Alice's Asylum

Chapter Twenty

The patients were given their injections at six. Mary was given the fake one instead of the actual thing. She had started to go a bit shaky by this point. She claimed it was from nerves but we knew it was actually withdrawal.

At eight, all staff had left apart from a few who were in the kitchen. I grabbed my briefcase and prepared to leave the office. As I left, I locked it behind me for good measure and slipped the only key back through the door.

Doctor Walker and I made our way back through the patient's corridor. We unlocked Mary's door. She was shaking worse now. She was jelly on her feet. Doctor Walker lifted her into his arms. There was an emergency exit on the opposite side of the corridor from the door to the staff corridor. We pushed the bar and the door opened. My car was parked right next to it. I unlocked the car and opened the trunk. Doctor Walker laid Mary down. She snuggled down on the blankets and pillows I had laid down the day before. Doctor Walker shut the lid and got into the passenger seat. I got into the driver's seat and twisted my keys in the ignition. The engine started. I pulled out of the parking space and drove to the exit at a steady speed. I stopped and flashed my card at the guard in his booth. Doctor Walker reached over and flashed his card.

"Is anyone in charge of Depth, sir?" The guard asked.

"Yeah we'll be gone for less than twenty minutes. We're in need of a pick-up."

"Private patient?" The guard seemed surprised.

"Yes. High class too. We'll know more when we get there so prepare for in case we need back-up." The guard nodded.

"Right away boss. Have a safe trip." He let me go and I took off.

When we were safe out of view from the asylum, Doctor Walker quickly got out of the car and helped Mary into the back seat. She lay down there and shivered silently. Doctor Walker got back in the car and we drove off.