Out of Their Minds

Brenda clenched her fists as she took no note of his indication towards John. In fact, she got up calmly and spoke:
"Whatever your friend is, I want those passports back Gregor. This was not expected from you. You are a grown up, and your disease cannot justify this action of yours."
She then paused, making her tone softer.
"As far as having two passports with different names is concerned...Danielle is my twin sister, who is married. She's in an archaeological site this month and left her passport with me for safekeeping. But if you don't return them to me, she would be crushed."

 

Ambriel quickly looked at Gregor...she wondered if he had expected this.

"A sister..." Ambriel questioned why she hadn't heard of this sooner. She was sure she didn't believe her...not one word. It would take more proof than that story...it would take some DNA to convence her.

 

"I said I may have found them. Unfortunately, our mutual friend - he must be since you never bothered to ask who was here in disguise - took them. Interesting, so how long have you known Cali ... err .... John?"

 

Brenda raised an eyebrow and immediately her face drained of blood. She looked around, confused.
"What does John have to do with this, Gregor? Stop bringing in irrelevant stuff. I want my passports, alright?"
She then looked down at her envelope, thinking hard. Did John do this? And if he did, why did he give it to Gregor?

 

"Isn't that curious. You didn't question the fact I referred to him by another name. So you are very familiar with John .... to know his real name. You know what else I find funny? You said your passports. I thought one was your *cough* sister's?"

 

Brenda's hands started trembling.
"Shut up and give me the passports!"
She felt her secrets giving way. She calmed herself down, but only a little.
"What real name? John is just John. And by my passports, I mean to say that they are my business, none of yours."
She bit her lip as she lied.

 

"Then why don't you just ask Calipto for them? Or you could just tell me who started the fire?"

 

"I don't know this Calipto you speak of. And if I knew who started the fire, I would've done something. Taken legal action and the like."
Brenda stiffened, feeling her pistol on her hip. She was lying on and on, but she couldn't rick lose her secrecy.

 

Gregor leaned foward placing both elbows on Brenda's desk. "You know what happens after a lifetime of military service, ya get real good at seeing someone reaching for a gun. Besides Klesps is right behind you. Don't do anything you won't be able to explain. Besides, I could gouge out your eye long before you twist that chair and get the gun out. But lets say, I'm bluffing. Maybe I am a frail nut case, maybe you could shoot me. John unloaded seven bullets into my leg and I'm still here. I lost a lot of blood though. Another shot might kill me. John wouldn't be too happy and people die when he's not happy. So we can play this out or you could stop lying so badly."

 

Skye’s heart raced as she watched the scene unfold in front of her eyes. She had to do something. She slipped out of Ambriel’s hands, stealthily taking one of the Tranquilizers from her. She gave her a smile as she walked off, her hands steadier then she thought they would be. She concealed it under her sleeve as she walked onwards.

“Maybe this can be done peacefully!” she yelled walked towards them both, “Can’t we do this peacefully?”

She walked over to Miss Brenda’s side, her face in it’s puppy dog pose. She grabbed one of her hands, and patted it gently.

“C’mon Miss Brenda.”

In one quick motion she aimed the needle into Brenda’s neck. Instantly the woman fell limp on her chair. She dropped the needle and looked at Gregor in shock.

“She was… going to shoot you?”

 

Brenda held her breath for a short while. Stupid girl. Before Gregor could reply, she lifted her neck, and then placed her elbows on her desk. Ambriel had already stood up and walked towards Skye, shielding her.
"Thing is, Belleth, that this is none of your business. Stay out out of my way and maybe I'll stay out of yours."
With that, she gave a rapid jerk to the table, causing it to fall over Gregor. She quickly somersaulted in the air and landed beyond her patients, and ran out of the room. She pulled Walter towards her, who was still limping from the shot.
"Tell the receptionist I was off from lunch break because of a family emergency."
With that, she started to aim to escape the hospital from the backside.

 

Brenda held her breath for a short while. Stupid girl. Before Gregor could reply, she lifted her neck, and then placed her elbows on her desk. Ambriel had already stood up and walked towards Skye, shielding her.
"Thing is, Belleth, that this is none of your business. Stay out out of my way and maybe I'll stay out of yours."
With that, she gave a rapid jerk to the table, causing it to fall over Gregor. She quickly somersaulted in the air and landed beyond her patients, and ran out of the room. She pulled Walter towards her, who was still limping from the shot.
"Tell the receptionist I was off from lunch break because of a family emergency."
With that, she started to aim to escape the hospital from the backside.

 

Gregor smiled. "That shot was enough to take out Mortimer. Interesting. Oh, "he said to Ambriel and Skye, "there's one thing we all know for sure - she's connected with John. Anyone want to tell Francine?"

 

Skye helped him lift the table off of Gregor and helped him to his feet. Her hands were shaking.

“I’ll go if you come with me Mister Gregor.” She said, “But maybe, some rest would be good. Since Francine went home for the night.” She bit her lip, not sure what to do.

 

Mortimer sat in his dark cell, eyes wide open. Encompassing him were voices, voices of doubt and rage. His eyes squinted and drool dripped into his beard. He arched his back and screamed. He couldn't take the voices in his head any longer...

 

Ambriel slipped out of Brenda's office after making her excuses to Skye and Gregor. She needed to get some air...the whole thing just left her numb. She could see the doors leading to the patients patio, but before she could get through them she stoped, and turned back towards the rooms...Mortimer's room.

As she approached his door she could hear him screaming...a dark smile crossed her lips.

The room was dark, standing there in that small space Ambriel could feel herself go light...it was as if she was floating away...to somewhere dark and void.

Mortimer sat screaming...the ominous shadow fell before him once more.

"Have you considered my words...have you contimplated life, "Future God?" The voice was heavy, deep.

The room was cold...and very still.

 

Mortimer looked up, the voice was material. He felt as though it had weight, and was crushing his body and the room. Darkness surrounded him and he struggled to be free of it. He began sobbing, the mocking words of the voice smashing into his skull. Losing strength, his head drooped forward.
"Kill me... f***ing kill me..." was all Mortimer could say.

 

"Weakness isn't very becoming of a future God...I have plans for you...but you must first learn power isn't in killing the weak...power is found in perserving the meek...thus making them strong."

"I will leave you to consider my words...consider your loyalities in ernest...your future depends upon the choices you make."

The shadow vanished as quickly as it came. The room was quiet once more.

 

When the shadow left, he suddenly felt his strength return. He lifted his head and gasped for air. Spitting on the floor, he leaned back and laughed. He didn't laugh harshly like usual, but a full-hearted belly laugh. His eyes wide and expressionless, Mortimer grinned as far as his lips would part.
"F***ing idiot..."

 

Brenda was giggling like a naughty little girl, yawning a while later as she rolled over John. John cackled, but for some reason his voice was pleasant, not scary.
"You look so handsome tonight, John."
Her voice was coaxing and sweet, due to which John's response was flattering too.
"You aren't any less pretty."
They both laughed, and finally they came into view. Brenda wore a green nightdress and was draped in a thin quilt, while John was wearing a loose nightgown. Brenda suddenly hugged John, and then John pushed her away abruptly. Brenda's face fell, and she asked worriedly:
"Don't you love me?"
John shrugged, moving further away from Brenda.
"I love Francine."
A sudden sharpness developed in her expression, and slowly the room started to float away. I was tucked in my bed, fast asleep. The door shut behind me, and I awoke to the sound. The darkness seemed to dance as shadows crept on my night suit. Someone raised a shiny fragment of metal, and then Brenda's envious face came to light as she struck my skull with the knife.

I woke drenched in a frightening amount of sweat. My heartbeat was slowing down from the high speed it had reached, and I gasped for air. This is just one of the many nightmares I had witnessed in just one night.

The more frightening one involved Gregor. I had entered his room to check his pulse, because the doctors said he was having a heart problem. I walked towards him, seeing him covered in a white cloth. I pulled out his wrist to check the pulse, but it came in my hand as such. I realized it was a plastic hand! I removed the white cloth to find a plastic doll lying in front of me. Suddenly, the lights dimmed until their light vanished and I could feel Gregor watching me from the corners of his room. I heard a cold voice:
"Dr. Klesps wants to talk to you."
I spun around to see a gigantic blob of blood gnashing its teeth, or at least when seemed like its teeth. I screamed, but I doubt anyone heard it in the facility.
"This is for your betrayal."

Several other nightmares had come to me that night, but I managed to sleep soon after the traumatic events. I looked at the alarm clock and read the time as 3 AM. I shut my eyes once more, waiting to drowse off to sleep. I don't know what happened, but I opened my eyes after what seemed to be five minutes, and it was 9 o'clock.

I rushed to the dressing room and then to the subway, two hours late for the hospital. I wasn't scolded; I was, in effect, the boss - but the situation was fascinating. I had slept for more hours than the usual and I still felt worn out and tired, as though I had been up all night. Even Dr. Klein noticed it, as he commented:
"You stayed up all night?"
I nodded for the sake of it, and walked to my office. Today's agenda had four things on it; get the urine samples, get information on John; give the resignation and leave for Israel with Jerry, first thing after the resignation.

But would it all have been possible?

******​

"You were not supposed to do this, Danielle."
"I had no choice. Belleth, or Gregor, or whatever new name we may find for him - had me numbered!"
"He's an injured man, Danielle."
"Injured my foot! He has to have an injured brain to be stopped."
The man had a goatee and relatively long hair which reached his shoulders. His eyes were green, thus complimenting his dark complexion. Brenda pushed her hair back, trying to show her distress.

"You're supposed to be a professional, not a pickpocket kind."
"I thought I was only going to be thinking about John when we started this. Now, he has dragged in Francine, her brother, three mad people of which at least one is definitely sane and even a few other creeps. How can I hide the details from everyone and moreover, search on everyone?"
The man shrugged, and then yawned.
"At least you let nothing out."
"Yeah, but they now realize I have something to do with Calipto. Which is totally not good."
"It's time to initiate plan B."
"Plan B is too dangerous. I can't risk it."
"We have no choice."

Brenda yawned, and this time looked at her wristwatch.
"I have to leave soon. Got some hospital work to do."
"Okay, go on. Don't worry about the passports, I've got it done. Just act cool and ignore them. If they start it again, give them a shot. No big."
Brenda nodded and walked downhill towards her Pajero.
"Also, start working on Plan B."
Brenda gave a thumbs up from the foot of the hill, and then jumped in the car.

 

Look up, the eternal roof
She is a hoax, and more
But still our baby​

 

Everic tackled with the snow globe, tired and unhappy. She was agitated by everything and everyone around her, especially her head which was pounding like a bomb about to explode. Scarum handed her another set of toys but she shoved them away.
"I want Daddy!"
She spoke in a language other than English.

Her mousy and sweet voice echoed throughout her acre long room. The bed was made from the finest wool and cotton and the embroidery was done with gold threads. Diamonds and other precious stones were embedded on the wall with all sorts of beautiful paintings of Everic and her dead mother Maste. Scarum shook his head and sat down beside Everic.

"My dear child, your father will be here soon."
He too, adopted a language other than English.
"You've been saying that all morning. I want him now."
Scarum looked down at his feet, and then readily bowed.
"I will try my best to contact him and inform him of your eagerness to meet him."
"Good."

Everic haughtily raised her slender neck and then grabbed a small toy. Today, she was being a mermaid.
"Swish swosh, swish swosh."

She made funny noises as she swam over the one kilometer long bed, and then decided to become an armadillo. She had never seen one but in pictures her father brought her once. She rolled over the bed, giggling for a few moments. But her head ached so much that hse decided to stop and settled down as the normal creatures she was.

"Scarum?"
She moaned, trying to accept the bitter pain.
"Yes, your father will be here soon."
He spoke hurriedly, cleaning the floor which was accumulated with hundreds of toys.
"No, I want to ask where Daddy is. Why isn't he home? Why is he somewhere else all the time?"
Scarum smiled, not knowing how to reply.
"Your father is very busy man, Everic. He has to run an election campaign, and has to...solve some problems."
"Problems?"
"Yes, my child. He is a very special man, and special men have special enemies. He has to finish them because if he doesn't, they will finish everyone."
Everic frowned, looking at her nightgown which was made of the finest clothing material on the planet.
"Why do people hurt others, Scarum?"
"Because...some people are bad, Everic. They...they hate seeing others happy."
"They're so mean. I hope all of Dad's enemies get lost."

Scarum's smile died out, and he returned to his work. After a few moments, the clicks of shoes could be heard.
"Daddy!"
Everic exclaimed, and jumped from her bed. John came running in, equally enthused. He lifted her in his arms and kissed her forehead, taking her to her bed.
"Daddy, I'm so happy you're here. Where were you?"
John kissed his daughter's forehead again, as he placed her dearly on the bed.
"Far away, in the land of knights and fools."
There was no indication of English from his words.
"Really?"
Everic chuckled, and such a beautiful symphony it created than John hugged her lovingly.
"Now, how is our princess?"
Everic blinked, now becoming a human at last.
"I'm great Daddy. Just missed you a lot."
John leaned forward and ran his fingers through her curls.
"I missed you too sugar. I missed you a lot."
Everic grabbed her father and sunk into his chest, crying:
"You won't leave me Daddy, would you?"
"I won't my love, I will never."

******​

"How long do you intend to stay, sir?"
"Approximately a day or so."
"So little?"
"I have a bride to wed, a bug to squish and a galaxy to scar. Respect my motives before you speak, general."
The man beside John nodded, and then spoke warily:
"Sir Souder, your daughter is becoming very impatient. Her cellular health is weak."
"I know. But my waiting here won't help her survive. I need to be at my mission, since it will provide salvage to her."
"But love is stronger than any medication."
"Keep your theories to yourself, general."
John picked up a cup of a weird drink and gulped it down. The general then spoke:
"Sir Souder, I must go."
John nodded and then took a seat.

"Calipto?"
John turned around and smiled upon seeing Hazewera.
"Welcome, my dear. Come in."
A beautiful woman walked in, and then stood in front of John. Suddenly, she hugged him and kissed his neck.
"It is pleasure to see you, Calipto."
John cackled, and then spoke eloquently:
"Not more pleasure than my own."
She then giggled and ran her fingers over his chest.
"How long will you keep me waiting? I'm becoming impatient."
"It will be not long, my dear Hazewera. I will bring us closer in no time."
Hazewera smiled and rested her head on John's chest, pretending to be a swan. John grinned and did the same.

 

Ambriel awoke to find herself crumpled on the floor, in a coroner of her room. She had no idea how long she had been there or what happened after she left Gregor and Skye.

Pulling herself up, she frowned a little as her knees were shaking. "What the hell am I doing here?" Making her way to the bed, something caught her eye. On the floor where she had been, were words, scribbled in a handwriting she hardly recognized. Ambriel got close to see it and nearly stumbbled backwards.

"FIND ANOTHER...THIS ONE IS WEAK!" was written several times.

Her heart raced as she grabbed up her sweater and headed out the door. She had no idea what time it was, but it didn't matter, she had to tell Gregor even if it meant waking him from his sleep.

 

Niel grows tired of laying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. He stands up and leaves his room. He goes to the playroom and sits down. Niel hears Chaos say, "We need to start paying closer attention to everyone we talk to in here." "Why, do you think they could be aliens?" thinks Niel. Chaos responds "There would be no easier place for aliens to blend in than an asylum." "Even if there are aliens, it doesn't mean that they are evil." thinks Niel. Chaos responds "That's true, but we should still try to figure out which ones are aliens." "I guess you're right." thinks Niel.

 

Gregor eased himself into his chair in the card room. "Yes Klesps, I should have listened to you. Clearly Brenda is one of them. WHat? Ambriel is coming? Yes, she does look worried."