Gone Mental

Chapter 2 : Group Therapy

Chapter 2

Later...

Riker POV

I heard my door open, and then I saw feet. I was still under my bed.

I saw Matt.

"Hey, Riker. It's time for therapy, ok?"

"No."

"Come on. Please? It'll be fun."

"I'm not having fun."

"Yeah, because you're under the bed. Come on. I'll take you to therapy, and I won't let anyone hurt you, ok?"

Matt grabbed my hands, and pulled me out from under the bed. I was shaking. And I stayed in a curled up ball.

"Come on, Riker. Stand up."

He put his hands under my arms. I just sort of squirmed away from him. I tried to crawl back under my bed, but he wrapped his arms around me, and kept me from doing that. He picked me up, and put me on top of my bed. I was just laying there in a ball, staring back up at him with tears in my eyes.

"Come on. I promise no one will hurt you."

He made me stand. I had my arms wrapped around myself, scared to death.

"Ready?" Matt asked.

"I need to go to the bathroom."

"Ok, go ahead. I'll wait for you."

I quickly shut the bathroom door, and did my business. I didn't like that the bathroom door didn't have a lock. People could come kill me when I least expected it.

I came out, and Matt was still there. I slowly walked over to him. He put his arm lightly around me, and I huddled close to his body as we walked out of my room. I was absolutely terrified.

He brought me down a bunch of hallways until we finally came to a room. He led me inside. There were a bunch of other people in there, and they were sitting in chairs that were in a circle. He made me sit down in one. But I hated being here. What if these people are all going to gang up on me, and then kill me!?

"P-please don't leave me," I whispered.

Tears were falling down my face. Matt pulled up a chair beside me. I was clinging to his arm.

"So today, we have a new group member. This is Riker," some lady said, motioning to me.

I felt so uncomfortable and scared under their stares. I just wanted to run and hide.

"Riker, this is group therapy. And we talk about things as a group. If you want to talk, then you can raise your hand, and you'll be called on, ok?"

I just stared back at her, terrified.

"Alright, let's continue."

I mostly blocked out everything that was going on. My mind was just racing and racing and racing. And I couldn't stop it.

There was so much adrenaline running through my body. I jumped up, and ran out of the room. I could hear feet running after me. I collapsed on the floor in tears. I curled in on myself, shaking uncontrollably.

"Riker. Hey, it's ok."

I could tell it was Matt. He was rubbing my back now, but it wasn't making me feel any better. I was practically sobbing into my hands. I can't breathe anymore.

My chest felt so tight, it almost sort of hurt. I was practically gasping for breath now, trying not to pass out.

Matt made me sit up, leaning against the wall. He was sitting beside me, trying to get me to take deep breaths, but I couldn't. It hurt my chest.

I curled up, and hid my face in my hands. Matt put his arm around me, and I sort of curled into his side.

"It's ok, Riker. I just want you to focus on calming down, ok?"

"H-hurts!"

"What hurts?"

I slid my hands over my chest.

"Your chest hurts?"

I nodded.

"Ok. Just calm down first."

"I want to go back to my room!"

"Ok."

I jumped up, and ran. I could hear Matt running after me. He unlocked my room for me, and I dove underneath my bed. I felt safer, and I calmed down a little.

Matt was on the floor, looking at me.

"Does your chest still hurt?" Matt asked, once I'd calmed down.

"It just feels really tight..." I whispered.

"Ok... Well if it gets worse, tell me... Do you want something to eat or drink?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Ok... Do you want me to stay, or can I leave?"

"You can leave..."

"Alright. I'll be back to check on you in a little while, ok?"

"Yes..."