The Ghost of Our Past (ON HOLD)

Silence is Golden

Patty shifted in her seat uneasily, galncing every now and then to Kiera as she tried to put together a 1000 piece puzzle.

She was uncertain, should she tell Kiera now or later? Kiera wanted to avoid talking to Patty completely when they were in public, to avoid looking like she belonged to the institution.

Patty looked outside, drinking in the scenery with her newly sharpened senses. She saw the rows of pansies and smiled. She had helped Kiera arrange the flowers in the vase that morning, giving any tips she could remember from Madam Georgia's lessons.

"Don't put that flower there! You haven't clipped the leaves off properly! I have eyes, missy! What are you doing now? Have you added water yet? No? Well?"

Kiera promised herself to never allow Patty to lend a hand again. It was a promise she broke constantly, especially when they were outside.

When she knocked on the door to Control Freak's office, Patty misinterpreted her gloomy face for nervousness and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, surprising both of them.

Things were changing.

Patty decided to confront Kiera, despite her better judgement. She had to let it out. Words were on her tongue already, determined to be spoken.

"We need to get you out of here."

"Huh?"

Kiera looked up from her puzzle, not hearing what Patty had said. Patty gave an exasperated sigh and repeated herself.

"We need to get you out of here."

"I know. I'm trying. But why are you so bothered about it?" Kiera pretended to concentrate on the puzzle, her voice in a whisper in case people overhear and asume she's talking to herself.

"Because if you get out, I can get out."

"Can't you do it by yourself? Just walk through walls or something." She remembered when Patty passed through people at the corridor.

"Kiera-" Patty let out a huge sigh. "I've tried. But the further I am from the instituition, the more hazy everything becomes."

"Mm?" Kiera lifted a brow questioningly as she pressed in a missing piece of the upper part of the puzzle.

"I would feel like I'm put in a glass box. I won't be able to see or hear properly. My fve senses would be dull."

Kiara's hand motioned a go on gesture as subtly as possible.

"You're my only connection to the real world! Without you, I would be tied down to this world, the one in the past." Patty hissed, fighting the urge to lower her voice. She reminded herself that only Kiera could hear and see her but the way the girl was trying to remain inconspicuous affected her as well. 

"But... Don't you want to... You know, rest?" Kiera mumbled,  fingering a piece of puzzle.

"You want to exorcise me, like an evil spirit?" Patty cried, her voice filled with incredulity. Kiera tilted her chin downward. Yes.

"Then you'll lose your only friend." Patty retorted, stung. Kiera rolled her eyes.

"Kiera, I'm serious. I want to live out there. My life before was... Bad. My life after, most probably worst. Please."

"I'll go ask Control Freak if I have to do anything." Kiera lifted her head and looked Patty in her eye to reassure her. Patty nodded gratefully.

"Thank you."

Kiera pulled out the container and swept the incomplete puzzle in. She didn't have the heart to do anything now. Not with the notion she had to kiss up to Control Freak even more to shorten her stay.

"Here, let me help you."

A thick hand, calloused with housework reached out politely to take the container. Kiera, surprised, looked up to say thank you. It caught in her throat when she saw the owner of the hand.

Patty let out a warning cough. She didn't take rudeness lightly. Kiera gave a quick smile and mumbled her thanks.

"Kiera, what was that?" She demanded after the patient left. Kiera rubbed her elbow, a habit Patty noticed that she gained lately. Kiera crossed her arms on the table and stuck her face in them. She crooked a finger to Patty, signaling her to come.

Sighing, Patty went over and knelt beside Kiera.

"Is there anyone-" Kiera breathed, afraid someone might overhear. Patty looked around and saw only three patients close enough to overhear.

"Don't worry. No one sane around."

Still, Kiera kept her voice low. "I think that lady is normal." Patty snorted. Then why is she here? Knowing well what was in Patty's mind, Kiera added, "Like me."

Patty shook her head. "Dearie, you know that's not true. If you're right, she would be able to see me too."

"But maybe only certain of us can see certain of you," Kiera protested weakly. Patty couldn't see Kiera's face but she knew pain and hope streaked her features.

"I'll test her then," Patty told her. "If she reacts, well, you can see for yourself." With Kiera watching her, she marched towards the patient who was busily rearranging the containers in the closet at the opposite of the room.

"Excuse me! Have you seen my lost puppy?" Patty asked in a loud voice, just for good measure. Kiera sat up straighter, craning her neck for a better view, her eyes were wide, hopeful. The patient simply continued stacking containers, unaware of the brunette towering over her and screaming gibberish. Patty tried to touch her as well but with no avail.

When there was no reaction, Patty turned her head to see Kiera slumped back in her chair and head in arms. Feeling dissapointed as well, she picked her way around the tables back to Kiera when she overheard some nurses talking.

"Stay away from her, Jenny. I mean it." The older one snapped at the younger nurse. The younger nurse bristled, defensive.

"What's the matter with you? I can't talk with the patients now?"

"You don't understand. She just looks normal."

Patty stiffened, thinking they were talking about Kiera.

"You know why is she here, Jenny? You really want to know why?" The older nurse demanded, her voice rising. Her finger jabbed at the direction of the patient Patty was harassing earlier.

"She's pure evil. I wouldn't go near that bitch anytime soon. The instituition has to fure me before I have to even tend to her!"

"Stop it, Natalie. Not here." The younget nurse blushed, embarassed by the stares going their way. Kiera though still had her face covered, still upset.

"She poisoned her children, her children! Then some half-brained judge decides she should come here because she claims she's crazy!"

Patty quickly walked away, her heart going cold. She felt fear stabbing her chest when she glanced back even though she knew she couldn't even be touched by anyone aside from Kiera. The patient had stopped helping.

Instead, her eyes followed the nurse, never looking away.

When Patty reached Kiera and rubbed her back trying to comfort her, Kiera spoke in a barely audible voice. 

"You know why she's here?"

Patty kept silent for a while, deliberating her answer.

"Some things are best not known. Don't go near her. Please."

She heard Kiera give a low laugh.

"The cook said that too."