Do We Not Bleed?

Ten minutes later he was dried, dressed and ready to face the day. Strangely enough he didn't feel hungry and decided to skip breakfast. He walked to the window, if the weather was nice this morning he'd walk to the lab for a change. He pulled the curtain open and his jaw dropped in surprise. Instead of his usual view of the rear garden with its lawn and fruit trees, there before him was a plate of steel. He closed his mouth and opened the window. He could hardly believe his eyes. What on Earth?

He rapped the steel sheet with his knuckles and it clanged noisily.

He went to the next window and opened that. It was exactly the same. "What the bloody hell.." he said to himself and strode towards the front door. He twisted the doorknob and pulled. The door remained shut tight. He tried again. He pounded his fist against the stout wood; "If this is a joke then I think you've gone far enough now." he shouted and put his ear to the door hoping to catch a reply.

"This is ridiculous, open this bloody door." he shouted again.

There was no answering sound, just an unnerving quietness.

He walked towards the telephone and picked up the receiver, there was no tone. He tapped angrily at the machine and then slammed down the receiver.

Suddenly the room spun wildly and he staggered towards the sofa and half fell into it.

He put his hands to his head in an attempt to contain the pain and the vertigo. He succeeded but when he tried to rise it was then he realized that he couldn't move his legs.

"My God, it is a brain hemorrhage!" he said.

A noise from the doorway attracted his attention, he heard the sound of the lock tumblers as they opened, then slowly, the door swung ajar.

"Who's there?" he said, "What's going on"

Two men in coveralls, their faces hidden behind surgical masks strode purposefully towards him. They held out various electronic devices, which they seemed to be taking readings from then turned towards the door and called out.

"All clear Dr.Roberts."

Peter watched as they stood to one side and a third man entered the room. He too wore a surgical mask. He indicated to the first two to leave and they did so closing the door behind them. Then he crossed towards a chair, drew it closer to Peter who lay encumbered on the sofa and said. "Do you know who you are?"

Peter looked at him as if he was mad; "Of course I bloody well know who I am. What the hell is going on?" he said.

The pain in his head made him wince, "Listen, I think I might be having a stroke or something please call an ambulance."

"What is your name?" the masked stranger asked, ignoring Peter's plea for help.

"For God's sake man... all right, I'm Peter Roberts now call an ambulance.

The man took the mask from his face and Peter gasped in horror.

"As you can see, I'm Dr.Peter Roberts." he said.

"I...I..don't understand." Peter stuttered.

"Do you have a spot before your eyes Peter?" the stranger asked.

Peter nodded in dumbfounded reply.

"Try and focus on that spot, you'll find you can't. Now imagine the word, Capture, then look at the spot." instructed the stranger.