Broken Wings 2 - Midnight Flight, Andrews, C. [classic books for 10 year olds .TXT] 📗

All I could do now was whisper and I was afraid she wouldn't hear me.

“Yes,” I said, my throat straining with the effort. “I do. I believe it.”

'That's good, Phoebe. We need trust between us. It's what I have been telling you ever since you were brought here. You can trust me and I can trust you now, can't I?"

“Yes, Doctor, yes.”

“That's good, Phoebe, so good.”

Her voice was so soothing. I was actually afraid she would stop talking.

“I was so worried about you, worried about your bad behavior.”

“I'm sorry, Dr. Foreman. I'm sorry.”

“Sure you are, Phoebe. You never mean to hurt anyone. You're a good girl. Let's get back to our little talk, okay? You were going to tell me about Gia and Posy. Remember?”

“Yes, yes.”

“What exactly did Gia say about Posy, Phoebe?”

“She said she was your daughter and that you couldn't stop her from lying and breaking rules and inventing imaginary people, and she was an embarrassment to you so you locked her up in the basement,” I rattled off.

“I see. Anything else?”

'That she was adopted."

“Adopted. Yes, that makes sense. This is very good, Phoebe. This is a real breakthrough. You and I are going to depend upon each other a great deal more now. Would you like that?”

“Oh, yes, Dr. Foreman, yes.”

“We can't have you ever being insubordinate again, Phoebe.”

“I won't be. I promise. I know promises are not considered important anymore, but I do. I really do.”

“I believe you, Phoebe, but as you've seen already, only action means anything.”

“I feel so sick, Dr. Foreman. I'm so sick. I'm nauseous and I threw up. I was really stung by that scorpion. I'm not lying.”

“I know. You'll be fine, Phoebe. Don't be concerned. I want you to sleep now.”

“I'm nauseous again.”

“I said I want you to sleep.”

“Okay, I'll sleep.”

It was quiet enough for me to hear the rhythm of my beating heart thumping in my ears. I held my breath. Was that the sound of squeaking again? Were they returning?

Despite my terror, I did fall asleep, but right before I did, I told myself I had been so stupid. I had put my fear in that biography I wrote in the orientation room. I had given myself up before I had even arrived here. She's too smart, I thought. She will get what she wants. M'Lady One was right. Dr. Foreman doesn't fail. There was no Posy. There couldn't be anyone she didn't change or mold into the person Dr. Foreman wanted her to be.

I didn't realize it until much later, but before the door was opened again, I had slept all day and through the night, waking and then becoming nearly comatose repeatedly. The helmet was unfastened and light burned through the shadows. It was so painful. I grimaced and closed my eyes, but the light was too strong.

“What a mess she is,” I heard M'Lady Two say.

“Let's get her to the showers.”

“You're disgusting, Phoebe bird. You've spoiled your coveralls and you stink so badly, I don't think the buzzards would even bother with your remains,” M'Lady One said.

I was weak. I couldn't lift my head, but they pulledme up. My legs gave out immediately. They scooped their arms under mine and dragged me out of the Ice Room. M'Lady Three was there with a wheelbarrow.

“I thought we would need it,” she said triumphantly. They all laughed.

They lifted me and dropped me in the wheelbarrow, my legs twisted,, my head hitting the metal sharply. I moaned and tried to get more comfortable, but they were rolling me along and bouncing me over the dirt and gravel so hard, I did all I could to keep my head from repeatedly smacking the inside of the wheelbarrow. When we reached the showers, they began to tear off my clothes. Then they put me under the shower and ran the cold water. I screamed, but I had lost my voice the night before, and all I actually did was open my mouth. I welcomed the water in my throat.

They stood by watching me squirm.

When they decided I had had enough, they shut off the water and tossed me a towel. I was given new panties and a new pair of coveralls and a new shirt. They barked their displeasure at me. It was taking me too long to dress, but I had no energy. My foot still looked quite swollen. I put my clodhopper shoe on as carefully as I could and they scooped me up again.

“You'll walk on your own now,” M'Lady One charged. “Dr. Foreman wants you fed, so head for the house.”

I limped forward. I didn't see any of the others, but I thought I caught a glimpse of Natani watching from a corner of the barn. The buddies kept chiding me for moving too slowly, poking me in the ribs and back. I shuddered but kept moving, accepting the pain every time I put my foot down, swallowing it back and moving ahead, driven now by my need for something more to drink. My mouth still felt as if it had been turned intosand and my tongue into one long razor blade. I touched my lips to see if there was any blood, but they were so dry, it was like touching wood.

They had to help me up the stairs and then direct me to the table where I was given juice, some soft-​boiled eggs, toast, and jam. I was still too nauseated to eat much, but I knew I would need something to build my strength, so I made as much of an effort as I could. Only M'Lady One remained behind to watch. When Dr. Foreman appeared, I felt myself flinch. Every cell in my body, every part of me, was afraid of her now.

She smiled. “How's my girl? Those spider bites can be so devastating.”

I wanted to ask why she didn't believe me when I told her then, but 1 didn't even move my lips.

“You're