Out of Their Minds

"See you later Skye. Goodnight Olena, Vira, and any one else that is inside of you." says Niel with a smile. He can hear Chaos say "Well atleast we aren't the only ones here with mutliple personalities." "I just hope all of her's learn to work together like we do." thinks Niel.

 

She didn’t say much as she was pushed into Olena’s room. She smiled at it, it was in perfect shape. The lack of spots made her feel right at home. She dragged her aching body onto one of the beds, putting the blocks down next to her.

She knew she needed to do something. She knew she couldn’t do it alone. Gregor would have been her first choice to help her out, but she knew he was just as angry as she was. He was also an adult, he might try and stop her. Ambriel was on her mind too, but she wouldn’t put her in danger, she was too valuable a person. Olena was her last option. She was young and quick. She would be the perfect partner.

“Olena… I need to ask you something….” She said in a whisper.

 

Olena leaned in close to hear what Skye was unfolding.
"Sure, anything," she whispered back.

 

Skye smiled, putting her mouth close to her ear as she whispered her plan into her ear. She quickly lay down, waiting for her reaction. She hoped Olena would help, she would definitely need it.

 

Olena listened tentatively to the plan, and nodded. Then she pulled out the paper again and scrawled:
Vira, I am your master and I can prove it. Don't you dare do a thing that would hurt Skye. Listen carefully for the word under the bed and you'll unlock both worlds. She poised her pen a moment, and thought, and then she added something. You're a smart girl, Vira, you'll figure it out.

 

Skye smiled broadly, as she lay down in the bed. She needed sleep. She wouldn’t be able to do much without it. She close her eyes and let her sore body relax. She would have to carry out her plans later, for now. Her body would rest. She dozed off and dreamt of what was to come.

 

Vira looked over at the sleeping Skye. Her eyes filled with angry tears at whoever had cut off two of her limbs. She wiped the tears away, feeling a sense to look in the drawer. Finally, she followed directions. She looked under the carpet, and there it was. The name had been with her her whole life, as if it was there even before her first memory, and, finally, she gave herself over to direction. She went outside and asked for paper from a nurse, who gave her a short stack. She thanked the nurse, put all but one sheet on the shelf in her closet, and neatly wrote a note.
Skye, I've gone to get some air. I hope you have had an excellent nap - I will most likely be back before you wake, but I'm leaving a note just in case.
She left, but air was the least of what she aquired.

 

After bidding Skye and Olena farewell, Glenny smiled at Niel and went back to the corner of the playroom. He layed his head on top of a large stuffed animal and stared at the lights on the ceiling.

"Things are really getting stupid here Ramses.." he muttered, throwing a doll across the room.

 

Vira came back into the room quietly - Skye was still asleep, and she took the note off the door, folding it neatly and putting it in the wastebasket. She smirked, and spoke silently.
How am I doing, then, Chloris?

 

Noah staggered in. The floor and walls and people moved and shook in unnatural ways, swaying and blurring at random intervals.

"Funny colors...."

Two or three orderlies asked him if he was okay, but he just smiled, saying he was just dandy and asking if they liked his new hair. Black with dark purple strips.

At this point, he hardly remembered last week. He sorta remember the guy he had been with last night, but that was more or less it. He didn't even remember the way home, but the bottle of pills in his pocket had this address. It was empty and sorta old, but that was his only clue. Walking closer to the building, one thought appeared on his mind. Mom.

He knew he had gone out for something, unfortunately his mind failed him in that department. He did realize he owed someone an apology, perhaps many apologies.

Noah continued to stagger across the hallways, finally reaching the one room he was looking for. He went in, curling up in the couch and bringing his sleeves lower over his wrists. He wasn't sure what his mom would be angrier about, the recently healed slashes on his wrists, or the obvious punctures on the back of his elbows.

Noah shivered, trying no to look at the goldfish spewing insults at him. Weak. Homo. Junkie. Sick.

"I'm not sick.....I'm not sick, mom...." But in the back of his mind, there was a small light of realization that he might just be sick. No wonder the fish talked, but he gave some damn good advice sometimes.

 

"Dr. Francine!"

I heard a desperate cry as I attempted to go off early today. Seriously, I was really angry at Brenda and could not tolerate more oblivion. Gregor asked for loyalty, which she couldn't risk to give. No one else knew in particular. John seemed crazy and Brenda was a confused one. She had to do this herself.
"Yes, Walter?"
"Ma'am, Noah's back!"

I eyes lit up with surprise. Noah had been missing for a few days, something which I had relatively ignored in view of the blooming events. But now, I should have at least left after meeting him.
"Dear?"
I asked, knocking my door beforehand. He had quickly ventured to my office, as I expected.

"Mom?"
He asked, worn out. He then hiccuped and I worriedly ran to him.
"Walter, get a general physician. I think he's ill."
Walter nodded and went to the general ward. I caressed Noah's hair, asking him softly:
"How are you, dear?"

 

"G-good. Do you like my hair mom?" He gestured to the strand of black and purple hair, keeping his wrists as hidden as possible.

His wrists were the least of his problems, the bigger one would be the marks on his arms of drugs having been injected into his bloodstream. Yeah, mom wouldn't be too happy about it, might as well hide it and deny, deny, deny.

 

I sighed, and then eyes the dye deeply. It wasn't an expensive one, but a roadside one. I had a feeling Noah had been in bad company.

"Where have you been all this time, Noah?"

I asked, and then rubbed his hand. He was being stiff, trying to hide something. A pang of worry hit me as I saw a bruise on the corner of his wrist.
"What's this?!"
I exclaimed, uncovering his left wrist. I daunted as the scars proceeded to signs of injections, and then I gasped, out of breath. Noah was on drugs!
"Noah, how could you?"
My eyes were filled with tears, and I turned as the general physician came. He sighed at Noah, and then said calmly:
"Looks big."

I stood on a side as he examined him. Just what I needed - one of my favorite patient on drugs.

 

"Do....do you hate me mom? Do you hate me now?" He cried quietly, letting the doctor examine his wounds. They were mostly healed but healed badly, what was it with scabs that one always felt like picking on them? Or a mosquito bite. Why couldn't nature make it so that if you scratched it it healed quicker.

"M-mom? Mom, what are you doing? Where are you going?"

 

I shook my head, despaired. Why did he do this? I couldn't take the pressure.
"He's been doing drugs."
The doctor exclaimed, and then demanded an injection from his assistant. Seeing my dead corpse-like face, he reassured me:
"He'll be fine, Dr. Francine. Nothing which cannot be fixed."

He then gave Noah an injection, at which he howled angrily.
"Should help with healing and immunity. We can have him visit us every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for drug rehab."
He said out loud, and then started leaving, before which eh confirmed:
"Alright?"

I nodded, and he left. I gave one glance at Noah and replied in between muffles:
"You...you shouldn't have. Why didn't you come to me? You...you just shouldn't."
I then turned to leave, unable to handle the tears.

 

"Mom? Mom. MOM!! MOOOM!!"

Noah began thrashing about, falling hard to the floor. "Mooom!! You can't leave me! You can't leave me mooom! Mooom!!" He cried out for her, loud and hard until his voice rasped and his throat hurt.

"Mooom..." He moaned pathetically, allowing the orderlies to pick him up and take him to his room.

 

I ignored his shouts. I was not in the mood to listen. I walked calmly to the reception, ignoring him to the most. The receptionist smiled at me, and I kept staring back coldly. Suddenly, I gave a painful scream and slapped the desk.
"I WISH I WERE DEAD!"
My voice was heard in the entire hospital, but no one said anything. I was the freaking head of the department - my foot, that crummy post - after all. I groaned as I left the building. I was so out of it.

 

I made the funniest mistake this evening. Funny, amusing and devastating. I got drunk.

I have never turned to drinking for eight years now. I called quits long time ago, and promised to lead a normal, religious life. I had made that promise with a very eminent Rabbi, too. I had promised to serve humanity, please God and fight the infidels. And all those lengthy promises - but I broke down today. Emily, my good friend, may be better blamed. She dragged me to an evening disco, somewhere I'd never really go. And then, she tempted me to drink. I was reluctant at first and wanted to leave, but looking at how people were freed of their worries through this magical potion of some sort, I took a glass. Then another. Then another.

It seemed to really work, in some ways. I danced to death, screaming and yelling for no good reason. Emily joined me, and we were soon drunkards roaming the shops as though we had nothing in life. Well, being realistic, I did have nothing. My brother was kidnapped, my patients were a mixture of drug addicts, violent monsters, crazy people and aliens, my best friend wanted me dead and the only man in my life who liked me actually was a loser in the worst meaning. It gets better. I was probably inviting alien abduction.

And so, I blurted stupid and meaningless phrases as I strolled out of the last shop in the town, mainly due to the insistence of the police.
"Aliens everywhere! Get your microwaves on, they die from microwaves on a potato. HA!"
I had yelled, and then giggled with Emily. Emily was too tired to join me, and she soon passed out. I left her there on the street, cackling like a hyena. By the time I gained consciousness of what I did, I was in the strippers' club, not remembering how in the world I got there of all the places.

I was tired and roughed up, regretting that I had drunk. Instead, I paced towards the police station. I had to get to John's house and clear the clutter. I reached in a short while, and got his address in a few. He lived out of town, but the subway ran there too. I got on the train the next moment and murmured his address over and over again. Somehow, I felt I had forgotten my own address.

And that's how I reached John's - or Calipto's - luxury apartment, standalone if I must add. The apartment was two-storey, well-designed and otherwise spacious. I recalled my lock-picking techniques from school with Martha, and used all the knowledge to break his gate. Alas, it was to no avail. I then frowned and jumped over the gate without rethinking my actions. After all, he was a supposed detective. He must have movement sensors or something of the sort.

Despite the danger which lay ahead, I walked into his apartment. It was open and ready for display, to my surprise. I had landed in the lounge from the front door and was searching through the stuff for evidence. There were mainly magazines, cigarette packs, pictures of nude women, some stupid science club subscriptions and a bunch of lighters. That was the weirdest part - lighters. At least fifty. What did he do with them? Incinerate houses?

I kept going through his stuff. He was rich, I realized. He had a couple of thousand bucks lying around the house casually. But it was to be noted that his daughter was nowhere to be seen. There wasn't even a room for her. Only one room was occupied, and it was his no doubt. Unnerved, I went inside his room and searched for evidence. I found heaps of details about the real John Francs, his death and related events too - which proved Calipto's forgery. There was also a music CD rack at a side. When I checked it, I found several DNA samples.
"What were you doing here, Calipto?"

I asked myself, and then grabbed a crate of items from underneath the bed as I randomly had been checking with my hand. I pulled it out and saw several albums. Feeling a little curious, I pulled open one and immediately dropped it. My eyes were carved in horror while my hands trembled. I crawled away from the album, and heart skipped a beat. It was true. It was true!

The pictures were not of any human, I could tell. Some blackish, jelly-like creature was in there, with a smaller one beside it. I had no idea how they identified one another, but they were not human at all. They were aliens. I gulped down in worry as I looked down at the title of the picture:

Calipto and Everic - the perfect pair

I sunk away, trembling in fear. My worst nightmares were coming to life. I felt cold and clammy as a deep voice awakened me from my paralysis of mind.
"Well, you finally know."
I spun around and saw Calipto, grinning satanically.

I stood up, and whimpered. He stepped nearer to me, but little by little.
"I would've told you myself, you know. You didn't have to pry.”
I stumbled over an alarm clock, and winced in trepidation.
“You’re right, by the way. I’m not human. I’m a frontik. I presume you’ve never heard the word before, correct? Well, you can say we’re the humans of Ghalmaraz. The brainy ones. And Ghalmaraz – well, of course it’s a planet. Five galaxies from here, if you must. Not quite next door, as you may put it.”
He then took another step and I quivered, my foot my spindle as I spun towards the door.
“You don’t want to leave yet, do you? I haven’t told you anything yet.”
He then took a big leap and our stomachs touched.
“You see, Earth and Ghalmaraz are very alike. In fact, Earth is worse. I mean; you guys have racism. There, we all look almost the same, so ha! And then there’s religion. In Ghalmaraz, religion is a unifying factor unlike for you guys. And also, you guys love war. Israel, Kashmir, Iran, Afghanistan – what next? There, we don’t love war – but we do accept it as a part of life.”
He grinned, and I dropped to the floor, losing balance.
“But one thing is very alike. Gender discrimination. Uprooting female rights. We did that too. You see, years ago, we ran out of energy resources. You guys are still surviving – but we were completely finished.”
He stopped, watching me trying to escape him, my cheeks red with panic and terror.

“Our females are special in this regard. They are stronger than us, you see. Their cellular components contain and release enough energy to live on for decades. Meaning, that our females could actually be an endless supply of fuel!”
I felt choked, a poisonous ache developing in my thighs.
“And so, when I became president of the United Frontiks of Ghalmaraz – something like a non-fake UNO for you – I did it. I made female burning legal and this greatly solved the fuel problem. There were feminists who rose against the act – but the thirst for fuel made them realize the importance for it. You see, I’m a logical man. I measure the advantages and disadvantages before any action. I deemed female burning necessary for technological and scientific advancement, and I went on with it. It was almost a success.”
I felt my heart throbbing in nervousness. My feet numbed as I crawled further away from him.
“Almost. Something went wrong, and our females began to die without reason. Dead cells were useless, and that became a drawback. I was then forced to kill my wife and my slave – Maste and Zvera – for the sake of contributing to the livelihood of our planet. But it didn’t suffice. Soon, we ran out of females, and fuel.”

My hands twitched. I kept saying silent prayers as he took another step towards me.
“I made a mistake, I guess. But I should have every right to fix it. Yes, I surely should have. And that’s why I’m running my election campaigns as the president of UFG all over again, and this time I’ve made a foolproof plan. Decades of scientific study and research has brought me here. And you’re the core of it all.”

My eyes widened, drying out. I finally lifted myself, a little wobbly but managing to stand. Calipto stepped in front of me as I tried to escape. He looked into my trembling eyes, speaking sweetly:
“You want to help the people of this universe, don’t you? Well, here’s the chance. And it’s lossless, there’s only profit to it. You not only help the frontik population, but you help yourself. To think – being the wife of the president of UFG, in turn the president of a huge planet. To think; all the luxuries, money and fame.”
I finally understood. That’s why he was here. Me. It was all a plan, a faking to trap me. Though it didn’t make sense, he was actually aiming for me. My voice cracked as I forced some sounds through my voice box.
“No…leave me. I don’t want this. Just leave me alone.”

Calipto cupped his hands around my jaw, as I struggled against the heat inside of me.
“No, no, don’t be afraid Francine. I will never hurt you like Maste. I loved her, and would have never hurt her had it not been a desperate era. But from now on, there will be no desperation. There will be no failure, only success.”
I finally felt my energy returning. I shrugged him off, shrieking:
“NO! I don’t want this. I don’t want to be a part of this. I want to be a normal person. A normal person.”
I repeated everything so as to console myself. John cackled, growling proudly:
“You have no choice. You didn’t listen to Belleth’s warnings – now pay for it.”
Calipto made a move for me. I reflexively picked up a lamp from behind me and hit him. He grunted, and I quickly fled. No matter how sore my soles were, and how my jaw ached against the biting cold – I kept running. Calipto didn’t follow. He stopped at his door, watching me run.
“You can run, you can hide, but you can never get rid of me.”

I trudged past all obstacles, may it be the cars, the subway and even the bandits in town, regardless of what the consequences could be. It was raining, and hale soon followed. The wind helped me run, and the water washed away my sweat and tears. My blood was looping within – I could feel my veins bursting as I ran into the mental institution.

I grabbed the first orderly I saw, and shook him.
“I want to see Belleth – I mean Gregor. Right now!”
I was shaking, and my voice was slurry. The orderly was frightened by my bloodshot eyes but ignored it, and walked to the playroom.
“Francine, what happened?”
Brenda’s voice was heard. I tried locating her, and found her by my side. I felt a spasm as I jumped away from her.
“You…you mark your distance from me. I’m not going to go with you or Calipto, you remember that. I’m not going with you two. You aliens.”
I hissed at her, at which her pupils dilated for a few seconds and then returned to normal. She clutched my shoulder, saying:
“What are you talking about? Calipto? Aliens?”
“Yeah, yeah, act innocent. It doesn’t help you, for your information.”
Brenda shook her head, looking surprised.
“But what are you talking about, Francine?”
“It’s none of your business. I need to talk to Belleth.”
“Belleth?”
“Gregor, you…just let me go!”
I walked away from her, when she stopped me hysterically.
“Why are you calling Gregor Belleth? Francine, are you alright? You haven’t been seeing things, have you?”

I spun around, and slapped her.
“ENOUGH! You and Calipto have made my life a misery. Stop acting like you know nothing.”
Brenda turned pale, shivering.
“I don’t know anything! What is wrong with you?”
For a moment, I felt insecure. I retorted:
“Calipto is John, and you know it. Now stop irritating me.”
“Who’s John?”
Her question startled me.
“Your master, Miss. I-don’t-know.”
“My what? Francine, what’s wrong with you. Why are you talking about aliens and weird people? Are you in your senses?”
I felt the ground shaking.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean to say, that I’ve never heard of any John at all. And who’s this Belleth and Calipto? And more importantly – where’d aliens come from?”
My lips trembled. Why was she doing this?
“John’s a detective. He came to our hospital to look for aliens. He got urine samples. First he shot Gregor, then the urine samples were burned. Then…then he shot Skye. Many other things too. What…why are you acting like this?”
Brenda gasped for air.
“Oh no! You haven’t been taking your medications, have you?”
She hugged me, sobbing violently.
“I’m so sorry. I should’ve judged from your weird behavior.”
She then let go of me, murmuring sadly:
“Your schizophrenia is back, I’m afraid. You’ve been seeing things.”

My eyes widened. This wasn’t true. I hadn’t thought all of this up. This couldn’t be right…
“No – no!”
I screamed, pressing my cheeks. Brenda shook her head and then shouted:
“Orderlies! Nurses!”
I eyed her angrily as two nurses grabbed me, with an orderly standing there just in case.
“You’re, you’re lying. You’re making a fool of me. It’s all a plan. You want to hurt me, that’s why.”
Brenda looked away, acting very touchy.
“I understand your disease has compelled you in believing these fables. But…but it doesn’t change anything about our friendship.”
“Have you lost it? We’re not friends! We’re freaking enemies!”
Brenda held her forehead, tensed.
“I’m sorry.”
She clicked her fingers, and the orderlies pulled out a syringe.
“NO! I’m not crazy! You guys know it!”
I struggled crazily, looking at the nurses’ faces.
“Velvet! Eve! You know John. You know what he did to Skye and Gregor. You remember it all, don’t you?”
They remained silent, and then Eve said:
“There wasn’t any John, and no one hurt Skye and Gregor, ma’am.”
I stopped struggling, my eyes staring into Eve’s. She showed no expression as she stung me with the anesthetic and I felt myself flopping down.
“No…”
I moaned, losing consciousness.

******​

Brenda walked over to Francine and then grabbed Eve’s chin.
“Take her to the jail room. Remember: no one is supposed to know she’s there. No doctor, no other nurse or orderly but you three. Especially not Gregor. Especially not.”
Eve, Velvet and Cain nodded, at which Brenda turned away and started to leave. The nurses looked at Francine guiltily and dragged her secretively to the jail room.

 

After about an hour of sheer talking to herself in her mind, she'd learned a bit, taught a lot, and done her fair share of convincing. Then she looked over at Skye, who was stirring, and she decided to push the box of blocks neatly under the little girl's cot. She scanned the room, making sure everything was in line, and then she quickly looked into Vira's hiding place - just for certainty.

 

Skye woke up, but didn’t open her eyes. Her body throbbed painfully, and her head ached. She put her hand over he eyes and breathed in deeply as she tempted to get past the pain. She’d need to learn to get over it. She knew if she didn’t she would be screwed. The tears flowed down her eyes as she rolled into a ball, taking deep breaths. She wanted the pain to stop.

She looked up at Vira with wide, tearful eyes. She quickly lifted herself up, as she began to yell for the orderlies. She held close to the girl as they ran in. Jason came with a frown on his face.

“You should still be in the hospital you know.” He said as he lifted her into the wheelchair. She gave him a grin.

“But you wouldn’t do that to me.” He pat her on the head, as he injected the painkillers into her arm. She could feel the instant relief as she lay back into her seat.

She looked up at the vents and knew she’d have to sometime get up there and continue with her plan. She just didn’t have the energy. She looked back up at Jason, giving his hand a squeeze.

“Thanks buddy.” She said with a smile. He nodded and walked out. She looked back at Olena.

“Did you get anything yet? Can we start?” she asked the girl.

 

Olena smiled.
"Vira's got some things - one I think is the first step, and . . . I've aquired the rest." She looked up at the vent. "I'm short and thin," she remarked, "I can get into the vent if you need me to."

 

Skye smiled broadly at her friend. She quickly leaned in, giving her a strong hug with her arm. She looked up at the vent. She frowned, there would be few adventures for her now. She knew that for a fact, not in her condition. She looked back at Olena’s thin frame. She would be able to fit in there pretty easily, something she was grateful for. She wheeled over, getting close to her ear.

“This is perfect, but I do need you to get two more things for me…” she whispered with a smile on her face. Her plan was falling out, she just hoped she would have the chance to pull it off.

 

Olena listened carefully, and nodded again.
"I think I can handle that . . . I might just bring you something else as well." She grinned widely.

 

She gave her a nod, and smile.

“I’ve got somewhere to be, I will see you soon my friend.” Her eye gave a violent twitch as she struggled to push herself to the door. It wasn’t easy with one hand. She felt as Olena helped push her out the door. Jason was outside waiting for her.

“Hey, can you take me to Doctor Brenda?” she asked. He looked at her and gave a nod. She lay back in her chair and closed her eyes as he pushed her towards the doctors office. She didn’t care about her thoughts of Brenda, she needed someone to talk to. She needed to get everything straight in her mind. She needed help understand what would become of herself. She opened her eyes as Jason knocked on the office door.

 

Brenda was typing down an email for her friend in Boston when the door rattled. She rubbed her eyes - Sundays nights were always degrading for her - and sighed.
"Come on in."
Her eyes lit up with consciousness when she saw Jason push Skye in.