Part 3: The Surge
Aurora has a surprising encounter. Phil intervenes on her clinical trial.
Part 2 / Part 4
Aurora’s eyes flung open, only to be greeted with the sterile ceiling of the patient room. She was still strapped on the operating table just as Phil left her.
Is he still here?
Motionless, she searched for the reserved sounds of footsteps. Or the gentle brushing of scrubs. Perhaps a swivel of a stool.
There was absolute silence.
“Phil?”
She turned her head to the right to find the one-way mirror.
He said he would be on the other side of the mirror. Yet the silence signaled that she was all alone.
She looked to her left to face the cabinets, sink, and various medical supplies neatly organized in glass containers.
The clipboard with her information was gone.
Aurora turned back to the ceiling and locked eyes with a dark and liquid silhouette of herself floating above her. Opaque as a void, it was faceless except for green, glowing eyes. It arrested her.
Her heart slammed against her chest, desperate to escape her body.
As if trapped in slow motion, the black water reached down to her chest and pushed her through the operating table. Surging waves overcame her, enveloping her deeper into darkness.
Phil leapt out of his seat at the sight of Aurora’s stats. The numbers darted between extreme high and low margins. He rushed to the door when Dr. Karasevdas blocked his path.
“This is what we want, Phillip.”
“She will die!”
“Then let her death not be in vain. Our answer is on the other side of her consciousness. Let it come to us.”
He shoved Karasevdas aside and swung the door open. Though unconscious, Aurora trembled on the operating table. A sliver of black water trailed the side of her mouth.
After Aurora entered the Undertow, Karasevdas ordered Phil to attach a suction drainage system around her lungs to collect the black water. Dark fluid dripped into its pouch.
Phil reached for the sedative on the operating tray, but Karasevdas quickly tackled him to the ground. Phil kicked the doctor off of him and was on his feet just in time to brace for another tackle. He shoved Karasevdas to the ground.
“You will not take her life!”
Phil briskly got the sedative and administered it to Aurora. Her tremors slowed to a halt, and she began to breathe normally. The black water stopped flowing.
Dr. Karasevdas cast a grim look.
“You have the potential to succeed under my guidance, Mr. Elric. Don’t let your attachments influence your decisions.”
With a measured approach, the doctor moved towards Phil. He recalled the scissors laying on the right edge of the operating tray behind him.
“My goals no longer align with yours.” Phil said.
“Oh? I distinctly recall in your interview that you wanted to empower patients to live a full and healthy life. What could be a more fulfilling life than immortality?”
Phil grabbed the scissors and drove it into Karasevda’s shoulder. While he howled in pain, Phil grabbed the pill bottle of the Undertows and took one himself.
Dr. Karasevdas cradled the scissor lodged on his shoulder. He gave him a menacing smile.
“You know well that patients do not share the same experience.”
His vision started to blur.
“I’ve seen where she’s been…I will find her...”
The last thing Phil Elric saw was Dr. Karasevdas’ cloak sweeping out of his hazy view.
Alternating between the dreamscape and "real life" is fascinating and unnerving. Hope you keep going with this!