escape (ai) (book 2 of 9:08)

3

hannah

the upside down
i was looking for you everywhere
i can hear you screaming my name
but i still couldn't see you
then it came to me
you were in the upside down
and i was in the normal
but the normal was way worse
than the upside down
because
in the normal
i
was
crying
for
you.

reading over the poem i typed for my blog, i posted it. it may or may not be how i'm feeling about ashton but i don't know what to do. i'm so worried that ashton may be dead or he may be right next to me but i need to know if he's still breathing.

maybe i should help calum find him but all i have been doing for the past week was sit in sweatpants on the couch just thinking of what i should i do. i've even been talking to michael.

yes, michael.

i know he's gone but i literally live in new york by myself in this empty house and i literally have nothing. hopefully michael listens to what i'm saying but most likely i could just be going mental and i'm talking to myself but i need something.

eating some dunkers and drinking some tea while watching spongebob and thinking "why the hell is squidward so mean to spongebob?" i was interrupted when i got a knock on the door. i quickly checked my phone to see what time it is and it's 8:42 pm. i groan and take my hair out of the messiest bun i've ever had out and ran to the door.

no one was there. i look down to see a letter. it says "HANNAH" on the front and i took it and went back inside. i rip it open and it's a mini packet.

Dear Hannah,

Hi babygirl, I know it's been awhile. I know you're stuck in a position wanting to find me and Calum came out of nowhere. I just need you to follow these clues okay? Calum is going to help you I swear. Just do this for me. I need you Hannah. Fuck, I need you more than anything. I love you so fucking much.

-Ash

*The first clue is behind this letter

i turn the letter around to see another paper.

NORTH MANOR MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION RELEASE

IN THIS FORM, IT STATES THAT THE INMATE _______ WILL BE RELEASE FROM THIS MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION BY THE STATE. THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE.

X___________
(SIGNATURE OF JUDGE)

so ashton is in an institution. what the hell? i didn't know he had mental health problems, well he did fall in love with me quickly and i was forced to go on an adventure with him when i barely knew who i was, let alone know anything about him. hell i still don't know myself.

i've heard of north manor before but i just don't know where it is. i went into my office and opened my macbook and went to safari. in the search bar i put "north manor mental health institution" and all of its info popped up.

(btw the city in new york is real but the mental institution is not lol)

North Manor Mental Health Institution
702 hunter rd.
Galway, NY 12074

i've never heard of galway and its an old place, its lots of farming and lakes and old looking buildings. the population is only 200 people. it looks very deserted and creepy. it's only a three hour drive from brooklyn, maybe i can travel there tomorrow morning. i need to get in contact with calum.

i googled "calum hood" and various things popped up. it says every saturday he performs at the open mic night at the cafe "irwin's" at 8:30-10:30pm. yikes. i have to go back to that place, i need to go talk to him, i have to.

i check my phone and it's only 9:00, he's probably still there.

frantically, i run to my room and throw on some ripped jeans, a white t-shirt and a leather jacket. i brushed my teeth and wash my face and then quickly straightened my hair. then, i grabbed my mini backpack and packed my phone, some granola bars, my portable charger, water bottle, the letter, house keys, some hair ties and my mini toothbrush and toothpaste.

i know it seems like a lot but a girl has to be prepared.

i put on my black vans, grabbed my car keys and left, ready to see where ashton takes me.