Framed

Chapter 9 : Home

Chapter 9

Later that night...

Rydel POV

Dad got a call from the police, saying Riker was innocent. And now he was on the phone with the mental hospital, seeing if we could get Riker out and home again.

He hung up, and looked at us. He looked exhausted.

"We can go pick Riker up. He's free to go. We just have to sign some things about taking him out even though they would prefer to keep him there."

"What's wrong with him?" Mom asked.

"He's showing a bunch of signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Paranoid Schizophrenia. It's all caused by incidents that happened at jail apparently."

"Wait. What does all that mean?" I asked.

"Well I don't know exactly. But they said as one of the symptoms of Paranoid Schizophrenia, he's constantly scared people are out to get him. And for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, they said he's been having trouble sleeping and panic attacks. They said he keeps trying to hide under his bed, and they recommended that we take his mattress off, and put it on the floor if he does that here."

"Can I come to pick him up?" I asked.

"Rydel, it's late," dad said.

"But it's a Friday. I don't have school tomorrow."

"Let her go. She just wants to see her big brother," mom said.

"Alright, fine. Let's go," dad said.

I followed him out to the car. Mom stayed home to watch everyone.

The car ride to the mental place was weird. We didn't really talk much. I don't think either one of us knew what to say.

We finally arrived. I followed dad inside, and he went up to the front desk to talk to someone.

We had to put these visitor pass things on, and then we were led down the hall. A nurse opened a door, and we were let inside.

I saw a shaking lump under a white sheet. And I heard crying.

"Did you sign him out?" The nurse asked.

"Yes."

"Then he's free to go. But he hasn't eaten anything in a few days, so try to get him to eat."

"Ok."

The nurse left. I looked at dad, not sure what was going on exactly.

"Riker?"

Dad walked a little closer. The lump started to shake even more.

Dad pulled the sheet off of Riker. He was curled into a little ball, crying into his hands.

"Riker, you were proven innocent. We're taking you home," dad said, bending down to Riker's level.

I felt so weird, looking at my big brother. It's like he's not even Riker anymore. He looks so scared, and it's making me sad to see him like this. He never cries.

"Riker, come on," dad said, taking his arm.

Riker was trying to squirm away, but dad pulled him up into a standing position.

"Come on, Riker. Stand on your own feet. I'm not going to hold you up."

"Please don't hurt me!"

"I'm not if you'd just stand."

Riker stood on his own, but he looked absolutely terrified.

"Rydel, bring him outside to the car. I'm going to talk to the nurse for a few minutes about his conditions."