Alice's Asylum

Chapter Seventeen

At six 'o' clock on the dot, Doctor Walker burst in. I jumped at his entrance. He chuckled.

"Apologies Mr Whitlock. Shall we go?" I nodded and got up. I followed Doctor Walker through to the patient's corridor and to Harry's room. He was crouched in a protective stance but when he saw Doctor Walker, he straightened up.

"Ah, Doctor Walker." I felt shocked and taken aback by Harry's just as smooth voice. He sounded completely sane.

"Harry." The two embraced before sitting on Harry's bed.

"I don't know why you brought the cleaner boy into my room. He's not welcome anymore." Doctor Walker sighed.

"Harry, you know he did not have any other choice." Harry shook his head.

"Does he know?" Doctor Walker nodded.

"Yes."

"You are aware of the risks in that?"

"The Volturi won't ever know." Doctor Walker comforted him. I felt confused about these words... Volturi? Or was it vulture?

I watched every conversation that the doctor had with every patient. Each conversation was different. Some patients interacted with the doctor. Some hugged him. Others like Dana and Sophie didn't interact with him at all. He told them words of comfort but they completely blanked him.

We left Mary to last. Doctor Walker opened her room door and stepped inside.

"Mary?" The room seemed empty at first glance but the Doctor walked straight into the shadows and seemed to hug an invisible person. He then stepped out of the shadows with his arm around Mary's shoulder. She was limping slightly.

"Mary, this is Jasper Whitlock. Jasper, Mary." I wasn't sure how to interact with her but thankfully she smiled at me.

"Hello Jasper." Her beautiful brown eyes stared up at me.

"Hi Mary."

"It's a pleasure to meet you properly." She told me.

"The pleasure is all mine, my lady." I forgot where I was for a second and bent so that I was bowing to her. She then stepped forward, out of Doctor Walker's grip and towards me with her hand outstretched. I took it and kissed it. She smiled a sweet smile at me and I smiled back. She was truly a creature of pure beauty.

"Good to see you two getting along! Mary, describe your vision to Jasper." Mary nodded and closed her eyes.

"I see two people. They are running hand in hand. Then another person not far behind. I don't see the other patients." She opened her eyes and looked straight at me.

"They won't come with me?" I looked from her to Doctor Walker.

"No. You can ask them before they are drugged for the night." Doctor Walker told me.

"When does it take place?" I asked.

"My vision is set for a few days after so I would guess... Tomorrow night." My jaw dropped.

"I think not! I haven't planned anything!"

"You won't have time," Doctor Walker told me. "I can grant you some time but once you are found out, you have to get out of the state, out of the country if it comes to it. You must hide and stay alive. You won't have time for goodbyes." I closed my eyes, pained.

"I can't leave my Mom."

"Then you shan't leave and you shall stay." Doctor Walker said.

"I have to leave but my mom has to come with me."

"She won't be able to," Mary put in gently. "She dies on the journey." I groaned.

"Then what do I do?"

"You leave. Leave her a letter if you must. But you will not have the time." Doctor Walker placed a hand on my shoulder as he spoke.

"A letter? That's what I did when I ran away to join the Texas Calvary. I can't just leave like that again."

"Leave with no message, a message or don't leave at all. Those are your only options," Doctor Walker told me firmly. He patted me on the shoulder. "Join me when you're ready." He then left.

"Jasper?" Mary's voice was quiet. I looked up at her.

"Hm?"

"I know you'll do the right thing."

I asked Simon, Seth and George if they wanted to come.

"I don't know any world outside this one..." George told me as he shook his head.

"I would never be accepted in a world where there is only normal humans. In this place, at least I am a freak of many freaks." Simon had said.

"I would escape this place and be put straight into the circus again. This place may be cruel but the outside world is much more so," Seth shook his head and placed his hand on my knee. "No lad. Run. Run as fast as you can with young Alice. She was too little when she was put in this place and she will do better in the world than I would."

My plans now involved just myself and Alice. I paced Doctor Frost's office.

"It makes things easier but why just us two? Can't I rescue the rest of them? Why have they all lost hope?" Doctor Walker looked at me in surprise.

"Just you and Alice? Oh no Mr Whitlock. I'm coming too."