Shadow of the Mind

7

Darkness engulfed Nick's world as he struggled to catch his breathe but every time he did he began to panic even worse than the last. He could not move his arms they were being held by restraints of some sort. All he could do was trudge along to wherever he was being pulled to. "Please, whoever you are let us go. We did not do anything. We were just taking photos and that's it" He could hear Bradley begging somewhere off in the distance, his voice was whimpering in desperation.

"Shut up you! Or you will have your mouth shut for you" A man's deep voice bellowed in the distance. Bradley whimpered a little more before going a little silent and then nothing. It seemed like they had been walking for what seemed hours. Then again how could he tell with being tied up and blindfolded. He just wanted this nightmare to be over, to wake up from it and find himself laying in bed with his cat.

"Move it!" But from the immediate push and the opening of a latch on the door he knew this was no dream.

"We have them sir, right here. Patient 229 and patient 226. They were trying to escape from the facility. They assaulted the guards and took a run for it." The blindfolded was lifted immediately blinding Nick as he grimaced for a few second letting his eyes adjust. Bradley was to his left in a white room with a wooden desk in front of them. Two men sat behind them and another one sat in front.

"Are you in charge here? We did nothing. Okay, so we broke into the facility but we were not trashing the place we were just exploring and taking pictures. I promise, now please let us go." The man at the desk had papery white skin, his eyes were sunken but his pupils burned like two black coals in the fire. He held some papers in his wrinkled hands, his fingernails were long, cracked and green.

"It says here your name is Nicholas Johanson, you were born in the town of Plymouth?"The man pursed his lips together like two worms as his teeth were yellowed and chipped. The mere sight of him was revolting, but he was also terrifying to look into.

"I prefer the name Nick. But how did you even know who I am? This place has been closed down for years now." The man at the desked lowered his gaze at Nick and Bradley and then looked back at the guards.

"Nick? That is a bit strange for you to come up with something like that. Especially since this facility just opened up a few years ago" He set the papers down on his desk and leaned back at the two of them folding his hands together.

"Please, I do not know who you are but just let us go. I beg of you, I can grab my equipment and we will be out of here".

"Oh Bradford, you always were a very convincing speaker. But it seems you and your friend here have not been taking your medication for a few days now. This place has been only open for eight years now, and as far as your equipment? If you mean the paper bag with trash in it that you had with you, you can certainly keep it" He chuckled lightly, but the tone of his voice was unsettling. Nick and Bradley looked at each other wide eyed in horror.

"His name is Bradley and I am Nick. What are you talking about? The year is 2010, we do not belong here. Who are you people!" Nick yelled trying to break free of his binds but he was helpless. His heart was rushing like an engine burning on fire. He looked around to see where he was, and shifted around in his seat looking at his friend.

"You say, the year 2010? Well, you and your friend are even worse off than we realized. The year is 1920, and you have been here for little over a year now. Your name is Nicholas and Bradford. You have been patients here at the Boston Psychopathic Hospital" The man sneered at the two of them putting his fingers together. Nick's heart rushed as the room begin to spin and everything began to become distant.

"You are lying! You are fucking crazy and we are not staying here. I demand you let us go immediately or I will call the police. I have my cell phone right here!" Bradley struggled to get to his feet fidgeting trying to get to his pockets when Nick and him froze.

They were both wearing long white garments on. White shirt and pants with the numbers 229 and 226. "This cannot be happening, this is not real" Nick began whimpering as he started shaking looking around at Bradley.

"Simon, please check Bradford's and Nicholas' pockets. We need to be sure they do not have anything dangerous in them". The large muscular man behind Bradley put his hand into his pockets rummaging around.

"Hey! Get your hand out of my pockets you fucking pervert!" Bradley struggled to hit the man as he pulled his cell phone out.

"Well, see I do not know what a cell phone is but unless if its a new brand of soap then I am afraid you are going nowhere" The man at the desk snickered at them both.

"What are you say-" Bradley looked at the man's hands as he saw the bar of soap. He looked dazed as he started to rock his head around in confusion.

"What did you do to his cell phone! Let me go you freaks!" Nick struggled to break free as the man behind him pushed him down while the other began searching his pockets but Nick was not going to let them get away with this as he swung his head around and bit into the man's ear.

The man screamed as Nick bit down harder and heard a crunch as blood started to shoot from his mouth and onto his face. Nick looked in horror as he spat the man's ear out of his mouth as blood starting rushing out of the man's head. All hell broke loose as Bradley stood up and ran at the other guard smashing him into filing cabinets. The man behind the desk pushed a button as a loud alarm went off. Before the old man could attack them, Nick and Bradley pushed him against his desk sending him spiraling into the wall with a sickening crack.

Nick ran to the door pushing his arm against the handle trying to open it as one of the guards starting moving on the ground. "Try harder! Come on Nick!" Bradley begged as he pushed against the door again and again.

"Im trying but its not easy with my hands tied" The door finally swung open as they stumbled out the doorway down the hall. The loud alarm could be heard everywhere as a red light flashed on the side walls.

"Where are we going?" Bradley yelled as they hurried down the hallway.

"Hell, anywhere that gets us the fuck out of this place" A nurse could be seen up ahead as she turned her head and then started running towards them.

"Freeze you two!" She yelled but Bradley had enough and rushed her pushing her to the ground as they ran past towards the stairs.

"We are almost there Bradley, come on we can make it to the stairs" They could see the stairs up ahead. They were so close to freedom.

His heart sunk when five men ran up the stairs blocking the exit. They turned to run the other direction when the two men from the office blocked their path. The man with his ear bitten off had blood dripping down his whole shirt. The blood shined bright against his white clothes.

"Grab them immediately and subdue them. They killed Dr. Bentle."

Nick and Bradley pressed their back against each other as they looked to see the group of men surround them. It was no use, they were surrounded and there was nowhere left to go. "Bradley, I am so sorry. " He could feel his eyes well up with tears as his friend struggled to hold his hand from behind.

"I know man. We will figure something out. We can escape"

"I do not think so you lunatics!" One of the men yelled as they all ran at the two of them.

One man punched Nick down to the ground as he screamed, he tasted blood as the other guard kicked him in the stomach. He could hear Bradley screaming beside him writhing around like an animal as another man stood above Nick holding a needle. The tip dripped some sort of liquid as he bent down to Nick's arm.

"It is time to take your medicine you freak!" Nick screamed trying to escape but there was no point, he was trapped and there was nowhere to go.

He felt Bradley scream louder as he felt the jab of the needle go into his arm. "No! please!" His words started slurring as the room around him spun and the men turned to shadows. Everything went dark