ASYLUM

Thou Hast Kept Many Secrets

Chapter Three: Thou Hast Kept Many Secrets

DR. JONEST POINT OF VIEW

I stomped away, cursing under my breath. Why did I do that? I just scared her off. And I was drunk! My mind went back to that day in 1909...

MEMOIR

I walked to Nessa's cell, slightly tipsy. I had just enjoyed a party with the boys. One of their wives was pregnant. One day, I want to marry that new doctor. What was her name? Sarah? Serene? Ah, Skye. That was it. Oh, she was beautiful. We'd met several times, and I could tell that she liked me. But she was playing hard to get.

I nearly bumped into the door to Vanessa's cell. I was going to apologize to her. I'd told her I didn't love her any more. It was kind of true, in a way. I did still sort of love her, but I liked Dr. Vance more. It just sort of slipped out. I wanted to court Vanessa and Skye at the same time, but I messed it up, not to mention Skye not reacting to me like most women would.

I opened the door very quietly, so as not to frighten her. And there she was, as beautiful as ever. Her long, wavy blonde hair was all in tangles. She was soundly sleeping, looking like a little angel. She slowly lifted her head, and I could see that she had been crying. Poor girl. Well, this was my fault, but I still felt sorry. Almost.

"Vanessa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I just had a long day, and things are hard..."

No reply. So this was to be a monologue. Fine. So be it.

"I take back what I said. I want to marry you, I want to live with you for the rest of my life." I also want to court Dr. Vance, but I wasn't about to tell her that. "I only have one condition."

She looked at me with confusion. She wasn't the brightest person around, but I could look past that. I told her my condition.

"No! You will not get that! No! I won't let you!"

"But we love each other, don't we? Why not?"

"Because it is wrong! Irresponsible!" Well, maybe she was smarter than I thought. I had never taught her that word. Did I miss it in one of the books I gave her? I made sure to read all of them. "You only want that from me! Isn't that right?"

I was mad now. Mother always said I shouldn't talk when I'm angry. "Of course. You say you talk to the dead. Only and insane person claims things like that!" I kept getting closer to her. By now we were almost an arm's length away. She lifted her hand, crossed to me and... slapped me. Now I was really mad. Never make me mad when I am drunk.

"But I thought you loved me. Don't you want this?"

"No!"

"Well, too bad."

~::~

When I left her, she was in the corner, sobbing.

"This was fun. I hope I never see you again." My words were cold. I opened the door to leave. Right before it closed, though, I heard something. It sounded like someone, not Nessa, but someone else, saying "You will die a slow and painful death." Well, honestly, if she was really trying to frighten me, she would have to try harder than that.

PRESENT DAY

I still don't regret that night. It was a bad thing to do, but when I am drunk, I don't tend to think before I act. The next day, I went to the administrator and told him that Vanessa couldn't be set free, and that she was prone to outbreaks of violence, that she was dangerous to the public. The truth is, I just didn't want her going out into the world and telling everyone what I did. She would ruin me.

SKYE POINT OF VIEW

That night, I didn't sleep well, just as Vanessa had predicted. Hmm. Her story was playing through my mind over and over again. At first it seemed too good to be true. Well, I guess it sort of was. At the end of the rainbow, there is an awful man waiting to hurt you. Who would have guessed that Dr. Jones, of all people used to be a compassionate young man?

In the morning, I got up early to avoid Dr. Jones. After what I had learned, if I saw him, I would probably rip his head off. Or worse.

In the mess hall, I saw them. Liza and her daughter Anabelle. Should I tell them about...? No, I don't think I will. That story is Vanessa's, and she should tell it when she wants to.

I walked up to the table Liza and Anabelle were seated at. Liza turned around, and greeted me in her slight French accent. Anabelle also turned around, her little blonde curls bouncing on top of her head. This little girl was so cute. She smiled her toothy grin, and threw her arms around me.

"Skye! Skye! I lost my first tooooth!" Honestly, she was the cutest girl in the world.

"Really? Wow! Are you happy?"

"Yes!"

"Skye," Liza said, "I need to talk to you." She walked me over to an empty table. "There is something I need to tell you. It's about Anabelle. She... is not my daughter."

Everyone knew this. Liza was the administrator's wife. No one knew how such a sweet woman could love... him. When they got married, she was unable to get pregnant. So they adopted her sister's baby, because her mother died.

"I know. You told me the story when I first met Anabelle."

"Yes, I suppose you are right. But there is another part to the story. Anabelle is not of my blood at all."

"Oh. My. Goodness. Are you telling me that you kidnapped Anabelle?" I was freaking out. My best friend kidnapped the little angel? How could she? Her mother must be so worried, she-

"No, no. I never kidnapped Anabelle. I was walking through a corridor here when I passed a young woman, who was heavily pregnant. She begged me to help her deliver. I told her that I had no experience in these matters, so I ran to the nearest doctor and told him. He went back to that cell with me and helped deliver her baby."

"And you're telling me this because...?" I didn't like where this was going at all.

"Because you should know. You know how I always take Anabelle here once a week? I bring her to see her mother."

"I still have no clue why I need to know this. I was happier not knowing."

"Too bad. Anyway, the woman's name is Vanessa. She is... you won't believe this, but she is a sane inmate!"

"I know exactly who you are talking about. I met her yesterday. I can't believe I didn't see the resemblance! Anabelle looks just like her! Her blonde curls, her pixie face..." I felt so stupid. They looked exactly alike. So did that mean that Dr. Jones has a daughter? Does he know? "Liza. Is there any particular reason that you told me all of this?"

"Well...I am leaving to visit my family in France for a few weeks. I just need you to take her to Vanessa once a week. Is that okay?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Good. Would you mind coming with me, so Vanessa isn't completely surprised?" Judging by how well she keeps up with the spirits means that she already knows.

"Um, okay."

~::~

The visit with Vanessa went well, I suppose. She was extremely surprised to find out that I knew she had a daughter. Anger was still bubbling up inside of me. First Dr. Jones loved her, then hurt her, and got her pregnant! And he doesn't even know that Anabelle is his daughter!

VANESSA POINT OF VIEW

I saw three people coming towards my cell. I could tell it was Liza, Anabelle, and... Dr. Vance? Did she know the secret in which I had trusted Liza with? How could she?