Free Temperature Rising by Alysia S. Knight

you?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good, before we start, Mac asked if it was okay if we record the sessions.”
    Laken cleared her throat. “It’s fine.”
    “All right, why don’t you tell me about that night?”
    By now, Laken had gone over it so many times it no longer threatened to overwhelm her. Eventually they switched to just talking.
    ****
    Mac held both her hands in one of his and kept his other moving up and down Laken’s arm in what he hoped was a soothing fashion. He hated to see her forced to bring up the terrible images again. He was proud of the way she handled it, and realized how strong she was. Even facing certain disbelief, she had come forward to help. His heart swelled as he looked down at her fingers still interlocked with his.
    It took all his willpower not to drag her out of there, to a place where she never had to face the bad things in life again. He relaxed along with Laken when the story ended. He then watched as Dr. Shannon directed her in relaxing further, and just listening to the woman’s voice, Laken seemed to slip into sleep.
    “Is she all right?” Mac could no longer keep from asking when Dr. Shannon stepped forward to check her.
    “Oh, yes. Let’s get started. Laken can you hear me?”
    “Yes.” Her voice was soft, kind of dreamy.
    “Good, I would like you to go back to last Wednesday.”
    Laken shook her head. “I don’t feel good. I wish I had something to make me feel better. I want to go home but need to finish the last changes to my plans. Hoster’s demanding that I work the Christensen’s plans. I don’t know why. They aren’t due for two weeks, and they’re supposed to be Jeff’s assignment.”
    “Good, can you go later, after work?”
    “Almost done, just have to print the sheet with the new changes. So sick, just want to sleep, but I’m done. They are so perfect, so perfect. Feel awful. Maybe I should just get a little sleep before I try to go home. No, if I go to sleep I won’t make it home, or I won’t get medicine. I have to get some medicine, go home and sleep. Just want to sleep.”
    Mac felt Laken’s body tremble. He glanced at Dr. Shannon. The woman shook her head as if reading his thoughts. He slid his hand over Laken’s, interlocked their fingers.
    “It’s so cold. I’m so hot. I hate being sick. I can’t believe I forgot my umbrella. I don’t like to wait for the bus alone when it’s dark, but it should be here soon. I feel so awful, need some medicine.”
    She moved restlessly.
    “It’s okay, Laken. You’re not sick anymore. Do you understand?” the doctor said, her tones soothing.
    “Yes.”
    “Good, can you tell me about the woman at the pharmacy?”
    Mac leaned forward, listening to her repeat pretty much what she’d told him before, but this time going into the conversation she’d overheard.
    “That was very good. Laken, now I need you to tell me about the man in the raincoat.”
    Calmly again, she told everything that had happened in the pharmacy. Mac experienced a wave of rage when she repeated how the man had touched her then licked his finger. Dr. Shannon led her through the dream. They were just finishing when Laken jerked and shivered, the violence of it taking him by surprise.
    “It’s okay, Laken.” Dr. Shannon stood and moved to her.
    “No,” she cried out.
    “She’s getting hot.” Mac moved a hand to her forehead alarmed. “She’s burning up.”
    “Laken, it’s all right.”
    “No, he’s angry. It’s building. He’s going to hunt. He’s going to. He’ll teach them. They are nothing. Shouldn’t be let out of the house. They forget their place.”
    “Who, Laken?
    Laken shook her head back and forth as if trying to fight off the answer. “He’s going to hunt.” Her words came in raspy gasps.
    “Laken, can you tell me his name?”
    She shook her head.
    “Can you describe him?”
    Again, she began to shake her head. “He’s in a crowded room. There’s so much noise. It’s buzzing in his head. It’s