NIGHT 69: DISCIPLINARY THERAPY ROOM 1 [M-U FOR LLOYD IRVING]

[damned_doctors]

This had all worked out perfectly, hadn't it?

The doctor in question, who had already done some very promising work on Kratos, now had the honor of receiving the opportunity to perform a similar procedure on his son. Of course, Lloyd didn't know that, but that was what made this even more entertaining. The doctor had even made sure to book out the exact same room, and so Lloyd was laid out unconscious on the very table that his father had been two nights ago.

It was true that two days wasn't that long to analyze something as complicated as an Exsphere, but they had already taken plenty of readings on it and had all of that data to work with. Besides, even if the plan was to now give Lloyd his father's Exsphere, they were going to receive Lloyd's in return. So there would be no true loss in the end.

From what the doctor had read of Lloyd's file, he was far more expressive than Kratos, who had kept that stony expression through almost the entire procedure. So even if this was more or less a repeat of the previous experiment, the doctor was certain that it would be amusing in a very different way.

But first he had to wait for the sedative to wear off. When Lloyd did wake up, he'd find that he was restrained with metal clamps to an exam table with a bright light shining right down into his face -- and right out of view, the doctor was standing and watching him.

Comments

[redcladidealist]

Those few moments seemed to stretch into an eternity for Lloyd as a desperation sank into his chest, attacking his heart, making his breath come faster. Perversely, while the doctor had been here, he'd felt safer than being by himself. The doctor wouldn't stick around if there was any chance of Lloyd turning into a monster, not unless he truly was insane and didn't care if he risked his life. Locked up and alone, though, anything could happen, and he wouldn't have any way he could stop it. Not tied down like this! He pulled against his bonds again, struggling desperately despite the futility he'd already been proven this had.

Only to jerk and nearly fall off the table when the metal bands suddenly released his limbs. Lloyd let out a startled yelp, hastily reaching out to catch his balance by grabbing the edge of the table. His bruised wrist ached in protest at the move.

But he'd moved. He was free. As fast as he could, he scrambled off the table, gracelessly stumbling away with the irrational fear that he'd be trapped again if he stayed anywhere near the thing. His legs ached, too, as much from the damage he'd done to himself in his struggles to escape as from the fact that he'd been restrained for... for what? Hours? He didn't know, but it had been way too long. He had to slow down after a few steps before he lost his balance completely. He had to blink away spots of light as he recovered, afterimages of the blinding light that had been shining in his eyes, but even once they faded, he still couldn't see. The lights had turned off, leaving him in utter dark. That didn't stop him from practically lunging toward where he thought the the door was.

His aim was off. His hand ran into a wall, and it took several moments of blind groping before he found the knob of the door. He didn't run into anything else. He doubted there was anything else. The doctor had no doubt taken his tools with him, leaving nothing for Lloyd to arm himself with.

It didn't matter. He had to get out. That thought overruled even the realization that he was unarmed. It didn't matter even if his mana was still locked back. Even running into a monster out in the corridors would be better than staying here. Grabbing the knob, he twisted, fully prepared to throw himself at the door if it didn't open for him. Torn, cauterize skin screamed as muscles and tendons flexed with his fingers' grip, and he had to fight back a grunt.

But the door opened.

Not bothering to take the time to question his good fortune, not bothering to try to peer through the dark he fled, racing into the pitch black hall.

[To here.]