Beloved - Emrys

November 16, 2017

Beep...beep...beep….

My eyes are still closed, but I awake from a deep sleep to the sound of constant beeping. Slowly, groggily, I try to open my eyes. I feel a resistance and I can’t think quickly enough.

When I finally do get my eyes to open I see the light above me. I roll my head to the right and see a white coat and dark hair turned toward a screen. The screen is the source of the beeping.

“Ah, he’s waking up.”

As my eyes gain focus I see that three doctors are in the room. The woman is standing by a lit up board looking at images, the blond is at a table with some equipment, and the doctor with the glasses, Dr. Miles, is on the computer.

“Good morning Emrys. How do you feel?” He asks. I think he’s trying to be nice. But I’m too groggy to protest.

“He feels awful thanks to you!” I hear a familiar voice from my chest and look down. I can see Merigold sitting cross legged, face contorted into a furious frown. Definitely angry.

“Emrys. I need to know how you feel before I continue with any tests. Can you let us know if you feel any pain?” He asks again.

I turn my gaze towards him and blink, trying to formulate an answer. My tongue is so slow. Maybe they put me under. “I feel… sleepy.” I manage.

“Ok, that’s good. That’s just the anesthetic.” He turns towards the other doctors. “Let’s give it a few minutes before we continue. We need the anesthesia to wear off.” The other doctors nod.

Wear off? Is that how they did the tests before?

“That’s NOT good!! He doesn’t need your an..es...the...sia!” Merigold fumes.

A few minutes pass and soon my responses begin to quicken. They ask me menial questions and my answers become more and more coherent.

“Alright. Emrys, first we’d like to do a test to see what happens when we induce an electric shock to your nervous system. We’re doing this because the nature of what occurred yesterday morning might be related. So just relax and take deep breaths ok?” He instructs me. The only words that echo in my head are electric shock.

“Ok, Eliza, please adjust the settings to the first levels. We will start low. Dr. Edwin, be on standby for any adverse effects.” The blond doctor moves to my bed and stands on my left. I hear a countdown from Dr. Eliza and suddenly I feel a slight jolt run through my body.

I grit my teeth but it doesn’t hurt too much. I’ve had this treatment before when they wanted to know how I knew the things I did. They didn’t believe that the faeries had told me.

“No readings Dr. Miles.” The Dr. Eliza says.

“Ok, up the settings to the second level. Emrys. How do you feel?”

My eyes roll to his and I lock gazes with him. His eyes are gleaming again. “I feel... tingly.”

Merigold has gone red in the face. “How dare you! Don’t you dare hurt our Emrys!” She’s screaming, standing now, not sure what to do. She makes a move for the blonde doctor's hand, kicking it hard. The doctor withdraws his hand with a slight yelp. “What the?” He rubs it.

“It’s fine, it’s fine Merigold.” I whisper. The Dr. Edwin looks at me, with a strange look, is that worry?

“Doctor Miles, he’s murmuring. Something about a merigold. Isn't that a flower?”

“Take note of it Dr. Miles. OK, that's good. We’ll move onto the second level in 2 minutes ok?”

I don’t like the treatment. My heart is leaping in my chest and I feel my breaths quickening. I brace myself for the next shock.

“Starting in 3...2...1… delivering.” Dr. Eliza announces.

This shock is stronger. I feel it pass through my neck and down my back. My arms and legs convulse in the straps and I feel my chest lift slightly off the bed.

“Stop! Stop! Stop it!” Merigold is screaming. The shock ends and I feel my body relaxing. I feel very sleepy and my breathing is shallow. “Emrys, Emrys!! I swear I’ll stop them!”

“Dr. Edwin. We have light action in the Parietal lobe and the Cerebellum. Some effect on the Temporal lobe is expected.”

“Emrys, Emrys.” I hear him speaking. My head lulls in his direction. “Emrys. How do you feel?”

I open my mouth but I only groan.

“Ok. Dr. Eliza, another level please.”

“Wait, Dr. Miles. Don’t you think that’s enough for now? He can’t speak!” Dr. Edwin interjects.

“No. He can handle one more.”

“I don’t recommend it Dr. Miles. According to the protocol...”

“Dr. Edwin, we are doing one more level.” His voice rises. “Eliza, preparation please. Edwin, remove one of the gloves.”

“We shouldn’t be doing this. We’re only supposed to administer 1 shock every 2 days at the most!”

“Dr. Edwin, one glove please. Eliza?”

“Yes Dr. Miles. Setting 3 confirmed.”

“We shouldn’t!”

“Eliza please relieve Dr. Edwin. Remove the glove.”

“Yes Doctor Miles, level 3 in 3...2…”

“I will report you!” Dr. Edwin shouts from the door.

“ ...1 Delivering.”

My head tilts back and the force of the shock launches Merigold into the air. The restraints on my wrists and feet hold me to the bed as the shock convulses all my muscles in an induced seizure. I feel tears on my face, hot and wet. My teeth grate against each other and my free hand extends towards the ceiling without my control.

A bright light forms above me before everything goes dark. I feel only cold and a floating sensation as my consciousness drifts in limbo. I hear Merigold’s screams. “EMRYS!!!!!!”

#Fantasy #Magic