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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Once her breathing had returned to normal, she turned over so we were face to face. She gazed into my eyes and simply said, "thank you. It was as beautiful as I hoped it would be."
Then she placed the softest kiss on my forehead, before getting off the bed and pulling her dress back up. I was a little perplexed by this and even more so when,just before she left, she added," I hope you can forgive me Claire."
Feeling suddenly unsure and a little vulnerable, I pulled the sheet up around me and hugged myself. Had I done something wrong? What on earth had she done to think I needed to forgive her??
My mind was whirring and suddenly, I could stand no more. Pulling on a robe which hung on the back of a chair, I strode to the door and tried to wrench it open. What the hell? It was locked! Rage and fear running hand in hand through me, I hammered on the door demanding to be released.
Pretty soon, I heard footsteps outside and the sound of a key sliding into the lock.
"Ok Claire." It was my doctor. "I'm going to open the door now. You are in no danger and soon you will know the whole picture, so please calm down." His tone was soothing but firm and had the desired effect. I stepped away from the door and quietly waited for it to open.
As it opened, he came in carrying a pile of clothes - my clothes. "Get dressed claire then we can go somewhere and I can explain it all to you. Please."
All the fight left me and I obligingly slipped into the smart, casual clothes I had been wearing for my first day at the office, what seemed a lifetime ago. They had clearly been washed and pressed and smelled clean and fresh. Finally slipping on my shoes, I stood up straight and looked him in the eye.
" I have done what you said," I muttered between clenched teeth. "Now I think I deserve an explanation."
Wordlessly, he opened the door and stood aside to allow me to go out first. I stepped into what I had expected to be a hospital corridor and stopped dead. Whatever place this was, it was most certainly unlike any hospital or clinic i had seen before.
Registering my confusion, he stepped around me and started walking down the thickly carpeted corridor, flanked by at least four doors on each side. As I followed, I registered the hush of the place and realised there must be soundproofing to cancel out any noise. Where in hell was I?
Turning a corner he stopped outside a door which was different to the others, richer looking and with a window allowing me to see in. On entering, I quickly took in the huge bank of screens which dominated one wall of the room. Only three appeared to be operative and I quickly recognised my own room and two others, identical except for the occupier.
"I'm sure you must have a thousand questions Claire. Please allow me to talk and if, at the end there are any unanswered, I will be happy to explain as much as I can. Is that agreeable?"
No it most certainly wasn't but what else could I do? I nodded warily and moved to sit in the comfortable armchair he motioned me towards. This had better be good, I thought to myself.
"I'm going to start by saying that this was not intended to cause you any harm or distress. You must agree that your stay here has been comfortable and you have been well cared for." He looked up at this point as if expecting me to nod, but I was in no mood to oblige.
Sighing, he began to explain how I had ended up here, wherever that was!
Firstly, it turned out there was no hit and run. Instead I had been grabbed, sedated and bundled into a van to be brought here. My bruises came from not being secured inside and I had rolled into the side too hard.
Next,he told me he was a real doctor, but not of medicine. He specialised in psycho-sexual development and empowering people to make informed choices. I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at this. Where had my choice been?
As if recognising his poor word selection, he added that everything I had done since arriving had been my choice. With a jolt, I realised that this was true. I had never felt forced to do or try anything. Suggestions were made and I then decided whether to follow them or not.
So that explained the how and to explain the 'why me', he pressed a buzzer in his desk and a woman entered, a little tentatively. It was 'my'beautiful girl.
"Claire, this is Mia. If you will allow, she wants to explain her part in this." He paused for what seemed a beat too long and I grudgingly nodded again, turning to stare at this girl whom I had known so intimately.
"I'm sorry Claire," she began, her eyes beseeching me to understand and forgive. "When I saw you come for the interview, I knew I had to help you. You were so painfully shy and clearly couldn't see how beautiful you are."
And with those words, it was as if the scales fell away. The receptionist. Of course! I had had a vague feeling of familiarity when this girl came to my room but couldn't pin point it. Now it was obvious. But why and how?
Over the next half hour or so, between them they explained how this worked. The doctor was immeasurably wealthy and a philanthropist. He had begun his treatment as a way to free people but soon realised his results were limited by him only being able to help one person at a time.
Then he hit upon the idea of recruiting those he helped to recruit others but only if they wished to. There was never any pressure and anyone showing signs of not gaining any benefit were immediately restored to their former life.
Because he was rich, he was able to build his 'clinic' in a quiet part of the country so no-one would notice any odd comings and goings. Also as soon as people felt they were done, they were sent home, just as I would be.
I still wasnt convinced that being snatched was a good choice but he explained it needed to be something that threw a person off balance so that they would be more receptive to exploring the real them.
"Finally then, we come to your last choice. You can be taken back to the life you led before, with a fantastic reference and a months wages to tide you over. If that is your choice, you will be blindfolded and taken back at night so you can never find us or come back.
If, on the other hand, you feel able to help someone else who was in your situation, you will be given work, accomodation and full training on how to select and treat others."
This then was my last choice to make. It would not be what the doctor wants, but what I myself wanted.
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