Mentally Disturbed

Chapter Eleven

Arnold (do I usually write these POV's?)

"Arnold."

"Pst, Arny its me." I heard a whisper. I gradually opened my eyes to find Annabelle sitting at my bed.

"Ana how did you get in here?" I asked as I slowly got up. My arm ached from the new and old stitches stabbing into my skin.

"Your door doesn't have a lock." She simply replied.

That's right, those stupid doctors broke it.

"Well what are you doing here?" I asked softly. It was late and I'm pretty sure we had curfews.

Which is weird when you're in a hospital.

"Let's do something." She offered. Do something? Like what? It's 11 pm, what an ambitious thought.

She pulled me up out of the bed and led me to the door. I grabbed us two jackets on the way out.

As we peaked our heads out, I couldn't help but reminisce the time when we snuck out of the unit to explore the streets.

When we saw that the close was clear, we tiptoed through the dark hallways and into the fire stairwell.

I hated the stairway to heaven.

But at least we didn't have to start off from the roof top.

We ran down the stairs as quietly as we could manage and by the time we reached the bottom, my heart was racing out of my chest.

"Do you have any money?" She asked me as she tried to catch her breath. She really looked like she was about to collapse. I reached for my wallet and found I had a few $20 bills my mother left with me. I gave Ana a nod and she smiled.

She grabbed my arm-gently-and lead me out the back door of the hospital. The cold air of the night entered my nostrils as I felt the fragrance of freedom. I really needed this, it feels like it's been so long.

We walked down the dark streets as the city lights glistened in the atmosphere. Who knew how beautiful this town could be at night? It was quiet, but it wasn't lonely. It was peaceful.

We waited at a bus stop as she was still clinging onto my arm. I slid her hand down so we could intertwine our fingers instead. I was humming with electric currents as I felt my heart pump loudly, but I liked this feeling. I liked having her by my side. I loved holding her hand.

When we got on the bus, we sat down together as people squished us further into our seats. Her head was resting on my shoulder as I waited for her to tell us when we would get off.

"Do you mind telling me where you're taking me?" I whispered.

"We're going to his castle." She whispered back.

"Castle?"

"Mhm." She confirmed.

After a few more stops, she finally dragged me off the bus. And to my surprise....

We were at the Aloha Tower.

It was beautiful. Lights were hung up around the scenery and restaurants were open with costumers. There was a garden glistening with lamps and a big water fountain.

"Is this a date?" I finally asked as I smirked at her. I thought men were supposed to be the ones planning this. I will not tolerate being treated as the woman in this relationship.

If this even was a relationship.

She just giggled and took me inside. It was a tiny mall at the bottom of the tower. Little shops open for tourists and little booths where annoying salesmen would try to drag you into their attention.

Luckily not to us because we actually looked like we didn't have any money. Which I'll take as a blessing of a look.

We wandered into so many shops. Doll shops, chocolate shops, souvenir shops. The prices were outrageous and half the things I could easily find lost in the sand myself.

We walked pass a restaurant and the smell was great. I was getting kind of hungry so I asked her if we could stop to eat.

"I'm not that hungry, but you could eat." She said as she shrugged.

"But Ana you barely eat. You're weak." I said as she was still clinging onto my arm. She just looked down and shrugged.

I don't want to force her, but I didn't like seeing her this way.

"Ana please. I'll buy you dinner." I said.

"Maybe we should just go back." She said. She let go of my arm and started to walk back to where we came from. I followed and held her hand again.

"Hey, we don't have to. We could do whatever you want." I said softly. I really did want to enjoy the night with her. I wasn't going to let some dinner spoil that for us.

"I just, I wanted to take you up to the tower." She mumbled.

"Then let's go." I said.

*

When we took the elevator up to the very top floor, we reached the very roof of the tower. I couldn't help but take in the sight. How many times have I dreamt of this place?

We sat down on a bench near the railing and Ana leaned her head on my shoulder. Her hair smelt like mangos and I loved it.

"You know, I came up here a million times in my dreams." I finally said over the silence. The only sound fighting for dominance was the wind.

"What did you dream about?" She asked.

I've never told this dream to anyone. Not my parents, not my friends, not any therapist.

But she was something to me.

"I would come up to this roof and stand right on the edge." I started.

"The streets would me empty and I would be alone. I would shout out a few feelings as I would contemplate on my entire life."

"Arnold..." She whispered.

"I would hate myself so much, and I was so mad at the world. Fuck, I still am. It's a filthy place we live in, call it a kingdom all you want, but it's a living hell." I said, my voice getting a little louder.

She just remained quiet and I continued.

"I would hold on to the rail as I looked down on the streets. Thinking what it would feel like to die."

"Then I would jump." I finally said. My eyes started to tear up as I thought about how much I really wanted to do that. I really did want to jump and just let everything go.

My life was just so fucked up and I couldn't see myself growing old or being successful. I couldn't see me getting through all of this.

Annabelle places her hands on my cheeks and looked me into the eyes. I stared at her lips and before I knew it, she kissed me.

And that's when everything changed.

I didn't want to die if I had her by my side.