Lena said nothing. Her body remained rigid, coiled to bolt.
“I’m going to give you two options,” Dr. Hampton continued. “You’ll choose by using action, not words. Are you ready for me to explain them?”
No response. Just wary eyes fixed on her.
“That’s fine,” the doctor said. “I’ll begin.”
She spoke slowly and clearly.
“Option one: you walk with me to the conference room down the hall. We’ll sit and meet there. If you choose this option, you can begin walking with me when I finish presenting the choices.”
Dr. Hampton paused, watching Lena closely.
“Option two: we stay here and meet in this room. Your handlers and I won't permit you to go under the bed again, butyou may sit on top of it or on the floor. If you choose this option, move into position now.”
She fell silent, waiting for the omega to decide.
Dr. Hampton didn’t rush her. She simply observed, occasionally jotting notes into her notebook.
Then the runt did something unexpected. She took a step toward the door. One wary step, then another.
“Thank you for making that decision, Lena,” Dr. Hampton said. “Follow me. Gentlemen, please give her a wide berth.”
She turned and headed down the hall toward the conference room. Lena trailed behind her, eyes wide, head on a swivel, cataloging every detail as we walked.
When we reached the conference room, the doctor pulled out a chair and gestured to it. “Lena, please sit.”
Lena didn’t move until Dr. Hampton took a few steps back. Then, hesitantly, she did as the doctor asked.
“Well, shit, doc,” Silas said, dropping into the chair across from her. “I’ll be damned.”
I took a seat beside the doctor, positioning myself between her and Lena, watching closely. Luckily for the good doctor, there were no screwdrivers within reach. After what happened to Jacob, I couldn’t risk the omega being triggered and attacking Dr. Hampton. I had no idea what might set her off, and I wasn’t sure Lena even knew herself.
After she killed Jacob, she just sat, staring at her hands like they didn’t belong to her, turning them over slowly, searching for an answer that wasn’t there. Based on her reaction, she hadn’t seemed remorseful. I wouldn’t have expected guilt anyway. Jacob had played his part in the horrible things done to her. No, she seemed more shocked and confused, as if the omega was trying to understandwhyit had happened, ratherthan feel anything about it.
“Lena,” Dr. Hampton said, in an even voice. “I’m going to ask you a few simple questions. You don’t need to answer them out loud. A nod up and down means 'yes.' A shake side to side means 'no.' If you choose not to answer, you may remain silent. There is no punishment for choosing not to answer.”
Lena didn’t move.
“I’m going to begin.”
Dr. Hampton folded her hands on the table. “Are you comfortable?”
Nothing.
“Are you in pain?”
No response.
“Do you have any injuries that need to be attended to?”
Lena’s gaze stayed unfocused, fixed somewhere past the edge of the table.
“Are you hungry?”
Silence.
“Tired?”
