Contents
Book Three: Double Feature — 17.
Overview
Van and Donna are strapped into an exam room as Valentine prepares a sodium thiopental interrogation. The facility shows strain—staff have fled, power flickers, and Van’s arrhythmia delays the injection. A blackout hits mid-session, and King Sorrow possesses Donna to taunt the team, publicly calling Valentine "Norman Barclay."
The failed interrogation and Sorrow’s intrusion reveal collapsing control inside the compound and expose fissures among their captors.
Summary
Five days after the livestreamed torture attempt, guards Salem and Little Rock collect Van from his room and march him through a depleted, low-morale facility. They pass Donna restrained in an exam room, where Joe Valentine prepares an IV. Mr. Francis oversees from a desk; Dr. Patrick hovers, jittery and disheveled.
Van is strapped beside Donna under hanging microphones. Valentine intends to use sodium thiopental, but Nurse Lansing detects Van’s arrhythmia, forcing a pause while Van drinks orange juice. The scene highlights staff attrition—Nurse Dover has fled, maintenance is gone—and mounting anxiety as lights flicker.
Valentine begins questioning Donna as the power falters. During the blackout, the generator dies and emergency lighting sputters on. In the darkness, Donna’s voice becomes King Sorrow’s, who mocks their authority, addresses Valentine as "Norman Barclay," and asserts himself as the ultimate judge.
The attempt to compel truth collapses without the injection. The possession underscores the captors’ eroding control and foreshadows Sorrow’s growing reach inside the compound.
Who Appears
- Van DonovanCaptive strapped for interrogation; arrhythmia delays injection; observes facility decay and challenges guards.
- Donna McBrideRestrained, prepped for truth serum; during blackout becomes the voice of King Sorrow.
- Joe ValentineDisheveled interrogator prepping sodium thiopental; rattled as Sorrow names him "Norman Barclay."
- Mr. FrancisArmed overseer safeguarding a ‘military asset’; halts excesses and maintains brittle control.
- Dr. PatrickAnxious psychologist; erratic behavior betrays fear; tries to assist but is sidelined.
- Nurse LansingPractical nurse; detects Van’s arrhythmia; notes staff shortages after colleagues flee.
- SalemGuard escorting Van; flippant as he delivers him to the exam room.
- Little RockHeavyset guard; rough with Van during escort, quick to intimidate.
- King SorrowManifesting through Donna during blackout; taunts captors and reveals Valentine’s real name.