“Goodnight, Marina,” Paul called out in the most ironic tone possible, just before I plummeted through the depths of despair into a numbing sleep.
~
Chapter Twenty-One
CAPTIVITY
~
Muffled voices murmured nonsense as my mind clawed its way through a black tunnel, fighting back to consciousness. Confusing stamping sounds surrounded me, and I struggled to open my eyes, grasping to remember where I was. The awful memory returned before my ability to move did, and the whirring of machinery told me that I was inside the cylinder of an MRI scanner.
As my head cleared, the terrifying reality of my grim situation started to sink in. I was completely on my own, and no one was going to come looking for me. I would probably end up like the poor mermaid in cold storage, once they finished poking and prodding at me enough to satisfy their curiosity. Pangs of fresh sorrow and agony tightened my chest when I realized that I’d never see Ethan again.
My head started to ache ferociously, and I wondered if the machine was causing it. It wasn’t.
~
Nixie was swimming close to the surface, and I could see shafts of late afternoon light reaching down into the blue-green water. She was agitated, swimming back and forth fearfully. She circled around the boat, listening to the sounds of Nerissa crying out in pain and fear. With each turn around the vessel she drew closer and closer, until she was dangerously near the research vessel…
~
“Noooo!” I screamed, “DON’T DO IT!” The voices outside the machine grew louder and more excited, picking up in tempo.
“Get her out of there right now!” I heard Paul commanding. “It’s doing something to her!”
The mechanical sounds stopped, replaced by the scrape of metal rails sliding. I could feel the gurney I was strapped onto moving, and the rush of cool air on my face as I was extracted from the device.
My head ached, and my eyelids fluttered, struggling to open. I could see the outline of both scientists standing alongside Paul, looking down on me with frightened faces. I closed my eyes with a groan, waking up from one nightmare only to be plunged right back into another.
I knew enough about my visions to realize that Nixie was in trouble, and I hoped against hope that she would heed my warnings and stay away from the boat. Was Nerissa alright? She wasn’t present in the images that had flashed through my mind, but the sounds of her suffering rang through my tortured thoughts. I started to pray silently, suddenly chilled to the bone.
“Her lips are blue!” I heard Paul cry out in a panic.
I could feel hands on my wrists, taking my pulse, along with the cold shock of a stethoscope on my chest. Where was my sweater?
“She’s fine. Her vitals are good,” said Doctor Neuman, his voice relieved.
“She just had a spike in brain activity unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” Jones explained excitedly.
“Well, keep her the hell out of there… I can’t take a chance on those magnets messing her up,” Paul said.
“It wasn’t the machine,” Jones said in exasperation. “Her brain just started randomly firing off on all pistons! I’ve never seen anything like it! There was tremendous activity in areas I’ve never even seen used before!”
“I don’t give a damn what her brain looks like! Just keep her body alive! Edwards is on his way over to see her now, and he won’t be too happy if you science geeks give him damaged goods.”
The Doctor’s voice was cold as ice, “We science geeks are more valuable to this project than your ape-man muscle will ever be.”
“I’m under orders to keep an eye on her. It’s my job to make sure she is delivered intact.”
Jones chimed in, whining, “You didn’t do a very good job keeping an eye on her– look what you let her do to our lab.”
I watched through slitted eyes as Paul grabbed the little man’s collar and lifted him off his feet, “Edwards paid for this lab, and for you along with it.”
Jones made gurgling choking sounds as he struggled to free himself.
Doctor Neuman stood by calmly, “I don’t think that he’d appreciate you harming a valuable employee.”
Paul slowly lowered him down, growling, “If anything happens to her, you’ll be answering to me.” Jones doubled over in a spasm of coughing.
“I think we’re all on the same page,” Doctor Neuman calmly interjected, “Why don’t you leave us to our work?”
After a last glance at me, Paul stomped off. The doctor did something to my arm and I felt myself floating away again, back to my dreams of despair and pain.
The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a hospital bed, dizzy and lightheaded. Curtains were drawn all around me, and I was immobilized, my arms at my sides. I struggled to sit up, but a strap across my chest held me firmly against the mattress. My clothes had been removed, and replaced by a flimsy hospital gown that tied in the front. I tried to wiggle out of my restraints, but I couldn’t free myself.
I looked up to see the duct work, pipes and electrical conduits of the lab, and realized I was still in my own personal torture chamber. There was an IV bag hanging over the bed, and I looked down at my arm to see it dripping some kind of fluid into me. I gagged, and my mouth tasted sour.
I could hear footsteps approaching, and the two scientist’s voices as they drew near.
“The plasma analysis is in… I have bad news.”
“What is it?” Doctor Neuman asked, his voice tense.
“Her bloodwork indicates that she’s had a recent injection of Progestogens.”
“She’s on contraceptives?”
“Yes. We’ll need to wait for it to clear her system. It will be several months before we can inseminate.”
My eyes flew open wide in shock.
“Edwards is not going to like hearing that,” the doctor said. “He was most eager to start the process.”
“I’m afraid there’s nothing to be done for it.”
“He’s not a man that takes disappointment very well,” he replied ominously. “He’s already lost one… and apparently it was her that let it get away.”
Their voices faded as they wandered away from my enclosure. I was doubly horrified, for now I knew what they had in mind. Failing to capture another live mermaid, or to re-capture Nixie, they were going to use me to replace her. I shuddered in revulsion and sobbed aloud, unable to contain my grief and horror.
The curtains moved, and I looked up with pained eyes to see Paul. All he cared about was keeping me in good enough condition long enough for them to carry out their depraved plans. The sting of betrayal was still fresh, but I forced myself to speak to him.
“I need water,” I said pitifully.
He left, returning with a water bottle. He raised the bed so I was sitting up, bringing it to my lips. I drank greedily, making a show of coughing and sputtering. I fought to suppress the urge to spit in his face.
“Thank you… I know you’re only doing your job… Tell me, how on earth did you ever get Evie to hire you?”
He looked proud of himself, “I come very highly recommended. Olivia still has many friends on the council, and not all of them admire the famous Evie.”
I thought about the faces of all the women sitting around the table at the council meeting, wondering how many of them were in league with Olivia.
“You killed Peter’s mother too.”
He raised his eyebrows at me, “You really are very clever, aren’t you? Edwards is a valuable patron, and Olivia wanted him for herself. Whatever she wants, she gets– I make sure of it. Edwards also happens to be obsessed by what you have to offer.”
“And exactly what do I have to offer?” I asked.
He laughed, “Don’t play dumb with me, Marina. Olivia isn’t the only one on the council who’s interested in this little experiment. They all want to live forever, and they seem to think you hold the key.”
“The key to what?”
“The fountain of youth.”
&
nbsp; I scoffed, “And you believe them?” I asked.
“I didn’t at first… but then I saw you surfing with the mermaid.” He shook his head with a smile, “Truly a supernatural creature… I’m dying to see if you can really turn into one.”
My eyes filled with tears. This just kept getting worse and worse, and it was all my fault. If I could have only learned how to control my impulses and stay away from my sisters I might not be in this situation. I had a feeling there would be no escape this time.
“It’s not so bad,” he sounded as insane as the doctor, “We made a nice tank for you.”
I turned my head away, and all the fight drained out of me. “Go away,” I whispered.
He pulled the curtains aside and left, barking at the scientists not to let me get dehydrated again. Jones came into my bedside, checking the IV drip and muttering under his breath, “That Neanderthal thinks he’s in charge.”
“What are you going to do with me once you’ve run all your tests?” I asked, glaring into his cruel little eyes, “Are you going to let Edwards make you a murderer?”
He looked taken aback, “We have no plans to kill you.”
“Then let me go,” I pleaded. “I can get you more money than you could ever spend.”
“I was warned you’d try to bribe me,” he shook his head. “Don’t waste your breath.”
“My father could advance your career,” I offered.
“So can Edwards.”
My heart sank. Edwards and Olivia had chosen well this time. Both scientists were clearly remorseless and dispassionate, so invested in their research they had completely forfeited their humanity.
“Can you really turn into one?” he asked, “Because your brain is completely unlike that of the specimen.”
“How?” I asked, “Structurally or functionally?”
Like every scientist I’d ever met, he couldn’t resist talking about his field of expertise, and it didn’t take much coaxing to get him to launch into his theory excitedly.
“The brain structures are quite similar, but I believe the activity levels will prove to be very different. You see, I think a lack of complex brain function and memory retention in the mermaid mind allows the tissue to continuously regenerate. They seem to have sacrificed higher brain function in exchange for immortality. We plan to do a thorough brain scan both before… and after.” He stopped himself, as if he suddenly realized who he was talking to.
My stomach sank again. He was definitely onto something. Both of the times I’d been forced to transform, my thinking had become muddled, with memories and reasoning slipping away like wisps of fog in the sun. His hypothesis certainly made sense; unfortunately, there was only one way to test it. I was to be their guinea pig.
Now I knew what they had in store for me: a forced transformation, a forced pregnancy, and more forced experimentation. There was only one way to rob them of it all.
“Excuse me… But I need to use the bathroom,” I said timidly.
He looked nervous, and called Doctor Neuman over, explaining the problem.
Neuman looked annoyed, addressing Jones, “Get the bedpan.”
“Please?” I asked weakly, appealing to their pride, “Surely they don’t expect highly trained scientists to do the work of common orderlies?”
“We’d better keep her immobilized until Edwards gets here,” said the doctor.
“Oh come on… You can’t expect me to… No way!” I yelled, bringing Paul running.
“What’s going on now?” he demanded.
“I need to use a bathroom!” I looked directly at Paul, appealing to his arrogance, “Don’t you think I’ve been humiliated enough already? It’s not like I’m capable of getting away from you in here… right?”
He shrugged, “Unstrap her.”
I flexed my arms and legs once they were freed, pulling the hospital gown around me protectively.
“Jones, go ahead and escort her,” Doctor Neuman said.
Paul laughed, looking down at the little man, “I don’t think so. She could take him out pretty easy. She’s a lot tougher than she looks.”
He grabbed my arm to lead me to the front of the lab, gesturing to a door.
“You have two minutes,” he said.
I went in, looking around the tiny windowless room for anything sharp. There was no mirror or cabinet, only a pedestal sink and a toilet. I took a deep breath, trying to get my courage up. Putting my back into it, I rocked the sink, finally tearing it off the wall. Water was spraying everywhere as I wedged it against the door, barricading myself inside.
“Marina?” Paul started pounding on the door
I took the heavy ceramic lid off the back of the toilet and lifted it over my head, flinging it to the floor where it shattered. I stooped to pick up a shard, and raised it to my wrist, poised to slash it open. It was the only way. My ring was still turned around on my hand, and it flashed at me, reminding me of Ethan’s face when he gave it to me.
Paul started to hammer on the door with some kind of battering ram, and I saw the wood start to splinter as it gave way. Time slowed down; the seconds ticked by like minutes, and my hands started to shake violently.
I thought about Ethan, and how I’d been robbed of the chance to even say goodbye. Unbidden tears flowed down my cheeks, blinding me momentarily. The pounding on the door grew louder, matching the drumming of my heart in my throat. A hole opened up, and I could see Paul’s enraged face. I gritted my teeth with determination.
My time was up.
Instinct kicked in, and I involuntarily lowered my hand. I couldn’t do it, and I cursed myself for my cowardice. I grasped the shard like a dagger, and stood poised to fight. When Paul finally tore the door off its hinges I lunged, slashing at him once before he had me by both of the arms.
“Nice try soldier.” He taunted me through gritted teeth, “But you chickened out, didn’t you?”
He held me in a headlock while the two scientists stood watching with their mouths hanging open. I started to black-out, getting tunnel vision from the lack of oxygen.
Just then, a buzzer sounded, and the main door to the lab swung open to reveal a dapper middle aged man standing with an attaché case. He carefully closed the door behind him, surveying the scene with a frown.
The scientists were frozen in shock, and the only sound was the hissing water spewing from the bathroom. The shattered door lay on the floor as testament to the recent violence, and the newcomer just stood looking, shaking his head with disgust.
“You fool,” he addressed Paul, “Didn’t I warn you about her? Your job was to simply keep her under control.”
Jones and Neuman went to turn the water off, while Paul dragged me back to the restraint chair. He shoved me down brutally, clamping on the arm and leg cuffs before standing back to inspect the bleeding wound on his chest. I sat gasping for air, looking up to see the man advancing on me.
His face was taut from plastic surgery, his skin shiny, indicative of a recent chemical peel. His hair was dyed an artificial shade of blonde, expensively cut and styled. There was only a very slight resemblance to Brad around the eyes. He looked me up and down, holding out his hand, an automatic gesture that was almost comical, given the fact that I was strapped down like luggage on a car rack.
“Please allow me to introduce myself…” He smiled without warmth, his face pulled so tight I was surprised he could even manage it, “I’m Nathan Edwards.”
~
Chapter Twenty-Two
TORTURE
~
I regarded him numbly, still in shock from my failed suicide attempt. I should have had the courage, I thought. Now the last shred of hope was lost. The flimsy shift I had on was wet from the broken water pipe, and I was chilled to the marrow of my bones. I started to shiver violently, my teeth chattering uncontrollably.
Nathan Edwards looked at Paul with disgust, barking, “Are you completely worthless? Bring her a blanket.” He signaled to Jones, who scrambled to go fetch a chai
r and scurried back over with it, setting it down at his boss’s feet with what looked like a bow. Edwards glanced over at Doctor Neuman’s efforts to stem the water spewing from the broken sink. “See to that mess,” he said icily.
He was clearly not impressed with the situation he’d just walked into. He watched them all scramble to obey with open contempt, waiting impatiently as Paul pulled a sheet from the bed.
Edwards deftly unbuttoned his jacket and sat himself down in front of me, crossing his legs casually. He watched Paul tuck the sheet around me with distain. “She will be hearing about this,” he said icily.
I could see real fear register in Paul’s eyes, and I couldn’t resist adding, “Olivia m-must be a real b-bitch when you let her down.” I was rewarded by the tightening of his jaw and the clench of his fists.
Edwards watched him stalk away, and smiled knowingly. He finally spoke, “You’ve caused me a great deal of trouble.”
I looked at him with bleary eyes, “I try.”
He laughed, but his eyes were not amused, “This would be so much easier on all of us if you’d simply co-operate.”
“Go to hell,” I said wearily.
“Ah, but I’d have to die first… And I have absolutely no intention of doing that.”
I managed to summon enough strength to roll my eyes dramatically, “Better get used to the idea.”
“On the contrary, we’re closer than ever to a breakthrough.” He gestured all around, “Having access to this lab and the university’s research vessel will prove invaluable. At least Barbara managed to do something right before she foolishly let you get the better of her. Tell me, how did you do it? Overcome three guards and burn down my beautiful house…” he paused to rub his temple with a bitter sigh of regret, “Do you have any idea how many priceless collections were lost that night?”
I looked at him incredulously. He obviously mourned his things more than he did his own sister.
“Not to mention my most prized possession, the mermaid carrying my child.” He leaned forward in his chair, “You owe me one.”
The Turning Tides (Marina's Tales) Page 21