by Crane, M. L.
Alice allowed Dr. Pelletier to take her into his arms.
Dr. Pelletier spoke softly to Alice, calming her the way a parent would soothe their child. “Shh. There, there. It’s all right. Alice, you’re going to be just fine.” He stroked her hair and continued to comfort her.
Alice buried her face in Dr. Pelletier’s chest and cried hysterically with no shame. Her breath hitched as she continued to sob. She realized that she wasn’t just crying for the recent events, but she was also crying for everything that had happened in her horrible past. She cried for the Alice who had endured verbal and physical abuse from her mother. She cried for the Alice who suffered from sexual abuse and neglect from her father. She cried for the Alice who dealt with the patronizing looks from students, teachers, and neighbors. And she cried for all of the loss she had faced throughout her life. Including the loss of her own childhood.
The storm that had raged inside of Alice eventually passed. She took a deep breath and inhaled the aroma of cigars that had permanently infused itself into Dr. Pelletier’s clothing. It was a scent that she had grown incredibly fond of, and one that calmed her in the same way that lavender will calm a crying baby. Her tears stopped flowing, and a peacefulness that she had never experienced before, came over her.
Alice sighed and took a step back from Dr. Pelletier. She smirked at the sight of his shirt. It was heavily soaked in her tears.
“W-wow. It l-looks like I almost d-drowned in my own t-tears,” Alice said through tearful hiccups.
Dr. Pelletier smiled tenderly and wiped away the last remaining tears from Alice’s cheeks with his handkerchief. His blue bow tie was slightly askew from Alice’s head being pressed against his chest, and she reached up to adjust it.
“I-I’m s-sorry.”
“Oh, come now. No harm done. Alice, let’s sit down and talk, okay?”
Alice nodded in agreement and followed him to his desk.
Alice wasn’t sure what to say. When she first stormed into his office, she had had every intention of leaving and never coming back. But after what had just happened, she wasn’t sure of what she wanted to do.
“Alice, please believe me when I say that I am very sorry. I understand that you are confused and frightened.”
“It w-wasn’t a coincidence that you s-selected me for this internship, w-was it?” Alice asked, her voice raw from crying. She took a few deep breaths and got her breathing back under control.
Dr. Pelletier shook his head.
“But, I don’t understand. Why me? And what’s happening to me? I feel like I’m going crazy. Please, I need to know. I’m not sure if I can take much more of this.”
“Alice, it is imperative that you trust me. Now, I know that in light of everything that has occurred, you may find it difficult to do so. But please, I am begging you, do not give up. I promise you; you will find out everything very soon. You are incredibly special, Alice. More than you could ever possibly know.”
Alice looked away, needing a moment to process everything. Every fiber of her being told her that she should not trust him, but she couldn’t help it. There was just something about Dr. Pelletier that hypnotized her like a moth to a flame. She knew it might not end well, but her curiosity got the best of her as it always did.
Alice suddenly had a thought and looked at Dr. Pelletier and asked, “Who is Whitney? Do these four patients, that you have selected for me, have anything to do with what’s happening to me?”
Dr. Pelletier’s eyes lit up, and he beamed with pride. “Yes! Yes, Alice! Very good! Now, you see? You are putting the puzzle pieces together all on your own. Stick with it, Alice. Stick with it. You are much closer to all of your answers than you realize.”
Alice still didn’t understand, but she gave Dr. Pelletier an unconvincing smile anyway.
“Alice, if you would like to take the day off to get some rest, I will completely understand.”
“Oh. No, no. I’m fine. But, if you don’t mind, I would like to have some breakfast before we get started. I wasn’t able to manage it earlier, but I’m feeling a bit hungry now.”
“Oh, of course! When you’ve finished eating, would you like to meet your next patient?”
“Absolutely,” Alice said confidently.
“Fantastic! Today you will be meeting Chelsea Catlin.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Dr. Pelletier had accompanied Alice back to the cafeteria. He sat with her and had a cup of black coffee while Alice ate a bowl of oatmeal and drank another cup of tea. After her last batch of scrambled eggs, she didn’t want to take another chance on them.
While Alice ate her breakfast, Dr. Pelletier was telling her about Chelsea, but Alice was only catching bits and pieces of it. She occasionally caught words like intimidating and manipulative. Like usual, Alice was too lost in her thoughts and was only half listening to what he had to say.
Is something supernatural happening to me? Was Rose right, and Whitney really is psychic? But what about the others? Are they psychic too? But why me? What is my connection to them? There’s nothing special about me.
“Are you ready?”
“Huh?” Alice shook her head, snapping herself out of her daze.
“Are you ready to meet Chelsea?”
“Oh, yeah.” Alice got up and threw away her trash. “I’m ready,” she said to Dr. Pelletier but was unable to look him in the eye.
What is he hiding from me? Alice wondered to herself.
~~~~~
Dr. Pelletier was sitting in his usual spot, glasses perched on the end of his nose, and was busily scribbling notes on his legal pad. Alice shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
“Is everything all right?” Dr. Pelletier asked, looking at Alice over the top of his glasses.
Alice cleared her throat and said, “Yes, I’m fine. It’s just…well…” She leaned closer to Dr. Pelletier, placed her hand on the side of her mouth and whispered, “Does she always do that?”
“Do what?” Dr. Pelletier whispered back.
Alice glanced at Chelsea, a light shiver rippled through her, and then she looked back at Dr. Pelletier. Alice pointed to her mouth and flashed him a large creepy grin.
“Oh, right. Well, I’ve never seen Chelsea without a smile on her face so, yes. I do believe so,” Dr. Pelletier replied, still whispering.
“Wonderful,” Alice replied sarcastically.
Alice sat back up and faced the girl, smiling broadly at her and trying desperately not to show her discomfort. Chelsea stared at Alice, drumming her fingers on the table and grinning from ear to ear. What was the word Dr. Pelletier had used to describe her? Intimidating? He got that right. But there was one fact that Alice couldn’t deny. Chelsea was an incredibly beautiful young woman.
Chelsea had short copper-red hair with streaks of platinum blonde. She had mysterious mustard-colored eyes that were almond shaped. Her high cheek bones were speckled with freckles, and her lips had a perfect pink hue. The only thing that bothered Alice was the way she smiled. Chelsea had a very unsettling grin that never seemed to leave her face.
Chelsea spoke first. “Hmmm. Interesting.” Her voice rolled slowly and seductively, sounding as though she were purring.
“W-what is?” Alice stuttered. She wanted to kick herself for making her nervousness so obvious.
“Oh, just the way you look at me. It’s amusing.” Chelsea could clearly see Alice’s discomfort.
Alice made one last attempt at hiding her anxiousness by lying. “Oh? Really? Actually, I was just wondering why you were smiling.”
“I always do.”
“Okay. And why is that?”
Chelsea chuckled and said, “Because ignorance is very entertaining.”
“You think I’m ignorant?”
“Mmmhmm,” the girl purred again, and her grin widened; something that didn’t even seem possible. “You’re ignorant; he’s ignorant; they’re all ignorant here.” She looked at Dr. Pelletier sideways, her eyes full of hatred and disgust. But her smi
le created an entirely contradictory illusion.
Alice slouched in her chair and folded her arms across her chest, trying to get a bit more comfortable and appear relaxed. “All right then. Tell me. What is it that you think that I am ignorant of?” Alice asked, proud of the confidence she heard in her voice.
Chelsea pulled in a deep breath and let it out in a low rumble that sounded like a growl. Her fingers drummed louder on the table. She was clearly becoming irritated with Alice.
“You are so very, very lost. Unfortunately for you, I cannot tell you what you are ignorant of. You have to figure that out for yourself. That is if you can find your way out of the woods, of course.” Chelsea chuckled as though it were a joke that she knew the punchline to, but didn’t want to share it with the rest of the class.
Alice herself was becoming irritated. Once again, she was getting nowhere. More unanswered questions. She was beginning to think that there was no point to any of this. She felt as though the Lutwidge Mental Health Institute was one big nonsensical circus full of clowns trying to play a trick on her, and Dr. Pelletier was its Ringmaster.
Alice shot a look at Dr. Pelletier, but he was too preoccupied with his notes. He appeared to be blissfully unaware of the unusual conversation that was taking place, or…
Or, he already knows the answer, Alice thought to herself.
Alice turned her attention back to Chelsea, who had apparently never taken her eyes off of Alice.
“Awe, how adorable. You know, you really don’t have to be afraid of me,” Chelsea said, mocking Alice.
Alice narrowed her eyes at Chelsea, feeling defensive. "What makes you think that I'm afraid of you?"
Chelsea chuckled, and she stopped drumming her fingers on the table. A maniacal look of pure satisfaction crossed her face, making the tiny hairs on Alice’s skin stand on end. She leaned forward, her grin becoming more unsettling than ever.
“Because,” she whispered to Alice, “you always have been. Sweet cheeks.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Alice, age 16
Alice was sitting on a small footbridge that arched over a tiny creek that was nearly dried up, just a few miles from her apartment. She went there often to get away from her father, the town, and the job her father had her doing. It was her favorite spot, and it was the only place where she felt free.
For the last two years, Alice’s father had started pimping her out to the local perverts that were willing to pay fifty bucks for a night with her. He occasionally gave special discounts for repeat customers.
Randall always kept a photo of Alice in his wallet so he could show off his “merchandise” to potential customers. He’d find these men at the local bar and truck stops around the area. He even managed to find one of these sick bastards at an event that was raising awareness on sexual abuse.
In the beginning, Alice only slept with one or two men about once or twice a month. Over time it became two or three men every couple of weeks. Eventually, it escalated to one or two men almost every night. Alice was certain that she was the only girl her age that actually looked forward to having her period every month. It was the only time her father allowed her to take a break from “work”.
Too often, Alice would sit on that little footbridge and fantasize what it would be like to jump off of the Brooklyn Bridge. She would close her eyes and try to imagine the sensation of the wind rushing in her ears as she dove head first into the frigid water below. She wondered how painful it would be to hit the water with such immense force, the icy temperature instantly taking your breath away, crushing your lungs. But, it would happen so quickly. Then it would simply be lights out. No more pain and suffering. Just peace and quiet. She could drift away to a better place.
Alice had even contemplated on several occasions, what it would be like to jump off of a building. She assumed that the rush of falling would be rather identical to jumping off of a bridge, but the end results would be vastly different. She surmised that hitting pavement head first would be a much faster and less painful way to die. Unfortunately for her, the tallest building in that town was the three-story courthouse. And Alice was pretty certain that trying to get on the rooftop of that building for the sole purpose of killing herself, would be next to impossible.
But, on that particular day, Alice didn’t daydream of ending her life. She daydreamed of finding it.
Alice sat there with her feet dangling over the side of the bridge, swinging them contentedly. She observed a group of tadpoles swimming haphazardly, trying out their newly developed hind legs. Alice thought how wonderful it would be, to be able to morph into something different. She imagined herself growing a pair of beautiful white wings, soaring high into the sky, and flying far away and never coming back. How exhilarating it would be to go anywhere and have to answer to no one.
“Well, well, well. Look who’s here.”
The sound of one of the Tweedie brother’s startled Alice out of her daydream, clipping her majestic white wings and sending her crashing back down to reality.
The Tweedie brothers were Alice’s best customers and the most repulsive ones at that. The sight of them instantly made Alice’s skin crawl, and she felt the vomit rising in her throat.
Dean and Dom Tweedie were identical twins. They were once popular jocks back in their younger days. They were the best wrestlers on their high school’s wrestling team and had won numerous tournaments. They were local superstars and strutted around like they owned the town. Every girl around wanted to belong to them, and many did. The other jocks were jealous of them, but were always quick to brag about being friends with the famous “Tweedie Brothers”.
Fast forward to almost thirty years later, and the Tweedie brothers were nothing more than a couple of forty-four-year-old, overweight has-beens. Their muscular wrestling bodies were long gone after years of alcohol and drug abuse. Their chiseled good looks had faded and bloated. The hair that girls use to love running their fingers through had long since fallen out, leaving the tops of their heads looking liking oil slicked domes. Their disgusting guts hung out over their pants, and their shirts were too small to cover them. Their hygiene was horrendous. It was a mystery as to how long they’d go without bathing. They often reeked of spoiled milk and onions.
“What are you doing out here all alone?” asked Dean.
“Just thinking,” Alice replied softly. She wanted to yell at them to leave her alone, but she knew they’d tell her father about her rude behavior.
“Ah. Well, it looks like you could use a friend. Or two.” Don cackled, elbowing his brother.
“Sorry guys, I can’t. I’m on break for the next week. I started my period today,” Alice lied.
“Uh, uh. Nice try. Sorry to break it to you, but we know your cycle. Aunt Flow isn’t due to visit you for another two weeks.”
The Tweedie brothers stood on either side of Alice, blocking her from running away. Both of them were rubbing their greasy guts and licking their fat lips, sizing Alice up like she was an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Alice closed her eyes. Two tears escaped the confines of her eyelids and ran down her cheeks. She knew she could never get away from them even if she tried. There was no way that she was strong enough to fight them both off. Besides, she knew that if she didn’t comply, they would tell her father. It was better to face the twins than to receive the punishment her father would have in store for her.
Alice stood up and wiped away her tears, forcing herself to be brave.
“Fine, let’s just get this over with. But I don’t want to do it on the bridge. Let’s go in there so no one can see us,” Alice said, pointing into the trees.
Dean Tweedie moved over and said, “Lead the way, sweet cheeks.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
There was a sudden knock at the door, making Alice jump. She spun around to see Nurse Allen standing in the doorway.
“Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Pelletier, but can I talk to you for a minute?” Nurse Allen asked, sounding agitated.
Alice simply nodded her head, too dumbfounded for words. Had he not heard a single word that Chelsea said? And if he did, why didn’t he find any of it odd?
Dr. Pelletier gathered up his files and legal pad and stepped out into the hallway with Nurse Allen.
“Ooo. This should be fun!” Chelsea said.
Alice slowly began to turn back to face Chelsea, feeling apprehensive. She had almost forgotten that she was there.
“You know what’s going on, don’t you? Who are you?” Alice asked timidly.
“We have always been there for you, Alice. We were there when you needed us the most. We protected you.”
“Protected me? Who did? You, Whitney, and Maddock? But how? None of this is making any sense. Dr. Pelletier said that I was special. He made it sound like I’ve been chosen for something. Chosen for what? What does everyone want from me?”
Chelsea yawned and stretched lazily. She examined her nails with a hint of arrogance and sighed as though she were becoming bored.
“You know something?” Chelsea continued, blatantly ignoring Alice’s questions. “Those two never saw it coming. What were their names again? Dean and Dom?”
Alice shook her head in disbelief, her eyes wide with terror. “No! No, no, no! That is not possible! This can not be happening. Who the hell are you people? Is this some sick joke?! Why are you doing this to me?!”
Chelsea, with her maddening grin that never faltered, simply shook her head and replied, “Alice, I am so disappointed. I really thought you would have figured it all out by now. I’m not doing this, and neither are the others. They are the ones doing this,” she exclaimed as she pointed towards the meeting room door. “Honestly Alice, you really should be a bit more careful of who you choose to trust.”
