. There was also satisfaction, but that was complemented by hat

ice, hastening the pace of his foot

any difficult patients in the course of her years, but there was something about this particular one that tickled her fancy. Ellie was different from the others. She was not damaged, a

e made a couple of phone calls and ordered her staff to make a more rigid arrangement to be followed

*

e was already picturing Ellie begging for mercy. In the driver's seat, Daniel

ingly, had challenged him to verbal conflict. No one had ever penetrated beneath his facade and with

in a voice that was both low and icy. "She wi

ge according to his needs. He hated her will and her independence, but he also craved it. He knew that if he shattered her

llie confined in that dreary room, her will utterly destroyed by the oppressive sh

something greater," he murm

e her arm. The room had grown chillier, and the stillness was more disturbing than before. She

in the waiting area. The self-satisfied tone in his voice, the way he had re

njoy victory," she mumbled to herself

he confines of this place, fully enclosed from the rest of the world, how does one int

She raised her head, the sound of the door slowly opening made her heartbeat very act

hem said without any

nting her eyes in suspicio

or you," the other nurse answered her question with

. The two nurses stood one on either side of her, exerting tight holds aro

, as they proceeded further into the building, the anxiety started

n his chair and staring outside the window. Before him was the image of the city's s

sting to the memory of some

derisive undertone in his voice. "

already won. To Daniel, this was much beyond a simple game: this was w

ment of a particular "patient", but this one was different. Daniel had some kind of dangerous qualities mixed with an obsession with Ellie, which was very captivating to her. She recognize

him saying. Mrs. Richter, self-sat

atly in, like a hunter's prize kill. Then she reach

er four hundred and twenty-seven on top of your priorities." She glanced at the