Page 36 of Sour
The nurse didn’t acknowledge me. He just kept walking, wearing that crispy, white uniform with the red cross.
I don’t fucking like this.
Eventually, we ended up in one of the many parts of the asylum that was tucked away in the lower levels, so deep no natural light could reach it, and no sound could be heard from it. The nurse pushed me through a hallway of doors until we stopped outside a set with the words ‘Operating Room’ above them.
No. I really don’t fucking like this.
I tried to move away, but the man only shoved me forward towards the double doors. “No.” I fought his grip. “No!”
The nurse pushed me forward, and my body slammed past the double doors. I landed on the wet concrete floor, groaning from the impact.
“Finally.” The familiar voice forced my eyes up from the ground.
Seated in the middle of the vintage operating room was none other than my stepbrother, Ziggy. He was dressed in an old, stained doctor’s coat, wearing a bloodied face mask and set ofgloves. My eyes moved from him to the operating table to see a body fully wrapped in plastic wrap and strapped to the table. There were IVs and all sorts of things hooked up to the person, every inch of them concealed, except for two straws from what I assumed was their nose, and the large, gaping incision left open along their abdomen. My stomach churned at the gruesome sight. “Ziggy?” I crawled to my feet. “What the fuck is going on? Where is Dr. Sabel? Who is that?” I pointed to the operating table.
Ziggy pulled the face mask down to reveal his signature smile. “You can get the fuck out now. Unless you’d like a turn?” I turned to see the male nurse shake his head and rush from the room. “That’s what I thought.” I looked back at my stepbrother.
“What the fuck is going on?” I asked. “Ziggy!” I stomped my foot, the chains of my cuffs jingling as I stood there, completely baffled by whatever the fuck was happening.
“Well, Koven.” I didn’t like the way he said my name. “I have decided to help Dr. Sabel, or as you like to call her, Eydie.” He winked.
No.
“With her little side hustle she’s got going on down here. Did you know your little psychiatrist dealt in black market organs?” He motioned to the body on the table, still breathing and very much alive, despite being cut wide open. “It’s really something. Apparently.” Ziggy ripped his bloody gloves off. “Dr. Sabel waits for patients, like you, to be admitted to Wellard Asylum. Orphaned patients given to the state who are labeled as crazy. People with no family checking in on them, and dark pasts that leave them scared so bad, they’ll accept any attention they can get. Ring a bell?” His brow flicked as he stopped in front of me. “She calls them her favorites.”
“I have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about.”
Ziggy’s smile grew. “Oh, I don’t doubt that. You see, you were Dr. Sabel’s newest favorite. She’s been studying you since the day you walked through those doors, reading your file and learning everything there is to know about you. You thought you were turning over a new leaf, birthing this new Koven. Healing.” He grabbed my wrists and yanked me close. “But really, all you did was leave yourself bare and weak, easy for Eydie to weasel her way in.” His breath hit my face. “How long before you let her fuck you?” I glared up at him and kept my mouth shut. “How long!”
I shoved Ziggy away. “Where is she?” He smiled. “Where is Eydie?”
Ziggy removed the doctor’s coat. “See for yourself.” He stepped aside, and I was left staring at the operating table.
“No.”
He wouldn’t…would he?
“No!”
He would.
I rushed over, ripping the plastic wrap to expose a part of Eydie’s face. “Eydie?” She didn’t move. My eyes shot to the many screens around her, trying to make sense of what the beeps or lines meant, but I had no fucking clue. “Eydie. Eydie, wake up.” My hand gently tapped her face. “Eydie, wake up!”
Dr. Sabel remained practically lifeless on the operating table. The whole situation was an odd reminder of the very last few minutes before my mother’s death, and I immediately felt an overwhelming amount of sadness and fear swell inside me.
“Ziggy, please!” I cried, turning to face him. “Let her go!”
My stepbrother stared at me with a blank expression. “Waking her up at this point would do more harm than good.” He approached her side, looking into the bloody incision. “I’ve already removed a few of her organs. It’s only a matter of time before she dies.
No. No, no, no, no!
My body felt weak, and I crumbled to my knees, crying uncontrollably. “Why?” I asked. “Why?” My throat burned from screaming.
Ziggy kneeled by my side and lifted my face. “Because you belong to me, Koven. No one else. I told you, no one else can touch you.”
I shook my head, tears flowing down my face. “No.” He tried to shoosh me, but I kept shaking and crying. “No! I’m not! I’m not! That Koven died! She died when you left her all alone!”
“I never left you!” Ziggy slammed his fist against the floor. “I told you I was coming back for you! Why don’t you believe me? Why!” He gripped my arms and shook me violently. “I’m so sick of hearing about this old or new Koven. You are Koven. My Koven! There’s only you! And I’m sick and tired of having to chase you down and make you see that!” He pushed me back and my skull hit the concrete.
