Lifers 60

Before Ella left the chamber to collect what she would need to perform the water test on Marianna, she took another look at Martins. She noticed the beep of the heart monitor had slowed, and his breathing, though steady, seemed very shallow. Perhaps this time tomorrow he’d be well on his way to recovery, she hoped, and if all went well with the transfusion, her hopes would be realised.

After picking up a steel tray from off the set of drawers beside his bed, she collected a small dry sponge and made her way to the pedestal, where she pulled on one surgical rubber-glove, her right. She then ascended the steps pressing the open button as she passed. Once she was in the small basement, she lifted a flashlight from the table in the corner and, using her foot, unbolted the wooden hatch once more.

When her feet reached the bottom of the shaft, she heard the tell-tale splashing of water. She moved the flashlight down to find a puddle around an inch in depth. Raising the flashlight again, she followed the puddle until it shallowed to nothing. Problem was, the strength of the beam died off before the puddle did.

Ella picked up the sponge in her gloved hand dipping it into the murky water. When it soaked up all it was going to, she returned it to the steel tray before leaving the tunnel. Placing the tray on the floor, she put the flashlight back on the table closing and bolting the hatch behind her. Again she climbed down into Martins’ chamber hitting the close button.

The once dry sponge, now sodden with water, sat in the centre of the tray where gravity had allowed some of the liquid to escape its grip. Ella lifted her left hand, the one without the glove, and traced her forefinger through the small pool. White smoke rose into the air along with the odour of singed flesh. Then, dipping her right forefinger into the pool, a small droplet of light brown water clung to the surgical glove.

Being careful of sudden movement, she swept her hand across and over Marianna’s face, and then she tapped the finger against her thumb, causing the drip to lose its cohesion, where it fell onto Marianna’s forehead. Ella watched and waited, but neither fumes nor odour rose from the spot.

The drop of water sat there, trapped by the tiny blonde hairs on her flawless skin. She turned back to the tray picking up the sponge and squeezed it dry over Marianna’s face. The shock of the cold water soon brought her round and she began struggling with the straps.

‘What … what the hell’s going on? What are you doing to me? Who are you? Where am I?’ she yelled.

‘So many questions,’ said Ella.

‘Let me go, I’ll have you arrested for this you-’

‘Silence,’ she shouted.

‘No,’ Marianna shouted back, ‘If you want silence then answer my damn questions.’ She struggled against the straps holding her down but to no avail.

‘Very well … in answer to your first question, you are here to help someone in need.’

‘What the hell are you talking ab-?’

‘In answer to your second question, you have something I want, and I intend to have it.’

‘I’m not rich you know, no one will pay you a ransom.’

‘Your third question. Now then, that might be self-explanatory, after I answer your fourth question. Where are you, Marianna?' Ella smiled, revealing her teeth. ‘You are now in Martinsville.’

Marianna immediately stopped struggling; the realisation now evident on her face. ‘Are you ... are you Ella ... my grandmother?’

‘How very astute of you, third question answered. So, ultimately, you could say I gave you life. And now, you’re going to return that favour.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘You’ll see soon enough!’

Ella walked around the gurney to stand at Marianna’s head. Marianna’s eyes rolled to the top of their sockets watching her. Ella reached down taking hold of the restraints and tried to fasten them around Marianna’s forehead. Marianna shook from side to side in a bid to thwart her efforts, but Ella was as strong as she, and soon managed to fasten the buckle.

Marianna began shouting and screaming once more, yelling, demanding to be released. Ella went to a cupboard at the back of the room where she retrieved a bottle of chloroform, shortly after pouring some onto a rag, Marianna was once more silent.