by Lani Lenore
What’s that?
Adele was chirping on in the background, touching everything that was not locked away as if they were on holiday instead of trespassing. As Wren stepped near the desk, she saw that among the many books piled near the edges, there was a lone journal resting there. It was not difficult for her to recognize the worn edges and the scribbled writing on the cover.
It was her own casebook. Witherspoon had left it out after their session that day, perhaps.
What does he think of me? she wondered now, touching the rough face of the book.
She’d always believed that she had never wanted to know what the doctor wrote about her – that it didn’t matter – but as she looked down at the journal now, the temptation was too much. Without more thought, Wren was lifting the cover, turning through the pages of notes about her stories and her supposed condition. The words of his judgment cut across her vision.
Delusional…withdrawn…often catatonic…obsessive… In denial; fails to acknowledge her crime, but continues to tell her story consistently…
Wren turned to the last written page – his thoughts after today’s meeting.
In the years she has been here, she has never acted violently, but I find myself growing tired of the same stories. There has been no progress in my time with her. I have already been considering more extreme measures, and now I believe that I must go forward. Something must be done to free her from her dream world. She has to be woken up.
Wren’s fingers grew weak. The casebook slipped from her hands and closed on the desk. Extreme measures? What did that mean? The possibility of undesirable treatment rolled past her mind. Hydrotherapy, please not that… Did Witherspoon truly think her case deserved worse? More importantly, was the threat of this worth breaking away from her story? Would the punishment on the other side of committing murder be worse?
Wren was jolted, barely able to realize that her breath was coming in shallow gasps, making her feel lightheaded. She had completely forgotten about Adele’s fairy until a darkness passed in front of the gaslight, leading Wren to jerk her head up.
Her first fear was that they had been caught. She would be confined to a tiny prison as punishment before finding out the truth of her ‘extreme measures’.
“Did you see it?” Adele whispered excitedly. “The fairy! I told you!”
Wren tried to follow the movement with her eyes, but it was only a flicker across the stone wall. The shape was indistinguishable, but there had been movement, undeniably. Something had been there!
“I think it went out!” Adele twittered. “Come on!”
Adele had darted back into the hallway before Wren could raise her voice in protest. Didn’t the girl know that they had to be careful of the orderlies and night nurses? And to be dealing with a mimic… That was not to be taken lightly.
Wren took the time to peer beyond the door briefly before moving out herself. Adele was already near the end of the corridor, moving at a full run to round the corner.
“Adele, wait!” Her call fell on deaf ears.
Her panic increasing, Wren quickly closed the door of Witherspoon’s office to give the illusion that it was undisturbed. Adele had vanished before Wren had picked up her feet to follow. Her heart was pounding against her chest with heavy punches, knocking the breath from her lungs. Her thoughts were meshed together in a sick scramble as she rounded the corner–
There was a shriek. A groan. A resounding thud and then a sigh of silence. Wren slowed her footsteps, listening to the sounds of her own fear. She wanted to call out for Adele but could not find her voice.
You should turn around. Turn around, go back to your cell and lock yourself in!
Instead, she crept forward. Wren made it to the corner to peer carefully beyond, and gasped when she saw the heap in the middle of the hallway. The folds of Adele’s gown were swimming in the dim firelight, but her body was still.
“Adele?” Wren had heard nothing; she’d seen even less, yet here was her companion crumpled on the floor, unmoving.
What happened!
Wren ran to her, pulse pounding in her ears. She stooped low to pull the girl up, but Adele was dead weight in her arms. Wren gave her a shake, but did not even notice the warm red substance spreading over her fingers.
“Adele, wake up!” Wren urged, fearing the consequences – always those – but she didn’t get a chance to search for wounds before a sudden chill locked her muscles.
Someone is behind me…
She could feel a heavy presence looming over her shoulder, staring her down, coming closer –
Wren whipped her head around to face her stalker as a flood of lamplight spilled around the corner, illuminating her where she was crouched.
“There they are,” she heard a voice say. “They didn’t get far.”
Beyond the light were several shadowy figures, but she did not fear that these were additional mimics come to aid their brother. No, these figures were her salvation and her condemnation.
“Wait,” came a hesitant voice from within the group. “Is that blood?”
“Stay back, Janette. Let’s have a look at what’s happened…”
Wren looked down at the situation she was in. She imagined the faces behind the lamps, looking at her like she had finally revealed her true nature – unleashed the twisted monster within that she had been covering with a melancholy face. Adele had been hurt – somehow – and Wren was the only one around.
They will blame me for this. They already have.
There was no way to correct this – no way out. Wren sat docilely on the floor as the orderlies came to collect her. Surrounding her in the hall, their shadows laughed.
**
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About the Author
Lani Lenore is a writer of gothic horrors and dark fantasies. In addition to rewriting well-known fairytales with a twist, she also writes original stories in a style she calls ‘dark fairytale’, which uses fairytale elements to build horror and fantasy stories. Most of her tales, though horror, have a subplot of romance. She loves to keep readers on the edge of their seat, spook them, and immerse them in worlds of beauty and terror.
She is currently continuing work on the Nevermor trilogy. If you’re a fan, check out these links to get connected with news and info.
Visit the Project Nevermor blog to get more information on the series http://projectnevermor.wordpress.com/
Follow Lani Lenore on Twitter https://twitter.com/MissLenore for information about upcoming works!
Like Nevermor on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nevermor-by-Lani-Lenore/553358604674836
Find Lani on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/MissLenore
Also, see more art by Nevermor cover artist Omri Koresh: https://www.facebook.com/omrikoreshart
