Gates of Paradise (Casteel 4)

always liked scarlet on you." He brought it to the bed.

I sat there with the covers pulled tightly to my neck.

"Come on, now. A fresh nightgown will make you

feel so much better."

I didn't think he would leave me alone until I

had put on the red gown, so I took it from him. He

stood back to watch me take off the one I was wearing

and slip this one over my body. I did it all as quickly

as I could.

"Now, doesn't that feel good?"

"Yes," I said, giving him what he wanted. I was

even more frightened because instead of feeling

awake and energetic as I had hoped I would feel after

eating the breakfast, I felt drowsy and tired again. His

voice sounded faraway.

"I want . . want . .

"You want to sleep. I know. I expected it. A

nice rest." He pulled the blanket up and around me,

tucking it in tightly like a straightjacket.

"No . 1.. ."

"Sleep, Annie. Sleep, and you will feel so much

better when I return. All those ridiculous nightmares

will be gone when you wake up again."

I tried to speak, but I couldn't form the words.

My lips felt sewn shut. In moments I was asleep

again, my last conscious thought being he had put a

sedative in the breakfast.

The next time I awoke, I was very disoriented. I

had no idea what time of day it was. Slowly, in what seemed more like hours than minutes, I managed to get the tightly tucked blanket off me and pulled myself up on the pillow. I lay back, breathing hard,

my heart racing.