One Word

I thought I would escape the blistering heat once I stepped into the doctor's office that day, ha, I was wrong. Either the air conditioner was in reverse or someone had opened the door to hell, and as I look back at it now, I think it was the latter. 1

It was the normal yearly visit to the ob-gyn, being a doctor myself, longtime friend and colleague of this particular doctor I felt it were rather strange that the waiting area was entirely empty. Especially since he shared the practice with two others, you, and one who just joined you that I had yet to meet. The point is among the three of you there should have at least been one person in the waiting room, and there was no one. It sounded as is there were no patients around at all. 2

Talk about a creepy feeling, I should have gone with my impulses and left at that very moment, but then Hilda saw me and called me over. "Dr. Fallon, I'm glad you showed up, we've had cancellations all day today, but I guess that's because of the bad news."3

This was strange, I had heard no bad news and I said so. "Bad news? What bad news?"4

"You hadn't heard?" Hilda seemed astounded. "That's odd. I thought you'd be the first to know about Dr. Nguyen."5

Bad news about Harry Nguyen? He is one of my best friends, and of course the man I had come to see. So many thoughts started to run through my head; a car accident, a malpractice suit and more. What had become of him? I had to know. "What is it?! What's happened?!" 6

Hilda looked a bit embarrassed and she backed off just a bit. "He, um, he's retired."7

"Retired?" I couldn't help myself from laughing, what a joke they had played on me, Harry after all is only 38, and is in no financial shape to retire. Hilda stared at me with such sternness I wasn't sure she was joking. "Harry?" I called out past Hilda, to the offices beyond the reception window. "You short man, get out here and face me."8

"He's not there Doctor. He's home."9

"Oh, he's home is he." They were really taking this too far. "Give me the phone I'll get his big butt over here, he knows he has an appointment to keep."10

"I'm sorry. I can't do that. He's asked to have no calls today." Now that wasn't like Hilda at all. She knew we were friends and that I often call him, so surely his request didn't apply to me, but as I reached for the phone she moved it out of range.11

"Ha ha ha! You're joking right?" Hilda wasn't joking.12

So seriously she took her pen and schedule book and looked up at me. "No, I'm not joking. If you like I'll reschedule an appointment for you with either Dr. Ase or Dr. Richmond."13

I must say it pissed me off. I couldn't believe that they treated me this way in your office. Hilda's just never been so, so … unapproachable. "That's all right, thank you, I'll just go and-"14

"You can put the name Carol Richmond down in the book as her new doctor." I hadn't noticed her come into the room, normally I'm more observant, it was as if she came out of nowhere. What was more peculiar was that Hilda unconditionally wrote the note into the book scratching off Harry's name in big red ink. 15

Now my manners and curiosity bested me, for I was somewhat impressed by the overpowering presence of this woman, so much so that I could not argue. Her long red curls framed a rather striking and strong face, and the smile upon it just washed away my foul mood. And thus was my first impression of Dr. Richmond. I could see very plainly why you took her in as your partner, her easy manner could even break its way through my thick plated heart. She acted as my best friend in seconds and not so surprisingly seen as how she knew practically everything about me. "Dr. Patricia Fallon, what a pleasure it is to finally meet you." With a quick smooth movement she was out the door to the visitor's area shaking my hand. "Harry, and Ketan have told me so much about. Oh and I've also read several of your papers. I must say your 'Alveoli Regeneration Procedure' was simply awe inspiring."16

It seemed I couldn't get a word in edge wise with her though. "Actually I just modified-" 17

"And your son, Roger I believe, how old is he?"18

"Nine."19

"Oh wonderful, wonderful, I bet he's extremely handsome, listen, I can fit you in here, seems we're not that busy today, please just wait a couple more minutes while I go make the preparations." She was off in a shot and disappeared down the hall.20

Once she was gone I approached Hilda again, something was wrong with her I could tell, but I wasn't sure what. "Hilda?" 21

She looked up with her normally cheery smile. "Doctor Richmond really is good. I think you'll like her. Though…," she bent forward secretively, "I think she's gay. You know how these female gynecologists are."22

I couldn't help but smile; this was starting to sound more like the gossip spreading Hilda I knew. "Yeah, I know how they are, I went to school with some of them remember? Just because they're gynecologists doesn't mean they're gay, that's a stereotype."23

"Well maybe not all of them, but she definitely is. It's not just the doctor thing. Have you seen the way she looks at people?" No honestly I could say I hadn't noticed, she had made her appearance so quick I didn't have the chance, but in response to her question I merely shook my head. "Like the way she was looking at you," her voice got quieter, "she was staring at you more intensely than I've seen her look at anyone. She was eyeing you all around. Did you see the way she rushed out to be near you? She's been aloof ever since she's been here. I think she's attracted to you."24

Now, while it's entirely possible that was so, after all you and I can't deny I am an attractive woman, this didn't make me feel so hot. Speaking of hot, I began sweating rather heavily. "Is there something you can do about the air in here? It's awful hot."25

Hilda gazed at me quizzically. "Maybe you're attracted to her."26

I heard someone speak in the back of the room, and as if a force had pulled her down, Hilda sat back in her chair and began to work again. For just a moment I could have sworn I saw something in her eyes, something like nystagmus, they glazed over just a bit too, it was just plain weird. "Hilda?" It wasn't to Hilda where I looked. 27

It was to the hall behind her, where Dr. Richmond now stood leaning against the wall casually. "I'm ready for you now Doctor." 28

I was beginning to have second thoughts about this whole thing; after all I would have much rather had you examine me than a complete stranger. "Actually, I just was beeped. I need to go. I'll reschedule." It was a lie, but something about this woman wasn't right. Even as I began to back out, I could see she was a bit perturbed, at what I didn't really know.29

I guess she really didn't like the idea of my canceling on her and so she moved forward with that same smile, just a little more intense and a strange hot glint to her eye. She spoke slowly so I could hear clearly this time the word she had spoken before to Hilda.30

What a strange word, foreign to be sure, but just where it originated I couldn't tell, the middle east somewhere perhaps. She looked at me as if she expected me to respond to the word, but I didn't, in fact I didn't do anything but stare back at her. Her eyes were dark, nearly black, and yet they had color running throughout them, like electrical currents, very striking eyes. 31

She spoke again, softly, "Come on Patricia. I'm ready for you." I don't know what came over me I no longer held the trepidation that I had only a few minutes before, and so I moved forward and walked with her into the exam room. 32

"Sit and relax." She was speaking and moving more deliberately now. I put it off to the fact that she could be new as a doctor. Similar to the word she had spoken she too may have been from a foreign land and was a little nervous of doing something wrong. I tried to speak, to offer her words of comfort, after all I had been in that situation at one time, but I couldn't speak, I had begun to get extremely tired. She mumbled something again. Perhaps it was that word she had used earlier. She said it too softly to be a curse, which wouldn't have surprised me since I too have used alternate or made up words in the past. This was different. This seemed to have a more calculated ring to it. Then she turned to me and said a word I fully understood. "Sleep" and without being able to help it, sleep did indeed overcome me.33

I woke, oh, a little over two hours later feeling very refreshed and a bit stronger, and cool, the heat of the office no longer bothered me. I rose and looked about, I was right where I was supposed to be in the exam room, nothing was out of place or even seemed used. Dr. Richmond must have left me alone once I fell asleep, but yet somehow I knew that wasn't quite true, especially since she didn't wait very long after I woke to come in to the room. "How are you feeling Patricia?"34

"Surprisingly good." I hadn't felt that good since before Roger, my son, was born. I began to stand just to feel my muscles stretch, but she placed a hand on my arm before I could get very far.35

"Please stay seated. I have a business proposition for you." Oh boy and what a proposition! She spent over an hour explaining her plans to join practices with me, though our fields were totally unrelated. It was like some kind of job interview. She just kept giving me all these qualifications. If I checked them out it would mean that she'd been in six different medical fields all around the US. They ranged from little rural general practitioner to big business cosmetic surgery and her list of references was amazing. I would have been scared to call up people like Dr.s Robert Gale and J. Heritage. 36

I did call them up, with her right there besides me. I listened as they gave rave reviews about her. Think that's scary just three days ago she introduced me to some of the most prominent names in heart surgery. What's worse, they seemed more impressed with me than I was with them! But I digress, this was all part of her plan after all; to make me famous and thus her as well; and to give us access to big money for research, though she never really specified what kind of research. That didn't really matter much to me since I thought that wouldn't come around for years, but now, it makes me wonder why I didn't question her more back then. It's something I naturally would have done. Of course she really didn't give me the chance. She's a fast and smooth talker, good enough to talk me into partnership, which unfortunately meant the dissolution of your partnership.37

I liked her idea though. I mean with both of our minds put together we could have discovered cures that would eventually help millions of people. That is if her plans of what to research was anywhere near mine. We put in many hard days and nights to make this partnership happen until the day came when she needed to totally take over your practice to merge it with mine. 38

While Harry had retired, he had a share of the practice and would for sometime. Yet we really couldn't get very far without full income from your practice and so she sent me out with the contract and a word. She didn't tell me what the word was, though she said I knew it and I knew how to use it. I didn't really understand what she was talking about. It didn't matter. I had come to trust her, so much so that I didn't even read the letters. I did what I thought would be best to advance my career and went to Harry's house.39

***40

The house seemed very quiet. Of course I normally visit after work when the whole family was home. At this time of day Harry was the only one around to greet me at the door. He was very grateful and happy to have any visitors at all. "Patricia, what a surprise." He ushered me in and I performed the normal inquiries about his wife and kids. "Oh they're all doing fine. Lisa's graduating next month, did you get the invitation?"41

Lisa's a great kid, she takes after her father, just plain smart. "Wouldn't miss it, after all I am her favorite non-related aunt."42

"Just because she has no related aunts…" Harry never really could take a joke, anyway we went into the den and I didn't waste much time. I knew I could soften the blow with small talk but I didn't think it would be appropriate, he hardly had a chance to sit down before I handed over the letter and a pen. "What's this?"43

I didn't want to tell him, I knew how much his practice meant to him, retiring was hard enough on him, this would just be devastating. "Just sign it Harry." 44

I said it a little more harshly than I meant. I could tell by the look on his face and his hesitation as he began to mumble his way through it, then finally, "Is this some kind of sick joke?"45

I knew he'd be mad, but I didn't know any way to tell him that at the time I believed we needed the money, so I only shook my head. "Patty, this is ludicrous, there's no way in hell I'm signing this." He looked up to me and knew I wasn't going to give in, but I didn't want to force him, I wanted him to do it on his own free will. "Have you read this? Do you know what you're asking me to do." I didn't relent, and neither did he. He put the paper down on the table and pushed it away from him.46

I wish he hadn't done it; he had pushed me to my only alternative. It took a great deal of energy for me to say it, but I repeated the word the Dr. had used on me. It was the first time I had used it, I didn't even realize I did until Harry sat there for a few moments unmoving. His eyes became glazed over and moving about wildly, almost in a spiral like pattern. "Harry?" I waved my hand before his face, there was no response, nor did his eyes follow my motions, instead they stared straight ahead. The effect wasn't isolated to my friend either. I felt something when I said the word, it was so subtle I wasn't sure something happened. The best way I can explain it is as a small surge of adrenaline, yet somehow I knew that wasn't entirely it, it was a transfer of power, from Harry to me. I now had complete control over him, and I knew what I had to do with it, "Sign it… please."47

Not entirely to my surprise, he did sign it, without argument, without remorse. The red ink, from the pen Dr. Richmond insisted I have him use, ran from the pen and looked something like blood, then it did something unexpected, it burned into the paper as he signed his name. It was then that I got my first inkling something was wrong. Her smile had worked its way into my head and I could hear her just as plainly as if she were standing behind me whispering "Good, very good." I even looked about to see if she was here. Of course there was no one. It was all in my head. I was probably just going mad, caused by the stress of hurting my close friend.48

I wouldn't think about it though; I just put it out of my mind, gathered the letter and pen and told Harry to sleep. He slouched back into the chair, and I made sure he was fairly comfortable before I made my exit.49

"Well, you know what happened after that. I came to you and went through a similar episode, but I didn't even bother trying to explain it to you. I'm sorry for that, I had felt the power and it was too easy to get you to do what I wanted without having to deal with you fighting me. After that I went back to her, she was ecstatic when I gave her the letters and she praised me highly. She knows how to inspire people. For the next couple months she and I worked closely. I used the word more and more often, almost to the point where I didn't even stop to talk to people. Hell, half the time I didn't even realize what I had done until they stood there staring off to nowhere. She had given me a great gift, a way to hypnotize people instantly, but more than that, a means by which I could control them completely, a strange, wonderful, and unfortunately addictive feeling. The consequence of that addiction, Harry won't talk to me anymore. I had all but alienated my family. It wasn't until you came by the office the other day and I wouldn't even let you say a word before I took control of you, that I realized the implications of this power. So at my first chance I got away and came by to see you.50

"And here I am." Ketan sat before me, he had listened intently to my story and knew everything I said was true, but still he was unsettled, and rightfully so. The thought of any one person, let alone two, having the power to control people on a whim was disturbing to say the least.51

Finally he spoke. "Yes, here you are, and what are your intentions?"52

I wasn't totally sure I understood his question. It sounded as if he meant; what my intentions were coming to him and telling him this, but I felt he had a different meaning and it is this meaning I addressed. "I mean to end my addiction and to stop Dr. Richmond from continuing to control people, including myself."53

He nodded; it was the answer he had been looking for. "Then let me share some information with you, that I had acquired recently. I had come to give you this information the other day when you brushed me aside without a thought. I had no idea how I would get you to listen to me. I'm very happy you did finally come to me." 54

"I didn't know where else to turn, like I mentioned, you're the only one that wanted to talk to me, besides Dr. Richmond."55

He nodded understanding and went on, "After you had me sign the letter it released me so to speak from Dr. Richmond's control. Since you didn't read it let me summarize what it said, you know that it transferred Harry's and my pieces of the partnership to her. What it also had in it was a very specific hand over of all of our rights as physicians we can no longer work in this trade. However, a good point is with the separation of this partnership we are released from her direct control. Now if I went to her she could control me, but she can not from afar as she once was able too. That was, I suppose, the reason I never opposed her. I was not strong enough to resist her control, but you are. Just the fact that you can use the word yourself proves that. I can not. I am not even capable to utter it even if I tried.56

"Let me explain to you more what that means. After you left with the letter I did some research. The word itself has a very interesting history, but it has turned up so much more. It took me a great deal of time to just find where the word has been used in the past let alone where it came from. It is called the 'Word of Power,' originating in a small Amazon tribe, the Bactala, who believed in a God, whose name was the Word of Power. According to what I was told the Word of Power is just that. The user obtains power over all those who hear the word. Which would explain the control that the good doctor has had over us. How it does so is still a mystery to me though. You'll excuse me while I delve in a bit of experimentation?" I had a feeling I knew what was coming and after consenting, I cringed fearing being in a trance again. He spoke the word with a bit of gusto "Malfactu!"57

I was a bit surprised when I found I still had full control of my thoughts and body, and he started explaining just what had happened. "Unless I'm using the word wrong then I believe, through similar experimentation, I have found that only a select few are able to use the word, those select few being you and Dr. Richmond, and since this tribe no longer exists I would say you're the only ones."58

"I don't understand, why me?"59

"First, I believe you have a natural high resistance to the word. You're still affected, but not as much as the rest of us mere mortals." To me that was no explanation. Resistance doesn't mean that I would be able to use the word. After all I should still be affected as I hear myself say it. And what was this mere mortal thing? He didn't really give me a chance to ask these questions before he continued. "Second, I will have to go into a little more background. From a scientific point of view I don't see how any of this is possible, but try to keep an open mind. The God of this tribe is said to serve the Underworld ironically this God is female, and is said to be immortal, as is her direct servants. It's not really clear whether she's their version of the devil or a servant of it. Apparently she would call out her name before she arrived in the village creating fear and panic. Eventually she was able to hone the skill and use her name to control that fear by hypnotizing them I suppose. 60

"Her powers grew over centuries and are said to include but aren't limited to the ability to control people via the Word of Power, control of fire, and telepathy. Supposedly the Goddess was vanquished over a century ago when a catastrophic fire hit the village. Only remnants and a couple of survivors lived to tell the tale, but they really couldn't say much since they had been under her control for so long. Among the few artifacts that remained was this, an idol used in prayer rituals for mercy from their Goddess." 61

He handed me the statue and as I looked upon it I nearly dropped it, Ketan hurried to help me balance it. "Please be careful. It's only on loan." If it were a modern picture it couldn't have been more clear who it was, yet I already knew, in a way I had always known. "Dr. Richmond looks pretty good for being over a millennia doesn't she?" I could only nod. The statue was the spitting image of the doctor. The reason it shocked me so was not from seeing her face before me, but the unmerciful, frightening, gruesomely pleasant sneer she wore. It made my heart turn cold. It was more than just the face, she had a very lifelike, dynamic build, and she was scarcely dressed arched in a seductive pose. The eyes on the figure too, held life, more so than in any artwork I had ever seen, they were almost ablaze, and followed me no matter which way I turned it. I nearly expected the statue to leap from my hands and do some kind of ritual dance right before tearing me to shreds.62

Finally I was able to collect myself and handed the statue back. He placed it on his desk, and it left a disconcerting feeling in me. I felt as if she were watching us, not the statue, but the doctor herself. I tried my best to ignore it as I spoke to him, "You still haven't explained what this has to do with me."63

He too was bothered by the statue's vicinity, and he quickly packed it away before he continued. "I was getting to that, see the Goddess couldn't keep an eye on the whole village all the time, I guess she had more important things to do in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, she created personal servants out of a few of the villagers. They would be her wardens having some of the same powers as she so they would be able to keep control of the people while she was away. She created these servants in a very public ritual. She would slice open their abdomen and opened her own wrists. She proceeded to drain her blood into their bodies. After enough mixed in with their blood, this servant's torso would heal on its own instantly and they would have the ability to use the Word of Power."64

This couldn't be happening! There was no way I was going to be a servant of the devil. "And you think I'm one of these servants? That's not possible since I was never slit open, nor did she ever give me any of her blood."65

"Are you sure? How long were you asleep during that first exam you had with her? Long enough for a blood transfusion?" I would not, could not believe what he was saying after all this was all some sort of coincidence. Dr. Richmond must have found out about this tribe the same way Ketan did, and used pure hypnotism instead of some ancient voodoo to take control of me. This nonsense about immortality, she could not possible be the same person, she has a back ground in cosmetic's she probably had herself altered to look that way. Yes, that must be, everything has a perfectly sound scientific explanation. That was until Ketan did something I didn't expect, before I could react he had pulled a knife, grabbed my wrist and was now holding it tight, knife hovering. I began to pull away and so he let me as the knife sliced more deeply through the artery. I screamed in pain and looked to him in astonishment, in return he was staring at my wrist in equal fascination. I followed his gaze to find blood dripping to the ground, but not as much as expected. I cleaned the wounded area to see there was nothing there, no gaping wound, no scar, nothing just unadulterated skin. There had to be a perfectly good, scientific… No, this just couldn't be happening. Undaunted I seized the knife from Ketan and began stabbing my hand with it. 66

Over and over, as pain swelled through it with each prick it eased just as quickly. Each time as the knife left my hand the wound sealed up before my very eyes. This just wasn't real, couldn't be. I wouldn't believe it!67

Yet there it was before my very eyes. My hand, dreadfully bloody now but intact, and this only meant one thing; everything Ketan had said was absolutely true. I was now the immortal servant of a woman I had just today begun to hate. I hated her for this, for what she had done to me, and for what she had done to my friends, for the villagers, and the people she will control in the future. She had to be stopped, before anyone else had to endure this pain. "How do I stop her?"68

Ketan answered, though I didn't mean the question for him. "Well, since you're both immortal there's no way to kill you. I'd say you continually fight her." 69

"Fight her for centuries to distract her from controlling people? I don't know I mean I can't fight for five minutes let alone centuries, whenever I take a break she'll get away and start over. I don't want to risk that." It was definitely unacceptable, but what else could I do?70

"The only other option is to find a way to kill her. I know she's immortal, but even 'immortal vampires' can be killed with sunlight. There is one more thing though, being her servant you are connected to her through her blood. It's possible that if she dies, so will you, and vice versa."71

"So find a way to kill me, and she dies?" This wasn't a promising prospect; I had no wish to die. He nodded sadly; he didn't want me to die either. Taking a deep breath, I did the bravest thing I've ever done. "Then let's get to it."72

***73

We tried, Lord, we tried to kill me. Nothing worked, hanging, bullets, we nearly even cut my head off, but both of us became too queasy to try it. Each time I tried to do it alone I could not. A strong feeling of survival overtook me and I couldn't raise a gun to my head despite how much I willed it. Richmond must have more control over me than I feared, she wouldn't allow me to kill myself, and if that was so, she would never allow me to kill her. That is if she knew right before I was about to try it, so I would have to find a distraction.74

I walked into the office trying to get a hold of myself and the handle of the knife I gripped. I had to face her with no fear, but if I was right she already knew my fear. She knew of my intent with the knife, and knew that I knew it would do me no good. Still, I had to try. I couldn't let her just live through life for hundreds of years taking control of people. I and I alone was the only one with the power now to stop her. Ironically she's the one that gave me that power.75

"A mistake on my part I admit, but I can rectify it easily." She appeared before me right where I could leap on her just as she expected, and so I waited trying to concentrate on something other than my hidden knife. She made no effort to move and so she too was waiting for me to lunge, but I could see her thoughts about this, she had a far different picture in mind. "I could keep you in a coffin, buried for eternity. I never really wanted you as a partner anyway, to many morals, I thought I could turn you around so you would not fulfill your destiny."76

She was probing my mind, I could feel it she wanted to provoke me into fighting her, but I couldn't let her, I had to fight on my own terms. "You've failed, I will fulfill that destiny, nothing you can do now can stop me."77

A wicked smile grew on her face, "Isn't there?" 78

She threw an image in my mind, so quick I could hardly comprehend, but I saw familiar faces, Ketan's, Harry's, other friends, then my husband's and Roger's. They were in the trance, from the word of power, her servants. For a moment there was fear in my heart for them but it subsided as my purpose took over. "Nice try, but I'll never stop fighting you. You won't have time to enslave them."79

"Noble words from an illusioned mind. My blood didn't make you my equal as you believed, you are more my servant than they are, making you unable to kill me or yourself, so put that thought out of your mind. As for fighting me, with one word, I'll have you purring like a kitten."80

That was it. I had to prove myself and so without a thought I lunged. I heard the word begin to form on her breath, but it was unable to escape once I lodged the knife in her throat. She fell to the ground shocked, but not dead, and still strong enough to grab my leg making me fall on my butt. I did the crab walk for a short distance to move away from her as she slid the knife from her throat. I watched as the wound healed within seconds of the knife's point leaving her skin. "Malfactu, stay." I was no longer able to move, no matter how much energy I put into my muscles they would not obey me. At least I still had my mind and I would use it to get what I wanted. "And what is it that you want?" She asked clearly reading my thoughts. "The secret of my existence? My plans to control the greatest minds of this country? No, that's not it, you want to know the way to kill me don't you?" Her anger grew like fire, flaming red in her eyes, in her thoughts. "You can't, there's only one way, and if you think I'll ever let you know then you're more ignorant than I ever took you for. Besides, you'll never have the chance." She raised the knife, her blood still dripping from it, sparking red like the fire in her heart. "Now, for a little revenge, before you're laid to rest." She slammed the knife into my chest several times. The pain was excruciating and blood filled my eyes blinding me just before I lost consciousness but not before I had realized she did indeed give me the secret I was looking for.81

***82

I awoke to darkness, and silence. I had never been in a situation of sensory deprivation. I must say it is a very frightening experience, more so than Richmond plunging a knife in my heart or taking control of my child's life. I was in total darkness, I didn't know which way was up, how far underground I was or if I was at all, and the lack of air seemed to have no effect on me. Was it night, or day? How long had I been out? Would anyone ever be able to find me? Must I dig my own way out? If I was able to dig, would I be digging up or down? I had no way to know. I tried to reach out the only way I could, with my mind. Alas I was unable to reach anyone, not even Richmond. The only one to date that I could communicate with using my mind, though I wouldn't call it telepathy, but only images, though she made it quite clear she could do far more.83

Not wanting to be trapped forever I began clawing at my coffin, the cloth padding came away easily, but then I came upon something hard. I know the feeling of wood when I hit it, and this was not it, it was metallic. Shit, she had thought about me being able to dig my way out. That witch won't be able to get rid of me that easily. I just had to find another way out, beginning with the minuscule crack where the lid meets the box. It must have been hours before I became too tired and fell asleep, when I awoke a second time I began right where I left off. My fingers were dry and cracked from the blood that had formed there, but the wounds had healed, and I would start them anew as I began digging again. Days, maybe weeks passed, I had no conception of time, the only thing that mattered was my escape. There was a time when I imagined someone digging, working hastily, but hours had elapsed and nothing happened. Then later I tried pushing upon the lid as I had many times before and groped at the crack. This time, to my surprise, it opened just a bit more than it had the hundred times before. I was ecstatic and started screaming, hoping someone would hear me. I put all my strength into opening the lid, and minutes later I saw something that I had almost given up hope of ever seeing again, daylight.84

A blurry hand reached out for me, even in the shadow of his body I had to shade my eyes to be able to make out the identity of the man before me. I was overjoyed to see my husband, Duane; I didn't hesitate to embrace him though I was still nauseous from the change in atmosphere. Once my eyes adjusted somewhat I could see that my recent actions hadn't had too ill of an effect on those around me, Ketan and Harry were there, shovel in hand. "Thank you." I whispered into Duane's ear, then also thanked the others. They set me down on the edge of the grave out in the middle of nowhere. I must have been hundreds of miles from anywhere since we had no open prairie anywhere near where I lived. As I looked over the land I noticed something missing and a moment of fear rushed through my heart. "Where's Roger?"85

The others sat down too, obviously exhausted from the work and heat. Duane sat next to me and took my hand. "He's all right, Ketan's told us everything, and I took his advice and sent him off to mom's."86

"How long was I in there? How did you find me? Will she know I'm free?" There were so many questions, and some wouldn't be answered for a while since despite being tired Ketan seemed antsy to leave. So they filled me in on the long ride back home.87

I was right in that I was stuck in solitude for nearly a month. Ketan had watched Dr. Richmond from afar and followed her when she took a private plane out to the prairie, with unusually sized baggage. Richmond had nearly caught him twice and he had to go into hiding, taking my family with him, and when he felt it was safe, he brought Duane out here. Harry surprisingly volunteered to come along. I had figured that he would have wanted me to rot in there after what I put him through, but he has a bigger heart than I had given him credit for.88

***89

Dr. Richmond for her part went on the offensive. Her name was all over the press as they praised her for her medical advancements, things she no doubt stole from some of the greatest medical minds that she had encountered over the years. She obtained her research grants and was now working in her own state of the art lab. I could only imagine the experiments she was running on people, creating slaves and weapons, and who knew what else to advance her take over. 90

I stepped into the lab the next night. I must say I am rather impressed with the size of the lab, and the technology available in it. I would make no mistake in my next encounter with her. I made all my decisions miles from her. I hoped that she would not be able to tell that I was free and now I moved about the lab, timing it so she would be at home asleep. At least I hoped she was; Ketan was supposed to be checking on that now. There were a few of her minions here, but I was able to take control of them easily and set them about doing work for me as well. Some guarded the entrance intent on impeding the doctor's entrance, at least until she changed their minds; the rest were helping me prep the lab for my confrontation tomorrow morning. The small quantity of arsine she had delivered for her experiments was perfect for this occasion. Not only was it very flammable it had a certain toxic effect that would hopefully be enough to kill her, for I found her secret in her own mind, I had to burn her blood. Unfortunately, this would have the unnatural side effect of destroying her blood in me as well, thus killing me. Ah, but what the hell, you only die once, and what a way to go!91

So they wheeled the canisters in and hid them about the lab so it wouldn't be totally obvious to Richmond that they were here. Once it was all set I commanded everyone to leave, no sense in having more deaths than necessary. When it was clear I began opening the valves, not that much, just enough to start a reaction, and not enough for it to begin smelling. Unfortunately, I felt no ill effects, but the concentration was still low, it could be a couple of hours before I began feeling anything. In the meantime I had to think up a backup plan in case the fire wasn't good enough. I had to concentrate on the arsine so she wouldn't know about the backup plan, but I couldn't concentrate on the arsine, because she would then know about it and be able to avoid it. It was a very complicated set of variables that I had to balance. Ah, not so complicated when I realized one thing to concentrate on: the people I would save, my dear friends Harry, Ketan, and my husband. More importantly Roger, he was my bloodline, and he had to live to carry it on. All I could do as I hurriedly mixed one of my own mixtures, was to think of my son. I thought of how I would never again be able to hold him, or play with him, or teach him. I also thought about how he would grow and become a superb scientist, I know that's not what he wants to be but I can dream in my last hours can't I?92

So I was, sitting, dreaming, totally unprepared when Carol Richmond entered the lab. She started to say something from across the room, but I could not hear her. She was a bit frustrated and mouthed it again. It looked something like, "Bow du at year." Of course I was never good at reading lips. Yet when she first arrived she seemed somewhat shocked so I think she was asking how I got here. Just for the fun of it, I decided to play with her for a bit, at least until she got a little closer to me. "Strangest thing happened. I was digging at the inside of your wonderfully sturdy box, when some Amazon tribesmen came running along and opened it up for me. Then they said some magic words and pop; here I am."93

She said another long sequence of utterances, probably another inane attempt at getting me to do her bidding, but it wouldn't work I did not intend to be her slave anymore. She became frustrated with me and moved closer. I had to wait, and I couldn't think about… No, can't even mention it. Crap, she noticed that thought, she had stopped in her tracks and looked at me curiously, then she said a word I fully understood, but didn't hear. "Wonderful invention, earplugs, Malfactu just doesn't have the same ring to it now." 94

Well, that proved that theory, she wasn't entrapped by the word. I didn't really think it would work anyway, but it did inflame her to a new level. She moved forward, didn't speak but yet I did hear her now, very clearly in my mind. "There's no escape. No amount of cotton can stuff your brain to keep you from hearing me. Now stay where you are and I won't hurt you. Malfactu."95

Defying her I fought off the effects of the word in my mind, and took a couple difficult steps forward. Knowing she could read my thoughts I didn't bother speaking aloud, "I feel sorry for you, your parents must have been horrible people to stick you with such a name as Malfactu."96

A simple jibe, but it got her boiling mad, "You are an arrogant…"97

"At least I went to school to earn my right to be arrogant" My mind was drifting, I was anticipating the moment, and it nearly cost me.98

She laughed, but had a serious tone. "You can't kill me. You're just a little worm."99

"Yeah, and you're the dirt I have to crawl through to find the light."100

This was what I had been waiting for. I don't know why, but that last one ignited her and she was thoroughly pissed now. My mind set on her alone, but my body went through motions that I preprogrammed. As she rushed me and grabbed a hold of me by the collar, I lit the match I had been clutching and let it fall to the ground. The room exploded! The pockets of gas had built up and let loose, sending shards of glass, tables, and other equipment flying through the air. We had been standing in the center of a pocket and were thrown blazing across the room. 101

I was beginning to regret this plan of action. I know I broke my neck when I hit the wall, and if that wasn't painful enough the fire ate at me. The pain as my skin melted was excruciating. No matter how hard it was to fight off; I took it. The fire grew enveloping me. Through the pain, through the fire before my eyes I saw her rise, and brush off the fire like dirt. Her skin had a fresh glistening look to it. I took in my own body and watched as the fire never got past my flesh. It renewed too quickly to burn anything beneath. As I lay there examining the bizarre effect on my arm, she knelt before me. "Now that was pure stupidity. You didn't really think that would kill me, or you for that matter you, did you?"102

True, Ketan had said she could control fire, but I had hoped that was just a rumor. Then I managed to speak through the pain. "I guess I was wishing it would, but take a whiff of that air. Hell, inhale deeply. It'll put the arsine to work faster." 103

I heard her mind crack out "Arsine!" She grabbed me and with strength I didn't know she had, she lifted me off the ground, and further to astound me she lifted herself off the ground as well. What force did this, I know not, no amount of physics could explain how I was now flying upwards out of the hole in the ceiling created by the fire. 104

Once I got over my shock, I realized there was only one thing left to do. I clung to her more tightly and whispered in her ear, "There's more than one way to make the blood boil." I jammed the syringe straight into her chest, squeezing out the fluid, straight into her heart. She dropped me in alarm. My head bashed into the cement outside the building and I heard dozens of snaps and cracks as my bones became crushed by the force of gravity, then healed almost immediately. I was beginning to hate my immortality, I shouldn't be alive right now to feel the pain that I was going through, at least it didn't last that long. She lowered herself down next to me laughing cruelly. "What was in there? A concentrated form of Arsine? No, I would be dead by now. Must have just been some pitiful last attempt to kill me, you'll notice it's not working."105

I had begun to feel a bit better. Well, except for her constant badgering and so I sat, not wanting to stand, only to fall again when the pain hit again as I knew it would. "Isn't it working? Can you feel your extremities tingling? It starts in your fingers and toes and works its way slowly and very painfully straight to your heart, boiling your blood all the way. You'll be lucky if your head bursts before it's all finished."106

She stared at her hands in disbelief, I could see them turning purple from here, and I felt the prickling in mine so I knew indeed it was working. "How? How can this be possible?"107

The tables had turned now; I was the one creating the fear in her. "Do you like it? It's my own concoction, made up right here in your lab, oh, and since I did it in such a hurry, there's no cure."108

She was really starting to feel it now, as was I. She had doubled over and spoke through clenched teeth. "Fool! Don't you realize you'll die too"109

My head was swimming and I could no longer control my body as it went into seizures. I managed to think one thought directed at her, "Yes, and I welcome it, as long as I take you with me." She was unable to answer in any way. Suddenly I could feel it; death, it was coming. Just a few feet from me as the world grew dark all around, she was still visible. She shook wildly her face was somehow set with the ever present evil smile. I realized, it wasn't death I was sending her to, but back to her origin, as Malfactu daughter of the Underworld, and I followed, her eternal servant.