The Clinic: Test Six (mild language, sexual conduct)

**Katherynn** · 10-08-2012 05:10 PM

Test Six
I sat down in the medical chair, waiting for Feiral to return with fresh needles. I dreaded every second of the wait. All I wanted to do was be tested and leave.
After all I'd heard last night, there was no way I trusted Feiral or Jate at all, now. If I did then I deserved to be disappearing.
The door to the room opened and Feiral slipped in with her normal, deathly grace. Unlike before, Jate came in with her. This was something I'd never heard of them doing—ever. Not even for those turning sixteen.
"Claire," Jate said, kneeling. "Would you like to tell us what you were doing last night by the stairs?"
I tensed inwardly but was glad it didn't show in my body nor my voice. There would've been no hope if anthing would've shown outwardly.
"Stairs?" I said innocently, giving them a confused look. "No. I wasn't by the stairs last night. As a matter of fact, I fell to sleep faster than normal last night. Where I was sick earlier in the day I didn't feel well. I was up in my room.
"Actually, Byren was the one who had to come in and wake me up this morning."
Not a complete lie. Byren had come in and woken me up. But the little lie about going to bed early wasn't exactly true. Early in the morning, yes. But not early as in night.
Feiral and Jate shared a look of knowing before Feiral smirked at me. Neither believed me but they went along with it.
"So, there would be no problem about asking Byren if you were in bed this morning?" Feiral asked, her voice hiding a hint of seduction. "Or Zaien?"
I feigned a confused look.
"Of course, why not?" I said placidly. "I mean, I didn't do anything wrong so there's nothing to be worried about."
Feiral's cool composure cracked. A mix of shock and anger played on her face. Only Jate was the one who was able to hold his perfect, icy shield in place. It was as if my words simply bounced off the sheild he'd created.
"Alright," Jate said calmly. "Feiral—go get Zaien. I'll call Byren in. We can sort this out. Though, there's no reason to think she's done anything. 'Innocent until proven guilty' and all that."
Feiral was out of the room before I could turn my head to face her. Jate left the room almost as immediately and returned quickly with Byren.
Byren stumbled into the room nervously, obviously thrown off guard. It couldn't have looked more awkward if he'd tried.
His gaze darted anxiously to me but he didn't say anything as the three of us waited for Feiral to come back with Zaien. I could only hope that Zaien had been listening in on my conversation.
"I've brought him," she growled, glaring at him as the two of them walked in. "Let's get on with this. I hate wasting time like this."
I was immediately entrapped by Zaien as he entered through the room. He bled an air of authority and assurance. I knew before he even looked at me that he knew what was going on.
"Neither of you know why we've brought you here," Jate said coolly. "But we have a handful of questions to ask each of you. Byren."
Byren stood up straight, barely moving, as he attempted to hold eye contact with Jate. He could barely hold it for three seconds before his eyes darted somewhere else and then back.
"Byren Maerk," he said calmly. "Is it true that you woke up Claire Venue this morning before coming here?"
"Yes," he said hesitantly. "Why is that important?"
"Answer the question."
"Yes, I did," he repeated. "She was actually more so asleep than normal. I figured it was from her earlier sickness."
I couldn't have been happier to have been sick. It turned out that my being sick earleir that day covered a lot.
"Zaien," Jate said, turning to him. He didn't even wince from the ice in both Jate's eyes and voice. "You are a Guard—one of those trusted by us to watch over the Clinic. You do know that insubordination immediately leads to discharge and punishment—correct?"
"Correct," he said calmly, his voice completely natural.
"Did you see Claire Venue walking the halls last night, after lights out?"
I felt the breath lodge in my throat as Zaien made a show of mulling over the idea.
"No," he said finally. "I didn't see anyone in the halls. But, then again, I only patrolled once. It, alone, was for two hours. If she would've been out, I most likely wouldn’t have seen her."
The breath came out, thankfully, in a steady stream of air and Feiral and Jate shared a look before turning back to us.
"You two may leave," Jate said calmly. "Claire, finish with your testing and then get out."
I nodded and both Zaien and Byren left out the Patient's door before Jate left out of the Doctor's door.
About ten minutes later I was stumbling out of the Patient's door, feeling extremely light.
"Hey, Byren," I said, giggling. "What's up?!"
I giggled again and he caught me as I nearly hit the ground. My mind felt like mush but, at the same time, the drugs had forced away all my negative emotions.
"They've been giving you more, recently," he said, sighing. "You need to lie down and wait for them to run through your system."
"Ahh, nope!" I shook my head back and forth quickly and laughed again. "I'm perfectly fine!!"
He sighed and carried me back to my room as I laughed hysterically for no apparent reason. I wasn't even sure why I was laughing. I felt light and almost…buoyant.
"Here we are," Byren said, shutting the door behind us as he carried me to my bed. "Now take a breath and let it out."
I took a breath but it came out in ruffles of laughter, instead of silent air. It only made me laugh harder.
"Mmm, Byren," I said, giggling as I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Kiss me. I like it when you kiss me."
I giggled and threw my head back. He only sighed.
"Claire—"
"Please, Byren?" I asked, using puppy dog eyes I'd learned as a child. "Please, please, please, please, please?!"
I didn't get to say anything else as his lips met mine, giving yet taking at the same time. I parted my lips willingly and was rewarded by the gently glide of his tongue into my mouth.
He wrapped his arms around me waist and pulled me to him, deepening the kiss while pulling our bodies flush against one another. I twisted my fingers into his hair and pulled him even closer as I kissed him thoroughly.
I kept waiting for...something. Something I wasn't really sure what it exactly was. All I knew was that I was wanting—craving¬—something more. Something that was...deeper.
"By-Byren," I moaned as he broke the kiss to trail his mouth down my jaw and to my neck and then lower. "Mmm...Byren...what're you...?"
I gasped when his hand that had been traveling along my side slipped over my ribcage and cupped my breast, massaging it softly. The feeling was so exquisite and mindblowing that every coherent thought in my mind disappeared.
"Hey Claire, are you in there?" Zaien's voice called from the opposite side of my door, accompanied with a knock.
Byren pulled back and my gaze traveled to the door. His eyes were begging me to remain silent but I frowned.
"What if it's important?" I whispered, already knowing that my face was flushed. "It might be ever so important."
I giggled quietly and he sighed before going and answering the door. I rolled onto my side and stared at the door as Zaien walked in.
"What is all the noise for?" he growled. "It's nonstop laughing. Did someone get into the drugs?!"
I could tell that, underneath the harsh tone, he was joking but I went along with it anyway.
"You're so mean!!" I whined. "I was jus' getting my stuff like always and they jus' kinda affected me like this!!"
I rolled around, giggling, and listened in on Byren and Zaien's conversation. Honestly, I wasn't as drugged up anymore but it was better if they believed I was.
"We were kind of in the middle of something," Byren growled. "If you'll be so kind as to leave and let us get back to it..."
There was an abnormal note of warning in Byren's voice but I kept laughing. The feeling of unsurity still settled into my stomach without my wish.
"I think you'd better leave," Zaien threatened. "And try again when she's not drugged up. If you don't then I'll go straight down to Jate and Feiral and tell them what you're doing. I'm willing to bet that they won't be too happy."
Byren fisted his hands but left in defeat. I could practically see the steam coming off of him.
I cut down to a few giggles every couple of seconds as Zaien walked over to me and looked me over.
"Stop it," he said calmly. "I know you're faking most of it."
I calmed down and sat up, frowning, as he sat down on the bed beside of me gently.
"Most of it was fake," I said, smiling. "But the stuff I was doing with Byren wasn't. I know you were listening in. That's why you came."
He said something but I couldn't really make out all it was. All I was able to focus on was the curve of his pale jaw and his mouth. His pale lips moving to form words caught my attention almost immediately.
I leaned forward, completely focused on his lips. I didn't stop until I was half on top of him—one leg on either side of his body—and because he'd seized my shoulders to keep me from coming further.
"Claire," he said, a note of warning in his voice. "Don't. You'll regret it later. Don't do this."
I could tell from both his voice and his eyes that he wanted it—wanted me—but was fighting it. That much was obvious. But it didn't stop me.
"Zaien," I whispered, sitting my hands on his thighs.
He paused, loosening his hold on me for a split second and I leaned forward and captured his lips with my own.
Zaien froze and moved to push me away. I wrapped my arms around his neck to keep him from completely pushing me away.
"Claire, no!" he growled, pushing me away. "Stop—this isn't you. You're not thinking clearly."
"I want this!" I whined, gripping his shoulders firmly. "I do!! Why is that so hard to believe?!"
He hesitated and I kissed him again. Once again, he pushed me away, causing me to whine again.
"Stop this," he said calmly, trying to reason with me as if I was a child. "You're not thinking clearly. You need rest. Are you forgetting about Byren?"
"You owe me," I relaized. "You owe me a deal!! I want to cash in now—kiss me. Don't push me away!"
He hesitated and I stayed put. I wanted him to kiss me. So what if I wasn't thinking rationally. I'd have time for rational thought later.
I could tell the instant his careful control snapped. It was in his eyes. It was almost as if a visible cord had snapped in half.
He slid his arms around my sides, pulling me both to him and to my feet as his lips met mine. I didn't have time to take a breath or let out a cry of shock as his lips covered my own and I was slammed against a wall.
A thrill of excitement filled me as I slid my arms around his neck, twisting my fingers in his hair as I'd done with Byren, as I kissed him.
Zaien's kiss was unlike anything I'd ever felt and so different from Byren's soft, gentle kiss. His kiss made my bones melt and made my heart race. It made me want so much more than just a kiss.
Unlike Byren's kiss, who'd made me want to leisurely kiss him all day, Zaien's kiss made every inch of my body come alive while making me want something I knew I could never have.
It was passion. It was war. It was lust. It was everything I should never crave but did without remorse.
Zaien's tongue slid into my mouth, searching every inch, as his hands roamed over every inch of my body. I could tell he was trying to hold back and stay in control but that was the last thing I wanted.
"Claire," he gasped, pushing away from me. "Stop. We have to stop. This isn't right. I'm twenty-one and you're not even sixteen."
I reached for him again and he held me back, holding my arms down firmly at my side.
"We have to stop," he repeated. "Go to Byren. Tell him you're not feeling well. Invite him back to your room and continue where you left off, if that is what you truly want.
"But don't come after me like this again. Ever again. I mean it, Claire. This has to be it."
I felt my throat tighten as my eyes burned with tears.
"Zaien—"
"No, Claire," he said firmly, stepping away from me. "This is it. I'll help you get out of here and stay alive. That is all I can offer you. I'll get Byren and everyone else out, if it's what you want but I can't give you that."
He closed his eyes, turned sharply on his heel, and walked out without a second glance back.
I crumbled to the floor and let the tears fall.
I didn't know what had happened to me in the handful of days that I'd recently lived. How had everything gone from being perfect to being this? This...chaos? Why? Because I was turning sixteen? Because of Zaien?
Why did I feel things for Zaien? Why did I crave him, unlike Byren who I should crave? Why did I yearn for Zaien's kiss more than I did Byren's? Why did it seem like Zaien's kiss held so much...more than Byren's could ever hope to hold?
Why did what Zaien had said hurt so much?
I wiped the tears from my eyes and took a minute to make sure that I was fully composed before I went and searched out Byren. It didn't take long to find him. He'd just finished up his cleaning duties.
"Hey," I said hesitantly. "About earlier...I'm sorry."
Byren looked up from the stairs he was cleaning and smiled widely at me. It was cheesy and goofy and, normally, I would've loved it but it didn't help at all now. If anything, it only made me feel gultier.
"You're fine," he said, standing. "I jus' got jealous and stuff. I'm fine with you talkin' to him if you want."
I smiled sadly.
"I won't really be talking to him that much," I explained softly. "It was more of a short term thing."
Byren nodded, giving me a strange look and I perfected my smile so that it was normal.
"What is it?"
He blinked and shook his head before taking my hand.
"Dinner's gonna be in a few minutes," he said with the same goofy smile. "Wanna go ahead on in?"
I smiled and nodded and let him lead me into the dining room. Pretty much everyone was seated already—even Giles, who was normally very late.
We took our seats and Fate began teasing us. We both simply laughed—it was all we could do, really.
I sat mostly in silence as everyone traded laughs. I began to understand Aime's point of view a little more as I listened.
I wondered if she had as many things happening to her as I did.
"Why're you so doom and gloom?" Fate growled, sizing me up. "Did little Claire get up on the wrong side of the drugs this morning?"
I laughed.
"Sort of," I admitted. "Let's say they were really pushy and leave it as that."
Fate rose an eyebrow and opened her mouth to speak. Nothing came out as dinner came.
We ate and laughed and did everything as if it was normal. As if I wasn't going to disappear in less than two weeks.
By the time we were done it was practically time for lights out. Byren made his normal tour of taking me to my room, kissing me goodnight, and leaving.
And I was left sitting alone on my bed.
"Zaien," I said softly. "I know you can hear me. I know that you haven't taken out the mic. But, I wanted to apologize. I don't really know why I acted how I did earlier. I guess that's it.
"Goodnight."'
The other side of the line was quiet and I smiled sadly as I slid underneath the covers.
Tomorrow would tick off another day and, once again, I would be going through my daily routine—this time, without Zaien.
"Light's out," Jate yelled. "Now!"
I relaxed in my bed and closed my eyes. About an hour later, I was still awake. I'd started to fall asleep when Feiral and Jate checked to make sure I was still in bed. About twenty minutes later the sounds of doors opening and closing silenced.
The storm outside was raging like crazy and I couldn't help but smile as I remembered.
It had been snowing when I'd met Zaien.
Before I realized what I was doing, I was climbing out of my window and dropping to the cold, freezing ground.
Guards were everywhere but I ignored them as I ran. If they saw me, good. They would finally end this torture. All I wanted was for things to be normal again. To have what I once had.
All I remembered before stopping was running to the point that every inch of my body ached with a fierce burning from the exertion. When I stopped, I was in the tree. I couldn't remember if I'd gone to the river or back-tracked. I was in the tree.
And, this time, I was alone.
I took the tiny mic out of my ear and looked it over. It seemed like forever ago that Zaien had given it to me.
I stood and fisted my hand, holding my balance by placing one hand on the tree. My arm pulled back and that was when I heard it.
"Don't move," Zaien said calmly from behind me. "Don't even try to run away. Just put your arm down slowly."
I turned and saw him a few inches behind me. I could've cried right then and there.
"What are you doing here?" I choked out, realizing I was crying. "Go away. You said it yourself—we need to stay away from each other."
"Claire," he said gently. "Put your arm down."
"You don't even care about me!" I half yelled. "You only want to find out about your sister!! It's never been about keeping me alive or anyone else!! I hate you!!"
He grabbed my wrist and jerked me around, his mouth slamming into my own.
"It has been about you," he growled. "At first, I came here searching for my sister. And then I met you and that changed! I wanted to protect you! I wanted to take care of you!!
"Dammit, Claire, I love you!!"
I froze, feeling everything around me stop. All the wind. All the snow. Even the sound of my own heart beating out of my chest.
"I'm trying to keep you safe," he cried out, pleading. "You can't be near me! I'm dangerous! All of the Guards and Doctors are! You need to stay away from us! Live in your happy little life while you can!
"You don't know what you're losing by getting close to me!"
I stared at him in utter disbelief as sound finally reached my ears. Those three words had stunned me practically speechless.
"You...love me?" I breathed.
"Yes," he said, taking deep breaths. "But I can't. I'm not supposed to. You weren't even supposed to know I existed."
"What do you..."
I broke off as my vision blurred. I could barely focus enough to stay standing. Zaien latched onto me before I fell.
"We need to get you inside before you catch another fever," he said calmly, his emotions finally tying down. "I'll take you back."
I closed my eyes and was lost to the world.