Before The Fall (Suicide Notes Prequel)

The Bridge

~Published: September 5, 2015~

"What is your name?" the balding man asked Victoria London once again and once again she replied, "Victoria London."

The man who Victoria had come to know as Dr. James Bryant frowned at her and shook his head. He looked down at his clipboard and wrote something down before looking at her again.

"How old are you?"

"I'm 18," she replied exasperated. "like I said three questions ago."

The doctor's lips twitched in amusement for a second before folding down into his prominent frown.

"What is your name?"

"I already told you! My name is Victoria London and I am 18 years old. My parents are Vincent and Violetta London. I have two brothers and one sister." 

Victoria glared at the doctor in irritation as she sat in a chair in his office in a white shirt and cotton pants. Her hair hadn't been brushed since she had been placed in the institute and it fell limply around her shoulders. Her eyes were dark and full of mirth, deep shadows circling them and her face was paler than Snow White's pasty complexion.

"No, Ms. London. You had a sister, remember?" Nurse Kate murmured softly from behind Victoria where she had been sitting for the past fifteen minutes with her parents by her side.

Victoria couldn't bear looking at them after what she had caused and had refused to go near them out of guilt.

Right, Victoria thought. I had a sister but I killed her and now I'm stuck in a nuthouse with these incompetent doctors who are continuously asking me stupid questions.

Victoria wondered how long the doctor was going to ask her for her name and age.

"When is your birthday?" he asked.

"Does it matter?" Victoria replied. "All of this information is in your file so why do you bother asking?"

"Just answer the questions," her mother snapped. Victoria knew she was angry - knew they were both angry, but she pretended not to care.

She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically.

"What stupid questions they are," she mumbled. 

"Alright," Dr. Bryant said. "Do you know why you are here?"

"Because you think I'm a lunatic."

"No, because you need help."

"I don't want your help and I don't need it either."

"Really?" Dr. Bryant raised an accusing eyebrow. "So you didn't claim that an evil shadow was haunting you in your room then? You didn't try to jump off the roof and you most certainly didn't attack your nurse a few days ago?"

Sarcasm dripped off his tongue like satin and Victoria looked down at her hands in shame because he was right. She had done all those things, but it was because the shadows were haunting her, taunting her.