"I want to feel nothing." Her voice broke. There was silence. The doctor probed again.
"Why?"
"All I feel is pain. There is so much pain. I can't get away."
"Why do you feel pain?"
"They don't care. They laugh. I can see them through the door. There is so much pain."
"Who is watching you?"
"The men. They were too strong. I was sick. I could not fight."
"What made you sick?"
"They hit me over and over. They did not stop. It went dark, then I woke up and they hit me
again."
"Where are you?"
"I am looking down."
"Where are you looking down from?"
"They hung me from the ceiling."
"They hung you from the ceiling?" The doctor looked up from his notebook.
She nodded. "There are chains. They hold my wrists behind. There is pain. Everything is red."
"Where is the red?"
"On the floor. The rats are eating it."
Despite his control, the doctor shuddered. His patient did not notice.
After a while, she spoke of her own accord.
"Is anybody coming?"
The doctor glanced toward the door in surprise before responding. "Is there?"
"I do not know. That is why I am asking you."
"No, nobody is coming."
"Will they come tomorrow?" She seemed persistent.
"I will come tomorrow." the doctor promised reassuringly.
Her voice rose and cracked slightly, indicative of strain.
"No. No. Is anybody coming? Will someone come?"
"I will come." the doctor repeated, his brows beginning to crease slightly.
"NO! Someone must come! They have to come! They must. I need someone to come!" As her desperate gaze turned upon him, the doctor suddenly felt inadequate.
"Who do you want to come?"
The question shook her. For a while she did not answer. The doctor was beginning to think that the session had finished when she finally spoke.
"I want him." her words were so low that they were nearly inaudible. "I want him to come and take me away."
"Who is he?"
"Holmes."