Room 22: Excerpt

Chapter 5

            Dylan sat underneath one of the trees out in the Yard with Ethan and Alex. It was sunny and hot, and the tree provided cool shade. He always loved being outside, but there was never anyone to talk to. Everyone kind of ignored him, maybe because he was the only almost normal one there. He just sat with Ethan and Alex, the disgusting couple that seemed to never stop kissing, to make it look like he had friends.

Dylan looked back over to the building and spotted Isaac sitting on the bench, taking a nap. He was always taking a nap, but that was okay. He worked hard and he had to stay up all night monitoring the cameras. He wished Isaac would talk to him sometimes. Isaac needed a friend just as much as he did.

"It's a shame about Ian," Alex said between kisses. Dylan had never liked Ian. Actually, if there was one person in the world that Dylan hated the most, it was Ian. And he knew Ian felt the same way. Well, he used to feel the same way. Now he's dead.

"Good riddance," Dylan thought.

"Yeah what a shame," Ethan said, biting Alex's earlobe.

"So, do you think they'll bring a girl or a guy in next?"

"I don't know. I hope it's a girl."

"What?" Alex pulled away. "You want it to be a girl? You want to cheat on me? You want to be with another girl? I can't believe you! You piece of shit. How dare you say you want to be with another girl?"

"What? I- I never said that." Ethan looked worried.

Dylan just kind of stared as Alex stood up. Other people were looking curiously at the couple. Dylan scooted back and brought his knees to his chest, hoping no one would look at him.

"We're through. Over. Done," she screamed at him as Ethan stood up, too.

"Look, that's not what I meant. Would you please sit down?"

"No! I will not sit down! Don't talk to me ever again. I hate you," she spit.

Ethan slapped Alex across the face. Backhanded her. She looked down and held her hand to her already reddening cheek, then looked up with pure hatred in her eyes. She drew her leg back and kicked him. Ethan dropped to the ground, his hands holding his groin. Alex reached into her back pocket, drawing out a steak knife.

"This has all happened before," Dylan whispered to himself. "I've already seen this, in my dream."

Dylan stood up as Ethan looked up in surprise. "Where did you get that? You're psycho!" he screamed.

"Look around, buddy. Everyone here is," she screamed as she jumped on top of him, stabbing at him over and over again. Most of them missed, but the few that made contact made an awful noise, and Dylan couldn't help but look away.

All the commotion must have woken Isaac up, because he came running over to the couple. He pulled Alex up and held her tightly.

"What the hell? This is the third time this week. Would you cut it out?" he scolded her. Isaac looked down at Ethan, just noticing the blood gushing from his chest. "Dylan," he said gravely. "I'll get Alex. Will you please help Ethan up and follow me to the infirmary?"

"Uh, sure," he stammered, helping a writhing Ethan off the ground.

Dylan followed Isaac, who was dragging a kicking and screaming Alex, to the infirmary. It was close to the main entrance, as was everything else. Dylan hadn't been near the main entrance since the night he was admitted. He still remembered it clearly. He came out of a hallway and saw the doors that lead outside. It all flashed through his mind again... the screaming, the officer dying, and the nurse whispering to him to calm him down. And Isaac. He saw the whole thing. Isaac stopped walking and turned around.

"You have blood all over you," hesaid.

...