Quest of the Seasons

Chapter Four: "Psyche, Pills, and Treats"

The asylum's TV room was cold, its white walls bare, the hum of a single flickering screen filling the sterile air. Aurora sat hunched in a corner, her fingers gripping a pen as she scribbled fiercely in her journal. Her world had become these pages-a place where her thoughts could escape, even if her body couldn't.

Across the room, Sally sat alone, cradling her dolls and whispering to them. Aurora's eyes darted to Sally for a moment, but she quickly looked away. There was something unsettling about the way Sally moved the dolls-jerky and aggressive, as though punishing them for some invisible sin.

Aurora sighed and tried to drown out the scene around her with her writing. Just as she began a new line, the sound of footsteps broke her focus.

"Aurora," a familiar voice called gently.

Mike, one of the guards, stood beside her holding a small plate with a slice of red velvet cake. He was different from the others-kinder, gentler, though still wearing the guard's uniform like a badge of betrayal. The plate hovered in front of her, and she stared at the cake, its rich red color a stark contrast to the dullness around her.

"Thought you might like this," Mike said with a small, warm smile.

Aurora hesitated before taking the plate. "Thanks," she mumbled, her fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against his.

"You know, it's the little things that make a difference in here," Mike added, crouching down to her level. His voice was calm, almost comforting. "You've been through a lot."

Aurora nodded, poking the cake with her fork, but her appetite was gone. She glanced at Sally again, who had started tearing at her dolls' hair, muttering something inaudible.

"She's not doing so well," Aurora whispered, more to herself than to Mike.

Mike followed her gaze and sighed. "Sally... she's been here too long. The place does things to people, Aurora."

Aurora's throat tightened, her hand stilling over the cake. "And me? What's it doing to me?"

Mike's face darkened for a moment, a flicker of concern crossing his usually composed features. He looked over his shoulder, checking for anyone nearby. "You're getting... special treatment," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But it's not always what it seems."

"What do you mean?" Aurora asked, her heartbeat quickening. She could feel the tension building, an invisible force pulling at her.

"I mean..." Mike paused, looking around again, "just be careful. Things are changing here. And not for the better."

Before Aurora could press him further, a loud shriek pierced the room. Sally had thrown one of her dolls across the room, her face twisted in rage. Two orderlies rushed in, grabbing her roughly by the arms, pulling her away.

"NO!" Sally screamed. "Don't touch them! Don't-!"

The door slammed behind them, leaving the room in an eerie silence. Aurora stared at the door, anger bubbling in her chest. Sally was being treated like an animal, dragged away without any care or compassion.

"It's not right," Aurora muttered, more to herself than to Mike.

"No, it's not," Mike agreed softly. He stood, his eyes full of warning. "And it's going to get worse. You need to watch yourself, Aurora."

Aurora looked up at him, seeing the faint lines of worry etched across his face. "Why are you telling me this?"

"I'm telling you this because... I don't want to see you end up like them. Like Sally." He gestured to where Sally had been moments ago, his voice almost pleading. "But there are limits to what I can do. Just... don't give them a reason."

Aurora's mind raced. The asylum wasn't just a prison-it was breaking people, one by one. She was lucky compared to the others, but this "special treatment" felt like a trap, a way to keep her compliant. The thought of it made her stomach churn.

Mike stood up and gave her a curt nod, his kindness suddenly retreating behind the mask of duty. "Be careful," he repeated, before heading towards the door.

Once he was gone, Aurora's mind swirled with thoughts. She looked down at her journal. The words on the page stared back at her like an accusation. Escape. It was all she had been thinking about for weeks, and now, after Mike's warning, her urgency had doubled.

Her eyes narrowed as she began to form a plan. The guards had routines, schedules she had memorized. There were weaknesses in the system. She could find a way out. She had to.

The next few days, Aurora watched the guards closely, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. Sally's outbursts became more frequent, her behavior more erratic. The way they handled her-it confirmed Aurora's worst fears. This place was breaking them on purpose.

But not her. She wouldn't let them break her.

One evening,Aurora waits in her room as the shift changed and Mike came to give her the cake with a side of ice cream for the night, Aurora saw her chance. She grabbed the baton from his belt, the movement quick and silent.

She hesitated only a second, locking eyes with Mike-he realized too late what she was doing. Aurora struck him with the baton, sending him to the floor. Her pulse raced, a mixture of guilt and adrenaline surging through her.

She bolted for the door, her breath ragged. The world around her blurred as she ran down the hall. She was so close. She could almost taste freedom.

But just as she reached the window, she felt a sharp shove from behind. She stumbled, her body crashing through the glass. She tumbled out, her hands grasping at air. In the chaos, she caught a glimpse of Sally standing by the window, her eyes wide and wild, a twisted smile curling her lips.

Aurora fell, her body twisting as she crashed into the thick bushes below. White roses surrounded her, their petals soft against her skin as the world spun and shifted around her.

When she opened her eyes, everything had changed.