Death's Exception

Chapter Twenty-Eight

My heart drops, and I want to puke all at once. The one face I vowed never to look upon again is now in front of me, smiling his devilish grin, and his eyes are burning with amusement that I dread. Because only he ould be amused by my pain, and my fall. I beg for this to be a nightmare. I beg to wake up in Titus' arms, in the warm little cottage. I back up into the corner of the room.

"I see you missed me." Dr. Finley. He walks toward me. He looks much older than he did last time I saw him. The wrinkles in his forhead are deeper, and more defined. He looks weary, and his eyes look dim. He looks ancient. I see his mouth open a little every time he inhales.

"No. No I really didn't." He laughs harshly, and sits down on my bench. He leans his head against the wall, and closes his eyes.

"How have you been enjoying my world?" I let my head hang. This world may seem cruel, and as true as that is, I must rememeber that this world is a simulation that Dr. Finley created for me. He knows better than anyone how to pick up the pieces of my puzzle and how to fit them together in the most terrible way possible. Every single thing that I have suffered through was his cruel design.

"What made you such a demon?" Dr. Finley opens his eyes, and looks thoughtfully at me.

"What do you mean, my dear?" I shrug, and sit down beside him.

"Demons are nothing but fallen angels, are they not?" He nods, and smiles.

"What shows me that I am winning is your understanding of who I am." I lean my head against the wall. "Demon is a good description of me, yes." My heart twists. What terrifies me most is my toleration of him. I have learned to understand him, and therefore I tolerate him. Because I am becoming like him.

"Well, since you will not tell me a bit about your past, why are you here?" He grins.

"You have become much easier to talk to. Have you completely given up, my love?" I wince. I revisit what Dr. Thorn and Titus think of me, and try to find the Rory they see. It is this that gives me a little more edge in my words. Who is he to determine who I am?

"No. Why are you here?"

"I have come to put a little more fight in my monster," I look over at him, "They have all died, except two."

"What?"

"The patients that survived before you. I assume your boyfriend told you?" I wrap my arms around my stomach. I had almost forgotten about them completely. All of them dead, except two. Am I to die under the same conditions as they? Am I to let the last two die? Or am I to fight for them? I bring my hand to my face.

"He told me." Dr. Finley grabs my hand, and examines it.

"Most of my patients have adapted this nasty habit. Do not damage yourself, darling." I pull my hand away from him. It has scabbed over, and the skin around it is blue. Dr. Finley holds out his hand, and shows me that he has the same scars as me.

"I-it takes away the pain in my head." Dr. Finley nods. I hate that we understand each other. I hate that I am like him. I hate his hand. I hate his mannerisms. I hate his laugh. I hate his layed back attitude.

Because these are things that I have adopted for myself.

He puts his hand on my knee, "You should have listened to me. It would have hurt a lot less than this." A tear slips from my eye. I keep fighting my willingness to listen to him, but he keeps winning. I start to scratch my hand again.

"I want to take you back, Aurora."

"Rory-"

"No. It is Aurora." He stands, frustrated. I wonder what makes him so angry at my nickname. He has always hated it, and I don't know why.

"You cannot take me back. I have chosen my life." Dr. Finley shakes his head.

"And that was your downfall." I stand beside him, feeling the anger finally building up in my chest.

"YOU MADE ME INTO THIS! What makes you hate me so much?!" Dr. Finley laughs in my face, and I grit my teeth.

"I DID NOT MAKE YOU INTO THIS! I JUST PULLED SOME STRINGS AND HERE YOU ARE. MONSTER!" I scream out of frustration, because I know he is right. He is right, and I hate him for it. I pound my fist against the wall.

"I am more than this." I rest my head against the wall.

"Yes you are." I turn around to see Dr. Thorn standing beside Dr. Finley. I look at the ground bitterly.

"Hello, I don't think we have met." Dr. Finley holds his hand out to Dr. Thorn. Dr. Thorn nods, and grabs his hand.

"Dr. Thorn. I am Aurora's care taker." Dr. Finley laughs.

"Oh, and I am Aurora's demon. What a lovely turn of events." He says. My eyes flash between the two, both of them are very calm and respectful of each other.

"You will not take her back to your lab." Dr. Finley's eyes grow wide at the audacity of Dr. Thorn. I smile a little.

"I think I will." Dr. Finley walks toward me, and grabs my arm. I do not put up a fight, I just watch Dr. Thorn waiting for him to fight back.

"She is in my custody until tomorrow at 8 a.m." I raise an eyebrow, and I feel Dr. Finley do the same.

"Who gave you those rights?" Dr. Thorn straightens.

"The President." Dr. Finley's mouth drops open. I laugh loudly. This guy.

"How did you manage that?!" Dr. Finley shouts.

"None of your concern. Now, if you would kindly leave. She will be here for you to pick up tomorrow at 8." I look over at Dr. Finley who is still shocked at the authority of this old man. I smile at him, and bow my head.

"Before you run away, think about the Demon I am. And think about how I am dragging you down with me." I grit my teeth as he walks out of the room, fuming. Dr. Finley is a demon, yes, and Dr. Thorn is an angel.