Infinite Reflections

Landon's Conclusion -- OOOO

It was day ten of Syrenne’s coma, and Minna had finally left the room. Actually, no one knew where she had gone. It was like she’d been plucked out of Berkeley, and for a brief moment, we all believed she’d been sent home. That was, until Doctor Reynold made the call to the local police station, warning of a potentially runaway patient. I’d overheard the conversation this morning, as I awaited my monthly examination. The conversation was short and sweet, followed by a soft command.

“You may come in now, Landon.” We’d been on a first name basis for sometime, probably because she figured I’d be a long term patient.

I entered the room flooded with purple, the young lady behind the desk was none other than Lisa or- Doctor Reynold. I took a seat in front of her desk, sinking into the cushion comfortable. I planned to stay awhile.

“Good afternoon, Landon,” she greeted with a cheery smile. I was perhaps her favorite patient; I never put up a fight.

“Lisa,” I greeted in an unusually disturbed tone, and I knew that she knew why. I didn’t have to mask my feelings here, it would do me no good. The only way I would ever leave this place would be compliance.

Doctor Reynold gave me an understanding look and a sigh, before she attempted to begin her comforting routine. “Landon, it’s not your fault. We both know Minna’s choices are often irrational, we just need to let her get this out of her system.”

The comment was strange coming from Doctor Reynold, who usually kept a firm grip on her patients- especially Minna. Though now that rumor of Syrenne and Levi’s escape had surfaced, security had been beefed up, and each and every ward was growing increasingly rowdy. She had enough on her mind, not to mention the double suicide that had taken place in room 328, right down the hall from Syrenne’s old room. Suicide attempts among week patients had begun to skyrocket after room 328s success. Berkeley was starting to lose its credibility with the outside world, and patient after patient was slowly being retracted from the institute. Doctor Reynold had been searching for a way to regain control over the troublesome patients, but such attempts had been thus far unsuccessful. 

“Have you been having the dreams lately?” Lisa’s voice grew softer as the commander and chief of Berkeley transitioned back into her usually psychologist state. She was purposely striking a cord, it was her straight-forward way of counseling.

The dreams, the ones I’d been having for months. They’d started to act up recently, but I debated whether I should tell her. I succumbed, what did I have to lose? “Almost every night,” I managed to tell the truth, cautious of my wording. Anything I could say could easily earn me another month, or even year, in Berkeley. If I was deemed unstable, especially by the commander and chief of Berkeley, I'd be stuck here.

“Are you still in the hospital? Is the nurse still there?” They were questions I should have expected; Doctor Reynold would want to know everything about the dreams, as usual.

I thought hard, trying to remember enough detail to satisfy Doctor Reynold. “She’s there sometimes, and sometimes I’m alone,” I explained, continuing before she could ask another question. “Last night she spoke to me.”

“What did she say?"

--

“Landon, can you hear me?” It was the nurses voice. I was in the regular hospital once again, visited by the same nurse that had populated my dreams. She was a small, fragile woman with shockingly blonde hair. If I hadn’t grown used to her, I might even say she was beautiful. “Don’t go back to sleep, Landon. It isn’t real, this is real. Stay here.” It was her best attempt to convince me, an attempt that had probably gone unrehearsed.