Cast (#wattys2016)

Chapter One

I opened the door to the sight of a slender girl sitting on a comfortable enough looking bed, none of the lights in the room were on and the girl was facing away from me. "Um, h-hi. Are you, are you ok?" I asked, trying to sound polite though I felt oddly nervous. The girl didn't answer me. "I'm uh, I'm-"
"I know who you are, I heard, you're the Advisor." She interrupted.
"Well, yeah, but you can just call me Paige."
"Oh so you're not just another one of his puppets huh?"
"You're talking about the Puppet Master. Yeah, he seems a little strange to me."
"Ha, a little, yeah right."
"So, what's your name?" I inquired.
"Stasia."
"And what got you placed here?" She seemed normal, for the most part.
"I'm crazy, don't you see? That's what he says, that's what they all say."
"I don't think you're crazy."
"Oh quit it with these poor attempts at friendliness, I know what you're doing and I'm not falling for it; I'm looking for a partner, not a friend." She was standing now, the swift and effortless way she moves making me even more nervous. I gulp.
"A partner for what?" I ask and she moves next to me in the blink of an eye.
"Burning this place to the ground." She replies, whispering in my ear. Her words are making me flat out uncomfortable, I start to think that she might want to burn me into the ground.
"I'm not sure I'm ready to convert to pyromaniac."
"Oh don't be so literal about things, I'm not actually looking to burn anything, then again..." Her voice drifted off.
"Nope, I am definitely not interested in any of your plans."
"You're so weak, Paige. Too afraid to take a chance on a crazy girl." She moves to my other ear. "Too afraid to escape." She whispers and I push her away from me.
"I'll find my own means of escape, thank you."
"Well my offer still stands so, if you ever change your mind, I'll be around. Oh, and just a word of advice, don't trust the Puppet Master." The way she practically melts into the darkness as she steps away from me sends shivers down my spine. I quickly exit the room, slamming the door just a bit too hard in my rush to get away from that girl.

I look up to the door right next to the one I've just closed and I enter it. Immediately I can feel a change in the atmosphere, there are high book shelves surrounding the room, plush carpets on the floor and a fireplace too; in the centre of the room there is a dark green armchair and sitting in it is... A creature, not a man, a creature. "Ah!" I say in surprise, observing the lizard human hybrid. His green skin is dark and scaly, but his features are soft and he's dressed in a beige wool knit sweater.
"Huh, that's not an unusual reaction. Hello, my name is Beckley." His voice was dapper and British sounding.
"Hi, I-I'm Paige. Sorry for being so rude I'm just-"
"Don't worry about it. Please, have a seat, I'm sure you have many questions." I sat in a matching green armchair.
"I have a few." Before I could start he answered one of my questions presumptively.
"I'm from East Weston, a small English town, I'm normal where I'm from." He seemed slightly saddened by the thought of being 'abnormal' in the eyes of humans.
"You're normal here too, to me." I say comfortingly.
"Thank you, but according to the Puppet Master I'm crazy. The irony is that I'm probably the most sane person here, other than you; why are you here?"
"Actually I'm an Advisor, not a patient."
"Ah, that makes sense, I've heard talk of the Puppet Master wanting to recruit an Advisor."
"Yeah. So why are you here?" It took me a second to realize how stupid the question I had just asked was and Beckley noticed my realization. "I meant what do they do to you here? What are they trying to find that you won't tell them?"
"I think they're trying to figure out how I exist, they don't believe me when I tell them 'I exist the same way you do, I just do'."
"Well it seems like they're trying to make your existence as miserable as possible."
"They really are, I'm not too fond of the people around here; but I like you, your company is much appreciated."
"I'm happy to be your company." I said, smiling.
"Well if you'd ever like to come and visit me again, your presence is much appreciated."
"Thank you. I'll be moving on now, but I'll be sure to stop by again soon." I told him, standing up.
"Of course. Just uh, Paige?" I looked him in the eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Don't trust the Puppet Master."
"I-I won't." Wow, the Puppet Master told me I would hear that phrase but I didn't expect to hear it so repetitively, both the patients I've talked to have said it. I left Beckley's room at that point, happy to know there is at least one sane person in the facility.