The Psychotic Change

Chapter One: The Big Breakout

Lonewood Asylum, one of the most menacing of asylums, was not a place where you wished to end up. The asylum was a humongous, mansion-like building with several windows on every floor, which glowed bright yellow, especially in the black sky. Large oak trees surrounded the place which made it look more intimidating, as well as the haunted graveyard attached to the back of it. Manic shrieks of malevolent criminals echo out of the asylum, giving the place its personality. Some say that the place is possessed.
    Tom was one of the patients there. He had oily, grey hair with icy blue eyes; he wore shiny, gold rings on every greasy finger except his thumbs. His fingers were intensely long and piano-like. He had a long, hooked nose used for snorting with disgust. He lived in a very compact, high-security cell.
    'You'll regret this!' he said vengefully to one of the guards of the asylum (his voice was as oily as his hair).
    The guard looked at him in a very suspicious way, then replied, 'You're not going to try anything, are you?' he added to Tom's grin. Tom forced his lip curl into a smile.
    'You can't escape out of here!' stated the officer, looking obviously fearful. Tom's lip curled even wider. 'Brady, Brady, Brady, I have my ways,' trying to remain calm.
    'Brooks, Brooks,' gasped Officer Brady heavily, sprinting to the office of his manager, 'I think he's trying something.'
    Officer Brooks tried to get a better view with his round spectacles, then replied, 'Who?' with his cold voice. Brady then answered, 'Thomas Greyback, sir. He's suspicious, sir! He's very suspicious to me, sir!' Brooks scratched his completely shaven head, trying to think. 'Whatever you do, don't let him escape! Shut all windows, doors and even attics if you must immediately!' ordered Officer Brooks, smoothing his grey toothbrush mustache. He eyed Officer Brady with his cold grey eyes until he left. He really meant business. Brady acted out what Brooks had ordered him to do. Officer Brady still looked calm even though he was sweating all over, these things were normal for him.

    *

21:00 meant lights out. All the prisoners went to bed including Tom. All the prisoners were sleeping. Tom, on the other hand, was wide awake. He had used left-over tissue paper. He had now folded and slid the inside his pocket, which on it was fiddling which looked like a 5 year-old's drawing of a map.
When it was 08:00 (Morning Roll Call), all the prisoners were queuing up in front of Officer McLeod; Officer Williams and Officer Adams standing beside him. Tom was obliged to queue up as well. Officer McGuffey was also there, behind the prisoners, making sure they couldn't leave until permitted.
    'Alright, meat bags,' snarled Officer McLeod. 'It's roll call. You better answer your names; we're checking who is present. Misbehaviour means solitary confinement for a certain period of time (saying this shook some of the patients). Don't mess with Officer Adams by the way. He's a tough one,' he added to Smith's snigger towards a clinically obese guard. 'Remember that we are all here to help,' concluded the officer.
    'Psst...Psst...' hissed a voice next to Tom; he was another patient. Tom turned around in an abrupt pace. In front of Tom's gaze stood a thin, pale man with quick brown eyes; short, wiry hair and looked young,  'Nice to meet you, Tom. I thought you could use these for your escape. It can come in handy,' and gave him some nun chucks.
    'Who're you supposed to be?' asked Tom.
    'Who am I? Who am I?' confidently repeated the bloke standing beside Tom, "I am your new friend, Tom. Rob. Robert Keighley is what my family calls me though. They're sad though. I mean, all they ask from me is to not to do anything you'll regret. I mean, it's funny, isn't it?" Tom had the urge to snigger, but instead let out a brief, "Thanks," added Tom. So, who was Rob? And why would he befriend a pernicious patient.

*

09:00 meant breakfast time. All the patients were queuing up in single file in the canteen, waiting to be served their mandatory breakfasts. The guards kept an extra eye on Tom, who now entered the canteen, queuing in single file. To Tom's surprise however, the cook had offered him a free meal. Tom had some bacon, eggs and tea. When Tom devoured his breakfast, it was 10:00 which meant Work Period. Tom's job was to clean the mess he could find on the floor. If you do well, you earn money.
    Money Increase depends on how well you've done your job. The effort and progress counts as well as how much work you do and the guards inspect your work on how well you did. In the long run, though, work will also train your brain as well and increase your financial amount. Work Period went very successful. Tom had gained a tonne of money.
    'Money actually increases your chances in escaping,' whispered Rob when he was informed out at 12:00 (Afternoon Roll Call). This time though, Officer Jeff was replacing Officer Williams because Officer Williams was patrolling the grounds of the asylum.

*

The corridors were deserted. The only people were remaining were the officers and their guard dogs. Officer Williams's one was a brown Alsatian. He was outside, at the grounds of the asylum. He practiced electrical therapy with a stun stick. He tapped the stick twice on the overly large Welcome gates, so whenever a patient attempts to escape, the gates would then taser them. He then turned to his dog and continuously poked him with the stick, for entertainment. His dog howled in agony while the officer was watching without empathy for the dog. He then strolled further and deeper back inside, smirking at all the graves that had remained there. He heaved gargantuan, chocolate-like double doors. Then waited very patiently. He had stepped back inside of Lonewood Asylum.
Meanwhile, Rob was advising Tom on how to escape the asylum, what to do and how you should do it. Tom listened and looked very interested even though he would pretend to listen and glance in an abrupt pace to what the guards had to say, so they didn't have suspicions.
Everyone was relieved that it was 13:00 (Afternoon Free Time). Tom and Rob were at the corridors, talking. They were discussing very briefly about the escape and Tom was relieved that escaping would be so simple for him. Tom took this as an advantage to receive as much advice he could get so he could be capable to escape the asylum with ease.
    Everyone had their Evening Meal at 15:00. The cook was still calm and in a good mood. Rob accompanied him.
    When 16:00 drew nearer (Exercise Period), Tom went to the gym. By the time he got there, it was 16:00. They had to do some exercise. Tom did so because he wanted to escape the asylum, though he was slightly fatigued. He tried a treadmill so he could increase his speed. Then tried to box with Rob and Smith. It all went very well and it exceeded his expectations. So, they went to the Shower Block because it was 17:00. Tom wanted to reduce his fatigue.
    18:00 meant Evening Free Time. Rob permitted Tom to use his cell, and Tim permitted Rob to use his cell. They became close friends.
'So, the best time to escape is Evening Roll Call (which was at 20:00) because they're going to be fewer guards there,' he explained to Tom. Tom was very proud to have a good friend like him. It made his life a lot easier. When Evening Roll Call came, Tom hid in his cell, hoping not to step into a guard's gaze. He took this opportunity to escape.
   The scene reminded Tom of the time of bloodshed in Lancashire, which occurred around three years ago. His crime was cannibalism. He was a long-lost traveler and was intensely starving. Luckily, a member of the police force had caught him in the act, so he ended up here, in this asylum. Of course there were other incidents that resulted in his so-called care, but sometimes he had no or very little control over his sanity.
    Tom had now sneaked out and found himself in the Main Entrance. It was 21:00. It's locked, he thought. Luckily for him, he had made a universal key which allowed him to unlock the doors. Unluckily for him, he had been caught red-handed by the guards. At the speed of light, the guards quickly used grappling hooks in attempt to catch the escapist. To their surprise however, Tom had narrowly avoided it. Tom was now attempting to climb up the asylum itself. Was Tom about to do it? Was Tom about to escape Lonewood Asylum? Yes, he thought, Yes, I'm going to get out of this ruddy, old place. Suddenly however, 'Well, well, well, if it isn't old Tommy,' said Officer Brady's squeaky voice. 'You think you could just escape. Keep on dreaming, keep on dreaming!' and he appeared right in front of Tom...Tom looked as though he couldn't believe his eyes, Tom looking very bewildered. When Tom had found his conscious rise again, he replied, 'Well, it's not over yet. Just you wait and I'll be getting out of here in no time,' he added. Suddenly, another guard came scurrying along; it was Officer McLeod with the head of Lonewood Asylum, Scorpius Lonewood, staring at him with his cold black eyes, all of them surrounding him. So Tom had been caught again? When he worked out how to escape again. This is perfect. They all fell into my trap, he thought, when he had reminded himself of the nun chucks Rob had offered him. So, he used the nun chucks in physical contact with the guards, knocking them 20 times harder than if he was to use his fist. When he had climbed up the roof of Lonewood Asylum, he waited until it started to rain and when it did, the fires were put out so he could jump down skilfully to regain all his possessions. He had done it! He had managed to escape.

*

Tom was back at home. He was no longer in that asylum anymore. His pet cat was waiting for him in the living room. The cat stared unblinkingly at Tom with his yellow, lamp-like eyes. Tom smiled at the cat and stroked it.
"I'm finally home!" he shouted, "and I have a plan," he added more calmly.
"I know what you're thinking,' replied the cat. It was very unusual for a cat to speak and understand Human, but it wasn't the cat...The building was an ancient, gloomy house which was very untidy. Scattered papers and possessions scattered across the floors ran wild, drawers have been knocked over and the house was very dark and dull. Also, he had an unused-looking bathroom since he was in that asylum for  all those years.
"Finally, I'm free!" he repeated jubilantly, still very satisfied.