Masked Roses

Chapter Eight

As I sat in my room, I read a book in my lap out of sheer boredom, my eyes looking over every word as I said them in my mind. Painting a scene wasn't difficult in my mind. Keeping the scene pure and perfect was the only thing difficult about reading a book. My mind wanted to wander to hallucinations and past memories from three years ago when I had a panic attack that led to my diagnosis. I was locked away for a month, being put on medication, before I was deemed ready to go back into the city under the care of my grandparents.

Sighing, I was unable to focus back on the book, causing me to close it with the piece of paper stuffed between its pages. I instead curled up with my knees close to my chest as I stared at the dull gray sheets beneath me. They were soft, and comfortable, but I honestly preferred my blue ones. I just had to wait one more day and I could go into the city to get my lost possessions. Staring at no spot in particular, I suddenly heard a quiet whisper. Whispers surrounding me and my ears. I glanced up and around in confusion and a bit of fear.

I realized my surroundings had changed. A padded room, all too familiar from those years ago. I swallowed nervously as I stared at the walls, the graffiti I had made during my confinement. Roses dripping to the floor, prayers that I would whisper to myself whenever the doctors skipped a day of medication, and a sketched face of the person from my dreams, a wicked grin on their face with the same crazed look in their eye. I began to tremble as I stared at it, not taking notice of the voice talking to me out of earshot.

Everything was becoming a blur as I then stared at the floor when I suddenly screamed.

Turning around violently, I saw Sadie standing there with wide eyes and her hand outstretched towards my shoulder. I was back in my room and I looked around frantically before leaping from the bed and grabbing my phone that was on the dresser. I was surprised they hadn't taken it away yet. Opening it, I looked at the time and realized it was eleven in the morning. Slumping onto my knees, I rubbed my one eye, digging the heel of my palm into it as I sighed shakily.

"Are you alright, Serene?" Sadie asked and I shook my head, mumbling incoherent words as I curled up in front of the dresser. I could feel Sadie's gaze on my back as I sat there and I looked at my hands as they shook. "Hey...Come on. A few of us are in the living room if you want to come join us." She smiled as she walked up behind me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I glanced over my shoulder at her at that same odd angle as I did at Laughing Jack during dinner last night. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I nodded hesitantly and got up from the floor. She wrapped one arm around my shoulders, leading me out of my room and down the hall towards the living room, a soft hum coming from her as we walked. It was soothing, and familiar, but I wasn't sure where I had heard it from. Rubbing my arms gently, I glanced at the walls, finding them barren and empty. They looked too much like that facility. Nothing to see even when you were outside of your room.

Slowly, my pace came to a halt and I felt Sadie tug on my shoulders before stopping as she turned to me. "Is something wrong?" She stopped and bent down a bit to see my face since my head was tipped down to the floor. Her one green eye stared into mine as she lifted a hand and placed it on my cheek. "Hey...It's alright. We're almost there." She gave me a reassuring smile and I bit the inside of my cheek.

Nodding hesitantly, I began to walk again and kept my eyes on the floor, trusting that Sadie would guide me safely. The opening of a door made me look up and I saw the living room just past it. The matching off white furniture, a three person sofa and two recliners, a coffee table in the middle, and a TV that was turned on to the news. Jack sat on the couch with Sally and BEN in one of the recliners. Sadie directed me to the couch where Sally sat in the middle, Jack on the left of the couch with BEN in the recliner just next to him. They all seemed to be transfixed on the TV until I sat down onto the couch, Sally's green eyed gaze turning to me a confused frown.