Chapter 9
Dr. Sterling pulled a small silver penlight from his breast pocket, flicking it on with a sharp click. The bright beam cut through the dim bedroom lighting. "Look at the light, Toby. Keep your head still," the doctor instructed, his tone shifting into a clinical command.
Toby squeezed his eyes shut and turned his face into Sarah’s floral dress. "I won't. Leave me alone."
Dr. Sterling sighed softly, jotting something down in a small leather notebook he had retrieved from his briefcase. "Defiance. Avoidance of visual stimuli. Persistent refusal to submit to authority figures. The behavioral markers are consistent with the historical pathology of the Lilywood line. The genetic predisposition toward non-conformity manifests early if not aggressively corrected."
Sarah’s hands were shaking as she stroked Toby’s messy light brown hair, trying to shield his ears from the toxic words. "He is an eight-year-old child! Stop talking about him like he’s a broken machine!"
"Every machine requires maintenance, Mrs. Miller," Dr. Sterling replied evenly, closing his notebook with a dry snap. "Left unchecked, the boy’s volatile temperament will destroy the family legacy. Mrs. Lilywood has authorized the full rehabilitation protocol. The boy will be transferred to the east wing facility tonight for a twenty-four-hour observation and conditioning period."
David managed to pull himself up from the dresser, rubbing his bruised wrist, his eyes burning with helpless rage. "You aren't taking my son anywhere. If you try, you'll have to deal with the police the moment we break out of here."
Dr. Sterling offered a faint, chilling smile. "The police jurisdiction ends at the property line, Mr. Miller. And as for breaking out... Mr. Vance ensures that security is absolute."
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Mr. Vance crossed his arms, stepping further into the room, effectively sealing the threshold. Dr. Sterling turned on his heel, walking toward the door without another word. "Prepare the boy for transport in ten minutes. Resistance will only make the transition more unpleasant."
The door clicked shut behind them, leaving David, Sarah, and Toby stranded in the dim, oppressive quiet of the guest suite, the walls of Lilywood Manor closing in around them like a tightening vice.
