“Why would I try to leave, doctor? Where would I go?”

They had learned of the impact that electricity, of being shocked, had on him. They were amazed at how quickly and how powerfully the slightest jolt would drop him to his knees.

“I need you to attach this to your ankle. Make it tight.”

“What is it?” he asked.

“It’s a training device for dogs. I’m sorry, but if you want more to earn more privileges, you have to agree to my terms.”

“Which ankle?”

Straus waited a few hours until Jacob Curtis joined him at the lodge. He wanted to be sure he had a backup in case his patient was able to subdue him.

“Jacob, I need you to make sure that no one is around. I want to take Alex outside, but I don’t want anyone seeing him. All I need is for some local to start talking about the ‘gray guy walking around Straus’s lodge.’”

Jacob Curtis was gone for no more than a minute before returning.

“Can’t see anyone. Rain is keeping people inside, I suppose.”

Once Straus confirmed that Alex had tightly placed the shock collar on his ankle, he reminded Alex of his expectations.

“Now Alex, this is a privilege. I hope you understand the risks I am taking.”

“I do, Doctor Straus.”

“It’s raining out which will make the shock from that collar a bit more severe, so I really hope you don’t do anything to warrant its use. Just stay with Doctor Curtis and me, don’t speak to anyone who may show up, and, for God’s sake, don’t try to run or swim away.”

“I can’t swim, Doctor Straus, and I have nowhere to run to and nothing to run from,” he answered.

The gray sky matched his complexion. The light rain that was falling felt wonderful against his sensitive skin. Together with the two doctors, he walked down the narrow path that led to Piseco Lake’s shore. Once at the water, he bent over and splashed water onto his face and arms. He loved how the cool water sent shivers racing throughout his body and wondered how it would feel if his whole body was submerged. He knew that he could easily jump into the water and remain submerged for hours, but he also knew how quickly Doctor Straus would press the button and send a shock throughout his body.

“Alex?” Jacob  Curtis called from a few yards away. “I don’t like how quiet you are.”

“I am just enjoying this immensely, Doctor. Nothing to be concerned about.”

He had felt shocks before. Doctor Lucietta was the first to use them as treatment many years ago and was also the one who first discovered how they debilitated him. Shocks were not only painful for him, but they disrupted his thoughts and ability to function for days.

They allowed him to stay at the water’s edge for nearly twenty minutes before suggesting they “head back and get in out of the rain.”

“Very well, Doctors. And thank you for this privilege,” he complied.

Neither he or the doctors saw the young man approaching them, but there he was, smack dab in the middle of the road separating the lodge from the lake. He seemed like the nervous type, the type that Straus would enjoy having as a patient. And had Straus been alone during this encounter, he might have offered his business card and a suggestion that the stranger contact him for an appointment.

But now was not the time to advance a career. Straus and Curtis stood as if they were catatonic as the young man stood staring at the gray man walking up from the path. As the stranger moved closer, Straus thought that he looked familiar but couldn’t place the face.

“Good day,” the young man offered, his eyes now less intense. “Not the best day for a hike, is it?”

“Just a short walk to the lake. No hiking today.” Curtis said.

“Well, stay dry,” the young man said.

“You too,” Curtis said. “We should be getting inside now. Take care.”

The young man stared at Alexander, and the doctors noticed that he was staring back at the young man. There was no look of terror on the young man’s face, only intrigue.

“You must excuse us,” Straus said. “Our patient hasn’t been feeling well. We need to get him back into his bed. Good day.”

“Hope you feel better,” the young man said as he continued his trek down the road.

When he was far enough away, Straus whispered with an intensity unfitting for a whisper, “Inside. Now!”

But his patient just stood, not moving. He was looking at the stranger getting smaller with distance.

“Alex, inside now, or by God, I’ll press this button.”

“I doubt that, doctor Straus. Doing so would create a scene that may attract the attention of that strange young man as well as the attention of anyone who may be glancing out of their windows. I am not planning on doing anything foolish. I just realized that the man I just saw was the first person I’ve heard speak besides your team.”

“Well,” Straus said, collecting himself and shifting his gaze to see if any neighbors were looking out of their windows, “I appreciate your behavior, Alex. I truly do. And I also appreciate how you must be feeling. However, I know that you are fully aware of what people would think and do to you if they ever found out about you. With that in mind, Alex, why don’t we return to the safety of your rooms? I promise that the next time you earn the privilege of coming outside, we will do a much better job at making sure you will have your privacy. Sound fair enough?”

“Fair enough, Doctor,” he said as he shot a final glance towards the stranger who was now almost out of sight. “I must admit that that man’s reaction to me was not as drastic as I would have thought. Not like you suggested reactions would be.”

“You have no idea how he may be reacting. Imagine if he ran into you alone? Trust me, Alexander, that reaction is far from what you should expect. Now let’s get back inside where it’s safe.”

It was time for his plan to begin.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“This doesn’t make sense,” Derek said. “The timeframe. The note left for me at the car rental desk. It doesn’t make sense.”