by H G Lynch
Dr. Moore smiled wryly at me. “I’m sure he was.”
I blinked, surprised by her tone. “Excuse me?”
She rested her elbows on the desk, her eyes gleaming oddly behind her glasses. “Come now, Callie, no need to play coy with me. If you and Casey want to have sex in the privacy of your own rooms, you should. It’s not like there’s anything else to do in this place.”
My mouth worked for a moment, but no words came out. What the hell? Finally, I manage to stutter, “I wasn’t…we weren’t…”
But Dr. Moore just clucked her tongue. “Of course you weren’t,” she said, and I detected the sarcasm. She leaned forward, as if about to confide a secret, and asked quietly, “So what’s he like? Is he any good?”
Heat rushed to my face, and I stared at her in shock. “What?” I squeaked, both embarrassed and angry.
She flipped her hand impatiently. “In bed, of course. Is Casey any good in bed?”
I stood up, almost knocking over my chair. She looked up at me in surprise, her expression innocent and concerned. “What is it, Callie? Please, sit down.”
I shook my head. “No. Why would you ask–”
“Ask what, Callie?” She adjusted her glasses, just like she always did, and for a second my head felt fuzzy. I touched my forehead. I couldn’t remember what I was just saying. Dr. Moore waved a hand at the chair. “Are you alright, Callie? Please, sit down and I’ll get you some water.”
She rose from her seat behind the desk, and I sat down reluctantly, dizzy. I closed my eyes, willing the room to stop spinning, until I felt a hand touch my arm. I jumped at the unexpected touch, but it was only Dr. Moore. She held out a white plastic cup full of water to me, and I took it in trembling hands. I stared at my fingers for a second. Why was I shaking? I lifted the cup to my lips and took a sip of the tepid water, hoping it would steady me.
Dr. Moore sat down behind her desk again and looked at me over her glasses, folding her hands together on the edge of the desk. “So, Callie, how is Chester today?”
“I, um…” I frown. My head was pounding. I couldn’t think straight. Something was wrong. I set the cup of water down and wiped my sweaty palms on my trousers. Then I realized what Dr. Moore asked and I shook my head. Why is she asking about Chester? “What do you mean?”
She tilted her head, and for a second, the way the light caught the lenses of her glasses made her eyes look…almost red. A shudder crept down my spine and I tried to hide it. In a flat voice totally unlike her usual, overly-quiet murmurs, she said, “Still dead, I know. Shame that. Are he and Casey getting along any better?”
My heart skipped a beat at her words. How did she know about Casey and Chester? “How did–” I started to ask, and then shut my mouth, realizing that this could be some sort of psychiatrist trick and asking how she knew was as good as admitting I was still seeing Chester. Instead, I said nothing.
Dr. Moore raised her eyebrows. “How did I know about their squabbles?” She smiled, and something about it looked unnatural. It made my gut twist, and suddenly, I had a bad feeling, the same bad feeling I got every time there was a blackout. And then Dr. Moore said quietly, “I’ve been watching you, Callie.”
My breath stuck in my throat. The image of those words scratched into my bedroom wall flashed through my mind, and I jerked out of my seat, sending it clattering to the floor. I pointed a wavering finger at her. “You,” I breathed, my eyes wide. Dr. Moore stared back, unfazed, still smiling, and I knew…that wasn’t Dr. Moore. Not anymore. Panic clutched at my chest. “Who are you? Or should I ask, what are you?”
Her pleasant smile stretched and stretched into an unnatural rictus, showing sharp pointed teeth. Her eyes gleamed blood-red behind her glasses. A blunt sense of terror skittered down my spine, and I tensed my legs against the urge to bolt out the door.
“Tut, tut, Callie. You already know perfectly well what I am,” she said in a rasping voice that was not entirely Dr. Moore’s.
I clenched my hands into sweaty fists. “A demon,” I said flatly.
She nodded. “Very good, Callie. And do you know why I’m here?”
I raised an eyebrow. “To kill patients and cause chaos?”
Her nasty, sharp smile faltered a little and she gave me a disapproving look which was just disturbing with those red eyes and sent a cube of ice dripping down the back of my neck. “No – well, yes, partly. But that’s just a perk. I’m actually here for you.”
My eyebrows went up and my stomach dropped through the floor. “Me?” I squeaked.
She nodded eagerly. “Yes. Well, you and Casey.”
“Why?” I asked, my voice wavering. “Why us? What do you want with us?”
The demon flashed pointed grey teeth in a twisted grin and rasped, “Your pain.”
An ice-cold shudder wracked my body, terror gripping me with frozen fingers. Oh God, I was going to puke.
Across the desk, the demon shifted, and my eyes snapped up. The second my eyes met her red ones, a wave of dizziness swamped me, but I couldn’t look away. In a low, hypnotic voice, she said, “Unless…unless you help me.”
I shook my head, trying to hide my shaking. “Help you do what?”
She leaned forward and spoke emphatically. “Help me bring agony and misery to the lunatics in this asylum. Help me wring every last drop of fear out them, and I will spare you and Casey.”
“No. I can’t…I won’t...” I took a step back, my eyes darting toward the door. I needed to get out of here right now. I needed to find Casey and tell him, warn him.
The demon just smiled. “You can, Callie. I can show you how, and once you know…you’ll enjoy it, I promise. Just let me show you.” She held out a hand, Dr. Moore’s hand, and everything in my head went blank. I couldn’t look away from her eyes, vibrant swirling pools the color of fresh blood. My hand lifted from my side slowly, without permission from my brain, reaching toward her outstretched fingers.
Something tickled in the back of my mind, and I faltered, blinking. A thought pushed through the fog of my mind: This is wrong. Something is wrong with this. I started to draw my hand back, but Dr. Moore leaned toward me across the space, her eyes shining with excitement. “It’s alright, Callie. Come with me, and you can have anything you want. You can escape this place, Casey too. I can give you freedom, power. I can give you Chester back. I can give Casey back his hearing. All you need to do is take my hand.”
My heart squeezed at her words. Chester. I could have my best friend back. Casey could have his life back. We both could. We could be together, properly, outside these walls. It would be perfect. All I had to do was take her hand and let her free us from this prison…
I stretched my hand out, my fingers just inches away from hers – mine and Casey’s freedom, and Chester’s too, all just a handful of centimetres away from my grasp. I wanted that freedom. I wanted it like nothing I’d ever wanted before, and it was so close. So close.
“CALLIE, NO!” A hand grabbed mine, a strong arm looping around my waist from behind and dragging me back – away from the demon, away from the promised freedom. I fought against the person holding me, but it was too late. Dr. Moore’s red eyes rolled back in her head, and a cloud of black smoke funnelled from her mouth, racing up through the ceiling. The demon evacuating the body she’d possessed. The smoke disappeared, along with my chance at freedom, and Dr. Moore fell to the floor like a broken doll.
For a second, I felt the crushing weight of grief collapse on me as I stared at the ceiling. My vision swam, and it took me a second to realize it wasn’t because of my tears. My knees buckled under me, but Casey’s arms around me kept me from hitting the floor. “Callie!” He lowered me gently to the floor, pulling my head into his lap. “Callie. Callie, talk to me,” Casey begged, sounding panicked. His voice sounded blurry and distant, as if I was underwater, and sparkles fogged my vision.
Callie, wake up. Wake up. Talk to me, Button, please. Casey’s Voice tickled the edges of my mind, and I could feel him
touching my face, sweeping the hair off my cheek with his fingertips, but I couldn’t find the energy to move, even to open my eyes.
Then there was a crashing sound, like the door being thrown open, and suddenly Casey’s hands were gone, and he was yelling. Sounds of a struggle. Someone – not Casey – touched my wrist, as if searching for a pulse. Low voices murmured, and I heard scraps of conversation, just a handful of words: “unconscious”, “happened?, “dangerous”, “boy”, “Solitary.”
Then everything started fading away, and the last thing I heard before I passed out was Casey screaming my name.
Chapter Eleven
** Callie **
I woke up slowly, groggily, and pried my eyes open. White light stabbed my corneas, and I hissed, slamming my eyes shut again. I tried to lift a hand to shield my face from the brutal light, but I could only lift it a couple of inches off the mattress. Startled and confused, I looked down, and panic seeped into my chest, making it hard to breathe. I was wearing white clothes instead of my normal green ones, and my hands and feet were tied to the bedframe with thick brown straps. The room I was in was tiny, smaller than my usual room, and everything was white – the walls and floor and ceiling and locked door, all white. I was alone.
I’d never been in here before, but I recognized it all the same; I was in Solitary.
My chest tightened, and it seemed like there wasn’t enough air in the tiny room. I closed my eyes and tried to calm down. Breathe, Callie. Just relax. Think. I focused on taking deep, steady breaths, and eventually the constriction around my lungs eased up. I sighed and tried to think calmly. Why was I in here? What had I done? The last thing I remembered was waking up from a nap in Casey’s room…no, that wasn’t right. Something happened after that. I remembered Chester came and said…he said Dr. Moore was looking for me. And then…yes, I went to her office, and…
Oh.
Oh my God.
No.
My stomach flipped over, and for one horrible moment I really thought I would throw up, pinned down on my back. I swallowed back the bile burning my throat, and pressed my lips together as hot tears leaked out of the corners of my eyes. The demon. I remembered a demon had been possessing Dr. Moore, and the things she said…everything she said about me, and Casey, and my parents…I remembered the demon fleeing out of Dr. Moore, her limp body falling to the floor, Casey shouting my name as someone pulled me away from him.
But none of that explained why I was in Solitary. Only patients who got violent were put in here, and I hadn’t…had I? My brain was fuzzy. I couldn’t be sure. I wondered if they’d sedated me. If they had, it was hardly necessary; I’d been practically unconscious when they took me away anyway.
I needed to talk to someone. I needed Casey, or Chester. But Chester wasn’t here. I didn’t know where he was or how to get him. So I bit my lip and called out to Casey in my mind. Casey? Can you hear me?
He didn’t reply, and my stomach sank. The panic started to crawl in again, and more tears slid from under my lashes. I didn’t know what was going on, why I was in here, where Chester was. I was scared.
Callie? Callie, are you there?
I almost sobbed in relief at the sound of Casey’s voice in my head. Yeah, I’m here, Case.
Are you okay, Button? I’ve been going out of my mind here.
I sniffled, wishing I could sit up and wipe my eyes and nose. I’m…not hurt. But I’m not really okay. I’m in Solitary. I opened my eyes and stared through blurry tears at the white ceiling and bright lights. Case, why am I in here? I whispered to him, choking back the sob building in my throat.
There was a hesitation, and I could feel him sigh on the other end of the telepathic line. I could practically see him tugging his hands through his hair in frustration. What do you remember? he asked carefully.
Everything. I remember everything. Casey…Dr. Moore…she wasn’t…the demon…
Yeah. Yeah, I know, Cal. Chester told me everything. He was the one who came to get me when you were in Dr. Moore’s office. He knew you were in trouble.
Chester. Another shot of panic stabbed me in the heart as I thought of him. What if the demon had somehow hurt him? Where is he? Have you seen him again since then? He isn’t with me.
It’s okay, Cal. He’s here, with me, Casey said soothingly. He wanted to stay with you, but he says he can’t get into the room you’re in for some reason. He doesn’t know why.
I let out a wavering breath and tipped my head back on the flat mattress under me. Why am I in here? I asked again.
One of the guards heard you yelling in Dr. Moore’s office. He went and got a nurse, and when they came in and found Dr. Moore unconscious and you almost passed out, they thought you’d attacked Dr. Moore. They took you away and sedated you and put you in Solitary.
I tried to tell them they were wrong, that you hadn’t hurt Dr. Moore, but…well, you can imagine they weren’t going to believe me. I didn’t have an explanation that didn’t involve the demon, and I couldn’t tell them about that or I’d probably be stuck in Solitary too.
I clenched my fists and pounded the mattress as hard as I could, given my restraints. Dammit!
I’m sorry, Callie. I’ve been trying to think of a way to get you out of there, but it’s no good. The room is guarded, the door is locked, and even if I got you out, there would be nowhere to go. They’d just grab you and stick you back in, and me too. He paused. If I could take your place in there, I would.
Unclenching my fists, I sighed. I didn’t want him to be freaking out about me. I’m fine. I’m just worried I might die of boredom in here. Do you know how long I’m stuck here?
Sorry, I’m not sure. I asked RJ earlier, but he said it’ll depend on the psych evaluation they’re going to do on you this evening.
I scowled. Great, I thought with leaded sarcasm. Just what I need. Another psychiatrist poking around inside my scrambled brain and asking stupid questions.
Casey was quiet for a moment, but I could sense him thinking. When RJ comes back on shift, I’ll ask him if he can get me in to talk to Dr. Moore. Maybe she remembers something. If she does, we can use it as proof you didn’t attack her and get you out of there. In the meantime, just hang tight, okay?
A hard pebble dropped into my stomach, and I asked, Can you stay with me? In my head? Please? I felt pathetic for asking, but I didn’t want to be left alone in this room. With Casey speaking to me, I could close my eyes and pretend I was in his room with him.
Of course, Button. I’m not going anywhere yet. I’ll read to you, okay? Would you rather have The Vampire Lestat or Red Dragon?
I smiled. Tough choice. Got to go with Lestat.
Okay then. Here we go: “I am the vampire Lestat. I am immortal. More or less…”
I would have killed for an Mp3 player. Casey had gone off to talk to RJ hours ago – at least, it felt like hours; it had probably only been about fifteen minutes, but without a freakin’ clock of any sort, I had no way to be sure – so I was left alone in silence, and it was driving me crazy already. I didn’t know how Casey managed it, living with this…nothingness.
I’d tried to take a nap, but it was hard to get comfortable when you were strapped to the bed and had no pillows or blankets. Plus, I was starving, and I sort of needed to pee, which was going to get really bad if someone didn’t come to let me out soon.
Just as I thought that, the painted steel door groaned open to admit a man I’d never seen before – mid-thirties, lined forehead, cropped blonde hair, narrow eyes – and RJ came in behind him. And right behind RJ came…
“Chester,” I breathed as he floated into the room. He put one finger over his lips in a shushing motion and winked at me. I was so glad to see him that tears filled the corners of my eyes, and a little of the unbearable tension I’d been suffering under since I woke up in here drained out of my body.
But only for an instant, because then Dr. Blondie started talking.
“Hello Callie. How are you feeling?” he asked
in a falsely polite voice that made me want to snap a sarcastic response back. Well, Doctor, I was saw a demon possess my psychologist, who then told me I wasn’t human and tried to steal my soul, and now I’m lying strapped to a bed in Solitary confinement, with my dead best friend staring at me from over your shoulder…so all in all, I’m perfectly fucking fine, thanks.
I didn’t say that though. Instead, all I said was, “I need to use a bathroom.”
Dr. Blondie nodded, as though he had expected that reply. “Of course. I’ll have you escorted to the bathroom in a moment. First, I’d just like to ask you a few more questions, if that’s alright.” It wasn’t really a question, and I knew I wasn’t getting anywhere outside this room until he was convinced I wasn’t a danger to myself or anyone else – which would be hard to pull off, considering I was seriously considering throttling whoever had put me in this damn room.
He didn’t wait for me to answer before pushing ahead with his questioning. Questions I’d heard a million times before, questions I could answer in my sleep. Then he asked me about what happened in Dr. Moore’s office – I figured my safest bet was to play the amnesia card. I claimed I couldn’t remember anything. If only it were true.
Dr. Blondie didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he gave permission for me to be released from Solitary, so long as RJ escorted me everywhere. I was relieved – not just because I really needed the bathroom, but because I was desperate to see Casey and Chester. I needed to feel Casey’s arms around me, needed to hear Chester’s voice. I needed to feel safe, just for a few seconds.
After a blissful trip to the bathroom – during which RJ waited outside for me impatiently – I headed for the Common Room, but Casey wasn’t there. I checked his room next, but it was empty. I tried calling for Chester, too desperate to care about keeping up appearances, but he didn’t pop up beside me like he usually did. Where the hell are they? I wondered, growing more and more panicked with every second that passed when I couldn’t find either of them.
