The Face Doctor

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It was a night party at Dr. Ray's house, a gathering of elite personnel, doctors, investors, and politicians to celebrate Dr. Ray's birthday and accompany them in his medical career as a surgeon. It was a big one, even though I was his rival I was invited to feast with men of high caliber. Although, Dr. Ray never liked his hatred towards me was abnormal maybe because of my early accomplishments at an early age.

"Dr. Elliott,"

The voice was deep, old, and raspy, almost inaudible if not for the fact that I was listening for it. I turned, as did the other gentlemen standing in a semicircle around me listening to my new medical-surgical conquests. I smiled at the man standing across the large floor vase towards me. He held a Cuba cigarette in one hand, and the slender arm of a beautiful brunette in the other, both smiling. But only one was genuine. The old man didn't seem pleased to see me at his part. So I walked up to him.

"Dr. Ray," I greeted, giving a slight humble bow, then briefly acknowledging the beautiful young woman with a gentle smile. "It's been too long."

"Indeed, it has been long," Ray replied.
He kept his gaze fixed hard on me, an alarmingly curious look. "But, still, I'm quite surprised that you were able to make it to my party, after the house arrest you had in Costa Rica. What with your busy schedule and all?"

I raised my glass and thought of what excuse to say, then I decided to give a silent toast and winked at him, "I couldn't imagine missing this in the world, Dr. Ray," I said. "A man of your stature deserves to be celebrated for all his achievements. Tell me why should I miss such a gracious occasion?"

"That's quite a lot, I could imagine," Ray Chuckled, although his eyes reflected a pretty dark sentiment. Then, I turned my attention to the beautiful blonde young woman, took her hand, and kissed it.

"Hmm, I assume that she's your daughter?"

"Your flattery and sense of humor are almost suffocating. Dr. Elliott," Ray laughed, gazing hard at the orders in a silent order, still, they laughed along with him.

"Am Celina," the young woman introduced herself, "His Granddaughter."

I feigned surprise. "Dr. Ray, you will forgive," I said, "but it was quite surprising that even as a grandfather, you still make the rest of us seem so small. I respect you Sir and feel so humble in your presence."

"Enough of that, Elliott." Ray smiled, attempting to hide the annoyance in his voice, then he eyed the rest of the group to move with him, faking an attitude of control, I could see through that he wasn't comfortable with me being here. We were rivals, even as I sipped from my glass, I kept my eyes locked on his. Then he left, alongside his men. "I leave you in the capable hands of Dr. Elliott." He stared at me. "Try not to bore them with your young mind that has so much to learn." I smiled at him, as I gave Celina a quick wink, one that Dr. Ray would notice. She smiled at me and was hastily pulled away.

Still, she glanced back at me over her shoulder, a quick gesture that mistook for a flick of the hair, so she left a note on the floor. A message, I slowly walked towards the direction of then note my glass of champagne in my hand, as I picked the note. It says, "meet me at the lounge room." I chuckled at the note. I smiled at the note.

The chill night air had found its way into my coat and despite the warmth, my cloth had promised to provide, I found myself shivering against the cool wind. I waited for her outside the house for us to have a good conversation before going to her special place. We took a walk around the streets of Greenfinch, then walked back to Dr. Ray's house. Dr. Ray's residence was quite magnificent, the beautiful elected sculpture and its splendor made even more impressive by the wide grounds around it. It almost felt I was in a wonderland, then Celina escorted me into the house and gave me a quick tour around the house before leading me to the library.

The room was big, filled with lots of bookshelves stacked with books from wall to wall, and on one side, a painting of Monalisa works of Leonardo Davinci and a large fireplace. It's its place like a king on his throne. Indeed, Mr. Ray had a great taste of luxury life. "This is quite impressive," I commented as I tried to make out the titles of some of the big books nearest to me.

"My grandfather loves his collection and his wild taste of mysterious antiques," Celina said as she rang a bell on the side table. A butler came in. He was a gigantic looming figure, his face was half-hidden in the dark, but I could still see part of his face. The misshapen structure of his jaw, and the grotesque way one eye seemed to hang lower than the other as if sagging under some uncertain weight. He gave a stare at me for a second longer than we thought was polite, I felt my body shuddering under his gaze.

"Oh, Alfred, please get us two cups of tea, if you please," Celina said. The huge man only grunted, looked at me once more, and slowly trudged out of the library, as I watched him leave.

"Don't be scared, he's quite harmless." Celina chuckled as she assured me of safety.

"So Dr. Elliott what brings you back to London?" She laughed, then we talked about my presence here. Suddenly, the sound of cups clattering against saucers interrupted the close intimacy and silence we had fallen into, and I did my best not to turn and watch Alfred enter the room. He walked silently like a mouse for a man of his size, and I tried my best to keep my eyes down, but still, I could feel him watching me, his gaze like a boulder on my chest as he handled my cup for which I thanked him. After he left, Celina noticed that Alfred's figure was disturbing me, which I assured her, I wasn't, so we drank a lot of tea, and I moved closer to her, trying to kiss her. But I fell and passed out.

I woke up with a start and a headache. I was in the dark, darkness engulfed me, surrounded me from all courses, blinding my vision, I felt so cold. It was then I realized that whoever had brought me here, had stripped me of my clothes. I was naked completely. I pushed myself to my knees and turned my head left and right to adjust my sight, as I located the door by touching the wall. Immediately, I started running towards the exit door in the hallway, thinking how I got there. "Yes, I was the tea. They drugged me." Suddenly, I heard footsteps echoing in the hallway, my feet slapping silently against the cold stone as I moved, running like a possessed man. As I jumped onto my feet and race forward, determined to make my escape when a large hand wrapped around my neck and pulled me back.

I opened my eyes and found myself tied up in pain on a wide table, I turned my head towards the voice. It was Celina sitting next to Dr. Ray. As Alfred materialized from the shadows, his looming figure towering over me like the angel of death, his nose was crooked, as if he had broken it multiple times. The skin on his chest looks like ripples in water. He smiled at me with his heavy hands on my chest. While Dr. Ray kissed Celina passionately.

"She's not your granddaughter?" I asked in shock.

"No, my wife." He replied.

"Please, let me go and I swear on my mother's grave never to come back or to stand against your work." I pleaded

"No, dear you remind me of my younger self. Alfred shall we begin." He took a 12inches knife.

"No no…." I screamed as I jumped out of my chair on the airplane, sweating profusely.

"Oh my God! It was a dream."

_{The End.}