The Ghost of Our Past (ON HOLD)

Bargain

Kiera never liked making bargains and promises. It drags you down, forces you to do unnecessary chores. The only way to get her to do something was either through a hard smack or a heavy punishment, her aunt learned. That's how most of the housework was done with Kiera's help.

So it meant Kiera had no intention to help  Joan nor fulfill her promise on account of the purple vase for Control Freak.

They were in the dining hall. It wasn't much, just rows of wooden tables and benches arranged vertically. To hide the blue paint peeling off the walls, posters and framed artwork by the patients decorated the walls.

Patients scattered across the dining hall, almost none shared a table. Often there would be volunteers attempting to help feed some of the disabled patients, abandoned by their family because of their mental and physical dusability. Attendants hung around guardedly in case there was an overly rowdy patient.

Kiera sat at a table by herself, accompanied by Patty who pulled out a book from nowhere. Kiera turned her attention away, disinterested, and picked at the food arranged sloppily in a metal tray.

Her eye caught a slightly chubby woman winding her way through the tables, heading towards her. Her shoulders looked peculiar, lifted up stiffly. Kiera bit back a groan and concentrated on picking the boiled broccoli and carrots.

"Girl, have you found him yet?" Joan's eye were wide, hopeful. Kiera slowly lifted her head and gave a weak smile and a shrug. There was a pause from the staff, every one of them stopped what they were doing and watched Joan carefully.

"Look for what?" Patty asked. Kiera pulled a face.

"Maybe later, okay?" She told the other patient, not too eager to search for the missing imaginary tiny man. When Joan's bottom lip began to tremble, Patty became indignant and grabbed Kiera's wrist. Kiera stiffened, trying to hide her surprise.

"Kiera, you will leave the table and do as you promise or else!"

"Or else what?" Kiera mumbled and  instantly received a death stare from Patty. "Fine, fine." She stood up and addressed Joan. "Where did you say you lost him?" The staff seemed to breathe again and returned to their work as Kiera and Joan left the dining hall.

"In the laundry room..." 

The laundry room was in the basement, large industrial washing machines lined up at the left. Long tables were arranged at the opposite, covered by piles of clean sheets and uniforms waiting to be folded. Bottles of detergent and softeners sat under the tables. The scent of clean sheets was especially strong. Patients were often assigned here because the task was simple and easy to complete. The cleaners saw Kiera and Joan and paused. They decided to avoid them, staying as far away as they could.

Kiera was forced to shove the washing machines one by one by herself, hardly  moving any while Joan trailed after her and peeking in the crevices. Every time, Joan shook her head mournfully.

"What about here!" Kiera got on her knees and looked under the table and cupboards. "You get down too!" She snapped and Joan obediently copied Kiera. They had to go through the dirty laundry, shaking the cloths so that the tiny man would fall out.

The cleaners watched them, totally bewildered. After searching through every nook and cranny, Kiera had to push down the urge to run to her room and lock herself in. It was the memory of Patty's fierce face that prevented her from doing so.

"You see him?" Kiera opened the lid of the washing machines again, beckoning to Joan. Joan peered in then shook her head. It was pass dinnertime, Kiera realised when she glanced outside. The sun had already set and the sky had turned to a dusky blue. She placed her palm on her stomach and felt the distant rumble of a hungry stomach.

"Hey, Joan, can we just call it a d-"

"Clarence!" A loud squeal cut Kiera off. Kiera watched Joan happily holding her cupped hands in front of her face to survey her lost tiny man. "Where were you? I was looking all over!" She cooed. She gently steered her hands to her shoulder and waited for the imaginary man to step gingerly back to where he belonged.

"Where did you find him?" Kiera asked, curious. Joan blushed.

"Oh, he was sitting on my head the whole time. He just wanted some time alone." Joan said apologetically. "Mary was the one who told me." She pointed to her shoulder.

"I should have guessed." Kiera nodded. "Glad I could help," she added sarcastically before returning to her room. Joan just stood there, giving Clarence a severe scolding. Patty wasn't in the room. She usually wasn't anyway. Dinner was already on the table. This time, Kiera wasn't about to complain as she finished it gratefully.

Her stomach full, Kiera flopped on the bed on her back, thinking. She thought of Joan and Clarence. Is that how I looked when I talked to Greta? No wonder evwryone was terrified for me. When I get out...

Kiera sat up and reached for a small calendar she managed to persuade a nurse to give. Thankfully, there was no bargain involved. She uncapped a Sharpie she had sneaked from the front desk and crossed out the day.

Carefully, she counted the days left, not wanting to miscalculate her stay. Eight months and twenty-one days left, including the weeks crossed out for good behaviour conduct.

It was still too long. Kiera fell back on the bed and kicked her slippers off. Lying down on a full stomach often gave Kiera a stomach ache but she didn't want to care. So what if she was bent over in pain just because she did something she wasn't suppose to do? Will it shorten the eight months?

Kiera tried to twirl the Sharpie with her fingers like how Fabian taught her.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

A sharp scream from a distance pierced the tranquil night, echoing through the corridors.

Kiera jumped and dropped the pen. It rolled off the bed and onto the floor. For a few minutes, Kiera sat frozen on the bed, her heart pounding, unsure what to do.

Patty's head suddenly pushed through the door then her body followed, frightening Kiera. Kiera opened her mouth then closed, too shaken to say anything. Patty's hand shot out and gripped Kiera's arm. Her eyes were wide, her face pale. Her voice was hollow and grim.

"Kiera, can you make a phonecall?"