Chapter 3Candice wakes up to her skin itching. Her bitten finger nails, etch themselves within the sides of her thighs. As if not deep enough, Candice pushes more pressure onto her skin.
The corner of her nail begins to slice her skin. Opening her eyes, expecting to find herself on her wet mattress, Candice looks at the room. The grey bed sheets beneath and above her.
The ray of natural light pouring in from the window. Opening her aqua blue eyes wide, Candice grips the mattress she's lying on in fear. The air is cool, and the smell of food being cooked wavers into her nose.
Pulling the sheet off of her body, Candice see's she's still wearing the patients gown which is covered in dirty stains. The stench of her unwashed body lingers in her nostril hairs. Shaking her hands reach out in front of her, then towards her mouth she feels the skin on her face. The soreness of her face makes her hands retract, then suddenly she feels the itch again. This time the itch has spread beyond her thighs, but all over her body.
Candice turns and, unsteadily, rises to her feet. As if her weight is too heavy for her legs, her knees buckle as they take the first step. Glancing through some open doors, she senses the aura of people in the other room. Grinding her knuckles, Candice forms her hands into fists.
Ushering her way through a woman in her thirties stands from the sofa, her eyes worryingly looking at Candice.
"You shouldn't be awake yet" her voice is soft, along with her deep brown eyes. The woman stops in her tracks as Candice straightens her back, fear emitting from her stance. "You need to go back to bed."
A man, wearing rounded red sunglasses and a well-fitted suit, walks from an open kitchen and towards the young woman. He stops beside her. Her eyes wide, Candice' tries to understand the situation she is in at the moment.
"Do you remember how you got here?" the man asks. His voice is recognisable; the voice of concern. Twitching her fingers, Candice opens her mouth and then closes it again. "I took you out of the van and bought you here for medical help" the man uses his open palm to point towards the woman.
"My name is Claire Temple, I gave you some fluids-."
"Where are the drugs?" Candice questions, her throat thick. Her skin begins to flush and burn.
"What drugs?" The man asks.
Candice glances toward the right, where she sees the door. Without thinking she begins to run toward the door, her eyes stern and focused.
"Whoa" the man exclaims, stepping toward Candice and grabbing her. Immediately her reaction is to scream. She screams until the man uses his hand to cover her mouth. Muffling her yells, Claire walks over her hands out.
"We're trying to help you!"
Candice trashes in the mans strong arms. With the intensity of the trashing, their thoughts begin to creep into her head.
At first they tip-toed quietly into her head and then all at once she could hear their thoughts. She could feel both of their emotions, strong and deep. With her head throbbing Candice uses her fingers to claw at fingers. The man lowers her to the floor as he realises she's no longer trying to leave.
"Please stop-stop-stop" Candice begins to beg, tears streaming down her face. The nurse lowers beside her, her cold hands on her bare arms.
"Stop what? We're helping you" she whispers.
"Stop the thoughts! Stop your thoughts!" Candice bolts up, Claire quickly standing, on alert.
"What?" Claire asks. Candice walks over to the sofa, propping her feet onto the cushion, wrapping herself into a ball. It's been so long sinces she's heard other people. The drugs Doctor Frett had created was the solution, he allowed her to sleep, he helped her hear herself.
"She can hear our thoughts…" the man concludes. He grabs the woman's arm gently and ushers Claire and himself to the end of the room. The distance between them quietens their thoughts but Candice can still feel the fear and the tension- the relentless questions.
"Does this help?"
Candice nods, her fingers scratching the side of her temples.
"My names Matt Murdock. I saved you last night, from the van… do you remember?"
Candice glances up, in between her ratted blond locks. "I remember" she exhales. "Candice."
Candice watches Matt smile, as he realises she had answered the question that was rattling in his head. "My name is Candice… but listen…" Candice tilts her head forward, her legs still close to her chest "I need the drug okay… I need the drug they have… I can't-can't-can't…"
The image of Doctor Frett appears in her head suddenly, his looming face inching towards hers.
Suddenly both Matt and Claire jolt backwards, Claire slumps to the floor yelling and Matt grips his hands outwards. Snapping back Candice realises what she has done.
"Oh no-no, I'm sorry! This is why I need… I need" Candice begins to sob again.
"What the hell happened?" Claire questions, shakily raising to her feet.
"She can implement images into our heads…" Matt realises. He begins to urge closer, his hand ensuring Claire remains where she is.
"Please don't come too close, I can't control it. I can't stop it." Matt pauses in his steps.
"Candice, I need you to explain to me. Explain what happened to you, what drug you need? If you want me to help you, you need to help me understand."
Bringing her fingers to her mouth, Candice uses her index finger to trace her lower lip which is quivering. Candice watches Claire walk over to the kitchen.
"It hurts" Candice explains, as if that would end the conversation.
Claire walks over, lowering a glass of water onto the table. She steps back, toward Matt who now sits at the other end of the sofa.
"Candice, I can make it stop hurting. Just explain."