Page 239 of Mad As Hell

“Manny, I’m going to need a sedative for Madelaine.”

“No!” I cried, not wanting to be knocked out again. Frustrated tears gathered in my eyes, and I could only watch as they both ignored me.

“Let’s go with one hundred milligrams of haldol,” Dr. Browne went on like I didn’t exist.

Manny nodded and disappeared.

“Please don’t do this,” I begged, feeling the skin around my wrists start to rub raw as I pulled against the straps.

Dr. Browne stood over me. “Madelaine, we’re doing this for you. You’ll see. It will all be all right.”

Manny reappeared and passed her a syringe.

“No, no. Please—”

The needle pricked my skin, and I felt the liquid start to spread as Dr. Browne pressed the plunger down.

“No,” I whimpered, my eyes already starting to close.

* * *

Everything was fuzzy and soft.

I glanced at one hand, flexing each of my fingers and marveling at the way they moved. One by one, they curled and unfurled like magic.

A smile slipped across my lips.

Fingers were fun.

I frowned as my gaze traveled up to the bruise around my wrist. Ugly shades of black and purple made it look strange. I opened my mouth to ask what had happened, but I couldn’t make my tongue and lips work.

They weren’t as good as fingers.

The door in front of me opened, and I blinked as a man walked into the room, a look of disdain on his face.

I knew him. Why did I know him?

“This could have been so much easier,” he hissed, leaning over me and grabbing my wrist. He squeezed, and pain arced through my arm. I wanted to cry out, but my mouth still wouldn’t work. “You stupid little bitch. I told you not to test me.”

I tried to clear the fog around my brain, but it was useless.

The man sneered at me as he let me go. “You truly thought you could beat me?”

Gary.

His name was… Gary.

I knew him.

The door behind him opened again, and two men walked in, both in suits. Only one of them bothered looking at me, the other addressed Gary. “We’re ready to begin.”

Gary dropped a hand to my shoulder. “All right, gentlemen. Let’s go, sweetheart, all right?” He came around behind me, and then I was rolling forward, being wheeled through a long hallway with doors as we followed the two men.

One of them opened a door, and Gary pushed me into a large room.

A courtroom.

I smiled to myself because I knew this word.

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