Doll of Fate
Copyright© 2025 by Heel
Chapter 7: The Hospital Room
The hospital smelled sharply of antiseptic and quiet tension. Seren lay on the wide bed, her left leg encased in a new cast that extended from above the ankle to mid-thigh, stiff and unyielding. Every so often, cramps surged through her legs, making her toes twitch uncontrollably, as though tiny, frantic hands were scrambling beneath the plaster. The pain radiated up from her foot through her calf and thigh, mixing with the constant ache in her hips.
Her pelvis was immobilized in a specialized device: a thick, rigid pelvic binder wrapped tightly around her hips and waist, pressing her flesh firmly into the supports. The device hugged every curve of her body, the firm straps cutting snugly around her sides, compressing her lower back and front torso, leaving her feeling cocooned yet restrained. Adjustable buckles along the front and back pulled the binder tighter, holding her pelvis in precise alignment. Two foam wedges angled her legs slightly outward, secured with Velcro straps, preventing her from twisting or collapsing inward. Padded straps ran over her shoulders, keeping her torso straight and preventing any sudden shift. Even the smallest movement pressed painfully against bruised muscles, forcing her to wince with each breath.
Her arms were free, but every motion sent jolts of pain through her body. Her crutches lay discarded beside the bed, useless now, leaving her trapped inside the rigid embrace of the immobilization device.
Orla sat beside her, small hands gripping the side rail, eyes wide with the memory of the garden, the hedge, the spinning wheel, and the chaos that had erupted in seconds.
Seren let her head fall back against the pillow. Waves of pain rolled through her, blending with fear. Every cramp in her leg, every twitch of her toes reminded her how fragile she was. She felt pinned inside her own body, unable to escape, restrained by the very device that protected her. Every ordinary object could become a weapon; every small movement might trigger disaster.