Why Me?

Chapter One - Max

The room had 3 white walls and the last was one huge window looking down on the busy city. 2 paintings of a simple countryside life hung on the walls and a house plant glowed an unnaturally deep green in the corner. There was a single bed with pale pink flowery bed sheets and a matching armchair sat facing the window. From over the top of the chair poked a head of black hair in an army cut. The room was cold and harsh but masqueraded as a homely and comforting.

Karen Fletcher had been working at Heartchurch for only 4 months but was already making her way through the ranks. Dr Jefferson had called her into his office the day before and told her that she had greatly impressed him and Mrs Carter was retiring after 6 months. There was no guarantee, but she was on the list to replace her as head carer. She knocked on the door of room 34 and opened it quietly. She saw the man, sat in his chair staring intently at the world outside.
"Morning Maxwell" she said, walking up and stopping a few inches from the chair. The man could feel her presence but his calculating brown eyes never moved.
"Morning Karen"
"Did you sleep well?"
"Fine thank you" his voice was deep and balanced making it sound like each word had been specifically chose and thought through before he let it out.
"Now, have you taken anything this morning?"
"No"
She opened up her bag and took out a bottle of water and a packet of pills labeled OWENS, M 34. She carefully removed them one at a time and handed them to the him. He took each one and weighed it in his palm before swallowing it quickly. 6 pills in total. He never gave her any trouble, nothing like the woman next door who would go out of her way to avoid the pills. Grateful she didn't have to check the plant pots for discarded pills, she took back the bottle of water.
"Is there anything else I can do for you Maxwell?" she asked, gently still remaining a respectful 6 inches away.
"No thank you Karen"
She walked to the door, took one look back at him. His eyes had never moved once the whole time. She stepped out into the corridor and as the door swung shut she heard the click of all 5 automatic locks engaging.