JP - It will Take a Long Time

Thrane grabbed Min’s chin and hummed softly as he looked her over. “Well, you won’t need to worry about him anymore. He’s going to have a much more fun toy. Besides, you are Elizabeth’s friend and she’s begged to keep you…safe from him.” He patted the woman’s head gently, like she was a puppy.

Min cringed and her eyes flicked to Elizabeth and back to Thrane. She hated being touched by him. She felt bad for whoever the monsters’ ‘new toy’ was going to be but was just so scared now.

Elizabeth was visibly shaking and forced a smile at Thrane as he left. “I…I…I’m sorry…” She stuttered.

Min was shaking more than a little herself. “That’s your father? Are you sure he won’t make me…” She shuddered.

"He won't." Elizabeth assured her when a few doctors walked in with a wounded guard. He was screaming about Nero, one of his legs gone. The moment she heard the name, she got up and quickly pulled the curtain around Min's bed so they wouldn't bother her.

Min was bothered. This place was terrifying. Min's anxiety had her heart rate up, her twitching and shaking, which led to some of her wounds reopening and oozing blood.

Elizabeth dug into the medical supplies and gave Min another dose of pain killers. “Can you focus, Min? Look at me, okay? You’re not gonna get hurt. No one is gonna touch you. I’m here for you.”

Min shifted uncomfortably. "I'm bleeding again."

“I know…” Elizabeth was already taking care of that after she got done with the pain killer. She was very careful and gentle with Min, doing all she could not to harm her.

Min fidgeted with the edge of a sheet. "They really recovered from this?" She asked.

“It took a long time,” Elizabeth admitted.

“How long?” Min asked. She could not imagine ever being better after this.

“Depends on the person, really.” Elizabeth told her. “Some are covered in scars, others are more mentally scarred, and then there are women like that Tzeitel girl I’ve heard so much about. She got it pretty bad for three days but has toughed it out over the years. She’s kinda my hero.”

“Oh.” Not being part of the meta community she had no idea who Tzeitel was. She looked at a bandage on her arm that covered just one of the GCS brands the monster had left on her. “How about just… physically?”

“Well, you don’t have any infections or anything, so you’ll heal with time. It depends on how well your body is at healing,” Elizabethe explained.

“Oh.” Min shifted uncomfortably, waiting for the painkillers to kick in.

“I think you’ll heal up in a week or so. I just want you to be able to walk when we get you out of here.” Elizabeth told her.

Min hoped Elizabeth was right. When the pain meds wore off the pain was unbearable.

Min sat up suddenly when she heard a woman screaming. She knew what was happening to her because she had screamed just like that when that monster… She started to shake.

Elizabeth jerked around with a growl and was suddenly in her freaky scorpion monster form. If anyone dared come near, she’d kill them.

Min might have been more afraid of Elizabeth if she was not more afraid of what was making that woman scream. The screaming eventually stopped. Min sobbed and felt like throwing up.

Elizabeth turned to Min and offered her a bucket. “Deep breaths, Min…you’re not gonna get hurt. I promise.”

Min threw up. When she finished she managed to gasp out “But he’s hurting someone.”

“I know, but someone is gonna stop him. I know they will.” Elizabeth reassured her.

“It’s too late.” Min whispered.