Claus
“Ugh.” I moaned to myself as I sat up in the dark room. I looked around at the too familiar space; the slightly padded walls and floors, the big metal door, and the little window with bars over it several meters up, were almost comforting to me. I have been in the Brookestone Asylum for the Mentally Unstable for four years now. I still remember when I was brought here. I was so weak back then, so pathetic.
***
I heard a knock on my bedroom door. Don’t open it! My head screamed, but my body disobeyed. I opened the door to see three giant men wearing white scrubs. I looked nervously up at them as they stared down at me.
Without a word the men picked me up, two holding my arms, one holding my legs. I screamed and shouted for my parents but they wouldn’t come. I kicked frantically at them still screaming. When my parents did not answer me, I started to call for the one person who was always there for me.
“Clause, help me!” I yelled as loud as I could. The three men took me out the front door and towards a white van with “Brookestone” written on the side of it. I looked around frantically for anyone to help when I caught a glimpse of my parents standing on the front porch.
They were standing still; their sad eyes pitied me as I was hauled away. The men threw me into the back of their van and slammed the door shut. I landed with a thud on the padded floor. Terrified, I kicked and punched the door hoping it would break.
After a few minutes of this I collapsed onto my back and I started crying. Violet, get a hold of yourself, stop crying. Claus shouted from in the dark trunk of the van. I sat up, rubbed my eyes and tried to stop crying. Ok that’s better, now listen to me. I have to leave for a while but I will be back. Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone. Oh and good luck.
I sat in the dark of the van alone for what seemed like an eternity. Claus had abandoned me and I didn’t know if I would ever hear his whispers again. A long while later the van slowed to a stop and the three men opened the door. They all peered in at me for a few seconds, and then two of them reached in and grabbed me.
The men hauled me out of the van and towards a large, white building surrounded by many trees of every kind. There was a tall wrought iron fence surrounding the courtyard. It was actually a beautiful place, if it wasn’t for the big sign on the side of the building that in big black letters read Brookestone Asylum for the Mentally Unstable.
“I’m not crazy.” I whispered to myself. “I’m not crazy!” I screamed at the three men as they practically dragged me towards the building’s front entrance. After trying to resist as the men pulled me on, I gave up and walked with them, head down and shoulders slumped.
“Violet Willows, schizophrenic, age twelve.” the lady at the front desk mumbled as she flipped through the papers the three men had given her. She kept looking from the papers, then to me as she read through them. “Claus?” the lady said questionably, and then she put the papers down and folder her hands on the desk.
“Okay Violet, you’re going to have to stay here for a while. My name in Ms. Barrow and I’ll be your governess. Now come with me and I’ll get you your new uniform.” I followed Ms. Barrow to another room. She was the first kind lady here so I decided she was the ideal person to be around. Ms. Barrow gave me a dark grey jumpsuit, and showed me to a small room with only a bed in it.
“Welcome to Brookestone.” She said kindly.
***
“Violet,” there was a bang at the metal door. I awoke from my reverie and looked towards the door. “Times up, I’m opening the door now.” The metal door swung open to reveal Ms. Barrow and two giant men, as usual. I stood up to greet them with a fake smile on my pale face.
