I started to gag and my eyes felt sticky. Something was running down my throat and I was going to throw up. When something in my throat ran into my nose, a foul smell hit me. I started coughing, gasping for air, and feeling uncomfortable.

My eyelids opened, and I could see Oliver leaning against me. He was more vague than usual. He flashed like a light into each of my eyes. I screamed. I tried to push him away, but my hand got stuck.

"You've got to keep an eye on her tonight, Ben," Oliver said. My eyelids drooped again. "This shouldn't lead to respiratory depression, the point is that you don't understand."

"Yes sir."

"You told me she did a great job," Bethany said.

I try to open my eyes and see where they stand? But I can't.

"She is," Ben said. "She just has a little time."

"She was like that this morning," Oliver said.

"She'd better not overdo anything at dinner," Bethany said.

"She won't," Ben said. "I'll be sure."

"Thank you, Benjamin," she said. "I'm glad I trusted you."

I heard the door click shut. The bed sank, warm fingers running through my hair. I opened my eyes for a few seconds and saw Ben beside me. His lips pursed into a line. He shook his head and curled a strand of my hair with his fingers.

"I'm not a bad person, Diana," he said. "I'm really not. I just want to protect you. ”

He pinned a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers ran along my cheek over my chin.

"I don't want you to be sedated, and I don't want them to stick a feeding tube down your throat," he said. "It happened because you didn't listen to me." Ben held my face with his hand.

I tried to raise my hand and push him away, but I could only twitch my fingers.

"The only time I've been with someone like me has been at a dinner party, know no!" He said. "For the last few years, I had only Bethany and Oliver around. After Oliver started experimenting, I was hopeful, but his patients kept dying. And then there's you, and you survived. We were amazed. ”

I saw it, Ben was getting closer. A big smile broke into his lips. I blinked a few times, trying to make my vision clear. Next is the lamp, and next to the bed is the only light. It glowed faintly, casting a shadow over Ben's face.

"Out of my selfishness, I need you to live, Diana," he said. "Everything I've had for the past three years has been the two of them. You need me, and you need you. You're going to keep me sane. Please listen to me and you will be fine. ”

My fingers tingled a little, but I managed to lift them off the mattress anyway. My hands trembled as I put them on Ben's face as I put them on. He misunderstood my intentions and interlocked his fingers with mine. I squeezed my eyes

Shut your mouth and turn your head to Ben.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to my cheek. He let go of my hand. He turned off the lights. He lifted the corner of the quilt and slipped into bed. He grabbed my hips and flipped me to the side. He pressed against my back. His arm slid over my waist.

"Don't hate me," he said. 'We have to practice again and this time we need to do better.'

Ben's breath tickled the nape of my neck. His hands left my waist and went all the way to my arms. His fingers pulled down the bare skin on my arm, sending chills down my spine. The skirt I was wearing before covered my arms. They must have changed me when I was unconscious.

"You know, you're right," Ben said. "I slept with Bethany, and it was disgusting."

His hand was back on my waist. His nose was against the crook of my neck.

It snowballed faster than I expected. I guess she thinks she hurt me," he said. "Once it happens, it's hard to stop. I use it to get privileges. A terrible thing, but no way to exercise it. ”

Ben took a deep breath. My eyelids almost fell off. His fingers ran over my stomach. We lay quietly for a few minutes, and I fell asleep again. His voice pulled me back, but I couldn't open my eyes.

"That's good," he whispered. "I never thought I'd be able to do this again."

I screamed when someone shook my shoulder. My eyes snapped open, and Oliver was leaning against me. He let the light into my eyes, and the light into my eyes. When he let go of his hand, I pushed it up and sat down. I rubbed my eyes with the palm of my hand.

Ben sat in the corner of the room. Sit against the wall. He changed into jeans, a plaid shirt, and sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His jet-black hair was slicked back. He looked up from the novel in his hand and looked at me.

"It's your medicine," Oliver said.

Three pills and a glass of water. I swallowed the pill without arguing. I looked at Ben, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you," I said.

The corners of Oliver's mouth twitched with a smile.

"Open your mouth," he said.

I opened my mouth as he looked at me to make sure I was swallowing the pill.

"Good," he said. "How are you feeling today? Hope you don't lose your temper again. ”

"No, it won't. I'm sorry. ”

Ben was looking down at his book, giggling. I'm doing what he wants. He's right. I need to gain Oliver's trust, and the counterattack is useless.

"I love hearing this," Oliver said. "Look, breakfast. Prepare after eating. I'm going to check your eyesight in an hour. ”

"Thank you," I said.

Oliver put his hand on top of my head.

"Happy morning," he said, stroking my hair with his hand. Then he turned and walked out of the room.

I. I looked down and saw myself in a thin pajamas.

"Are you hungry?" Ben asked, "Let's have breakfast." Change of clothes. Come out when you're ready. ”

"Okay," I said.

Ben closed the door. When I looked, the plastic bag full of clothes was no longer on the ground. I opened the closet and saw a row of clothes hanging on the hanger. There are several small bins on the shelves. I took one out and looked at it, and it was full of stockings. I pulled out a pair and grabbed a skirt hanger from my clothes. I rummaged through the dresser for underwear and bras. I changed into a new set of clothes and combed my hair with a comb. I avoid looking in the mirror.

I walked to the main room. The pleated skirt of my skirt sticks to my leggings. I tugged at it and cursed under my breath. I'm used to wearing yoga pants and tank tops, so I'm not used to this!

When I got to the end of the hallway, I saw him peeling oranges. I sat in Oliver's office chair. I saw a bunch of toast and a bowl of strawberries. I grabbed the bowl and stuffed one into my mouth.

"You had a good conversation with Oliver," Ben said.

"Thanks," I said, and put another strawberry in my mouth. "You're right. I need to be kind so I can live. ”

"I think we need to add 'good table manners' to our list of things we want to practice."

I rolled my eyes and took another strawberry. We ate in silence, and a few minutes passed.

"Are you mad at me because of what happened last night?" He asked. "No," I said. "I was like that at the time, but now I understand why you did it. I know I need you, and you need me. ”

He looked up from the orange with wide eyes.

"Do you remember last night?" He asked.

"Yes," I said. "You think I won't?"

"Nope. I thought sedatives would make you lose your memory. ”

"Is that what you mean?"

Ben slipped off the edge of the bed and poured the orange peel onto the tray. He wiped his hands on his jeans and turned to face me.

"Yes," he said. "You have to be nice to Oliver to get the privilege."

I bit my lip. I wanted to ask him some more questions, but I didn't know how. Does he mean more than his words? What's going on kissing on the cheek and lying on my bed? When I lost consciousness again due to drugs, what was going on with him holding me tightly? Did he stay there all night? Before Oliver walked into the room, he was up and ready.

The door at the top of the stairs opened, and Ben looked back. Oliver walked down the steps. "Have you finished your breakfast?" He asked.

"Yes," I said. "Thank you."

"Come with me," he said, beckoning to me.

I walked up to Oliver and he put his hand on my lower back. I wanted to get out of his grip, but I looked at Ben. He nodded and told me to leave it at that. Oliver avoided me and came to the hallway on the other side of the stairs. He pulled the key ring out of his lab coat pocket. He opened a door and I walked inside.

I squinted at a large chair and several large machines. It reminds me of the doctor's office that my mom used to use

"You may be seated, Diana," Oliver said.

I sat down. Oliver rolled a stool towards me. My fingers writhed around the hem of my skirt.

"I didn't know that all doctors do eye exams," I said.

"They don't," Oliver said. "I'm an ophthalmologist."

"What?"

"An ophthalmologist. That's why I was able to complete your surgery. Oliver opened the stool and picked up one of the devices used to look at my eyes.

"What about Mr. Carlisle?" I asked. Oliver frowned, and I could tell he was confused. "On my first night here, I overheard you talking to Mr. Carlisle on the phone. You ask about his new kidney. ”

He chuckled.

"Your memory is truly extraordinary," he said. "It can be useful. Do you know about nursing? ”

"My sister is a nurse," I said.

"Good to know," he said. "Anyway, Mr. Carlyle is a regular guest of mine. Cataracts are severe. He also suffered from kidney failure and finally found a suitable partner. ”

Oliver began an eye exam. He asked me to read lines of letters and choose between different shots. He shone a few more lights into my eyes and told me to look left and right. When he was done, he wrote it down.

"Have you ever worn glasses before?" He asked.

"No," I said.

"Well, your eyesight has improved," he said. "You're now wider, you can see more clearly in the dark, but it makes you nearsighted. I'll order your lenses and get them out of the way. Hope to get them tomorrow morning. ”

"Thank you," I said.

"You can wear it here, but you can't wear it at dinner, understand?"

I nodded. Oliver stood up and slipped the pen into his pocket.

"You can go now, Diana," he said.

I got up from my chair and forced a smile.

"Thank you, Dr. Sweeney," I said,

I left the room. I hurried down the hall. Ben is no longer in the main room. I went to another hall. I wasn't sure which room Ben stayed in, so I went downstairs to the room with the TV. I looked in and saw Ben sitting on the couch. His feet are on the coffee table, and the book is spread out on his lap.

"I'm done," I said.

He slammed the book shut.

"How's it going?" He asked.

"Okay. It's just an eye exam," I said. "I'm going to get my glasses fitted."

"Let's go train."

Ben walked behind the couch. Small stools are placed on the carpet. I took a deep breath and stepped on it.