Page 54 of Jude

“Keep away from me.” Octavia glared at the tall, male medic who approached her with an electric shaver in his hand.

“Remove her hair,” repeated the doctor. She didn’t look up from the port screen she scanned. “Don’t worry. If you survive, it will grow back.”

Octavia tried to kick the medic, but her arms and legs were tied too tightly. She could do nothing but glare at him as he switched on the shaver and cut through her hair. Hot tears slid from her eyes. She couldn’t fight back. They were taking everything away from her.

“You should be happy,” said the doctor. “You are fortunate that you have a use for the State. You can provide a valuable service to them.”

“For how long?” growled Octavia. “They’ll kill me once I’ve done what they want me to.”

“Quite possibly. But isn’t that what should happen to traitors?”

Cold air slid across Octavia’s bare scalp as the medic finished shaving the last of the strands away.

The doctor turned and placed the port screen down. She tilted Octavia’s face to one side. Her fingers ran over the scar where the metal plate was fitted. “Most interesting. I am intrigued to see what materials they used to repair your damaged head. I hope I can do the same.”

“Commander West won’t be impressed if you kill me.”

“Accidents happen. He will understand if I cannot save you.”

Octavia snarled in despair. This bitch would torture her and kill her for the fun of it.

The door to the medical room opened. “Doctor, an inmate is having a seizure.”

The doctor sighed. “How bad is it?”

“She’s been fitting for five minutes. Commander West wondered if there is anything you can do.”

“Most likely the prisoner is too sick to save. Medic, you’re with me. We might need to restrain the prisoner.”

Octavia grimaced. It sounded like this doctor got off on tormenting the sick, not helping them.

The doctor glanced at her. “Don’t go anywhere.” She left the room with the medic, leaving Octavia alone.

She felt cold and lightheaded as she lay on the table, her arms and legs pinned down. Everything seemed hopeless. What had happened to Jude? Where was he? How was she going to make sure she never forgot him no matter what they did to her mind?

She slammed her fists against the bed, and it juddered underneath her. She paused and shoved down hard again. The bed moved. It must be on wheels.

Octavia tried shifting the bed again. Yes, it was definitely mobile. Her gaze went to the port screen the doctor had left on the equipment table. All she’d need to do was move the bed a couple of feet to reach the port screen. She could access it and send a message to Jude or back to the bunker, let them know what was going on.

She jumped her body up and down several times. Each time, the bed edged closer to the port screen.

“Come on, come on.” She didn’t have much time. Any second now that evil doctor and her minion would return.

Sweat drenched her body as she continued to slam against the bed, getting ever closer to the port screen and the chance to send a message. The chance to let people know she was still alive.

Octavia’s fingers brushed the edge of the table. She sucked in a huge breath of air before arching her back and shoving down with her arms and legs. Her fingers closed over the edge of the port screen. With a relieved sigh, she tilted it up so it faced her.

The screen showed medical records. She dismissed them and opened a comms link. She didn’t have time to make it secure, but sent a short message to Jude’s encrypted message box. He always had an active link to it. If he could, he’d reply immediately.

She hit the send button and waited. An error message flashed up: communication failed.

The door to the medical room slid open.

Octavia dropped the port screen and lay flat on the bed, squeezing her eyes tight shut.

“You’re all alone.” It was Commander West.

She ignored him.