Out of Their Minds

Niel knocks harder on the door. "Come on Dr. Francine. Please answer, I've got something to ask you." he says.

 

Glenny had to think over Skye's question - not an easy one. He wasn't afraid of death as much as he had been when he was a child, certain circumstances had taken that away. He had once been afraid of the straight jacket, until someone taught him how to escape it.

His family had never been full of quantity, and he thought about his father, and the friend lingering in the back of his head, yet to return. Someone took him away as well.

"Abandonment.. I guess."

 

Skye looked up at Glenny with soft eyes. She fully understood what he felt. She had been abandoned by all her family. First her mother, who had given up on protecting her from her own father. Then her grandparents who couldn’t see who she was beyond her tendancies.

“I use to be afraid of that.” She said, “But soon, I learned you can only truly rely on yourself.” She gave him a smile. She knew she wouldn’t be much help.

“You know though.” She said, “I wouldn’t abandon you. You’re a good person Glenny. Whomever has left you, didn’t deserve you.”

She looked back at the sun, “I use to be afraid of the dark. I faced it with some kind words from my friends. I’m still afraid of something though…” she whispered at the end, coming close to them both.

“I’m afraid of sleeping again. I’m afraid they’ll take more then just my limbs next time.”

 

Mortimer felt heavy in his cell, a familiar pull to the ground of some unseen weight. He looked up eagerly to see the creature he desired so greatly standing in the shadows outside his cell. Mortimer casually walked up to the bars and leaned against them, looking at his new cell mate.
"What can I do for ya?" said Mortimer.
"You, Mortimer, we need you. The one Belleth, or as you know Dr. Gregor Handel, is trying to sway all of you against us. I will let you know, Dr. Handel is a creature just like us whom is not of this Earth. Do you really want to trust him?"
Mortimer looked at his nails without care, "I don't see why I shouldn't. He's a helpful old bag, he is. I don't give a f*** where he comes from."
The creature blinked, and continued, "He is one of great trickery, and must be stopped. You are the only human whom can get close to him and possibly pose as a threat. We will help you escape this prison so you can go and finish him off. Either that or we can just leave you here to suffer by man's laws."
Mortimer considered the idea for a while. He really did want to get out, he smiled, "Alright you weird little f***. I'll play. You get me outta this sh*t hole and I'll kill Dr. Handel."
The creature melted back into the shadows and Mortimer heard the prison door suddenly unlock and swing open. Grabbing the cane they gave him, he limped out toward the main office of the police station.

 

Olena nodded thoughtfully at Glenny's answer and then about her own answer.
But she didn't have to answer right away, because Skye answered her instead.
"I know what you mean, Skye." Her brows furrowed further than ever. "You can have your cot brought in my room, if you want. I won't let anything happen to you." She put her solemn look away and grinned. "It'd be like a sleepover!"

 

Glenny gave Skye a weak smile. It had been seldom that anyone had told him anything in such a kind manner. She'd given him great advice, and he would keep it, if only he had the strength to let those things in the past go.

He watched as she sat forlornly. The sight of such a nice girl losing limbs to someone was unfathomable.

"You need to stay close with friends," he told her, his voice growing serious "I wouldn't want to let you stay in your room alone risking that. I have none anyway."

 

Skye smiled at Vira, bending over to give her a hug.

"That sounds fantastic, maybe we can all bunk in my room?" Though, she wasn't so sure the doctors would allow that. She could only hope.

She looked over at Glenny, her eyes brightened greatly. She reached over, giving him a hug with her right arm.

“Thanks Glenny.” She said, “Maybe, you can bunk with me. We can get Jason to get us some extra beds.”

 

Gregor let the orderlies lead him down the hallway before he stopped suddenly. "Where are you going to take me? I don't have a room anymore?"

The orderlies began to look at each other.

"We can use Morty's room. He's locked up anyway."

Gregor smiled. "Go ahead. Put me in there. Alone. With you three. Do you really think I'll let you strap me down? Jerold hurt me .... once. I'd hate to get hurt again." None of the orderlies moved. "I don't think Dr. Brenda would mind letting me play some cards. You could even watch me from the doorway."

Some of the orderlies shrugged. Others nodded. A few looked at their watches. Twenty mins till the shift change. SIlently they escorted Gregor back to his chair.

 

"Thanks, Skye." Glenny smiled at her again, thinking about the mishaps he'd experienced trying to find someplace to sleep.

 

"Sounds great," said Olena. She wondered if there were more numbers scratched into her wall, and thought about the spackle and touch-up paint her parents had brought her. She would have to make her room perfect for Skye to stay there.
"I'll be back in a little while, okay? I just have to take care of something."

 

Skye looked back as she noticed Gregor being ushered in by some of the orderlies. She motioned for Jason to come get her.

“We can talk about our plans later.” She said with a smile, “I’ve got something I need to talk to Gregor about.” She gave them both quick hugs as she was lifted back into her wheelchair.

“Can you get them to let him push me around?” she asked. He gave her a nod, and went to talk with the other orderlies. She waved to Gregor, giving him a smile.

“Like my new look?” she said sarcastically. Jason came back, as the other orderlies left.

“I’ll be waiting for you in here.” He said as he went back to his reading. She looked back up to Gregor.

“Up for a walk?”

 

Gregor smiled and felt hs whole body relax slightly. At least Skye was alive. Klesps whispered something in Handel's ear. He nodded and said, "Definitely Klesps but not till we are ready to leave." The "doctor" got up and began pushing Skye's chair. "Where to?"

 

Mortimer casually walked out to the main office of the police station. The lights were out and the cops were running everywhere in the confusion. Walking directly past a sheriff, he opened the door to outside. Limping down the steps to the street, he saw a young woman unlocking her car. He walked up to her and smiled saying, "Don't mind if I borrow that for a spell, do ya hon?"
He grabbed her by the hair and bashed her face into the side of the vehicle. Crumpling to the floor, Mortimer bent over and picked up her keys. Behind him, a police officer opened the doors to the station and saw Mortimer casually walking over to the driver's side of the car. Seeing the hurt woman, he freaked out and pulled his pistol from its holster. He fired several shots directly at Mortimer, but none hit. There was some sort of invisible force keeping them from hitting him. Mortimer, not noticing the shots, got in the car and drove off toward the psychiatric hospital.
The voice of the creature came to him in his mind, "I've made it so they can't pursue with their vehicles. I could only do it for this precinct though. You'll have to hurry because when they discover you're gone, they'll call for backup at the other precincts."
Mortimer smiled, this was going to be a good time.

 

I think I had dozed off as I read the new novel from the bookshop. I rubbed my eyes and then yawned, after which I said:
"Come on in."

 

Skye looked up at Gregor.

“Somewhere I can show you something.” She put her hand on her pouch, her fingers running along the outline of the pad, “I’ve found something that might help me understand. I don’t understand it though. You might.”

She looked around.

“Is Klesps here? Is he doing well?”

 

Niel limps into Francine's office. He sits down and says "Do you think Belleth and Calipto are human?"

 

"Klesps why ae you still hovering around my shoulders? Skye can't see you. What? Oh I'm sure she doesn't mind that your hair is messed up. Fine I'll give you a moment to fix it. There? Better? WHat? Why are you putting your fedora on now? You just .... hrum ... never mind. Just float ahead of us will you?"

Gegor wheeled Skye to Mortimer's room. "Now my dear what do you have to show me?"

 

Mortimer screeched to a stop before the psychiatric hospital. Slinking out of the car, he walked toward a side entrance. Checking for orderlies, he limped through the door and stopped. Pressing himself up against the wall, he thought quickly to himself where could Gregor be? He then heard the innocent voice of Skye, talking to someone she respected a lot. He knew it had to be Gregor, he smiled to himself.

 

She giggled, “Oh, I’m sorry my friend. I didn’t see you up there.” She looked up at Klesps with a wink, “You look absolutely stunning.”

She quickly became serious as she put her hand in her pouch. She slid out the pad, sliding it over to Gregor.

“I found this in my bloodied gown. I had it when I got de-limbed. Do you recognize this name?”

 

I raised and eyebrow and looked down at my novel. I shut it close and then pushed away my papers which formed a heap of clutter on a side.
"Well, I can't say. Though it would really seem so, Niel."

 

Mortimer turned the corner and looked directly at Skye and Gregor.
"Dr. Handel!" he screamed, "How are you today, you f***ing monster?"

 

Skye looked at Mortimer with angry eyes.

“Be nice you naughty!” she said, shaking her finger, “He is not a monster.”

 

"Haven't you noticed that Belleth doesn't limp anymore. Its only been a few days since he was shot several times in the leg, no human can heal that fast." says Niel.

 

Olena's hands flew to her mouth, muffling her yell as she saw the blood on her walls. The blood wasn't a threat though, it was a frantic plea, written by the writer's own blood. Listen to me, and do as I say, it screamed. Olena looked down at her arm - the worst cut paper could administer, she thought, looking down at the floor, where a piece of paper lay innocently bloodied. There were numbers carved, but no new ones - she'd simply not spackled over them yet. She looked under her bed, and saw the two jars. She also noticed part of her carpet was cut in a neat square, with the bottom not cut like a flap. How long has that been there? She thought, and lifted the carpet to see the cement underneath, and on it - the name. The name she knew, but knew not to whom it belonged, the name that explained everything in a word and sent chills up her spine. There it was, written neatly in all capital letters with a marker, the name Olena could no longer avoid:
CHLORIS

 

I nodded, and then said:
"I know that, and I believe you too. But I don't even remember what happened on Saturday. How can I be any surer about these wound thingy?"
I then breathed in deeply, finishing in a low voice:
"Brenda might have something to do with this."