The Thorn in My Shed-Chapter 36: Restrained

All Eilownia could see was darkness. There was not even a shred of light anymore, not to illuminate her father’s way, not even to draw her attention to that awful display of torture devices.

Nothing.

Her father’s laugh echoed in her ears like the sound of a loud drill. She could feel it pricking deep in her eardrum as if a needle was being shoved inside her ear.

The hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stood up straight and a pit formed in her stomach and throat.

She wanted to gag, her body wanted to expel its fear, its understanding of a father-daughter relationship.....of the horrors that were woven into her future.

Yet, she couldn’t.

For some reason she couldn’t move at all. Before she was sure she could at least move her head from side to side, at least see the torture devices.

All she could feel was fire. Fire that was burning deep and spreading across her body like a hellish wildfire, yet she felt frozen at the same time.

It was as if the flames couldn’t reach a certain height because they would get snuffed out by the freeze, the two of them battling violently for control.

Her father’s voice got louder.

"You have been here. You have always been here. And here you will always remain." It echoed in her head and pounded against her skull.

Eilownia let out a horrified scream as she shot up, her eyes wide and crazed.

"NO! NO! NO! GO AWAY! GET AWAY FROM ME! NO!" She flailed her arms as she panted and screamed.

Marix gently grabbed onto her, "Whin, you’re okay. It’s okay. He’s gone. He’ll never hurt you again."

"NO! NO!" She screamed. She elbowed him in the jaw as she fought against him. It was like she didn’t even acknowledge that he was there. She just stared straight ahead.

Marix let go of her and rubbed his jaw where she elbowed him. Surprisingly, she had quite a lot of strength, given everything she’d been through.

He knew it was more concerning than it was impressive and stared at her as he tried to calm her down again.

"Eilownia. Whin. Little Flower." He called out, hoping one of the names would reach her.

However, she didn’t respond to either. She only continued to thrash in the bed as sweat covered her body.

"STOP IT! STOP! STOP IT!" She cried out in a loud scream.

"Whin. WHIN! You’re going to hurt yourself!" He grabbed onto her forearms, a little more forcefully as he noticed she was about to fling herself off the bed.

"You’re okay! Stop flailing! It’s not real! It’s not real, you’re okay!" He pleaded.

Still, there was no response.

Her brain was blocking everything out, locked in a state of darkness. It had learned that flight mode was not an option, leaving only fight.

She shoved him and clawed at him, scratching his face with her nails as he grabbed her.

"GET OFF!" She screamed.

Marix winced a moment as her nails drew blood, but he didn’t give up.

He grabbed her and held her tight.

"WHIN! LISTEN TO ME! YOUR FATHER IS NOT HERE! HE IS GONE! I WON’T LET HIM HARM YOU AGAIN!"

She whimpered in his embrace and continued to try and push him off.

He grabbed on tighter, placing his hands supportively on her back as he held her.

That’s when he felt it – something hot, wet and sticky.

His eyes widened. There was no mistaking it. It was blood.

"Eilownia!" He yelled, realizing her wounds had reopened.

He let go and gently placed her in the middle of the bed. He stood up and looked down. There was blood all over the front of his shirt and on his hands.

He had to do something, but she was acting like a wild animal that was cornered. During all of this times in the army and all of the wars he’d participated in, all the enemies he’d slain, this was the first time he’d been at a complete loss of what to do.

Marix ran out into the hallway. It was something he couldn’t handle on his own, he knew that much.

"Emergency! Someone come quick!"

One of his maids rushed up, a worried look on her face. Eilownia’s screams could be heard in the servant’s quarters, but it was the state of Marix that worried her more.

Apart from the blood that covered his clothes, the scratch on his face and the bruise that was beginning to form on his jaw, there were also dark circles under his eyes and his hair was disheveled.

"General! Y-Your state!"

He waved his hand, "No matter about me. Go call the doctor. Have him come to my room immediately. Tell him that Eilownia has awoken and she is out of control. His assistance is required IMMEDIATELY!"

The maid nodded firmly and rushed off to go and get Dr. Lien as Marix entered back into the bedroom where Eilownia was still thrashing, although he could see she was now trembling as well.

He grabbed her again and held her as he brushed some of her hair to the side.

"Calm down. Calm down Whin. It’s me, Marix." He whispered quietly into her ear.

His touch only made he scream louder as tears poured down her face.

A few minutes later, Dr. Lein arrived with the maid following closely behind him.

"What’s happened?!" He asked, his eyes wide as he saw her trembling hard in Marix’s arms bawling her eyes out.

"She just woke up like this. She’s been thrashing and screaming and crying."

Dr. Lein examined her and realized just how hard Marix was squeezing her.

"Good god General! You’re squeezing the life out of her! No wonder!"

Marix gritted his teeth, "This is the only way I could get her to stop. She’s reopened her wounds. She’s going to bleed out. As soon as I let her go she’s going to go crazy again. What do we do?"

Dr. Lein nodded, "I see. Hold on, I have something for this."

He searched through his large brown leather bag for the object, then let out a frustrated sigh.

"I don’t have it. How long can you hold her?"

Marix’s eyes darted between him and the bag, "You don’t have it?!"

Dr. Lein shook his head, "It’s not something I carry in my everyday bag I guess."

"Do you have any downstairs?"

"I don’t believe so. I can go check, but I know for a fact I have some in my office. I can go there and retrieve it. Can you hold her until then?"

The maid then spoke up, "I can go check downstairs for it."

Dr. Lein nodded, "Alright, you go check downstairs. If it’s there bring it up and put it in her mouth, make her swallow it. I’ll head to my office."

With that, both he and the maid ran off. Marix went to protest but it was no use, they were already gone.

Instead he was left to sit with her. He rocked her back and forth and spoke softly into her ear, repeating that he was there and it would be okay.

The maid returned with unfortunate news that she didn’t find the medication. She did bring gauze and ointments though and would go prepare hot water.

"Good, thank you." Marix said as she left.

Finally, Dr. Lein returned and shoved the pill in Eilownia’s mouth. She swallowed immediately and after a few seconds, went limp in Marix’s arms.

Marix then laid her down and turned his back as Dr.Lein began to pull out his supplies. The maid arrived shortly after with the hot water.

Dr. Lein washed his hands and began to administer treatment.

"This is extremely dangerous, General. She could’ve bled out. It’s too risky to keep her here. She should be in the medical room at the very least as I said."

"I don’t want to hear you utter another word about that medical room. You know my command. Follow it."

Dr. Lein sighed as he started to re-bandage her wounds.

"General use your head. She should be restrained. She could’ve harmed you, or worse, killed herself. She’s in no control of her body! Think about what’s best not only for her but for yourself as well."

"Come again?" Marix said, turning his head to face him.

"You heard me."

Marix shook his head, "Absolutely not. I don’t want to hear another thing about it. How ridiculous."

Dr. Lein wiped the blood off his hands and asked the maid to bring in some cool water for a cold compress. She nodded and left to get a bowl.

"Restraints are needed!" Dr. Lein whispered loudly.

Marix stood up and walked over to the side of the bed Dr. Lein was at where he grabbed him by his collar and yanked him to his feet.

"Restraints?! You’re pushing that after everything she’s been through? Are you insane?"

He then shoved him towards the door, "Get out of here. I’ll handle the rest. Just send me the information of how to properly care for her and the needed supplies."