Still Alive - Adam Stanheight

Chapter 7

It is the next day and Adam shows up to his therapy session with Dr Benson. Usually, he sees him once a month but they have rescheduled to meet once a week due to the circumstances. Adam is a little reluctant, as he feels that everything goes back to normal after each session, but he knows deep down that talking everything out to a professional is the only way to get better.

Adam fidgets with his hands as his doctor fumbles to find his files. Once they are found, Dr Benson looks up at him sympathetically. "A great deal has happened since I saw you last."

Adam's legs begin to shake, knowing he will have to talk the whole harrowing experience through. "Yeah, I think I need new pills. The ones I'm taking now aren't strong enough."

"They will work, you just need to give them time," Dr Benson replies. "I want you to trust the process. You'll notice the change when it comes and things will get better."

Adam sighs. "Doesn't feel like that right now."

Dr Benson nods. "I understand. Just please don't take anything else other than the medication I prescribed to you. Also, have you been smoking lately? You were two weeks clean before?"

"I relapsed," Adam says without any care.

"Okay," Dr Benson says, a little disappointed. "I understand why that must be but you have to keep remembering the damage they are doing to your lungs."

Adam rolls his eyes. "My lungs aren't nearly as damaged as my mental health so, whatever."

Dr Benson loudly clears his throat, willing to change the subject. "I heard you've been staying with a friend these past few weeks. Has that been helping?"

Adam nods. "Yeah, I guess. I mean it's overwhelming to have someone who actually gives a shit about me for once. She's one of those people who I feel like is too good to be true."

"Or maybe you have just finally met a wonderful and kind person. As unbelievable as it sounds, there are people like that out there," Dr Benson remarks. Adam would give anything for that statement to be true. Sure it could be, but he is afraid to get too attached just in case she loses his trust just like his parents and Lawrence did.

"So tell me, what are the negative sides to coping with the aftermath of your trap?" Dr Benson asks next. Adam lets out a shaky breath, continuing to play with his hands in stress.

"Well let's see," he begins. "I still can't eat without fucking throwing up. I get barely any sleep and when I do, I'll wake up screaming, thinking I'm in that shithole bathroom again. When I'm not distracted, I feel miserable. I haven't been able to work since it happened. Brielle wants me to lay low as long as I need but lying on the couch and watching some shit reality tv shows every day isn't doing me any favours. I don't know if I'm afraid to go out in public or if I've just become some slob who even feels distressed lying in fucking bed!"

Adam takes a long deep breath after getting all that out of his system. Dr Benson scribbles it all down in his notebook. "You're not lazy, Adam," he then says. "You are just going through some effects of trauma. It is completely normal."

Adam scoffs. "Normal? I heard that Lawrence literally went back to work today and here's me throwing up the second something touches my taste-buds! How the fuck is that normal?"

Dr Benson looks at him sympathetically. "Everyone deals with trauma differently. Also, your appetite will come back eventually. Just keep track of your weight and do whatever you can to eat something. I mean, eating and throwing up still means that you're trying, which not everyone can do."

Adam leans back in disappointment, his hands running through his hair. "God I really want this fucker dead," he whispers.

"What's that?" Dr Benson asks, trying to catch what he said. Adam gulps, knowing he shouldn't have said it out loud. "Nothing, don't worry about it."

But it wasn't nothing. In this very moment, he may have just spawned an idea to get the revenge on Jigsaw he's wanted since the second he closed the door on him in the bathroom. Now, he had a solid plan.

****

Brielle is relaxing on her bed, typing out some paperwork as Adam enters. She looks up from her computer to see the gritty look on his face. "Did therapy go well?" she asks. Adam hums a response as he pulls out a chair for her before sitting down himself. "I need to tell you something."

Brielle sits herself down, half nervous half excited to hear what Adam has to say. "Has your team made any progress questioning Lawrence or finding evidence on Jigsaw?"

"Uh, kind of," Brielle replies. "They know where the warehouse is and they're looking for the best opportunity to break in and arrest him."

"That's not gonna happen," Adam says, confidently. "Whatever they're planning, he's already thought of how to avoid it. I think I have a better idea."

Brielle leans closer to him, in hope she will catch every detail.

"This guy captures people in hope that if they survive, they'll appreciate their life more. He did the opposite to me and he knows it. That's why he won't expect me coming to him, saying how thankful I am for putting me in the trap. I'll agree to work with him or something so I can beat him in his own game. Then when the time's right, we will catch him."

Brielle gasps and then a smug smile forms on her face. "You know, you'd also be a good detective if veterinary doesn't work out. That's an amazing plan and I can give you as much information as possible. Be your number-one accomplice! The only issue is, are you sure you want to face the killer again? He has kinda ruined your life in ways."

Adam pauses for a minute, then smiles slyly in return. "Well, that's what's gonna make our revenge all the sweeter......."