Out of Their Minds

Skye's question hung in the air and on Ambriel's heart...She thought about her husband Jason, and how they would talk about having children and living in a big house with a white picket fence...he would tease her and say..."Ambree, I am being transferred to Alaska"...he laughed because he knew she always hated cold weather.

Swallowing hard she turned her attention back to Skye.."No my love, I never had any children of my own...but, I always wanted them...a little girl in fact that looked just like you." She wondered if Skye saw the tears she tried hard to disguise...looking around the room, she saw the card game continued...she wasn't sure but she thought she saw someone from the table looking right her..."It's just paranoia Ambriel, you need your meds...your meds...meds." The thoughts were maddening in her head.

 

"Of course, you can ask Dr. Klesps and I anything at all," said Gregor as he placed his cards face down.

 

"I wanted to know..." He faltered, he didn't really want to know the answer, not at this precise moment..."No, forget it. Maybe some other time." He smiled at Dr. Gregor's friend and then at Dr. Gregor.

"So, what are we playing for? I hope not much because I don't have that much money on me."

 

"That's it." Glenny proclaimed as the man readied the shot for him.

"I like your thinking."

"You owe me if this works."

"And it better."

The man finally got the shot ready, and frowned at his partner, who continued to look out the door anxiously, wanting desperately to get out. Then he looked at Glenny.

"You're really sure about this? I don't trust a word you say kid."

"Well start. I've been taking this for as long as I can remember. It's the right stuff."

Glenny kept his eye intently on the orderly as he remained to sit unsurely with the decision.

"Glenny! Do something! This is annoying!"

The orderly finally went for it. He slowly brought the needle to Glenny's arm.

"Now Glen!"

Taking Ramses' orders, Glenny took hold of the man's wrist and twisted it as far as it would go, until it cracked. The needle fell out of his hands and grabbing it swiftly he held it firm.

"Nothing personal!" he cried regretfully to the man and stuck the needle into his wrist, squeezing the applicater. A loud thump ensued as the man fell to the ground.

 

She bit her lip as she saw the sadness in her eyes, but gave her a big smile. She used the end of her sleeve to wipe the wet tears from her eyes.

“Do you like Doctor Klesps?” she asked with a giggle, “I think he’s funny. I like him.”

Her eye gave a violent twitch sending the blocks in her hands flying. She cried out as the yellow fell into the blue pile, and the red into yellow. She quickly scrambled, and picked them up. She quickly slid the piles back into their straight lines and looked up at Ambriel, her face red with embarrassment.

“Why do they make you stay in here?” she asked as she began to add more to the piles. She was slowly building them, making sure they stayed perfectly straight.

 

My shift ended five o’clock and after getting my job done, I decided to return home. I had several ‘normal’ issues to deal with, after all.

“Jerry?”

My voice echoed in the lounge, even though it was really small. Jerry scuttled downstairs, mainly because he was waiting for his sister too. His ragged shirt had a picture of a Chinese model on it while his baggy trousers seemed as if they’d drop any minute now. I looked away from his unwashed and unshaven face, the ice-cream marks all over.

“Yo, sister! Guess what? Mike got a new bike this morning, and we went everywhere in the country! The neighbors were impressed too, ya know.”
I unbuttoned my doctor’s coat, nodding.
“So how’s our Doctor today?”

I had most of my accessories off, and my usual dress – a long skirt which had an unimpressive fall and a loose Asian style shirt – was all that remained, and adorned my beauty.
“We need to have a talk, bro.”
“About what?”
“Brenda and you.”

The room was silent, and Jerry turned away, rubbing his chin and increasingly his throat.
“I told you the last time you guys went on a date that I will not allow it. Not when she is my friend and you are my brother.”
Jerry shot a disapproving glance but I didn’t let him pipe in yet.
“I already had a tough time handling you. If my best friend starts dating you I will feel liable to handle both of you. Why can’t you understand that?”
“Handle me, handle me. Why don’t you handle your best friend? She’s so erratic.”
Jerry said with a grin, and I could barely hold her hands. He was sick!
“Shut up, and stay shut. You know she’s my friend, but you’re my brother. You’re a blood relative, a.k.a., born from the same parents?”
Jerry shrugged, and then murmured something in his mouth.
“What’d you say? Jerry, if this goes around long I swear I’ll stop serving you food and your pocket money will go half.”

Jerry finally had a burst of anger and his head rose in fury which was intensifying as my dominating face lurked over him.
“I can’t believe you! You’re acting as if I can’t have a romantic relationship with anybody!”
“Anybody, but my best friend!”
“Who are you to dictate that to me, huh?”
“The owner of this crummy old apartment and your unfortunate elder sister!”
Jerry groaned and turned away vainly. I to be a softie and so, dropped down on the sofa and started weeping.

“Why do you always do this to me, Jerry? I gave you all that I had. And you still can’t do this one thing for me.”
Jerry was unsympathetic towards his sister’s tears. He spoke coldly:
“My personal life is none of your business.”
“It is, Jerry. You’re still unsettled and immature. Someone has to protect you, and I guess I should.”
“You shouldn’t, you freaking crazy woman! Not after what you did to Dad!”

Jerry blurted, but immediately shut his mouth. His backed away, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that…”
My temper burned up and I spoke expressionlessly:
“Get out.”
Jerry realized he had to get hold of my mercy.
“I’m sorry…really, Francine. I didn’t – “
“I asked you get your filthy face away from me! And I don’t care if you live or die, but you better not come here every again!”
I shouted, clenching my fists. Before the situation could heat up even more, the phone rang. I sighed and like always, forgot my anger and went smiling to pick up the phone.

“Hello?”
“Francine…thank God you picked up! You have to come now, Francine. This is urgent!!!”
“Why…what happened?”
“Riots by the patients! Schizophrenics taking hallucinogenics…OCDs taking high protein tablets…we need you, ma’am! Most of the doctors have been locked in. Please help!”
Just then the man screamed and I found no reason to keep standing calling to him. Forgetting all that happened a while ago, I ran to the subway.

 

"Oh nothing. Since they got rid of the ATM, I don't have access to my money. Klesps donates all of his to charities. So we just play to pass the time. Huh? Really? Apparently shuffling cards helps Dr. Klesps with his carpal tunnel syndrome. I guess you learn something new everyday. Gregor's left hand snatched the deck and quickly dealt. "Thank you Klesps," he said, "you are always the best dealer. So Noah, did you happen to catch the water show in the hallway today? It was great - water, smoke effects, everything you'd expect in a blockbuster movie! This place really doesn't spare any expense."

 

The hallway is filled with police alarms. Dr. Francine arrives in time, but it seems the hospital has company. Army men confiscate every man they find, even the orderlies and nurses. The pills are burned off and disposed, any blood found is cleaned and a burnt orderly is found in the air ventilator. Glenny's orderly is found asleep with an intensive fracture. A few other patients are also dead.

 

"Yes. You don't see that everyday. You know, my ex took me to see some fireworks once, it was nice but this was better. A lot closer." Noah took the card he was dealt, making a face.

"You'll have to forgive me if I ask stupid questions about this game. Oh my, would you look at that." A lot of men come rushing in, confiscating pills and taking some people with them.

 

Gregor watched the mob of orderlies and others personell he didn't recognize storm the game room. He kicked the blood soaked towel across the floor. No one noticed or seemed to care. He sat quietly as the orderlies grabbed the loudest of the patients and dragged them away. Not one seemed particularly concerned about the quiet, freshly cleaned, middle aged man playing cards.

 

Ambriel worried about Skye and the others...everything happened so fast she didn't know what to think...Skye cried as they pulled her from her arms..."Poor little girl, nothing is working out for that child."

Being quarantined was not a favorable thing for Ambriel...and her insecurities were flying through the roof. Where was Chaos when she might need him...hell, even Gregor and Dr. Klesps seemed inviting.

"Maybe they are my friends." she wondered.

 

A pair of thick necked orderlies apporached Gregor. The "doctor" stood up quietly, grabbed his cards, and let them lead him away. Silently Dr. Klesps floated above the sun tanned one's shoulder.

"I am touched Klesps," said Gregor quietly, "overcoming your fear of heights just to keep me company."

 

Skye cursed and spit at the Officer that grabbed her roughly by the chest. She was lifted from Ambriel’s arms, and put into a strangers. He hit her across the face, as she continued to struggle. She went limp, and looked at him with angry eyes. Her left eye gave a twitch.

“I’ll f**king smash your head in!” her voice screamed. She gave him a little grin to add to the effect, but quickly let it go as he slapped her across the face again. She began to cry, looking for Ambriel and Gregor. She could see them over the man’s brutish shoulders.

 

Gregor watched as the man struck Skye. His fist tightened for a moment. The two men grabbed his arms. Gregor saw the tattoo only for a moment and took a chance. He looked at the shorter of the two. "You have a wife named Eileen, don't you?"

"SHut up nut case and keep moving!" said the shorter man.

Gregor shrugged and obeyed. They took about ten more steps before the man asked, "How did you know?"

"Dr." Handel smiled sadly, "You really don't want me to tell you. It'll upset you. Just take me back to my room."

The shorter man stopped.

"What're you doin' Carl?!" asked the suntanned man.

Carl looked down at Gregor. "I wanna know how you know my wife's name?"

Gregor shrugged. "It's tattooed on your forearm. I didn't notice it except your partner kept looking at it. I can't help but wonder why he would look at your wife's name"

Carl stared at his partner. "Son of a b****, I knew it!" The sun tanned man ducked the first punch but was caught by Carl's second, and third.

Another man grabbed Gregor as several others tried to pull the two soldiers apart.

"No Klesps," said Handel, "it wasn't the man that hit Skye, but it was the best I could do."

 

I was shivering from the look of the ward. It was always cold – but this wasn’t the normal cold. This was fear which was biting into my flesh from every side. I felt helpless – each of patients were held by a man or two, or luckily just an orderly or nurse. I recoiled from the tension and gripping cold and laid a glance on Gregor. He was standing gleefully, talking to his imaginary friend. I was really worried for him – he did a number this time, and this time his ‘doc’ wasn’t going to sit in the counseling room with him. This time, they had the army do the job.

John strolled around with a gun in his hand and looked weirdly at every patient. Some smiled, some were dubious towards his and some even acted violent. However, John was insensitive to the patients. He turned towards the first in the line and sneered at her.
“Ambriel’s your name?”
The woman quivered, unable to get the words out of her mouth.
“Speak you piece of dirt!”
She nodded, her muscles seaming within.
“Ah, good. Tell me, what happened?”
“T-the…there was a f-fire…sm-moke…”
“BE PRECISE!”
“Someone freed-d the patients-s, sir.”
John grinned, and then patted the woman’s head.
“Right.”

John now walked over and looked to a few other patients. Glenny raised his neck, but he seemed to be talking to some one.
“You paying attention to me, you idiot?”
I came in between, knowing I had to intervene.
“He’s schizophrenic, John. Sees things which don’t exist.”
“Ah, I see. So is it possible he doesn’t see thing which exist? ‘Cause if someone breaks a man’s arm, and smiles afterwards is just a sick murderer to me.”
I knew I wasn’t supposed to reply. He then walked over to Gregor.

“You started it, didn’t you?”
“Yes, good sir. But you must give due credit to my friend, Dr. Klesps.”
He pointed in midair, and John nodded with sarcasm on his face.
“Ah, Dr. Klesps. Nice to meet you too.”
Gregor leaned forward and whispered:
“He’s invisible. He likes staying that way, and doesn’t speak due to his throat.”
John nodded, and then asked:
“So why did you do this, Gregor?”
“Dr. Gregor, please. As you can see, I am a doctor, and I find it absolutely unfair how they keep everyone locked up here. Against medicine, gravely against medicine.”
John nodded again, even more sardonic than before.
“So you caused a riot in hopes of killing everyone who could maintain order?”
“No, no! Klesps and I would never want that. We just got rid of the bad parts. Like in surgical medicine. I always say, you can fix anything if you cut deep enough.”
John nodded, but lost his mood. He was about to bash Gregor’s teeth in when I stopped him.

“John, no!”
“What do you mean, no?”
“He’s delusional. He doesn’t know what you’re saying.”
I was struggling with tears, but John shrugged me off.
“Yeah right. How can you say he’s delusional? Just ‘cause someone comes up and says, ‘I have an invisible friend, Bobo,’, makes him delusional? If that is psychiatry, doctor, I think I can handle them no problem.”
I frowned, not knowing how to argue.
“A crazy person cannot do this. This was a planned homicide. He was brutal, smart and dubious at the same time. He can’t be crazy.”
“He doesn’t even know what he’s done!”
“Oh, he does. And if he doesn’t,” he said, lifted his gun, “I can tell him.”

The sound of gunfire roared in the hospital. For a moment, almost every patient was set free. I screamed in horror when I saw Gregor falling down, grabbing his leg. Tears were running down his eyes, and he was biting his lower lip in hopes of reducing the pain. I felt my own leg swelling.
“I never believed in using guns for medicine, you know…”
His voice was slurry, drained with tears. I tried to grab him when John held me back.
“NO! Let me go! He’s hurt, you monster!”
A few others, like Niel, Skye and Noah reached for him. Skye was the most brutal grabbing on to an army man by her teeth. The other man slapped her so hard that her cheeks flushed red, but she continued struggling.
“He deserves it. In fact, he deserves quite a lot more, but I’m being kind.”
He dug into my back as I tried to push past him.
“Stop it, doctor. Let him be.”
I finally kicked his stomach at which I almost got loose.
“Stand right where you are.”
He growled, fitting the gun at my ear. I was apprehended, and though I wanted to grab Gregor, I couldn’t do much. In retrospect; if I died these people would have no one at all.

I received sneers and angry looks from everyone in the hallway. Even Mortimer who had been ‘calling to God’ all this time, cursed me out loud:
“You white *****! You piece of – “
Skye glared at me, her eyes narrow.
“I’ll kill you!”
Some thought it was a tic, but I knew it was really what she wanted to do. I looked down, ashamed. John smiled, and spoke coldly;
“Now, you get those urine samples by Friday, smart girl. Or else – I’ll shoot you down before the rest of your ‘family’.”
With that, John walked out. The army slowly left, and the orderlies and nurses took over.

As soon as John moved aside, I grabbed Gregor and hugged him. Brenda, who had been at the door all the time, quickly ran to the medical and operational department to get a doctor.
“I’m sorry.”
He grinned, but before I could say more Skye viciously put me away.
“I hate you.”
She screamed, shielding Gregor. Everyone eyed me hatefully, even my former employee Ambriel. I felt myself shattering.

 

Outside her room Ambriel could hear the commotion between Gregor and the soldiers.

"Mean sons of bitches....got what was coming to them, if you ask me." Ambriel rubbed the bruises on her wrists and arms...one of them had twisted her left arm until she was sure it would break...all because she was trying to protect Skye.

Peeking out from the crack in her door, Ambriel was sure she caught sight of Gregor...he saw her too. For a moment she felt a bit at ease... but soon the moment passed.
She began to feel the walls of her room closing in around her. Her breath was caught in her throat and she was feeling dizzy.
Panicked, she called out..."Hello, could someone answer me please?" Nobody came. "Helloooo....please, somebody come here...please!!!"

Sitting on the side of the bed Ambriel began to rock back and forth...the tears started to flow...sobbing, she thought about her life and everything that mattered to her. Jason, her parents, her friends...thinking back on her dead husband she became angry and lonely..."Why did you leave me Jason....why did you do this to me?....Whyyyyy?" Curling into a ball, Ambriel forgot about her fear and the nightmares as she cried herself to sleep.

 

Gregor looked up through the tears and forced a smile. "It ... it wasn't your ... fault Doctor. He has ... some anger issues. I ... could .... help .... Klesps, play cards with Skye till I get ba......."

Gregor's eyes fluttered as he lost consciousness.

 

After being bombarded by the military Glenny was taken back to his quarters at the hands of his nurse, and decided against struggling, or talking to her at all for that matter. He went over and layed his head back down, thinking about the hectic day.

"You get chased down the hall by your nurse, run away, get caught again, knock out one of her guys and get caught by the military. What're you gonna do now genius?"

"I've got no idea."

"What are you even doing?"

"Thinking about that guy."

"What guy?"

"Didn't you see that guy get shot by John?"

"You mean Gregor?"

"Uh-huh."

"I was there you idiot!"

There was a pause.

"Think he's dead?"

"Like I care."

"Hey!"

Glenny turned over on his bed and stared into the darkness. Ramses was annoying him, and he didn't want to talk to him anymore. And he wanted to leave his room - again.

 

Chaos looked at Gregor as he laid there. Chaos said "Gregor, your a sadistic psychopath and you probably deserved what happened to you today. However that son of a bitch sure as hell had no right to treat all of us the way he did. The next time I see him, I will kill him, or die trying." As soon as Chaos said that he looked at Ambriel's room and said "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

 

Ambriel...could see him standing off in the dark distance...the mist rolled around her feet as she moved like molasses through the thickly overgrown meadow.

Stepping careful, and wishing she could pick up the pace, Ambriel realizes she is dreaming...she knew it was useless to try and wake. Picking up her feet in a run, she only fell to her knees on the hard, cold ground. The damp air clung to her bed cloths...her hair was wet to her face.

"HeHeHe" the menacing laughter rang out from all around her...enveloping Ambriel with a terror she had never felt before..."Come to us...come to us and take your place" It was the voice of the Shadows, they had found her again.

Finding her feet, Ambriel stood up and sprinted towards the line of trees, directly in front her...she could hear footsteps closing in behind her. Breathing fast and hard she thought she might pass out. The rush of her blood screamed in her ears as she frantically searched for a place to hide...there was none...the voices becoming louder and louder.

Ambriel let a scream.....suddenly she was sitting up right in her bed, she looked around the darkness of her room...the soldiers had taken her night light away. Her heart still pounded and her breathing was still erratic...She wondered, "Why did Francine do this to me? I was her friend for so many years...why?"

 

Gregor's eyes focused on the light above his bed. His leg burned badly beneath the thick white bandages. "Dr. Klesps," he said weakly, "are you alright? Good. WHy aren't you with Skye? Oh, she's sleeping. Did you play cards with her? Oh ... yes I guess she would be too upset to enjoy a hand. I'm sorry Klesps, but the room is still spinning. I'd better -"

And with that Gregor passed out again.

 

Niel wanted to go into Ambriel's room but Chaos refused.

"There is nothing that we can do for her right now." "But we should still try." "No, Niel just let it go, we are going to bed."

Chaos walked back to his room, while thinking to himself "Those bastards caught us off gaurd this time, but it will never happen again, and if that piece of sh** detective ever tries to hit me like he did Gregor, he will regret it." "Chaos, calm down. This is why I didn't give you control while this thing was going on, you would have just gotten us killed. Being fearless isn't always a good thing." Niel's eyes go from dark to light. Niel lies down on his bed and wonders what is going to happen next.

 

They tore Skye away from Gregor, pinning her arms. She screamed and struggled as they put her in her room. The room had been fixed up, the water was there no longer. She struggled as they gave her the sleepy time shot, but it didn’t seem to tame her fury, as she was handcuffed to her bed. She cried as she thought of Gregor. Was he going to be okay? She knew they wouldn’t tell her a thing.

She lay down in her bed, the tears flowing down her eyes. She wished she could see Klesps, so he could reassure her. She knew he was real. All the good things in life were real. She just had to believe it. She looked up at the ceiling. Her room was completely dark, and her body was giving way to the drugs as her eyes grew heavy.

Her thoughts moved to Ambriel. She had to get her mind off the blood that would now haunt her dreams along with her other tormentors. Ambriel might be her new friend. She felt safe in her arms, even if they had momentarily snatched her away. She rolled over, and looked at the light that seeped through the hole under her door.

Her eyes slowly closed and opened as sleep finally found her. Sending her into her thankfully dreamless, drug sleep.

 

Ambriel's....thoughts moved to Skye...she had never been able to answer her questions concerning Klesps or why she was there...in that dreadful hospital.

How could she explain to that child, that she herself was responsible for her own demise by self committal.

Ambriel tried to force happy thoughts as way to keep the Shadows at bay...Skye's smiling face helped..."Yes, Skye...I believe Dr. Klesps is very real." She willed her thoughts to Skye...but, she knew life never really worked that way...still, she could pretend that the little broken girl, who stole her heart, would...in some way, hear her thoughts.

Niel and Chaos crossed her mind...she didn't worry, for she knew Chaos would take care of Niel...still, it had to be hard.

 

It was night now. Everyone was back in their rooms, the shifts of the evening staff were over and the night staff entered the building.

"You can go home."
Brenda spoke softly, moving to console me.
"My patients hate me."
"No they don't. They hate that new boyfriend of yours."
"He's not my boyfriend!"
I growled back, and then started sobbing. Brenda hugged me, allowing me to cry away.
"I feel so stupid. I know how Gregor feels right now. I know he feels so simple, stupid and innocent. Oh god, why can't John see things my way? For me, they all are like newborn babies. Destructive, but caring."
Brenda nodded, after which I let go.
"I should leave."
I spoke coldly, remembering my grudge against her. Brenda held out her hand to reach for me, speaking weakly:
"Look, I'm sorry. I promise I'll never date your brother again."
"Doesn't matter," I began, my voice emotionless, "my brother is no longer my problem. He's left the house."
Without waiting for Brenda to express her shock, I walked to the parking.

"I'm sorry."
I heard a man's voice as I was opening the car. I spun around and saw john standing with his head lowered.
"You insulted everyone, and shot a mindless man. Sorry isn't enough."
"I'm more sorry about how I treated you."
Francine groaned.
"I've told you, John, that our association is limited to professional life. I don't want anything else."
"But I do. I want a forgiveness."
He bowed down to me, at which I ignored him. He sighed and finally kneeled down at which I automatically lifted him.
"Okay, enough. It's alright...how you treated me."
He grinned and winked at me before leaving.
"I won't let it happen again. Promise."

I slept quite late that night. I was in bed the moment I came home, but my thoughts kept wandering. Jerry's voice came to me, scaring me again and again. I wondered if he was alright. Oh well, It didn't matter. He deserved it.

But there was more to my worry. Haunting images flashed in my mind as my father's face came in front of me.
"Francine, calm down. I promise I'll get you that bike, but not today."
"I WANT IT NOW!"
I dug my head into the pillow, sobbing.
"Sorry Dad."