Chapter 2: Surgery

“Aw, she’s sleepy,” a voice coos in my ear. It’s feminine, but not Minerva’s. She sounds southern, with a slight pitch in her tone that I can only describe as being like a dog’s squeaky toy.

Soft hands gloved in latex thread through my hair. Fingertips lightly drum against my forehead until my brow twitches and I groan.

“Attagirl.”

Her breath is hot against my face. I can smell peppermint in her words. She pulls away and rubs my shoulder as my eyes crack open. A harsh white light cuts through my drugged exhaustion. I’m bathed in it; sterilized. A plush yet papery surface greets my bare skin. I’m still naked, and still covered in bruises. My pussy is sore and aches each time I contract my muscles.

“Rise and shine,” the woman says in a sing-song voice.

She cups my chin and pulls me over to greet her. I can’t see her face from behind the penlight that studies my eyes. I bat my lashes and pull back, but a pillow beneath my head holds me in place. I look down. I’m on a medical stretcher. Loose leather cuffs pin my wrists to the bed’s side rails. My legs are free to kick and squirm, but I don’t have the energy. Am I in danger? My chest cinches as if signaling some sort of unconscious worry. I ignore it. I’d rather be in a bed than a dog cage.

The penlight clicks off, and a pair of plump rosy cheeks curl up with a grin. The woman has a round, motherly face. She looks young. Her skin is peachy cream colored, her lips are cherry red, and her fluffy golden curls are chopped off by her ears. The large, loose springs bounce with her movements. A lock falls over her face, and the woman’s ocean blue eyes cross as they study the wily curl. She giggles and tucks it behind her ear.

“Pleasure to see you could make it.”

I’m tucked away in a corner, like I’ve been discarded. It looks like I’ve been taken to a hospital.

“Where am I?” I ask. My throat is dry, forcing my words to claw their way free until I gag and cough.

The woman steps back for a second, just out of view, and returns with a paper cup of crisp, clean water. I sit up as best as I can manage as she holds the cup to my chapped lips.

“That’s better.” She chucks the cup away and fluffs out her skirt.

She looks like a nurse, but she doesn’t wear modern scrubs. Instead, her uniform is more on the vintage side, like an old candy striper. Her dress is pastel pink with fluffy white cap sleeves and a matching petticoat that sits up a little too high. I can see most of her stubby, plump thighs when she steps away to get the attention of a guard.

She explains to the man where I’m being taken, then unlocks the wheels to my bed. My heart jerks again as I am thrust into motion.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask. My throat feels better.

The woman walks alongside my bed. “You’re going to see your doctors, silly. Why else would you be in the medical wing?”

I ease back onto the paper sheets. “Oh ... Is that what this is?”

The woman laughs. She doesn’t answer.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“I’m your nurse.” She squeaks with excitement. There’s a gap between her top front teeth. I stare at it while her smile widens. “I’m going to be assisting your doctor in aaaaaalllll of your medical needs. Doesn’t that sound like a hoot and a half?”

“Oh,” I repeat, softer. “I guess. Do you mean Doctor Wentzler?”

The woman laughs. She waves her hand as if swatting a fly. “Heavens, no! Dearie, that man is too important and too busy to fuss around with a subject like you. No, no, I mean Doctor Brockhoist, of course!”

“Oh...”

I’m not sure if I like Doctor Brockhoist. He gives me the creeps. And he knows about my fear of cages, too. The last thing I remember before being drugged was him calling my phobia “exploitable.” I shiver just thinking about it.

“Don’t sound so sullen now.” The woman’s tone has dropped to more of a scolding mood. She purses her lips and shakes her head. “Rocky is a distinguished mind, so I’ve been told. A brilliant man. An odd man.” She shrugs, and her fluffy white sleeves bounce like dandelion tufts. “Odd men are what we need in this world. And obedient little girls. Are you going to be an obedient little girl today?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“Yes, Nurse,” she corrects.

I nod again. “Yes, Nurse. I’ll be obedient.”

“Oh, I know you will.”

We stop at a daunting pair of metal double doors. The foot of my bed pushes them open with ease, and I am plunged inside. The room greets me with a chill. The walls are colored with a pale blue paint, and the floor is covered in white tile, which makes the cold somehow harsher. Medical equipment scatters the space. A table lined with blue paper, just like the stuff I’m lying on, waits for me in the center.

“There’s our girl,” Doctor Wentzler greets from the corner. He stands beside Doctor Brockhoist, who doesn’t look up from his clipboard as I am dragged to his side. Wentzler smiles and brushes my hair with his hand. “How are we feeling this fine morning?”

I swallow. “Sore.”

Wentzler and the nurse both laugh.

“I can imagine!” Wentzler says. “Your master told me how well you pleased him last night. I’m very proud of you, my budding orchid. Next time, he’ll probably finish inside you. Wouldn’t that be a treat?”

“Finish?” I ask.

Again, Wentzler and the nurse laugh.

“She’s just too cute,” the nurse says. Her eyes study my rosy pink nipples. The cold air has hardened them, so they stand up like the nipples on a baby bottle.

Doctor Wentzler nods. A beat passes before he jumps back into focus. He rips the clipboard from Doctor Brockhoist’s hands and forces his attention toward the short, plump nurse.

“Doctor Brockhoist,” Wentzler begins. He pats the doctor’s back hard enough to knock Brockhoist forward a couple of steps. “This is your nurse, Lucy. She’ll assist you with everything you might need regarding this little girl here. Lucy, you will obey Rocky’s every order. Understand?”

Lucy nods enthusiastically. Her curls bob in the air. “I understand, Doctor!” She extends her hand to Brockhoist. “It’s a pleasure to serve you!”

Brockhoist frowns. He shakes it, but only because Wentzler is watching. He mutters the word “Likewise” under his breath before taking back his clipboard and disappearing into the corner.