The blade stopped mid-swing.
The dim yellow light caught a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
"I'll take care of you for the rest of your life, Thomas."
"Wait!"
I screamed. "If you cut off my hand, your career is over too!"
She shook her head slowly.
"Thomas, Dean Edwards is my mentor. She won't let things spiral that far.
"Don't worry. I have the connections to stay in medicine. I'll protect you for the rest of your life."
"She's already given up on you!"
Her body went rigid.
Then a soft laugh:
"No, she hasn't."
Bang! "AHHH!!"
A scream tore from my throat, raw and inhuman.
Sweat beaded across my forehead, mingling with tears as they slid down my face.
For a single promise of "save him," Nellie Sullivan was willing to go this far.
I couldn't feel my right hand anymore.
I didn't dare turn my head to look.
I didn't dare imagine what my right hand looked like now.
"Thomas, it's okay, it's okay, don't be scared..."
A towel wrapped around my right hand.
Nellie pressed her lips to my right wrist.
"Don't worry. I'll stay by your side for the rest of my life."
I heard my own voice, trembling:
"Get... away from me."
"Thomas..."
"GET AWAY FROM ME!"
Through my ragged, heaving breaths, Nellie let go.