Crazyhouse (Book 1)

X. Setbacks

The nightmares stood as a reminder to Blair. A reminder that she needed to focus. She had to prove her innocence. She had to get out of Draywell. The information she read on autopsy wouldn't be enough to persuade anyone. She knew she had to see her own file, and there seemed to be only one person that could make that happen for her.

"Your file?" Silas asked. He visibly recoiled in surprise. "I mean I can pull a lot of strings, but I don't know if I can do that."

"Please," Blair continued. "Can you at least try for me?" He hesitated, shifting his blue eyes to the floor. Blair fiddled with the hem of her gown. She knew it was a huge favour to ask of him. If she was being honest, she didn't think he'd agree.

He caved, saying, "I can try asking Ms. Nelson."

Blair was ecstatic. She felt as though she was so close to freeing herself from the asylum. She spent the entire week feeling as though she was on top of the world. Her nightmares ceased and she was able to rest without fear. Draywell was ruining her, and she knew it. Now, with the potential to finally leave and go back home, she felt like herself again. Until Silas came with news that shattered the world she stood on.

"I have bad news," he started. Both Blair and Andie waited as he sighed. "Ms. Nelson said that the administration decided not to relocate Apollyn to maximum security."

Andie began to weigh in, "What? That's ridiculous! Why not?" Blair wondered the same thing. Apollyn was feared by most of the patients at Draywell, all that were sound enough of mind. He was the perfect candidate for maximum security.

"They said he hasn't had an incident since he murdered Mason," Silas said. "Which apparently isn't recent enough." Blair noticed how irritated her two friends were, and she wanted to say that she felt that way too. However, a part of her felt relieved in the sickest way.

"Well, doesn't he have to be moved to an adult ward anyway?" Blair chimed in. The two looked at each other, both with frowns.

"No," Andie said despondently. "Draywell doesn't move anyone out of the children's ward until they're out of their teens."

"Even if they did, we'd still have shared spaces with him," Silas remarked, casting a look over his shoulder to where Apollyn sat. "Maximum security was ideal. Now, I guess we have to wait until he does something."

"It's wrong," Andie continued. "It could be any one of us that's next." Blair shuddered, recalling the memory of Apollyn on top of her, holding the knife. Maybe she should tell Ms. Nelson about what really happened that night. Maybe then Apollyn would be moved to maximum security like they wanted. Again, there was something that held her back. She realized it was only what her friends wanted, not her. And that bothered her.

"Oh, Blair, there's another thing," Silas began again, bringing her back to the here and now. "Ms. Nelson can't get your file. Apparently, that's something administration keeps under lock and key. Sorry."

"That's OK," she responded. "Thanks anyway." Her world only kept on crashing. She felt as though she reached another brick wall. Draywell was her prison and it seemed as though it always will be.