The freedom of captivity

new angels

I look out of the window as I the car approaches the beautiful building that is the asylum, or at least I think that must be the asylum. I look at the flyer I have, Halgrove asylum for youngsters. I wonder how old they might be, they cannot be very young, I am 24 I wonder if the patients will be younger or older. I studied at oxford, have a doctorate and I am fairly sure I will do rather well in the field. But my professor has warned me for arrogance, I hope I will succeed. I would rather be an army psychiatrists, I want to work with combat stress reaction. But now I need to hear these young humans talk about their little worries. I sigh, perhaps It will surprise me., I dearly hope so.

I step out of the car, the morning sun shines on my face and reflects on the many windows of the building, the breeze catches my hat and I am just it time to catch it. I look at the windows, It looks hopeful. I hear something. "Are you a new loonie?" I look around me. "Look up smartypants!" A boy, not much older than 18 I would say, has succeeded to put his head through the bars that are arranged it a pattern of daimonds. "No, I am a doctor!" I scream. "Ah, I am a reginald, But you can call me Reggie. I would shake your hand but... that would not be very convenient!" He puts his hand through the bars, demonstrating that I cannot reach it as he is on the second floor. "Pleasure meeting you Reginald, Are you certain that your head won't be stuck when you try to get out again?" He shrugs. "I know somebody who always said do, think later." I chuckle. "Reginald, it is the other way around." "Really? I could've sworn." He says while he pulls his head back inside succesfully, well I do hear a lot of strange noises. "Are you alright" I ask a thumbs up appears out of the window. "Tickety-boo!" He says. I chuckle perhaps I will like it here.

 I ring the bell, after some time the heavy door opens. It shows an orderly. "Hello, goodmorning miss, I am doctor Francis Campbell. I am looking for Doctor Taylor." She nods. "Come in, I am Vanessa, Wait here please." I look at the old pictures on the wall. this place Must be quite old. I wonder how it survived the war and when it was first esthablished. "So you are the new Doctor." A young men says, He immediately shakes my hand. "Doctor...." he asks. "Campbell" "Of course, Welcome to Halgrove, Today has been quite busy there are rumours the patients have escaped yesterday, but since they're back there's nothing to fear" He says with a bright smile. "Would you like to meet them?" The young man ask with a smile, "My name is Edmund by the way, I thought you would like to know." He says while leading me through the labyrinth of corridors. "We are taking the short route, the easier one is through the central corridors but it takes a lot longer." He says as we walk through a courtyard. We end up in the central sitting room for the patients. "So how come you are so young for a doctor?" I ask. "I am no doctor." He responds with a chuckle. "Oh you are an orderly." He shakes his head as he enters. "No, not at all, I am quite insane. So patient would be my title" He says jokingly. Which surprises me, I haven't seen a lot of insane people but this boy he seems so utterly mundane.

"These are Reginald, although it seems you two have met, Douglas, Alethea, Gwendoline and last but not least Solomon." Edmund says as he points to the young people sitting on the table. "And your name is?" Solomon asks while raising his eyebrows in a very threatening manner. "Francis Campbell."I say with a smile. "Edmund Leave doctor Campbell alone." A doctor with blonde hair says as he puts his glasses on.

"Welcome to halgrove Francis Campbell." Doctor Taylor says while we sit down in his office.. "I must apologise for the strange welcome comitee." I shake my head. "Not at all, It was good to get aquainted. I do have a lot of questions." Dr, taylor nods. "I do not understand alethea's medical file but it was very vague I do not see any alarming things. Why exactely is she in here?" Doctor Taylor smiles, 'I will explain it later on' he says, not answering my questions. I take and deep breat and nod, "So Douglas has delusions, Reginald has mood swings and gwendoline has epilepsy which is quite well controlled at the moment. but what does Edmund have the file wasn't very specific." "Everything has it's time dear Francis." "And I miss one file, the blonde boy, Solomon is his name I think." "You don't even want to try to treat that bastard, he does not want to talk to anyone really. Very stubborn type, I wonder if he is fixable. But you are welcome to read the further files." He says while grabbing a lot of papers and putting it in my hands. "Doctor, our job isn't fixing people right?" He smiles, "Isn't it Francis? Vanessa will show you your room, as we said you are welcome to live elsewhere but most employee's feel comfortable living here." I smile. "I will use it as long as I do not have a place to stay doctor Taylor, but I do not plan on living here for too long. I like to keep work and other things seperate." He nods.

I walk into the corridor, following Vanessa when I see Edmund looking at us while smoking a cigarette, I wonder if he's trying to look casual. I smile at him and he immediately looks the other way. He must have a very youthful mind. He must be very curious, I am curious too, why is his file so extremely vague, what has he done to land himself here? And more important what can I do to help him?