Zachary barely took two bites of his food before setting his cutlery down with a scrunched face. Madeline's eyes lifted instinctively. She glanced at his plate, then at his face, a faint crease forming between her brows. He wasn't eating? For a brief second, she watched him, then lowered her gaze again like it wasn't her concern.
She just continued eating. The food was good, far better than she expected. In the past, she didn't have the liberty to enjoy meals like this. She battled with stomach issues for years and became less interested in food.
Her stomach had always been fragile, rejecting most things she ate, leaving her with little choice but to starve sometimes. This time tho, she didn't hold back, she ate slowly at first, then after noticing nothing wrong, she bagan taking large bites as if making up for something she had lost long ago.
Across from her, Zachary sat in silence watching her. The Madeline he knew always ate less than three bites of food. Always worrying about her image and diet but now she was wolfing down the food like if she was any slower someone would steal it from her.
Zachary looked away, his expression unintrested. "Finish your meal and come to the study when you are done. ," he said, rising from his seat.
Madeline gave a small hum in response but didn't look up. He paused briefly, then turned and left. Simon followed behind him, glancing back once before disappearing up the stairs. The other man rose as well and trailed after them.
After she was done with the food, she headed upstairs. The study door was slightly open. She pushed it without knocking and stepped inside.
Zachary stood by the table, his posture relaxed but his presence filled the room. Simon stood to the side, and the third man, composed, looked at her with a calm, assessing gaze.
Madeline eyes shifted to the unfamiliar man. "And you are?"
"Dr. Brian," Zachary answered before the man could speak.
Madeline nodded slowly, "A doctor."
Before she could ask anything else, Zachary turned to the table behind him and pressed a hidden switch. A soft click followed, and the wall shifted. The book shelf slid aside, revealing a concealed entrance.
Madeline's eyes widened slightly as the lights inside flickered on, she looked over to the others but clearly she was the only one surprised.
She peeped in. This wasn't just a room. It was a fully equipped laboratory. She let out a quiet breath. "You've got to be kidding me."
Her gaze moved back to Zachary. "What is this?"
"Go inside," he said.
She held his gaze for a moment. "Am I about to become someone's guinea pig?".
He didn't answer.
Madeline exhaled softly and stepped forward anyway. "The things I do for my handsome husband," she muttered under her breath. Thinking no one heard her but the silence made it clear that everyone had heard her. Simon's lips twitched as if he might laugh, but he caught Zachary's dark gaze and quickly looked away instead.
Madeline ignored them and walked into the room. Her attention fell on the examination bed at the center. After a brief pause, she climbed onto it and lay back. "Let's get this over with."
Dr. Brian approached, his movements steady and practiced. "Try to relax."
She didn't respond.
He began with simple checks, observing her reactions carefully. "Any dizziness?"
"Sometimes."
"Headaches?"
"Yes."
"How often?"
She hesitated slightly whether to tell this unknown doctor. "When I think about somethings".
Brisn stopped for a fraction of a sec. After a few minutes, he straightened and spoke calmly. "You have a concussion. There is also a small blood clot."
Madeline turned her head slightly. "blood cloth?"
"You're slightly malnourished," he added.
"But overall, you're stable."
"My memory," she said after thinking for a moment.
Zachary's attention shifted to her immediately. "What about it?"
"Well I can't remember some things, could the blood clots cause that?" she asked sheepishly.
"What can't you remember?" he asked.
Madeline stared at the ceiling for a second before answering. "You know, some random things are just… blank."
Silence followed.
She could feel Zachary's gaze on her, his sharp, probing eyes as if he was trying to see right through her.
"Did he suspect something because of what I said" she thought. Madeline lowered her gaze. She felt lost, she didn't know any of the things she should know and her "husband" wasn't making it any easier.
She turned her head slowly and met his eyes, offering a faint, almost careless smile. "Its nothing serious. Sometimes my memory just skips that's all. "
Zachary didn't look convinced, but he didn't press further.
Brian cleared his throat. "The clot is not severe enough to cause amnesia. It is unlikely to be the reason. However, once it clears, there is a possibility that your memory will improve and maybe you would remember things naturally.
Madeline's expression shifted slightly at his words. Unlikely? That didn't sit well with her. She opened her mouth to ask something else when she noticed Zachary still watching her so she closed it again. Instead, she changed the subject.
"My legs also hurt," she said.
Brian nodded. They were finally getting to what he came here for. "Describe your pain".
"It's sharp. When I try to jump or exert force."
"What kind of jump?"
Madeline glanced at him. "Does it matter?"
"Where were you jumping from?" Zachary asked this time. "Sneaking away to go play hero?".
Madeline frowned. This sounded more like an interrogation then an examination so she didn't answer this time. She simply turned her face away.
Brian sighed lightly. " Zach, stop please."
Zachary didn't respond, but he stepped back.
Brian continued, examining her legs carefully. His hands pressed along her knees, her calves, her ankles. "Tell me if you feel anything."
Madeline remained still.
He pressed again, slower this time.
Still nothing.
He frowned slightly. "That's unusual."
Madeline asked instantly "What is?"
"There should be some sensitivity," Brian said. "But there isn't."
Madeline sat up slightly. "So what does that mean?"
"It doesn't look like external or internal injuries. I'll need to conduct a full examination at the hospital to be sure tho" he replied. "We'll run proper tests to determine the cause. But this looks more like PTSD.
Simon gave Zachary a subtle glance but Madeline noticed it. He knew something. The thought settled quietly in her mind.
After a while, Brian drew her blood, packed up his equipment and left. Simon followed him out, closing the door behind him.
Madeline leaned back slightly against the edge of the bed, her arms crossing loosely as she stared at the painting on the wall.
"What do you want?" he asked.
She blinked. "What?"
"What do you want?" he repeated. "You have being behaving rather strange. What do you want, money, a role, or PR to clear your name?
Madeline scoffed when she heard this "I already took care of that" she replied her tone smug.
So he had noticed, all about her online saga and choose not to do anything and then about her change too. She forced herself to relax, letting out a quiet breath. "I don't want anything."
He didn't respond.
Madeline looked at him, she noticed he wasnt going to be convinced with no answer. She scoffed inwardly "I just want us to get along." She lowered her voice. Her tone almost pleading.
He looked at her, his expression quickly shifting to one of disgust "Keep dreaming."
The words were calm, but final. He finally turned away. "Go to sleep."
Madeline watched him leave, then let out a soft sigh. "Rude, this her husband was even more difficult to deal with".
Back in the bedroom, She sat at the edge of the bed, her thoughts spiraling all over.
"If it's not the blood clot what was it? And the leg pain " she murmured under her breath. "what is it?"
She closed her eyes, trying to focus, trying to remember something, anything. A sharp pain shot through her head. She crouched down immediately, her hand gripping her hair as the pain surged. She clenched her teeth tightly, but she didn't make a sound. She simply endured it, her breathing shallow and controlled.
Then the pain went away slowly.
Just like that.
She stayed still for a moment, her whole back damp with sweat.
Later that night, she dreamt of a training ground. She lay spiraled on the floor when someone approached.
She couldn't see his face but it was a man holding a bottle of water, a towel draped over his shoulder, a small first aid kit in his hand.
"You don't have to do all this" he said, his voice calm but firm. "It's just training."
She didn't say anything just kept looking up.
"Rubix."
That made her pause.
She turned slightly, taking the towel from him. "I need to get better, you know what I am aiming for".
He looked at her, something unreadable in his eyes. "… Footsteps approached from behind. It was a young girl in her twenties. Caspien, Rubix. She called out as she waved.
Madeline watched him closely as he opened the first aid kit and tended to her wounds. "Caspien…" she whispered.
She opened her eyes slowly. Her fingers gripping the sheets tightly. She called out the name again "Caspien". She walked to the table and pulled out a small notebook to write the name down.
"Caspien." "…Caspien," she murmured again.
The name felt familiar. Too familiar. Perhaps a friend? She recalled his gentle eyes and thought for a moment maybe a lover?
She stared into the darkness for a long moment. She had to find him. Maybe he was the key to discoverimg who she was and why she was killed.
She had to find this Caspien...