My Foolish Nightmare (CH3)

My FⓍⓍlish Nightmare

Calm Before the Storm

It's been a week since I arrived here at the Ward.

My attention cut between mental and physical test and task, and that of bonds that I've never experienced before, I never thought I would look forward to nightfall as much as I did. The lavender-scented sheets of the feather-felt pillow, the caressing silk between the third digit count sheets; it often made me wonder if back at the church home, they considered us exposable between the poor treatment we received compared to this place.

I've become what you'd consider friends, with Nicholas and Tink as of late. Lattie, on the other hand, seem to have a grudge now that another woman was in the picture of her crew, the lack of attention just for having the reproductive organ be it rather flirtatious or just teasing babble. Granted, Tink couldn't verbally tease me as much as he wanted since I was young; so when the big words came out, it was always more than likely thanks to Lat's ill intentions. But other than that, he and the young knight known as Nick, had grown on me to be my personal guardians within the facility.

The doctors and nurses seem fairly nice, too. Much nicer than the Sister's for sure, as Dr. Steinfield did everything in his power to make sure I felt at ease, and Ms. Bell was considerate enough to not question too much of my imaginary figure; but more of just basic needs and task and how I portray them. Just yesterday, we went out for a walk in the garden in the back, speaking of colors and exercise. She said that I could be an artist, from what I could see just from one rose. Though, I'm sure my first impression with the tree drawing begged to differ.

I still have yet to find the courage to confront Nicholas about the first day, back in the cafeteria.

I'm certain...

I'm certain that he seen it with me, that he was staring with me. That haunting figure... it's digits exposed in ridged edges, the lack of expression on across its' blurred face... it couldn't have possibly been him. He never strayed from the woods, much more go inside buildings and consider himself so close to human contact. So, what was it?

Tink didn't seem to catch on, nor did any of the other stray bodies as they continued to nibble at their meals. But Nicholas... he was terrified. I could see it in his eyes; that icy, trembling tone.

On the productive side- I learned that I was fairly good at ping-pong. Better than poor ol' Nick, but terrible in comparison to Tink or William. William was a man in his thirties, but he looked like he was only approaching his twenties, a charming figure with hypnotic pink-toned eyes. His skin was more pale than mine, which says a lot, and his body was more fragile than Tink's and Jane's. From what I heard in a side conversation, he was an albino- a pigment condition that caused him to look drained of life, and tainted his eyes to unnatural colors. I'm not too sure what caused it, or what the full effects are behind his story, but he was here due to the constant bullying and outkast stamp slapped against his forehead. He was here for protection and a nearly average social life- not for the doctors and their treatments (or so he claims).

Which brings me to my next case; the words of wisdom from Lattie and her burning curiosity back at the lunch table. Every day, she would hint onward to me saying what my 'problem' was, and why I was here. Admittedly, that's when I accepted the fact that this place was a hospital- a hospital for those that were dropped on their head a bit too often. While it may not have been the case for me, nor Tink, nor even Nicholas- hell, probably not even Jane. Scratch that thought- I'm pretty sure Lattie is the only druggy here thats' been dropped one too many times.

Old man Jane suffered from hallucinations and severe schizophrenia, always on the belief that the abnormal hunted him down, wanted answers that he couldn't provide. From what they know, he had been here the longest, second to Tink. He on the other hand, suffered from anorexia, which explained his boney form and all its glory. It wasn't a mental phase like most patients who had common faults, but something that had to do with his interior and how he wasn't fully developed as a baby. He's served different food that us and frequently monitored by that of Dr. Jonathan for check ups and physical exercises to keep his body from shutting down.

Last, but not least, Nicholas was a special case on his own. I wasn't told much, as Nick claims he can't explain nor remember the tweaks, but from what he does know, is that he suffered from some bipolar issue that collided with that of depression. There are points where I could notice a slight change in his moods around the facility, but from what I can tell, it wasn't like he was spazzy or anything. He was just often easily let down, and acted more quiet than usual; but when time came for lunch or dinner, he was as chipper as a squirrel with a birdfeed.

It just goes to show that everyone has their fair share of flaws, no matter what scale you try to level it on. We all have something wrong with our system, it's all in the matter of when someone finds out, do they send you away for being "different".

Think to yourselves: what is normal? What is different?

"AAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

I guess someone just found out how different they really were.

---

"Room #384! We need a nurse"

"Delivered with 20MG Valium; stat!"

Speeding cart wheels, along with enough feet that sounded like a mob; and I was still in a fairly nice state of mind as I nuzzled away at the blankets, hugging the pillow as I stared endlessly at the door. In a way, it was like a very nice prison. The door window didn't have bars on it, but a very thin, obviously not-sound-proof pane, and the interior of my small dorm was like a cheap five year old room in a trailer. The walls were coated in a pale rose color, lined at the bottom with a white streak here and there. I had a dresser to keep my clothes in, and a nice willow wood desk with few resources on it, if I so chose to draw or write at 2AM.

"IT'S HERE! IT'S IN HERE!"

Another set of wails- like a banshee that had been locked away for eternity echoed down the halogen-lit halls, more staff rushing to the aide of the victim. Tink warned me of these sort of nights... where sleep depended heavily on your ability to ignore the pain of others. That some patients required much more attention than the rest, and were borderline insane; gone from the real world and trapped in their own haven. I wasn't scared; oh, no. I was fascinated.

What was here?

Who was here?

In where?

And like the calm of a storm... it stopped. The howling, the screams, the trampling mob... silence. Whispers barely broke through the glass as the creaking wheels rolled past my room once more; a noticeable weight on the wheels as they took away the victim to a more sensitive care.

Worry not, nameless friend; you're safe... for now.

---

"You can do it, Jade! Left hook, right hook! Left hook!"

"It's a close call- 3 to 5, you're losing your touch, William," the teen smirked, shaking his head as he shoved one hand into his left pocket. Of those who surrounded it, all eyes were glued on the ping-pong table, falling eyewitness towards my lawful defeat.

"Naa, just going easy on the poor girl," the silver-haired man chuckled, running one hand across his spiked strands as the other held tight to his paddle. Between his thumb and the elastic side, the ball twitched along his fingers. "I doubt she got enough sleep last night, after all that yelling."

"Yelling? The female corridor had another screamer?" Tink questioned, raising a brow.

It was like this: the facility was stripped into three different major sections. Down the middle was the shared necessities, such as the cafeteria, the game room, the garden that stretched in the back, and the default hangouts. On the left side of the facility was the male corridor, and to the right, was the female corridor. While for the most part we had our own doctors listed upon sex, treatment, and personal notes, there had been a handful of doctors (such as Mr. Steinfield) who traveled between the two. For me, my specialized doctor; a therapist to be exact, went by the name of Ms. Isac.

"Yeah. Went out to go get a snack, and heard a lot of commotion through the doors. Didn't sound good," William shook, his expression unpleasant.

"It wasn't Lattie was it?" Nicholas asked gently, tilting his head as he sat in one of the navy cushioned chairs, both arms locked between his legs as he leaned forth.

"Can only wish... the day that woman goes nuts, the day we won't have to listen to her lie to herself," Tink chuckled, shaking his head.

"You're nice as ever," the albino man smirked back, dropping the ball onto the board as he tapped it my direction without warning.

Anddd now it was back to the halfway mark. 3 to 6.

"Come on, Jade! Head in the game!"

"Tch!," I stammered, throwing a minor glare at the boy as I retrieved the ball, holding my right hand back as I prepared to serve. Waiting for the right moment, I timed it almost perfectly- watching the older man turn his head, if just for a second to return Tink's interest in conversation. I had him off-guard, the perfect time to strike!

"Wh- What!?" I choked, my jaw dropping simultaneously as my eyes doubled their hazel hues. Swinging as quick as I could, I knew I had him! He wasn't looking, completely zoned out! And still managed to hit the ball, plus score past me?!

"My, Jade. You look like you seen a ghost," William smiled, slowly turning his head back in my direction as he placed the paddle onto the table. "I give you credit for trying such a sneaky tactic, but try to make the ball float a bit more, it gives it less sound and less noticeable to the opponent."

I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks as I bit down on my lip, placing down the paddle as I retrieved the ball once more, putting it in a perfectly engraved semi-circle to hold it from rolling off the board. I wouldn't say that I was a sore loser, but I was exceptionally jealous of those who had skills that impressive.

"Better luck next time, girly," Tink grinned, taking his arms from the cabinet and the pocket. "Let's go get some food, shall we?"

"Won't hurt to dine in with you guys every once in awhile," the older man nodded, giving me a ruffle of the hair as he walked by. "Catch up with you in a few. Gotta stop by the room and pick up my tag."

Giving a departing wave, my emotionless scowl stuck plump to my lips as I looked over to the other side of the room. Several other sets of people were sprawn out, either watching T.V. or playing board games. There was even a smaller enclosure with classic arcade games for those who were able to play such without seizure attacks. Then my eyes settled upon the seat which held Nick captive, his glassy stare to the floor filled with nothing but ice and dread. Good thing it was lunch time.

"Hey, Nick?" I called out, walking over. When I had approached the seat close enough, I squatted to my knees, my arms wrapped at the caps to balance my weight as I stared up, trying to favor the boys' attention. "Nicholas? Lunch time."

There was no reply. Just the gentle breath that met my forehead as he exhaled, his attention completely gone. It was also that, being this close up- I noticed small changes along the boys' body. There were scratches hidden behind his shortly trimmed bangs... his fingernails were chipped and stained. A small scab in several sections was exposed on the back of his hand, trailing upwards into his long sleeve T.

"Nicholas...?"

"--Huh!"

Yikes-! Be in the drastic change in tone, or the response at all- the sight of his head flying upwards as if nothing had happened was enough to send me back on my buttocks, arms leaned out to catch my minimal fall.

"Jade? Why are you on the floor?" the boy blinked, sliding from the seat and outstretching a hand to assist me. Way to break the awkward boundary.

"I... nothing," I sighed, taking his hand as I pulled myself up, dusting the trash off the rear of my midnight blue skirt. "It's time for lunch. William said he's going to come to the table with us."

"William? That's awesome! We gotta go!" Nicholas cheered, immediately taking a hold of my wrist as he troddled down the hall, trying to catch up with Tink. Thankfully, I had kept my badge with me at all times. Like a name tag for school, except it was used to prove that you were assigned here and not just some bum who snuck in for food (which apparently happened once too often in the past).

"Hey.... Nicholas," my voice squeaked, trying to pace myself to keep up with the rushed feet.

"Yeah?"

"You... last week, you seen him, right?"

"Seen who?" he chirped, tossing me a smile over his shoulder as he still held tightly to my hand.

"You know.... tall... no face... he-"

Brakes first; only if you were in a car. Crashing into his back as he stopped in front of me so suddenly, I was at the very least thankful that he had enough sense to not collapse. Stumbling forth as if tranced, I felt his grip tighten if only slightly, the eerie second of silence making me catch my breath as if starved for air.

"What are you talking about?"

His voice... it was so natural. His happy, chipper voice, but he refused to look at me. He refused to accept it. I know he seen him, and he's playing it off?

"You..." I choked, trying to pry around the corners of logic, trying find some weakness in his presence that proved my assumption. But other than the lack of expression, there was no weakness in his body... other than my pulse, trapped between his fingers.

"Last week, we seen a lot of people! It's not too hard for them to be taller than us, either. A lot of them are old!" he laughed, peering over his shoulder as he glanced at me. Not a single change. Not a single clue. No sign that he believed in, nor saw the creature from before.

"Ah!... I guess you're right... haha... I mean, oh what's that doctors name..." I scratched the back of my head, a shroud of awkwardness beginning to crowd around me. "Dr. Tullin! He's really tall, and his face looks all squished in place!"

"Ooh... him! Yeah, he reminds me of a pig," Nicholas snorted, following by that of that innocent laughter.

Was I mistaken all along...? He didn't see him? He didn't see it... Like everyone in my life; he couldn't see it. The only conclusion would to be that... he strayed from the woods. But what for? Why come so close- so sudden? What made now so different?

"Jade?"

"Eh?" I squeaked. Did I doze out?

"Lunch, remember?"

"Oh... yeah! We have to get there before William does, elsewise he'll probably think we skipped...." I smiled, walking a few paces to align my body with his. "Let's go, but don't drag me like some dog!"

"Oh- Woops! Sorry about that!"

"You'll be sorry!"

"That a challenge?!"

"You bet your juice on it!"

---

"Oh, Lattie- you never change, do you?" William smirked from across the table, poking away at the crusted gravy that flavored the steak on his plate.

"Can say the same thing about you, cockatoo," the woman snapped, using the end of her plastic fork like some sort of pencil, the gravy on her side her ink.

"Tell ya what, good to have you hanging out with us for a change. We thought Jade was a breath of new air, but with both of you over here, it gives us more than just Lat's eroded flower paintings to start up a conversation," Tink laughed, placing an arm around the older woman. A low growl emitted from her throat, but nonetheless a crooked smile of satisfaction.

"Ey' Ey' Ey, boy Willy there, see those Spaceships las nigh? I heard them- I heard the screamin'! They comin' for us, I say they are, and they hold back no mercy! No mercy no sir ee'!" Jane, the elder man shook, waving his finger at William. There must have been something in the air today, because even old man Crazy decided to scoot in for a bit of chit-chat. Who knew the albino could bring such an impression.

"Why, yes sir I did. Heard them loud and clear," the man smiled, poking the side of his head in gesture. "But I don't think they're here for you. I hear someone said they took the knife from the probing station, and they've came to take it back and some revenge, if you know what I mean."

"Why! Oh Holy Spirit take me granted, some nut-job stealin' from them there white men! Their pale skin... the beady eyes!"

You mean like you, if you weren't tall, dark, and not-so-handsome?

"Shhh, Jane! Careful using your damn jibberish out here! You know what you started last time you started yelling out 'white' and 'black' men!" Tink sighed, pressing the palm of his hand into his face as if to hide shame.

"That didn't go so well..." Nicholas nodded in agreement, his cheeks plump with corn.

"What happened?" I questioned, curious now of how crazy things could really get.

"Genius here starts yelling about white men, and then you get those racists pricks over there in a fret," Lattie spat, throwing a finger over her shoulder toward the corner of the room. A distinct group of older men and a handful of women were huddled together at a table, their voices raised but still distorted by the rest of the audio in the cafeteria.

"Oh..." I nodded, slicing a piece of my salsberry and nibbling the side of the fork.

"Ya' woman spill lies! Lies!" the elder accused, his face twisted in anguish and heed.

"Calm down, old man. We know ol' Lattie here lies more than she can speak, period," William teased, only to receive a threatening glare from across the table, followed by that of flicked rice.

"Hey, Nick, you okay? Been spacing out a lot, buddy," Tink cooed, leaning over the table as he waved his hand in front of the boy's face. Just like before, in the game room; his stare was ambient. His attention carved away from realism and focused into that of the glass pane windows that exposed the outdoors. The woodland, to be exact.

My nerves shook, placing the fork down and wiping my mouth with the penny-worth napkin before placing my own palm at Nicholas's shoulder. I half-expected a reaction like before, but this time- I could feel his body tremble. Along the one finger that separated between his collar and skin, I could feel the cold radiating from his blood- almost like a corpse; no warmth to be found. Was he scared?

Trying to line my focus with his, I peered into the woods. It was only going to prove my theory further if my silent friend was out and about, waving behind the trees as his head poked around the corner. Not this time.

There was nothing there.

No one.

Nothing.