I woke early the next morning, the sun wasn't even up yet. I felt cold and clammy but at least I was up. I sat up for a while and felt strange again. I thought I'd forgotten something really important once more but still couldn't place it. I paced around my room for a bit until Nurse Violet came. She took me to the washroom, then dropped me off at breakfast.
Dr. Cole was already in the cafeteria. He stopped by my table and was glad to see me up and about. He hovered for a bit asking how things were going with my proof. I told him it was hard to focus since this new medication. He simply told me to give it some time before walking off.
I suppose things would get better but I didn't know. I felt like I was in some sort of frozen state. I felt like everything around me was moving but I was standing still. I hoped things would get better in a few days but they didn't. I couldn't be sure how much time passed but I still felt off and found it hard to focus. I tried to tell Dr. Cole about things in our sessions but he only saw me once or twice a week and always seemed in a hurry. I felt like he barely had a second to spare.
I wanted to get out of here but my release began to feel non-existent at this point. The strangest thing was I didn't seem to even care anymore. Like usually the thought of being in here any longer then I had to be would upset me but I felt numb. I began to wonder if this medication effected more then just my sleep. I felt like I was in a haze just going through the motions of my life.
I wondered if I'd ever feel anything again and then one day while I was outside it rained. For a brief moment I felt something stir in me as the rain poured down on me. I began to dance and spin before I was pulled back inside by one of the orderlies.
After dinner, I took a nap and dreamt about playing in the rain with my friends. We splashed giant mud puddles and chased each other, even though we were adults. I remember we got super caked in mud, then took a group picture to remember the fun we had. I think we always tried to take at least one picture of us all together in lives where we remembered who we once were. We stored them somewhere in hopes of keeping track of the various lives we had lived.
When I woke up, I opened my dream journal to jot the dream down and noticed several pages had been torn out. I ran my fingers along the spine of my journal, wondering if I had done it or if someone else had? I wrote a note to myself about it and then hid it. I don't know why but I felt the urge to hide important notes, just in case someone was tampering with my stuff.
That night there was a thunderstorm, Nurse Violet was in a hurry, apparently a lot of patients were upset by the storm. She gave me my cup of medication and told me to hurry it up. I drank it and she rushed out of the room. The lightning lit up my room and for a moment I thought of Luka. Yes, his power was lightning...electricity. I got up and wrote it down however, I quickly began to feel sleepy and soon passed out at my desk.
When I woke up the next morning. I was laying in my bed on my back. I only realized I'd fallen asleep at my desk, when I saw my journal was open. I read about Luka's lightning powers and recalled what had happened the night before. I wondered how I had gotten in bed but couldn't be sure, perhaps Hogan had moved me.
After a few minutes, Nurse Violet came and got me for the washroom. I took a bath to help with my aches and pains, had breakfast, spent time in the library then went to lunch and finally outside for common room time. I was quite surprised to see Crimson was there.
I rushed up to her and quickly asked, "How have you been?"
She lit up, when she saw me and quickly pulled me aside, "Great, we're about ready to go! Mikey had a bit of a scare the other day but things are still on track. I can't believe it took me months to get to blue. That asshole Dr. Cole was dragging it out but now I've got the advantage so screw him!"
"What?" I said confused.
"Uh, were getting out of here." she said.
"Yeah but what was that about Mikey having a bit of a scare and you said something about months?"
"Yeah," she said letting out a heavy sigh. "Mikey got called in to Dr. Cole's office the other day, he asked him all sorts of questions but Mikey played it cool. We're gonna try to speed things up though, just in case they are suspicious."
"Okay, now what's this about months."
"Yeah, it took me like six months to get to fucking blue," she spat.
"Sorry wait! Did you say six months?!"I said, "It's only been a few weeks since we spoke in the padded rooms."
Crimson gave me a peculiar look, "Un no, it's been over six months since then."
"No," I said shaking my head. "There is no way that much time has passed."
She looked at me a bit longer and then said. "Mikey says you've been doped up most days, maybe you lost track of time."
"I guess." I said thinking that was a possible. It was easily to lose track in here but I swear it hadn't felt like any time at all. "I'm on a new medication but six months is a long time."
"You're telling me, I wanted to be out of here months ago but with this new guy and all the changes ups, things have been all over the place." She said rolled her eyes, "Anyway given your location we weren't sure if we could take you but we found something the other night that is gonna help us."
"Yeah," I said only half listening, my mind still reeling from what she'd just said, "But seriously, it's been months, like over six months? I really feels like it wasn't that long ago we talked."
She gave me another look, "Yeah, I'm more then sure, it's been over six months. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I mean I will be. I'm just surprised"
"I bet if I lost track of six months I'd be too, though that must be some good shit you're on."
"Not really," I said. "It's got all sorts of side effects."
I couldn't believe this. I didn't want to believe this. An orderly started walking around and we pretended to be admiring a nearby bush before we began walking around. Crimson complained about how Dr. Cole had made her jump through hoops to get out her but I barely heard her rant. My heart was pounding so loudly and my mind was screaming, OVER SIX MONTHS! OVER SIX MONTHS!
At one point Crimson turned to me and brushed my arm, pulling me from my thoughts, "You still want to come with us, right?"
"More then ever," I said making it clear.
I think she could see I meant it. She smiled at me and nodded, "Alright."
A few minutes later we were called to line up for dinner. I was somber as I walked down the halls. I didn't feel like eating but knew I couldn't draw suspicion right now. That night when I had my final washroom time, I casually asked Nurse Violet, "How long have I been on this new medication?"
She was flipping through a magazine. She paused took a look at her nails and then said "A few weeks, maybe a month."
"Cool," I said.
"Why do you ask?" she said pausing.
"Well, I think, I finally like where it's at just wanted to know how long it took to adjust it. Dr. Phillipston never got my medication right."
She gave me a sly look an a smiled danced across her face. I wondered what she was thinking but all she said was "Hmm," before turning the page in her magazine.
When I was finished in the washroom I was taken back to my room. I felt conflicted. Crimson had told me it had been months while Nurse Violet had said maybe a month. I paced about my room, thinking I trusted Crimson way more then Nurse Violet but how... how could it have been months without me realizing it. Was this medication just that strong? I didn't like losing track of that much time. It reminded me of how things had been with Dr. Phillipston but even then I'd been able to keep a small tally in my room. I needed to think and find some new way of keep track of my days.
I spent several minutes coming up with a system. Every morning I would tally, I wrote on a piece of paper making a small calendar but it wasn't enough. How would I know to look at this paper everyday? How would I know what days I had or hadn't marked it. I accidentally got some ink on my hand and got an idea but the nightly announcement started and Nurse Violet soon arrived with my medication.
I didn't' want to take it until I got this time situation figured out but I doubted she'd let me skip. I had no choice but to drink it, however as soon as she left I went to the side of my desk and puked it up. I figured that would buy me some time and began to write on my arm, days, I put a tally of one thinking surely I'd wake and see this first thing in the morning. Then I could transfer it to paper, of course, I'd have to reset the ink on my arm every time I showered or bathed but...but I was finding it hard to focus. I realized puking hadn't helped. I was getting sleepy. I must have ingested enough medicine for it to work. I barely made it to my bed before I passed out.
/
I woke to a man thrusting inside me. For a moment I wasn't sure if I was dreaming or not. Sometimes they could feel so real. My body ached something fierce, I swore this had to be real or I was in a deep sleep. Sometimes when I was in a really deep sleep I'd recall more detail but this...I had to be comatose everything felt so real. I heard the man grunting and groaning as he violated me.
I felt a twinge of pain and something else. I closed my eyes and almost passed out but I stirred after a few second and woke up more as he increased his speed. I decided I was awake because I didn't fall asleep in my dreams. At least I couldn't recall any time that I had. I opened my eyes becoming aware of the room. It was dark. I couldn't see who was on top of me. I could barely make them out in the darkness.
The man let go of my hands to take up my breasts, he began squeezing and licking them. With my hands free and aware of my situation. I fought, I lashed out at the mans face and knocked something off him...glasses I think!. They fell to the floor and he cursed. He pulled out of me and darting after them.
I groggily sat up feeling a whoosh of something wet between my legs. I didn't check to see what it was, moving to the end of my bed. I barely made it to my feet and rushed to the door. The man found his glasses as I grasping hold of the door knob. I was surprised to find the door unlocked and open it with ease, falling into the hallway.
I screamed hoping Hogan would hear me on his rounds. I wanted to let him know someone was in my room, someone had been...been raping me! I struggled to my feet and stumbling a dozen or so steps before I dared to look back. I saw a naked man running after me. I kept going, there was a light on, at the end of the hallway and as I looked back again, I could finally see my attackers face.
I immediately recognized him "DR. COLE" I gasped.
He charged me and tackled me to the ground. We struggled but he was bigger and stronger then me. He managed to pin me down and then pressed a piece of cloth against my mouth. I didn't understand what he was d-
/
I woke feeling more tired then ever so much for this sleep aid. Wasn't it suppose to help me get rested or something. It took me forever to sit up in bed and then Nurse Violet was in a mood today. She practically dragged me to the washroom. I took a hot shower, feeling achy and sick. Maybe I was coming down with something.
I had breakfast and then went to library. I noticed it looked a bit more put together, there were some more book shelves, tables and chairs. I wondered when they had done this. I browsed a few of the new books but ultimately just put my head down on one of the tables and dozed until lunch.
After lunch, I went to the new common room. I got to go outside and it was great. There was a nice breeze and I was feeling a more awake. I walked around the entire area seeing more people were out and about. I noticed Crimson doing something to one of the gates. I paused for a second wondering if I knew she'd been out here before or if this was new. My memory felt all messed up. My days kind of seemed to ooze together and I couldn't be sure if something had actually happened or not.
I got this weird sense of deja Vu as she saw me and came over. She took hold of my hand and led me over to a nearby bush. We hid behind it and she pulled me in close saying "We're ready,"
"Ready?" I said confused
"We escape tonight."
"Really," I said surprised.
"Yeah we got everything we need."
"Awesome!" I said.
She looked at me strangely and then said, "You okay today? You were acting bit weird yesterday,"
"Oh yeah," I said vaguely recalling it. "It's my new medication makes me a bit foggy."
"Well stop taking it! You need to be ready to go."
"I will be." I said, "Is there anything I need to do?"
"Just be ready," she said and I nodded.
She pulled back and we walked around a bit, trying to act natural. It was was hard not to smile. I was so excited that I might actually have a chance to get out of here! When dinner was called, I tried my best to hide my excitement. I ate slowly and noticed Dr. Cole come into the cafeteria. He seemed to be in a mood today. He quickly grabbed his food and left. For a moment I recalled something I'd been some place dark and he was chasing me. Had it been a dream, it had to be...right?
When I was finished eating, I dropped off my tray and was taken back to my room. I looked around trying to think of what I needed to do. If I really was never coming back to this place what did I want to take with me. I gathered up my journals and drawings, stacking them neatly on my desk. I didn't have everything but I hoped what I did have would help me find my friends.
When the nightly announcement started I realized I still had to find a way to skip my medication. While I was gathering things, I'd found some vomit at the side behind my desk and could only assume I'd tried to skip it before and failed. I needed to find a way to spit it out right away but knew it would be tricky. Nurse Violet always made sure I emptied the cup and would stay for a moment after. I paced for a second and then got an idea as I heard her heels in the hallway. I got into bed and acted like I had already been asleep.
When she came in she nudged me, "Come now, time for your medication,"
I acted groggily and fumbled to take the cup she helped me to sip it but I held it in my cheeks. As soon as the cup was empty I moved back to laying down. I pretended I was just going right back to sleep but opened one side of my mouth. I slowly let the medicine out on my pillow case. I figured I wouldn't be sleeping here and by the time they might notice I'd be long gone.
She lingered over my bed for a moment then said, "Goodnight,"
I groaned mumbling, "Night,"
That seemed sufficient enough for her, she turned and left the room. I continued to pretend to be sleeping as I didn't hear her heels leaving. The announcement ended and the music started to play. I finally heard her heels and a moment later it was lights out. I carefully turned on my back and looked up at the ceiling.
I debated getting out of bed. I wanted to be ready to go at a moments notice but couldn't risk Hogan seeing me up and about. He might be able to do one of his rounds before they showed up. I had no choice but to pretend to sleep until I knew they were here. I laid in bed listening to the music until it shut off. I closed my eyes but tried to keep myself alert. I heard someone whistling in the hall and wondered if that was them.
I opened my eyes just a little but remained very still. I heard footsteps, then my door unlock and opened. There were more footsteps and I could make out a figure. A man from the small slit in my eyes. I watched as he took a jacket or something off. it was too dark to make out the exact details just yet. I watched the man set it down on the top of my desk.
The whistling continued and my eyes slowly adjusted to the dark. I opened them a bit more and could make out the man, unbuttoning his shirt. When he'd finished with all the buttons, he opened it and slid it off before neatly folding it.
He slid his undershirt off next, lifting it up and over this head. He folded it then placed it on top of the others clothes on my desk. A second or two later he stepped out of his shoes then reached for something on his face...glasses. I watched him fold them and set them down on my desk. I heard the sound of a belt as the man reached for his waist. My heart quickened what was he-
Ringing suddenly filled the room as an alarm sounded. The man froze and hissed, "Fuck, what is it now!"
The speaker in my room crackled and an urgent female voice filled the room, "We need you in the south wing immediately! There's a fire!"
The shirtless man rushed over to the speaker. I heard it click before he spoke, "On my way!"
I clenched my bedding in my hands recognizing the man's voice. Dr. Cole...the shirtless man was Dr. Cole! My heart quickened and it took everything not to sit up and scream. I pursed my lips closed and tried to remain as still as possible as Dr. Cole quickly put his undershirt on.
He stepped into his shoes then gathered up his next shirt, he fumbled with the buttons, took up his sunglasses and slid on his doctor's coat. He went to leave but paused just before he got to the door. He suddenly turned back to me and I nearly lost it. I barely had my eyes open and could see him step up to the bed. I relax my entire body as he lingered over me for a moment. He let out a heavy then rushed out of the room.
I heard my door close and then lock. Still, I waited with my eyes shut until I heard his footsteps in the hallway. I only fully opened my eyes, when I could no longer hear them. I let out a burst of air and sat up, realizing I'd been holding my breath. I took several deep breaths as I ran my hands through my hair. I pulled it back thinking it was almost long enough to be put in a pony tail but not quiet.
My heart began to thunder in my chest as my mind exploded with thoughts. I couldn't believe what I'd just seen! Dr. Cole! He'd come into my room and had started undressing. I never would have seen it, if...if I'd taken my medication! I would have been out of it. I put a hand over my mouth shuddering at the thought that this might not be the first time he'd come into my room. I held myself, thinking of the bruises, of the aches and pains of my body. The things he'd explained away as "side effect" and realized he was lying. Who knows what he could have…had been doing to me this entire time, without my knowledge! My eyes welled up with tears.
How! How could he do this to me! He was suppose to be my doctor! He was suppose to help me, not hurt me! He...he was worse then Dr. Phillipston, even though I despised him, he'd never done something like this to me. NEVER! What…what was I going to do! It was clear I couldn't allow this to keep happening. I couldn't let myself forget again I had to do something!
I got up and nearly jumped ten feet in the air when I heard a tap at my door. I turned to it fearing Dr. Cole had never left. However when I looked, I saw it was Crimson, she had a flashlight and was frantically waving at me. Right, we were breaking out tonight! I'd completely forgotten, a wave of relief shot over me and then urgency. Everything that had just happened fell to the back of my mind as I grabbed my things and rushed to the door.
Mikey, the orderly, was with her, he had a crowbar and was trying to pry open my door. It took him a good minute. It felt like an eternity knowing every second counted. I could only assume they were the reason there was a fire in the south wing. A distraction no doubt but depending on the fire and Dr. Cole response it wasn't going to be long one.
When the door opened Crimson rushed me, "COME ON! LET'S GO! LET'S GO!"
I nodded and we hurried into the hall. Mikey was already at the intersection looking to see if anyone was coming. He waved us on and we followed him. I stayed close to Crimson as we crouched and scampered around the hall. For some reason this felt oddly familiar. I began to recall other lives where I had- We moved! I nearly lost focus but when we made it to the new common room, I snapped out of it.
The double doors leading to the outside were locked but because Mikey was an orderly so he had a key. As he unlocked it, I couldn't help but ask, "How do you two know each other again?"
"Long story," they both said in near unison.
It would have been comical, if we weren't trying to escape right now. We got outside and I found one of the gates had been tampered with. It lead to storage area and there was an old beat up truck. We stopped moving and Mikey turned to us. "Okay there is the truck. I'll get in and back it out but someone needs to get the back gate." He lifted the key to it.
Crimson protested, "Hey I started the fire, let me drive, you get the gate!"
"Hey I've done everything else," Mikey spat, "You have no idea how hard it was to get this key."
"I'll do it!" I volunteered taking the key from his hand, "It's the back gate right with the road that leads to the forest."
"Yeah it's just down the drive and over."
"Okay," I said.
We walked up to another large gate with a chain. It looked locked but it wasn't. He removed the chain and then opened up the gate. He pointed where I needed to go but I already knew where I was headed, "Here," I said to Crimson handing her my journals. "Put these in the truck and don't leave without me,"
She nodded and rushed to the truck. Mikey nodded to me before I broke into a run. It had been a long time since I had run and my slippers weren't the best for it but I didn't care. I felt I could have run a thousand miles barefoot to get free, especially knowing what I knew about Dr. Cole now.
I cringed thinking of him, I still hadn't fully process what he had done and now was not the time. I reached the cast iron gate and looked out into the night. It was so dark I couldn't see very far but I recalled the last time I was here. I pulled myself from my thoughts and fumble to find the lock. I ran my fingers across it, then insert the key as I heard the truck engine roar. They would be here any second! I wanted to make sure the gate was wide open for them.
The hospital's fire alarm suddenly shut off, and I got scared. With everything going on it had faded to background noise, but now that it was off, I knew what that meant. They must have taken care of the fire! Dr. Cole would realize we were escaping any second now! I quickly turned the key and pushed the gates but they wouldn't move. I pushed and pushed as the truck drew closer. It's headlight soon bore down on me. I pushed again and then realized the gate pulled open. I felt like such an idiot but quickly pulled one side open and then rushed to pull the other open as well.
The truck drove through and stopped waiting for me. We'd done it! This was it! I glanced back at the hospital and saw the light in Dr. Cole's office come on. I froze as I saw the silhouette of a man in the window. "SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!
"COME ON!" shouted Crimson. I rushed to the truck and she had the door open for me.
I climbed inside and cried out. "I think they know!"
"Well it's too late now," said Mikey he hit the gas petal and the truck lurched forward. We began traveling down the dirt road and I looked back at Meadow Brooke Asylum, hoping I'd never see it again.
I turned forward as Crimson cheered, "WE DID IT! WE'RE OUT OF HERE!"
"FUCK YEAH!" shouted Mikey
"WE'RE FREE!" I shouted joining in "WE'RE FREE!" At last I could fulfill my vow! I clenched my fists thinking I'd find my love and our friends and we'd all be together again.
I was so excited as the old truck rattled down the dirt road. My heart pounded in my chest as I sat on the edge of my seat, taking it all in. We soon hit our fist bend in the road and then the second. I vaguely recalled clinging to the cast iron gates not so long ago and how I'd followed the road with my eyes. I'd watched as it had wound on for some distance, before disappearing within a forest.
I nervously bit my lip waiting for us to get to the woods. I wanted us to disappear as the road did. When we finally passed our first dozen or so trees, a wave of relief washed over me. It sunk in more and more, this was REALLY happening…had happened! I was actually free! How many times had I longed for this moment, hoped that I'd get the chance to walk through those gates and drive off into the beyond, never to come back.
I began to cry, suddenly feeling overwhelming by my joy and the weight of everything I'd endured, these last few years. I was just so happy to be free and away from that awful place. Tears began to stream down my face, and soon I couldn't stop crying. I shook with emotion and Crimson noticed.
"Yo, hey, hey," said Crimson, reaching out to me, "You okay?"
She looked concerned as she ran her hand over my back, patting it. I looked at her continuing to cry. After a minute or so I managed to choke, "Yes. YES! I'm just so, so, so, so happy to be free. I really, really wanted out so badly."
"I bet!" said Crimson shaking her head, "I nearly did a year in there and thought I was losing my mind. I couldn't imagine being there for years!"
I choked in a gasp of air. It had been years! How many I didn't even know anymore given how many months I'd been drugged up. How many months had been... been raping me?
Mikey scoffed, "You girls are lucky, you had no idea what's been going on."
Again I pushed everything with Dr. Cole to the back of my mind. I swallowed than asked "What's been going on?" I sniffled trying to collect myself. I wiped my face on my hospital dress and pulled some of my hair back behind my ears.
"I thought the last director was a real blowhard but this new guy fucking took the cake. I swear he wants to make that place a prison. From the minute he and his "team" arrived they've been changing everything up. They have a ton of new rules and regulations. They were tearing down walls all over and putting up new ones in all sorts of weird places. They messed with all the patients care and routines and added all sort of new "procedures" that don't make fucking sense. And like if anyone even questions what's going on, they let them go, just like that!" said Mikey snapping his fingers. "Then they hired some real fucking goons, weirdos that are even more bonkers then the patients, I swear."
I tried to listened to him and think about what he said. I hadn't really noticed any new staff, beyond, Hogan and Nurse Violet but again...to be fair I'd been drugged up these last few months. I sniffled some more and wiped my mouth as I continued to listen to him.
"I thought it was straight up bullshit, firing people just for asking questions. But getting fired ain't nothing compared to what they did if you meddled. Just take Dr. Phillipston."
"What about, Dr Phillipston?" I asked surprised. I figured he'd be long gone by now, enjoying his retirement, especially after he and Miss Mara had been escorted out. Well I assumed they had. "Last time I saw him, I think he and Miss Mara were being escorted out."
"Yeah," said Mikey, "The way I heard it, Dr. Phillipston thought this new guy was gonna be keeping everything the same but as soon as he was put in charge, Dr. Cole went fucking rogue. Miss Mara told on him and Dr. Phillipston came back, thinking he could set Dr. Cole straight but dude as soon as Dr. Cole became in charge of parole, Dr. Phillipston couldn't do fucking shit. Dr. Cole kicked him and Miss Mara out but Dr. Phillipston wasn't having it! He started making calls and meddling wherever he could. He broke in a few times and threatening to take action and shit. Then one day he just stopped, everyone thought he'd finally took his retirement and left but he didn't."
'"If he didn't go then what happened to him?" asked Crimson. I was wondering the same thing.
Mikey shook his head then threw it back for a second before continuing, "Oh man, Tony this other guy, I used to work with, got like assigned to the basement. That is where they put the worst of the worst, the people who are straight up bananas and dangerous as shit. I didn't envy Tony having to go down there one bit that place gives me the heebie-jeebies."
"What's this got to do with the old quack?" asked Crimson growing impatient.
"I'm getting there," said Mikey, "Anyway, one day Tony is all down in the basement cleaning some cells and he noticed Dr. Phillipston was in one of them. They had him in a straight jacket, Tony almost didn't recognize him. They did something to him. Tony said he was a shell of man, all mumbling to himself in a corner about this being his hospital and some shit. I guess Dr. Cole must have driven him mad."
"Wow," I said.
I couldn't believe Dr. Phillipston had gone mad and that he was being kept in the basement, with the worst of the worst. You think the idea of him getting a taste of his own medicine, might bring me joy but if anything it just made me realized how powerful Dr. Cole must be. I mean Dr. Phillipston had been the director of Meadow Brooke for decades. He was "suppose" to be sanest man in there, but now he was locked up within its walls.
"So he snapped." said Crimson, "Fuck."
"Yeah I guess," said Mikey shrugging. "I guess anyone can."
"Maybe, maybe not," I said. "You said they did something to him. Maybe he was tortured"
Mikey nodded, "You know, I wouldn't put it past them, they got a lot of crazy shit going on. Like there are places that are blocked off and like barley anyone goes in the basement anymore. They've been putting all the newest hires down there and like one day Tony and I had to help carry some shit down there and I saw them doing some like experiments and shit."
"Experiments?" said Crimson.
"Like what?" I asked.
"I don't know people were screaming. Tony told me not to mess around too much but I saw them like strapping people to tables and showing them fucked up pictures and shit but Tony told me he'd seen some real shit. That they were messing with people, cutting them open, scrambling their brains and putting um on all sorts of shit. He wanted to report them. He thought it would get them in trouble."
"Did he?" I asked. "Report them?"
I saw Mikey tense up, he shook his head, "Nah, the last time I saw him, he was going to the basement with Hogan. I haven't seen him since. I asked around after a few days or so but they just said he up and quit. But I don't think he did, I think they must have done something to him. Made me realize we couldn't afford to hang around there much longer."
"FUCK, that is some spooky ass shit." said Crimson. She shivered and I tried to comfort her as she had done for me.
I brushing her arm and assured her "Yeah but we're out now so it's gonna be okay."
"I know," she said shaking her head, "I know but damn this shit is messed up! We can't let them get away with it." She nodded to herself and continued. "Yeah, once we're clear of this place, a few towns away, fuck a few cities away, let's report these sick fuckers, especially Nurse Violet that twisted bitch was always pushing me around, getting on my nerves. You know she actually tried to burn me once"
"Really," I said.
I knew Nurse Violet could be a bitch. She'd thrown my food on the floor, kept it from me, pushed me around laughed at me and... it dawned on me, when the fire happened, she knew where to find Dr. Cole. She had to know what he was doing, right! Suddenly a lot of things made sense. I gasped thinking of her helping me to the bath, rushing me when I'd try to examine myself, all those sly looked and comments to Dr. Cole.
"You okay," asked Crimson, looking at me, "You look like you just saw some shit?"
"I'm fine." I lied not wanting to get into it right now. I quickly added "Sorry what were you saying about Nurse Violet?"
"Yeah bitch tried to burn me!" said Crimson. I got some smokes first week Dr. Cole was here. I up and stole them off his desk while he wasn't looking. I wasn't planning on doing nothing but smoking um but the bitch caught me. She said I was gonna use them to start a fire and called me a firebug. She put one out on me, to teach me a lesson."
"Shit, that must have been painful as fuck" said Mikey as we came around a large turn.
"Nah," said Crimson looking at him. She waved her hands about and continued. "I can't be burned ever since that fire, the one I told you up about." She turned back to me. "You know the real big one that got me all locked up. I don't know if I told you it was an apartment building, my cigarette went off and like I thought I was super done for. I couldn't get out and there was smoke everywhere, it was crazy but I guess I managed to get out."
"Well yeah you are here, aren't you." said Mikey rolling his eyes.
Crimson gave him a look but went on. "What I mean, is like, I didn't have a scratch on me or in this case a burn mark on me. The firemen said I was all lucky but I don't think it was luck. I think I'm fireproof!"
She said it with such confidence like she actually believed it. I looked at her but didn't say anything. Mikey covered that for me, "THE FUCK YOU ARE! AIN'T NO ONE FIREPROOF!"
"I AM!" she protested, "Fire don't hurt me! Like I survived that fire and that bitch, when she tired to burn me, it didn't hurt!"
"Maybe you burned your nerves in that fire or something," said Mikey.
"Burned my nerves you know how stupid that sounds."
"STUPID." He said acting offended, "Not as stupid as I'm fireproof," he said in a mocking tone.
I tried not to laugh at the two fighting, especially when she up and pinched him.
"Hey, what are you doing?" he demanded.
"Checking to see if my nerves still work!" she hissed.
She pinched him again and he cried out, "Hey, stop it!"
"What I just want to make sure."
"How would pinching me, prove your nerves work?"
"Well you get on my nerves so it adds up, at least to me." she teased before sticking her tongue out.
"Right," he said, giving her a nasty look back.
"Well what do you think?" asked Crimson turning to me.
"What?" I asked unsure of what she was asking me.
"Do you believe me?" she asked.
I looked at her, her eyes were so full of hope as she waited for my response. I knew what it felt like to have people not believe you andI suppose anything was possible. I bit my lip then shrugged my shoulders and finally said. "I guess."
Her entire face lit up with joy, "Wanta see it!"
"What?" I asked.
"Want to see how it works?" She pulled out a lighter from under her clothes, "Got it from one of the cooks." She quickly flicked it and a flame came out.
"Oh, no I'm good," I said frantically waving my hands, "You really don't have to-"
"HEY! PUT THAT AWAY YOU FIREBUG!" Mikey shouted getting upset.
"I AIN'T NO FIREBUG!" she shouted back.
"ARE TOO! You were always setting fires in the old neighborhood."
"WHAT!," said Crimson acting offended. "THAT WASN'T ME! Someone else was doing that. I just watched them burn like everyone else did."
"Right," he said it was clear he didn't believe her.
"Whatever." she said turning away from him. She looked back at me and said, "See." She put her hand over the flames before I could react, "It don't hurt, don't even burn me."
I think anyone could stick their hand over a flame for a few seconds but she kept it there, for a good solid minute or so. I wasn't sure what to think a lot was going on right now. Again, I suppose it was possible or maybe the flame wasn't that hot. Perhaps she had a high tolerance for pain?
"You try," she said pulling me from my thoughts.
"What?" I asked.
"Come on! Once you feel how hot it is, you'll know how wild it is that it don't hurt me,"
"I supposed." I said. I reached my hand out to touch the flame but it went out before I could.
"HEY!" cried Crimson. "IT WENT OUT!"
"You know, I'm rethinking breaking the two of you out." said Mikey, giving us the side eye. "You two are crazy or stupid stop messing with fire!"
"We ain't messing! I know what I'm doing."said Crimson shaking the lighter. She got the flame to come on again.
"Okay go for it." she insisted..
As I timidly reached out again, I considered what Mikey was saying. Maybe it was crazy but my curiosity was getting the better of me. I only planned to touch it for second. I'm sure a second wouldn't hurt, however yet again as I reached out to touch the flame, it went out. Crimson lit it several more times but it always blew out just before I could get to it.
"You blowing on it?" she asked furrowing her brow.
"No, I swear." I said.
"There must be a breeze or something." she said.
She lit it again but half cupped it, so no extra air could get to it. Oddly the flame seemed to get even larger now. I moved my hand toward it and it didn't go out instead it pulled away from me. Wherever I moved my hand, it would move in the opposite direction, when Crimson pulled her hand away, it just went out.
"Wild." she said. "Maybe it don't like you?"
"Flames don't have feeling," said Mikey
"Maybe it's my powers," I said without thinking.
"Powers?" said Mikey and Crimson both giving me a look.
I blushed feeling silly. "It nothing, don't mine me."
"NAH," said Crimson shaking her head "I want to hear this! What do you mean powers?"
"Well I suppose, I've got the power of the wind. Well I'm suppose too. Once I can figure it out."
"Right," said Mikey slowly. It was clear he thought I was crazy.
"Hmm," said Crimson, "I believe you!"
"Really," I said surprised.
"Yeah why not." she said shrugging her shoulders.
She had no idea how much this meant to me. NO IDEA! After all the people doubting me and treating me like I was crazy all these years. "Thank you so much!" I said. I rushed to hug her and she hugged me back.
"Hey, what are friends for." she said,
When I pulled back she smiled at me and for a moment, I recalled my best friend, the way she smiled and laughed. Her smile always brightened me up. I recalled us being in a car with no roof, near sunset or sunrise. She let her hands dangle in the air and would stand up and cry out wooo. She was always so confident, sassy, the world wouldn't get her down. A tear streamed down my face. For a moment I really looked at Crimson and wondered if...if she could be one of the others.
"Could you really be my friend?" I said out loud.
"Girl, I told you we already are."
"No, I mean a friend from another life!" I said
"It's possible!" She said giving me another big grin. She put her lighter away, then noticing the car radio. "Oh hey, this baby's got a radio," She leaned forward "Think we can get any tune with this?" She asked as she turned it on and started turning the dials.
"Heads up," said Mikey adjusting himself in his seat
"What?" I asked as he nervously looked into the rearview mirror.
"I thought I saw something a few minutes ago, now I'm sure of it. I think there is another car."
"Well we are on a road," said Crimson as if it were obvious.
"Yeah, but there ain't nothing out here. The only thing back there is the hospital."
Crimson and I both looked at each other and then moved so we could look out the back window of the truck. We both honed in on small headlights that got closer and closer as we drove. Soon enough we could start to make out some feature on the car...no the van!
"It's the van, the Meadow Brooke van!" I gasped. I'd never forget what it looked like, never forget that day it first pulled up in my driveway.
"SHIT IT IS!" said Crimson confirming it. She turned back to Mikey and yelled "HIT IT!'
I whirled my head around as Mikey stepped on the gas. The old truck sped up some but it wasn't much. After a few minutes, it was clear the old truck defiantly wasn't enough to outpace the van. What kind of engine did it have or were they just not hitting the break, ever? I looked back out and was able to see more details as it barreled after us.
I saw two silhouettes in the front of the van. I just knew it was Hogan and Dr. Cole. DR. COLE! I'd pushed everything to the back of my mind. For the first time in a long time I'd felt free. I'd let the euphoria overtake me, however as the van sped up and collided with our bumper a sense of dread crashed into me. They were chasing us! They weren't going to let us get away! At this rate they were going to get us and I was going to have to go back to Meadow Brooke, to my room and to Dr. Cole.
A sense of deja vu washed over me. For a moment I was reminded of how the Shadow Man would pursue me. What if- What if-"NO! "I shrieked as the truck rattled. "No, no, no, no!" I gasped turning back around. I clenched my fists tightly refusing to-, "I can't go back! I CAN'T GO BACK!"
"WE AIN'T GOING BACK!" shouted Crimson "STEP ON IT, MIKEY!"
"I AM!" shouted Mikey as they bumped into us again. "THE GAS PEDAL IS TO THE FUCKING FLOOR!
"WELL PUT IT THROUGH THE FLOOR!" screamed Crimson. "COME ON! WE NEED TO GO FASTER!"
"WE'RE GOING AS FAST AS WE CAN!" Mikey yelled.
"NO! NO! NO!" I screamed panicking.
If this was really as fast as we could go then surely they would catch up to us in no time. I leaned forward in my seat as Crimson turned herself around again. I tried to keep my eyes forward. I didn't dare look back again, fearing I'd see them even closer then before. I looked out at the dirt road in front of us. It seemed like it might go on forever from what I could see in the headlights. However I quickly began to see a sharp curve in the road up ahead.
I glanced at Mikey, we were going so fast and he was so focused on the car behind us that he might not have noticed it. Before I could warn him, we reached the turn and kept going off the road. The truck rose slightly for a second as we were airborne, then violent sunk down and began to rattle as we dived down a bumpy hillside.
"SHIT! SHIT!" shouted Mikey.
He struggled to right the truck as it sputtered out of his control. I could hear the sound of metal grinding and clattering. There was a slight dip at the button of the hill, a ditch perhaps that caused the car to suddenly sink and then rise up. Everything happens so fast, one moment we were upright then the next we were upside down, then upright then upside down. Glass and bodies went flying everywhere. I smacked my head into something hard and everything went dark.
/
I woke to Crimson calling out to me, "Hannah? Hannah? Yo Hannah, you alive?"
She was coming from my right side, no my left...above... below? I didn't know. I felt so disoriented. I opened my eyes and things didn't get much better. My eyes hurt and I could barely see. Crimson's head suddenly popped into my field of vision and I noticed she was slightly red or my vision was. I tried to rub my eyes but it didn't help they felt all wet and hurt even more.
I stopped rubbing them and looked around. As I became more aware of my surroundings, I realized I was on the roof of the truck as it was upside down. I tried to move and noticed my leg was all jacked up. It hurt but it felt like a dull ache. I felt like I was somehow detached from the pain, like I was a backseat driver or something. I wasn't sure if that made sense.
"Hey." Crimson called, drawing my attention, "You okay?"
I looked at her and managed to mumbled. "Do I look okay?,"
She didn't respond. She simply grabbed hold of me and pulled me from the truck. I was kind of surprised at her strength, considering she was younger and smaller then me. It was super dark out now. I could see the stars and the moon. It had been forever since I'd seen the full night sky above me. Again my vision was red, I realized my head was bleeding and the blood was going into my eyes. There wasn't much I could do about it right now. I looked around and saw the truck had been totaled. It was a wonder we were still alive. I looked around for Mikey but didn't' see him anywhere.
"Where is Mikey?" I asked as she dragged me further away from the truck.
"Don't know, I think he might have been tossed from the truck or something. The front window was out. When we were going down, I darted under the dash. I saw you both go flying up. When the truck came to a stop, you were the only one that came down."
"How long was I out?"
"Not long. I got stuck under the dash, it took me a minute to get out and then I woke you up."
"Oh," I said.
She stopped dragging me and helped me to sit up. I sat for a moment and then she helped me to stand. We quickly discovered I couldn't maintain my balance on my own. It hurt to put any weight on my bad leg so she had me put my arm around her shoulder. She helped me to stay standing and I thought I was gonna be sick. My head hurt and the world felt like it was spinning, especially when we started to move again.
We began to look for Mikey but couldn't see him anywhere. What we did see, were lights at the top of the hill, we'd just come barreling down. We heard a man shout, "I AIN'T GOING DOWN THERE!" The voice didn't sound like Dr. Cole or Hogan's. I suppose others had been in the van.
"YOU WILL MOVE YOUR ASS! shouted Hogan. He sounded angry then upset as he called out to Dr. Cole. "CALLUM WAIT! LET ME GO FIRST! CALLUM!"
I saw Dr. Cole's silhouette as he started to head down the hill. "HANNAH!" He shouted.
"SHIT!" shouted Crimson, she helped me to turn and we began to move away from the crash.
"Mikey," I said.
"I'm sure he'll be okay, probably in some bush or tree further down, he always had a head like a rock"
"A rock?"
"Yeah, we were neighbors, growing up, he was always falling or getting into fights and he never got hurt."
"You were neighbors." I said not catching most of that.
"Yup," she said, "Never thought I'd see him again after he moved away, a few years back but low and behold it turns out he was one of the orderlies. What luck right?"
"Right," I said feeling even sicker.
We hobbled a few more feet but eventually I couldn't help myself. I pulled from Crimson and vomited all over the ground. I swear I must have heaved up everything in my stomach. I probably would have kept going but she grabbed hold of me and forced me to keep moving, "Come on girl, we gotta keep moving!"
I knew she was right but I felt so fucked up. We hobbled into some woods and I said, "Thanks for not leaving me."
"I don't' like leaving people behind," she said, 'I know what it feels like to be abandoned."
"You okay?" I asked realizing I hadn't asked if she was.
"I've got a few scratches but I'm way better off then you," she said.
We struggled to keep moving but I kept stopping us several more times to vomit, eventually I had nothing left in me. I began painfully dry heaving. In the moonlight I saw some blood. I don't know if it was from my head or from inside me. I tried to wipe my face as my vision kept coming in an out. There was this pounding in my ears, I couldn't be sure if it was my heartbeat or something else.
"Shit," said Crimson pulling me from my thoughts.
"What?" I asked. I saw she was looking at something. I painfully turned, to see what it was and saw flashlight coming through the trees. They were still coming after us!
"Like blood hounds they are," Crimson hissed.
"HANNAH!" I heard Dr. Cole calling out for me over and over again. "HANNAH!" His voice sounded almost desperate. What did he think I was gonna do, call back to him! I laughed at the thought and then started feeling super fucked up.
We kept moving but I felt so dizzy, cold and the pain, it was starting to reach me and it was bad...really bad. It was this deep nauseating ache. I thought I was going to be sick again. We stepped into an open area and I felt this sharp pain tear through me as we stepped over a fallen tree. I looked down and was able to see my leg in the moonlight. I could see some bone had come through my skin, that wasn't good.
"Shit girl!," said Crimson, also seeing it.
I quickly realized I wasn't going anywhere like this. I looked at her, whether she was my friend from another life or not, she was in this life. She'd gone above and beyond to help me to escape, even if I wasn't getting away, she still had a chance.
I struggled to pull away from her but she wouldn't let me go. "I'm not gonna make." I protested, "You have to go on without me,"
"What! No!" she said looking at me like I was crazy.
"I'm slowly you down." I painfully spat, "Go!"
"I'm not leaving you. I know what it's like to have someone leave you behind. I wont do that,"
"You're not leaving me behind." I said. "You're going to get help. Get out of here, find someone, find everyone, tell the world what these people are up to, you are our only hope."
She looked at me uneasy. She tried to keep us moving but I couldn't go any further. I felt my vision begin to blur. I just wanted to lay down "Please go, if you don't they'll catch us both and you know it."
She paused, then helped me to the ground, gently setting me on my back before she let go of me. She took a deep breath stepping back, it was clear she was still hesitant to leave me. She rested her hand on my arm and swore, "I will get away! I'll get help and then I'll come back for you and Mikey and all the others. I'll burn that whole fucking place down, those sons of bitches are gonna get what they deserve."
I nodded but didn't say anything as a chill ran through me. I tried to smile at her, to assure her it was going to be okay but I really didn't know if it would be. I just wanted to curl up so badly and go to sleep. The pain was beginning to overwhelm me though I had yet to cry out.
Part of me wondered if this was shock as there was no way my tolerance for pain was this high. I once stepped on a nail when I was eleven and I swear the entire town heard me screaming. Yet here I was quiet as can be, while I had a freaking bone sticking out of my skin and blood pouring down my face.
Without another word Crimson finally pulled away and took off. I tried to keep my gaze on her for as long as I could but found it hard to keep my eyes open. I began to uncontrollably shiver as the shadows grew around me. A flashlight soon fell on my face, blinding me.
Dr. Cole's voice rattled in my ears. He called out to me not in rage but fear. "HANNAH!"
Before he could get to me I graciously passed out.
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