"She only spoke to herself in monologue," they claimed.
The dark, rigid eyes glared into the room.
I screamed, yelled, and cried but my screams only fell upon deaf ears.
Maybe this was a dream?
My black hair fell onto my face as I slowly gave up on kicking the door.
My fading breaths fogged the windows.
The cold concrete towered above the shackles and held two florescent lights that flickered on and off.
"We can't keep her like this forever. Her crystal blue eyes are suffused with panic and fear.
She's deteriorating- look at her." Vermillion said.
The doctor slowly turned to face the 2-way window and watched me. I held my knees to my chest and glared at the doctor. His stomach sank and he felt sick.
"The way her shoulders hang and the way her smile was nonexistent showed forfeit." Vermillion said somberly. The doctor faced Vermillion. He let out a sigh.
"Release her. She is weak and I do not need another weak 'experiment.'" He flicked his wrist motioning for her leave. Vermillion walked down the metal, echoing stairs to the bolted door. The sinking feeling of guilt began to overcome Vermillion. Was it right to let her go, will she hurt herself even further? Why was she feeling this guilt?
"Is this what you think? Do you think things will straighten out?" my voice cracked. I grabbed the bars and laid my head on the barren wall.
Vermilion didn't reply, just took a deep breath in and released it by opening the door.
"You've made a dire mistake." I sneered.
Vermillion held me by the arm and led me to the car. My heart beat in my ears louder than ever, adrenaline rushed through my veins. The resounding echo of the machines dwindled away as the car moved down the road.
"Where is this car going?" I mumbled.
"To where the Doctor wants you to go. I am not aware of the exact location, but it is near the boundary of the Timberland. Why do you ask this question? Did the Doctor not tell you?" the driver spoke in an English accent- he clearly had been educated past my knowledge. The woods by the Timberland were restricted. No one knew why, besides the fact that it was evil and against the rules for one to enter or come close. Evil; the word no one ever said. Yet, no one knew what it meant.
"No, he did not tell me." I tried to say it with a somber voice.
"What is your name? Since we will be here for a few, it makes sense we might as well become acquainted."
"I don't have a-," I paused. What is my name? Just think of a random name...
"My name is Shea. If you don't mind, what is yours?"
"My name is Nirvana, Mrs. Shea." he turned and grinned.
The car was filled with empty silence for an hour or so, the only sound was the gravel flying up on the windows and the humming engine. The Timberland slowly grew into view as the car went down the road. The vague sound of breathing filled the car with the nothingness.
Maybe the Timberland isn't that bad. Maybe the floating rumors of the nightmares that haunt those in the night are false. Maybe...
She snapped back into reality and realized Nirvana had been talking to her the whole time.
"Sorry, I didn't hear what you said," I said while still thinking about Timberland.
"You're just fine. I was saying how the Timberland is actually an enjoyable place if you get to know the history. The ones who live there now have destroyed it and ruined its once good image. What's left is, well, bad memories." He released a sigh and tapped the steering wheel in a nervous way. Almost like he wasn't supposed to be talking about its past. But what is there to hide?
Once upon a time, the world was one. It was united. It was happy. What happened to this world we cherished and once we held close to our hearts? Now we are left with the remnants of hate and the ashes of another world. A world we will see no more.
The road became more unsettled and bumpy. I veered out the dusty window and saw the Timberland. It was beautiful- the way the trees swayed with the wind and whipped back into place after like it never moved and how the sun reflected off the grass. We neared the center of town, the ashes floated down from the sky and the air was thick with smog. The way the buildings towered above Nirvana and I made one think there was someone watching us. Even though I knew this part of town was lifeless, I still kept an eye out.
