Ink Me Insane (Book One)

Twenty One

The screams. She'd never forget the screams. People blended together. Their faces and names were all a blur of a dream. She purposefully didn't think too hard about it, about them. As a result, they lost their humanity and she could selfishly cope with the fact that these faces, these humans were being destroyed before her eyes. So instead they became shapeless beings that she just happened to pass in the hall. But the screams. She could never stop hearing the screams. The shrieks and wails of pain, despair, and fear. Each was a unique song that wrenched apart her heart, shredding her soul. They wove their way into her very being stitching permanently into her core. She could never escape them. Perhaps it was a form of divine punishment for trying to ignore the plights of her fellow inmates that caused the screams to resonate with her pounding heart and loop through tattered mind. Then again maybe it was her own internal battle of righteousness that struggled desperately to hold onto something about them, anything at all, so they would not slip out of the world completely. It could be just the screams gave voice to her own insanity and pain.

The screams torn down the hall. They were a vengeance on the ears that had caused the high pitched wails and anyone else who could hear them yet chose to abandon the poor souls. A tornado of pain and unraveling personified whipped through the building threatening to tear down the asylum. However the guards kept moving, unflinching against the shrieks. The cascade may as well have been nothing but a whisper. How, how could these people remain standing in this whirlwind of despair? Rene sunk into the cement wall just around the corner from where the guards were patrolling. One good look and she'd be caught but she couldn't bring herself to move. The screams anchored her. She clenched her hands over her ears wincing with each rise and fall. There was so much pain.

So the question remains, what shall you do about it young one?

Rene slowly lowered her arms. What would she do? What could she even do? Fight...the word a drifting thought of her mind. No, it was more than that. It grew strength with each passing moment and relinquished scream. It was an urge, a desire to do something and earn something better for herself and the others. It was a promise. She smiled, perhaps not much of a pep talk but it would have to do. Here goes nothing. Rene leaned forward carefully checking out the situation around the corner. It was not exactly what one would call good or even okay. Multiple guards strolled up and down the halls randomly entering and exiting rooms. Their perfectly polished boots tapped a beat of "you're screwed, you're screwed" in Rene's head as she hid out of their direct line of sight again. Fun times for all.

Options, options, options. She could try faking it. Just act like she belonged, obviously Kristy had been walking around willie-nillie even though she was a resident. Then again a majority of the guards knew Rene's face from how much trouble she caused, and those who did know her didn't exactly like her either. Second plan try the old movie technique and grab a guard to 'borrow' their uniform as a disguise. Cons that would probably make a lot of noise and Rene wasn't the fastest with the quick draw. Pros she'd have the chance to take down a guard if she succeeded. She sighed; unfortunately she'd more than likely end up on the floor twitching from a taser. Alright on to the next strategy, after all third times the charm. She could storm down the halls in a blaze of furry kicking ass as she went and rescue everyone. She sighed leaning back against the wall again. She'd save the last one for later as her 'screw it' backup. Hm...

Abruptly a guard turned the corner, his mouth dropped open when he saw the unexpected surprise. He froze in the middle of the hallway. Rene squeaked involuntarily, well this sucked. She gave a nervous wave unsure how to react. Recovering he narrowed his eyes and grabbed her wrist. He dragged her down the hall away from the other guards to the nearest room. She kept her mouth shut admittedly curious to what the crap was happening. He wrenched the door open forcefully shoving Rene into the room. She stumbled in barely managing to stop herself from landing face first. How graceful. He wiped his head back and forth checking the coast before shutting the door silently encasing the two of them in darkness.