Siren Awakened - C.R. Jane Page 0,40

file.

She hadn’t said it like she was asking a question, so I just remained quiet. Dr. Maynard was silent as she continued to read whatever was in my file. I tried to surreptitiously read what was on the page. Everything that had happened at this place had definitely been unsanctioned, making me wonder who was watching me and how closely were they doing it.

With a small exhale of breath, she closed the file, as if whatever she’d read disappointed her. She looked up at me, her unnerving empty eyes once again staring at me closely.

“How have you been feeling since waking up?” she asked.

I opened my mouth to answer that I’d been fine, but right before I did that, I hesitated. Would it really be that bad to mention some of what had been happening since I’d woken up? “Things have been mostly fine,” I began slowly. “But there have been some strange things…just a few.”

Dr. Maynard leaned forward, the first show of interest she’d ever had when I’d come in here. “Go on,” she pressed in her quiet voice.

“My skin doesn’t feel like my own,” I whispered. “And…I’ve been waking up in strange places with no idea of how I’ve gotten there.”

The words flooded out then. I told her everything that occurred, including waking up this morning with mud on my shoes.

She was nodding as I finished, not looking surprised or worried at all by everything I’d just told her. “It sounds like you brought back some kind of spirit with you,” she told me. It was frustrating how placid she looked as she said that, like I’d mentioned I wanted baked beans for lunch instead of telling her all the strange shit that was happening to me.

“A spirit?” I asked, unease shooting down my spine.

“It’s hard for them to get here otherwise, so they’re always grateful when someone visits the afterworld briefly before being called back. They just hitch a ride,” she explained with a small smile, using her fingers to mimic walking.

Her nonchalant manner was about to drive me over the edge. I was cranky enough as it was…and also exhausted, which was strange with all the sleep I’d gotten last night.

“Your emotions have probably been a little extreme as well. And I would assume by the bags under your eyes that you’re also feeling tired.”

I nodded stiffly.

“What you’re experiencing at night is probably the spirit taking over. When you’re sleeping, you’re obviously in a weakened state, which leaves your body open for the spirit to take control. Think of your nightly sojourns as the spirit exploring its new space.”

I looked at her in shock. “Is there anything I can do?” I practically screeched at her, panic laced through my words.

“Well I’m sure the warden has something that would get rid of it. I’d bet there’s some kind of trinket in his office that would banish it.”

I choked at the thought of the warden being the answer to my problems. He was the cause of most of them. “So will you talk to the warden for me?” I asked, a plea leaking through my voice.

She laughed, the sound a small tinkle and barely audible. “The warden would never help a prisoner, Selena.” The creepy psychiatrist then took another long drag of her cigarette.

“Well then what can I do?”

She stood up and smoothed down her pants.

“I think this has been a good session, and you’ve made a lot of progress. We’ll schedule another meeting soon,” she told me, gesturing to the door.

I sat there shocked for a moment, thinking that there was no way that she could really be dismissing me like this. I’d taken a chance, opened up to her…actually needing help.

And she was kicking me out?

Worse honestly, was the fact that she laughed.

I stood up shakily, fighting the urge to cry. The guard was waiting for me, looking bored. Dr. Maynard closed the door quietly behind me, and I swear as I walked down the hall, I could hear her faint tinkle of laughter following me all the way back to my cell.

What a bitch.

Chapter 10

Selena

I stared up at the ceiling, idly watching water drip down beside me. Was the spirit or ghost watching the same thing right now? How did it work? Was it staring out of my eyes, or did it lie dormant until I was asleep and that was when it came alive?

It was hard to resist the urge to claw at my skin, to want to tear it open and drag whatever