This turned out vastly different than I had intended even a just few hours ago. I'm still shocked by it...
Indulgence
"The fury of a demon instantly possessed me. I knew myself no longer. My original soul seemed, at once, to take its flight from my body."
The next morning, Robin was jostled awake by two burly attendants. Carefully, they unlocked the leather straps that restrained him to the bed.
He yawned and stretched out his sore limbs. He cringed with pain when he touched the sensitive areas of skin where the leather straps had been bound- they were chaffed, scabbed, and raw.
Without any explanation, the two attendants hoisted him up by the shoulders and dragged him out of the room.
His eyes fixed on the floor, the boy said nothing, not even attempting to walk on his own.
He clenched his eyes shut, imagining they were taking him to the gallows to finally be hanged.
Maybe this will all finally be over...
Instead, the attendants brought him into a bathroom. One of the men left, the other pulled soap and other shower essentials out of a paper bag and handed them to Robin.
Before the attendant led him over to the shower stalls, Robin looked into a dirty mirror.
A sallow-skinned, sickly-looking face stared back at him.
Though he knew had been relatively thin before he arrived at the hospital, the amount of weight he had lost was horrifying. The gaunt angles of his cheekbones jutted out from his translucent skin. Dark circles surrounded his sunken, gray eyes.
I look like I'm already dead...
The attendant respectfully waited as the boy was unable to tear his eyes away from his wasted reflection before gently leading him to the shower.
Robin looked up at him, grimly expecting him to insist upon standing in front of the open shower to make sure he didn't try to do anything desperate in his naked state.
Instead, the man gave him a nod and casually went over to a chair by the sinks.
It had been a few weeks since he had been allowed to take a shower without the watchful eyes of an attendant... or Slade, for that matter.
Feeling lighter, Robin peeled off his soiled pajamas. He turned on the faucets, the hot water screeching before rushing out. He allowed himself to smile, indulging in the rare treat that was a private shower.
After going back to his room to find a fresh pair of jeans and a t-shirt as well as a tray of hot food waiting for him, Robin was in good spirits when Dr. Wilkins arrived.
She couldn't help but smile at the boy when she walked in.
He looked clean and happy, and his face had gained some healthy color after eating a wholesome meal.
"You're looking better." She said, patting his shoulder gently.
He didn't smile back, but he nodded slightly, still finishing the last few bites of his mashed potatoes.
Elaine sat in one of the chairs, hesitating. "Dick, do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
He chewed thoughtfully. "mm... 'bout what?"
"I told you I was going to bring an important visitor to see you today."
Ah, that's what all this is about.
He looked down, his expression hard.
Elaine's smile faded when she saw him withdrawing. "Look at me."
Like a trained dog, he obediently looked up at her.
"It's going to be okay, I promise."
He looked away, clearly not convinced.
"Dick," Elaine said sharply.
He looked up into her eyes, his expression timid.
"Do you trust me?" She asked him softly.
He said nothing, but finally nodded.
She smiled. "Good," She got up from her chair and left, presumably to fetch the whoever the important person was.
Probably some highly decorated doctor, only here to analyze me like some crazed monkey in a cage...
Robin's throat burned with anger, knowing he had been foolish to hope for something good to finally happen.
He closed his eyes, thinking.
How do I get out of this?
He nonchalantly picked up a small piece of broccoli with his fork. He knew he had only a few seconds.
Fork.
The attendant in the room was reading a magazine, not paying any attention.
Idiot.
Robin's lips curled into a dark, manic smile.
Without warning, he jumped on the man and shoved the fork into his throat.
The attendant's eyes boggled with shock and pain, spluttering and gasping as blood spurted from his throat.
Robin leaped for the door. It was, to his relief, unlocked.
He felt like he was flying at full speed, his heart racing with fear and excitement.
He sprinted down the hallways, looking for any exit signs. Every inch of his body was quivering with terror.
His heart leaped when he found a door with a red exit sign over it.
Sprinting, running, for his life it seemed.
"Robin?"
He froze.
The kind attendant who had cared for him his first few days in the hospital was staring at him, a bewildered expression in his dark eyes.
His eyes widened when he saw Robin's thin hands covered in blood.
His trembling hands pulled out a walkie-talkie from his belt. "Lance, we have a situation in the south wing. I need help."
The attendant, not breaking eye contact, slowly crept towards the boy. "Robin, can you tell me what happened?"
He's probably working for him. He's working for Slade.
With a violent shriek, Robin charged forward and plunged the fork into the attendant's throat.
The man crumpled to the floor, his dark eyes terrified, sad.
"You deserve to die." Robin growled, standing over his writhing body as blood spurted from the man's mangled throat.
Suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind, pinning him down to the floor.
As he screamed, a needle was shoved into the side of his neck.
The world went black.
Author's Note:
Even I'm reeling from this one... Thanks TSRowenwood for your most-helpful thoughts. ;) Please review!