Out of Their Minds

I raised an eyebrow. What now? Olena's alter ego was a poetess?
"You know, I've merely passed English Literature in high school."
I spoke nervously, and then smiled.
"But I think you may not answer me. Is there anything else, dear?"

 

Gregor put a hand on top of SKye's and patted it gently. "My dear a lot of people here aren't what they seem. Miss Brenda is very dangerous but she can be taken care of. Help me up, and lets find Ambriel. We need to talk to her. What's that Klesps? Oh really now isn't the time to worry about a card game. Fine, I have a full house, now where's that aftersha - How did you end up with four aces? But .... you had... the glasses .... fine. You win ..... you are the lizard king."

With that, the three went off in search of Ambriel.

 

Ambriel retreived the passports and hid them in a safe place with the needles. She knew nobody would find them...until she was ready to turn them loose. Skye had to be kept safe and what she didn't know couldn't be held to her charge.
Ambriel planned to tell Gregor as soon the two of them were alone.

Walking back towards the playroom, Ambriel saw Gregor and Skye walking towards her...she wondered what was up.

"I am up for anything." Ambriel said under her breath.

 

Gregor and Skye waved to Ambriel as they got closer, Gregor said, "Remeber those other things I asked you to hold on to? It might be wise to keep at least one close at hand. Skye is afraid that Brenda might try something, I am too. So how are we going to keep her safe?"

 

"Actually, yes. And fair is fair, no one must give easy answers, only possible answers. Anyway, I wonder . . . if maybe even if the aliens are here, do you suspect them all evil? And why would they be here - are there not many more practical places?"

 

I shrugged, looking around once more.
"That is not necessary. If humans landed on a foreign planet, it may not be only for evil. To your other question, it must be noted that psychology is a very interesting part of any creature. To study normal people would be hard - but here, the aliens can do it easily. Also, to conduct evil plans is easier in a mental institute."

 

"Okay, well the things she found are safe in my room in that locked box...do you remember?" Ambriel waited for his response...Gregor nodded once.

"That box is in the back of my closet, it is hidden in the wall where it can never be found...I am only telling you should something happen to me, you will be able to find it."

Ambriel swallowed hard as she turned to look at Skye who was sitting in the corner of her room, out of earshot. "Listen, I think it best that she not know about this...she can't be held accountable for it...I will tell Brenda it was me who took them."

Ambriel's face lit up with a plan..."Gregor, would you help me, why are we waiting for her to come to us...why don't we go to her? Unless you have a better idea."

She waited for Gregor to speak...he seemed to be in much thought.

 

Gregor nodded. "You're right. It's time we spoke to Ms. Brenda as a group."

 

Glenny searched the few rooms he passed for any sign of Francine. She must be teleporting somehow, he thought, and felt he sounded like Ramses with it in his mind.

That was irrelevant. After a few more, he came upon the cafeteria, not the most obvious or likely choice, but he dropped in anyway. Luckily he found her there, along with another patient. They were probably up to talking about recent events - it seemed everyone hadn't actually stopped with them.

He walked in, clutching his pocket. It was very tempting.

"Francine," he called.

 

Skye walked behind them, worry in her eyes.

She tugged on Ambriel's shirt, "I want to come." she said.

 

She furrowed her brows - it made sense, after all.
"I suppose. Is there anything in which I can be of assistance? Doctor Francine, you've got so many troubles on your shoulders . . . surely you can let me in on some." She heard a voice call Francine's name, and she winced. Just when she was asking her dominant question.

 

Ambriel knew it was for the best...but she worried about involving Skye..."What are we going to do with her?...You aren't proposing we take her with us to this meeting are you?"

She knew Gregor had her best in mind...and she knew he was much stronger and smarter than people gave him credit for...still, she worried about Skye.

 

I paused Olena as I heard Glenny's voice.
"Come on and sit, Glenny."
I looked back at Olena, seeing if she had a problem. I couldn't comprehend the expression on her face, so I played by my rules and let Glenny sit. I then spoke to Olena:
"My dear, I think I just want you and your true friends to be safe and nothing else. Keep your guard up, and I'm free of stress."
I then turned to Glenny and asked:
"Yes dear?"

 

Gregor looked at them both. "I think she's safer with us than alone. Besides, you're assuming Brenda will be rational - that just because Skye doesn't have the 'papers', she won't blame her for their disappearance. I'm not so sure Dr. Brenda is that rational. No, I think Skye is safer with us. Besides, before this is over we'll need all the help we can get."

 

Defeated. She sat there a moment, knowing Francine was lying, and having nothing left to say. She finally stood up, sighing, and began to walk away. But as she did, she made one last remark.
"Whatever you say, Sabel. But if you won't take matters into your own hands, I'll take them into mine."

 

Francine asked him to sit down, and he sat angrily, looking at the girl beside him.

"Sorry if I'm intruding." he said and glared at Francine.

"I've got a few things to get straight here." he said.

 

Ambriel went to the closet for something..."Okay, I am ready when you are."

She looked down at Skye and smiled...I will take care of you, don't worry."

Walking over to Gregor she reach up and hugged him...he hugged her back..."Thank you...for being a true friend."

 

I sighed as Olena left. Maybe this was a hint from her? Maybe Glenny was an alien?
"I've got a few things to get straight here." he said.
I nodded, and spoke softly:
"Go on dear."

 

As they reached the door, Gregor turned to Ambriel. "Keep Skye between us at all times. SKye, when in doubt just attack. Klesps, keep moving between all of us." Gregor knocked on Brenda's door.

 

"Go on dear." Francine told him. Frustrated in anxiety, he asked one of his many questions, and the one angering him the most.

"Do you mean to tell me that I've been in the shadows this whole time, while you continue to let the patients plan conspiracies and even kill the entire staff?" he asked, frowning, but felt he had too much to say.

 

I lowered my head, taking his anger calmly. I deserved it; I hadn't told them their lives were under threat.
"I'm sorry, dear. I had no choice. You weren't the only one, you know. I was trying to suppress the situation without doing anything. But I failed. I'm sorry."
A tear trickled down my cheek, and I looked away.Why didn't things go as planned?
******
Brenda was looking for a few hairpins, when the door was knocked on.
"Come in."
She growled, still searching her items.

 

Olena found herself in her room. She looked over at the wall - there were words there now - four numbers, a symbol, and nine words. She studied them carefully, and tried to figure the message they conveyed.
Three in one. Said the wall.
Look inside. Find answers. Hold fast.

 

"I'm sorry, dear. I had no choice. You weren't the only one, you know. I was trying to suppress the situation without doing anything. But I failed. I'm sorry."

He saw a tear welling in her eye. A part of him wanted to silence it from getting any further, and another couldn't care less. That part was just too disappointed and frustrated to let anything go unanswered.

"Without doing anything?" he almost laughed at how much good that would do any situation.

"Not the only one? Then how do you explain all this hell breaking loose by your patients?"

 

Suddenly, some amount of anger inflicted me. I fought the tears and replied:
"I don't know! I can't explain, because if I could I would've found a solution. I don't know what to do. I'm just a young psychiatrist trapped in this web of UFOs and junk, nothing else."

 

Look inside? Look inside what? She closed her eyes and looked inside her eyelids, and then she looked inside herself.
Anybody in there?
Yes. Olena's eyes shot open. She shook, in fear, and in denial. What was she to do now?