Mind Games: The Obsession of Dr Lewis

Chapter 8

Nathan

She took the pill I had left beside the glass of water and sat on the bed, waiting for me to comb her hair. Her words sent a fury through me. The victims that I had encountered never triggered such protective emotions in me. The perpetrators were the ones that I toyed with before killing them. Daisy would learn about Tom and Violet’s mindset. With my sessions, she would understand how their roles were the cause of trauma but also how to come to terms with the hand she was dealt with. The rest she would pick up from the books. She had no choice if she wanted to alleviate the boredom of being locked up.

On the positive side, she was beginning to adjust. I never anticipated her delight in voluntarily thanking me while calling me Daddy. It gave me hope that things would progress faster than I’d planned. She put the glass on the side table and settled down on the bed, but she put her bear on her lap as she stroked him.

I unbraided her hair from last night and began to comb the soft, wavy auburn locks. As a teen, she often wrote about how she hated herself and everyone else. Her self-care was nonexistent.

“You have beautiful hair, Daisy. I’m glad you didn't cut it,” I said as I brushed it back before I put the brush down.

“Thank you, Daddy,” she whispered.

I braided her hair and tied it off with the matching pale blue ribbon. My speed was improving, but the result could have been more neat than it was. Because of her past, I knew she hated pink, so I avoided the colour in her room and clothes. Her diary was an open wound, full of shame, anger and pain.

“Why did you never tell any of your therapists about your mum and stepdad?” I asked as I stroked her braid.

With a sigh, she moved back on the bed until her back rested on the headboard. I watched as her hand pressed down on the plump bear’s belly. She closed her eyes before she spoke.

“He always said no one would believe me or people would think I was crazy. I wanted to forget everything, and I didn't want a stranger judging me.”

“How's that working out for you?” I said, unable to hide my disparaging tone of voice.

Her eyes snapped open, and her green-brown eyes were full of fire. I almost smiled because this was Daisy, the fighter. She had such unusual eyes they seemed to change each time I inspected them. Daisy was unaware of how attractive she was. This little gem had been hidden away, waiting to be discovered.

“You won't ever forget about it. It would be best if you confronted it, dissect it and be able to live with it. Daddy will help you every step of the way,” I said with my eyes dropping to her pink lips.

Five to six years without sex was a long time. It wouldn't be long until she gave in, but I might need to help her along. She tempted me in a manner that pushed all my buttons in the worst way possible. As fucked up as it was, she would be more susceptible towards me because of her past.

Her anger deflated, and she stretched her legs out from under her. I took my shoes off and sat beside her, my legs extended out next to hers.

“You can tell Daddy anything, and I would believe you, but I won't ever judge you,” I said before squeezing her hand.

She didn't pull away from me, and her fingers slowly curled around my hand.

“I did some terrible things after I ran away,” she whispered.

“Did you kill anyone?” I asked casually.

She gasped as she turned to face me, and I winked at her. “You're talking to a kidnapper.”

She smiled faintly and shook her head before she looked away from me.

“You're a bad Daddy,” she said.

I remained silent because she didn't know the depths of my depravity and how much I embraced that side of me.

“I’ve felt ruined since the first time Tom touched me, but when I ran away, I had to survive. I was fifteen, so I couldn't claim government benefits without being reported to Violet. I was too scared that I would be sent back. When I left, I hid in train toilets to get as far away as I could, but living on the streets or finding shelter being underage was hard,” she said before she paused to take a few deep breaths, and her hand began to feel clammy. I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles.

“I worked on the streets for money,” she said after a long pause. “I met a girl a few years older than me, and we did it together for a while.”

She let out a mirthless laugh. “I mean, why not? I was ruined anyway.”

“What happened with your boyfriend?” I asked, curious about what made her avoid men altogether. Her stance was more extreme than that of any other patient.

“I tried to date, but I’d only ever been connected to Tom. He used me for years until it became a sordid, twisted relationship.”

I clenched my teeth together, but I relaxed again because, eventually, the only sordid, twisted relationship she would have would be with me.

“When Tom dated my mum, he would stay over, but after a while, he began to touch me. He worked his way slowly until he worked his way under my underwear. When he moved in, he encouraged me to give him special kisses,” she said flatly.

“What age were you then?” I asked softly.

“Between six and seven. After a long time, blow jobs weren't enough, and my mum was pregnant. When I was eight, he told me it was time for me to become a woman,” she said, but she tried to pull her hand away.

I picked her hand up and held it between both of mine.

“He enjoyed hurting me. No, he loved hurting and humiliating me,” she spat out. “I hate him so much. At times, I wanted to hurt him, but I was small and weak.”

She began to cry softly, and I pulled her up onto my lap, but she began to struggle. I clamped my arm around her waist and legs to hold her against me.

“Let it all out, Daisy,” I said before I kissed the top of her head.

Her soft sobs continued, but she kept her head on my chest. I moved my hand from her waist to her arm to gently stroke her.

“I told my mum when I was twelve, but she slapped me and called me a liar. They had a few fights, but Tom continued coming to my room. I gave up after that. I even began to enjoy it. There was only emptiness inside of me. It was a cold and dark place that I was in, but he was the only one who showed me any affection in the house.”

“What about your brother?”

“My mum kept him away from me. I had my meals in my bedroom. I wasn't part of the family after I told her,” she said quietly as she wiped her face. “I was the household punchbag.”

Unfortunately, Daisy’s story wasn't unique. Some mothers prostituted their children or looked the other way like Daisy’s did. Her brother was nineteen years old now. Her mother was fifty-four, and Tom was fifty-eight.

“You were a child, Daisy. There was little you could do against a grown man. He groomed you for years,” I said as I continued to rub her arm.

“Logically, I know that, but my head gets so fucked up. The memories—”

She didn't finish her sentence, but I stayed silent to let her finish.

“Humans want to believe the best in people. As a child, this is even more so. When you feel up to it, start reading the books I got you,” I said when she said nothing. “The Psilocybin pills will help you.”

My eyes widened when she moved close to me before placing her arm around my waist.

She was hugging me.