Cast (#wattys2016)

Chapter Two

Early the next morning there was a knock on my door, I was still asleep at the time and I could barely crawl out of bed. I discovered Dr. Periwinkle standing in the doorway. "Oh, hey Doc." I greeted.
"Hello darling, we have a bit of a problem in Wing C." He still sounded calm, so it couldn't of been too big of a problem.
"What's going on?" I asked, still half asleep.
"It's this one patient, we don't know her name because she refused to tell us anything about her; she's very secretive and now she's completely buried herself in her bed."
"Buried herself in her bed?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes." He didn't seem to think that sounded odd at all.
"What does that even mean?"
"Oh, well, let me show you." I looked down at my clothes, I'm still in what I was wearing yesterday.
"Just uh, give me a second ok?" I said, closing the door and quickly moving over to the closet. I don't know what I'm expecting to find though, because it's not like this new job was a planned thing. But surprisingly enough the closet is filled with clothes that are my size, I don't take much time to ask myself how that's possible because knowing the Puppet Master, he knows a lot more about me than just the size shirt I wear. I pull on a pair of black leggings and a red plaid shirt and then open the door again. "I'm ready."

It didn't take long for me to figure out what Dr. Periwinkle meant by 'buried herself in her bed', once we entered the room. All I saw lying in the bed was a lump of purple blankets, I had to get really close to even see the eyes, nose and mouth sticking out of a small hole in the sheets. "Oh, hi." I said, wondering if the girl could even hear me, or if shes even alive.
"Hello Paige." I actually got a response. I thought in surprise. I actually got a response.
"I really don't think I should bother asking you how you know my name, it is far from the most surprising thing I've heard during my time here."
"Good, because I wouldn't tell you anyways."
"So, you know I'm Paige but-"
"Im not gonna tell you my name either."
"Then what will you tell me?"
"Nothing you haven't heard before, don't trust the Puppet Master and all that." I tried not to let the surprise show up on my face, but I couldn't help it; someone telling me not to trust the Puppet Master is- like she said- nothing new to me, but how did she know it's nothing new to me? I decided to just change the subject completely.
"Ok, can you tell me why you've buried yourself in blankets?"
"See this is your problem, you just keep asking questions even though you should know I won't answer them."
"Well I need answers, so how can I get them?"
"See, another question! Some people just never learn." She rolled her eyes.
"Can't you answer just this once? And yes I know that's another question." I asked and she sighs.
"If ye seek to find something, ye shall not find what you seek. If ye seek to find something with a strong and clever mind, ye shall find what you seek."
"Thanks for calling me stupid."
"Wow, you found the absolute dumbest way to simplify that." She said. "But yes, I pretty much did just call you stupid, and you're welcome."
"So you need me to be more clever, huh? Alright, I'll be back for you."
"Right, you need to take time to think of something clever when I can make things up in seconds, right." She remarked snidely.
"Those who hide in life, hide from life." I let out a triumphant smile. She seemed to be caught off guard for a moment before the girl retorted with,
"But those who are in the open, open dark paths."
"Dark paths are only crossed by dark people, but those who hide, hide in dark places." I didn't need to say any more, I just left the room, relishing in my victory.

"That was... An interesting conversation you had with her." Dr. Periwinkle said as he walked with me out of the room.
"Well, I needed to show with her that I am seeking answers with a strong and clever mind."
"I commend you for the obvious gift you have in dealing with these patients."
"Gift? I don't think so, just, proper choice of words." I corrected.
"Then I commend you for your proper choice of words. I must be meeting with Maria and Clementine now, good luck with your duties today."
"Thanks, you too."

Right away I knew I wanted to pay Beckley another visit, so that's exactly where I went.

"Paige, nice to see you again." He greeted when he saw me.
"It's nice to see you to."
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your return?"
"Nothing special, you're just the most sane person I've met so far, and I assume you always will be."
"Oh well don't I feel flattered. Who have you met so far?"
"Well, there was this girl who completely covered herself in blankets, you and this girl who claims she enter the worlds of different books." Still I danced around the subject of Stasia.
"Oh, I know of that book girl, she's Daisy, a very nice girl." The way he spoke of her seemed almost... Sad? "The other one I don't know; the blanket girl, not me, I know myself." He chuckled lightly. "Anyways, have you met Dr. Periwinkle yet?"
"Yeah, he's strange but nice, I like him." 
"I like him too, he's got some good real British class."
"He did say you're his favourite, oops, I wasn't supposed to tell you that." I joked.
"Ha ha, don't worry, I won't mention it. By the way, I really think you should visit this one patient in room 223, he's a mute but seems very interesting."
"Interesting how?"
"I think, like most of us, that this fellow is wildly underestimated by the Doctors and Nurses here."
"I'll be sure to drop by."
"You really should. Oh, have you ever heard of Melelong Nashutan?"
"Can't say I have."
"He's an author from North Westin and his tales are quite enthralling."
"What does he write about?"
"My kind, mostly. Stories about how we're misunderstood by humans that live outside of Westin; I appreciate his understanding of our way of life."
"Sounds amazing, are you reading one of his books now?" I inquired, glancing around at the many bookshelves surrounding the room.
"Yes, it's called Halflah, which means 'Monster' in Mesononian."
"Mesononian? Is that the language of your people?"
"It's a language only known by those who live in Westin, and it varies slightly depending on where you live."
"I see. So how is the book so far?"
"Really fantastic, impeccably well written."
"Well I'll leave you to your reading then, and go visit room 223."
"Alright, farewell Paige."
"Bye Beckley."