My doll’s pretty dress was used to distract me from the shot.

Within seconds, I start to feel sleepy.

“You must be getting tired,” I’m told after the woman leaves. “Come now, sweet one. Let’s have you lie down over here.”

“Daddy?” I croak out, voice small and terrified.

“He’ll be back in a bit. Up you go.”

I’m lifted onto a bed with a sheet of paper across it. It crinkles as I stretch out. My doll is given back to me and I clutch it tight. Every part of my body feels mushy like spaghetti.

A song is hummed to me, but I don’t recognize it. I stare as my arm is pulled away from my doll and then a belt-lookingthing is tied around my wrist. It’s too tight, which makes my hand feel weird.

I open my mouth to ask to be let go, but no words come out. I’m only able to watch as the hand with the doll is also strapped down. The doll then falls to the ground with a soft clatter.

I try to scream.

Nothing but silence.

“Romy.”

I shudder as I’m jolted from the past to the present, quickly becoming aware of the people around me. It’s then that a wonderful scent fills my nostrils, grounding me.

Caius.

I’m physically turned to face him. His gaze is filled with worry, which makes my heart race. He covers both my ears with his palms, dulling the sounds of everything so that I can focus only on him.

Slowly at first, like a trickle, and then crashing like a massive waterfall, awareness washes over me. My skin is cold and I feel nauseous. Terror claws at my throat.

What’s happening?

His dark eyes bore into mine, imploring me to focus on him. I ignore everything to lock eyes with him. The things I feel for him go beyond physical or emotional. I’m connected to him in ways I can’t explain.

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