Prisons

chapter 2

"I dreamt again doctor," Michael said quietly, the following morning.

He kept his head down to avoice eye contact with the psychiatrist. The doctor had a stern look on his face and always seemed to be disappointed. The wrinkles on his face were caused by constant frowning.

"Hm, and is i always the same black cloud dream?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. Always the same one," Michael replied.

The dream kept playing over and over in his head and the monstrous cloud seemed to get closer and closer each time he imagined it.

"Doctor, would I be able to leave the house and go for a walk?" Michael asked, in the most innocent voice he could do. The sighed and dialled in a three digit code on the phone.

"Vanessa speaking. How may I help you doctor Marx?". The woman sounded young and enthusiastic.

"Patient number 2247, Michael Williams, would like to leave the premises. Would it be possible for you to accompany Mr. Williams on his walk?"

"Certainly. Have him come meet me at reception in ten minutes" Vanessa chirped.

Michael had all his belongings packed in his ripped backpack. Unknowing to Vanessa, or anyone else for that matter, Michael was going make an escape. During his walk, he would make a break for it.

Over time, he had collected loose change and other miscellaneous items, either dropped or 'lost', and placed them in a secret compartment of his pack.

"Kody you coming?" Michael asked.

Kody scoffed at the question. "Yeah of course! I'm not going to leave my best friend alone in the big wide world without any guidance".

For a moment Michael thought he caught himself saying the same words. He shrugged at the crazy thought and walked out of his room, staring at it for the last time. This had been his life. His home. The only place he knew.

Michael absorbed the memories of his life as he walked towards the reception room of the hospital. Vanessa was already waiting equipped with the standard emergency essentials.

"Going on a trip are we Michael?" Vanessa asked smiling, her perlescent white teeth shining.

"Hm, sort of" Michael replied, half-heartedly smiling.

He tried not to show any emotion as he and Vanessa walked down the red-bricked steps. As he took his last look at the doors of the hospital, a tear escaped his eye.

"Aw, what's wrong?" Vanessa asked.

Michael sniffed and wiped the sleeve of his jumper on his eyes. Vanessa handed him a tissue.

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