Asylum - The Case of Sophia Rourke

Chapter Seventeen

I was alive, but I wished I was dead with Sophia. Thomas was sitting on the edge of my bed, his body wrapped in bandages that made the blood completely visible. He was staring blankly at the wall, his body still and appearing frozen. I can't explain how I felt at that moment- it was a mix of dread, anger, and sadness. I turned my head slightly, and I saw that my bedroom door was closed. Everything was silent inside and outside of my room.

Thomas turned to look at me, and somehow held back tears. "Addie... do you need anything?" he choked out.

I stared at the ceiling. "Get... Get Sophia's asylum shut down for abuse and sexual assault. A kiss would be nice, too."

Thomas's eyes got wide, and he was still struggling not to cry. He leaned down and kissed my lips softly, then stood up and limped to the door. "Ivy was sent to live with Bernice. We buried Sophia. You've been out for a week."

I didn't say anything. I heard him take a deep breath, then leave my bedroom. I didn't want to move, speak, or even breathe. "I wish I died instead of Sophia. It would've been so much better."

"There you go again," a whimper came from my doorway. I didn't even turn my head to see who it was.

"How's your eye?" I asked in a mumble. Daryl approached my bed. He had an eyepatch where his injury once was.

"It was infected. It's... getting better. Are you hungry or anything?" he asked, avoiding looking at me.

"Alcohol. I'll take that."

"No."

"Get me the fucking alcohol, Daryl," I demanded. I didn't do a very good job of sounding pissed, because I just sounded sad as hell.

"I'm not letting you," he replied. He had something in his hand.

"What are you holding?"

He didn't answer me- he just shoved the item in his pocket. "Are you hungry?" he repeated. I tried to stand up, but my body didn't want to cooperate.

"Are the patients okay? I'm not failing my job, am I?" I panicked.

"Addie, they're all okay. We've been taking care of them. Alex is a little upset... that's all."

"B-But... why?"

"He knew everything that was happening when we left. That kid has a gift... more of a curse, just like we did as kids."

"Yeah. A curse."

Silence.

"Help me up."

"Why?"

"Do it."

He didn't even respond. He pulled me up carefully. I could balance just fine, even though I hoped I would tumble down the stairs. I walked slowly downstairs to the cafeteria. As soon as I got there, all the kids ran to me.

"Doctor Addie!" They shrieked happily. Half of them were hugging my legs, the other half of them were bouncing around like lunatics.

A high pitch shriek came from upstairs. "DADA!"

My body jolted and the kids backed away from me.

Thomas ran over to me, grabbed me, and hugged me tightly. "Don't go upstairs. Don't go upstairs."

Luke started to giggle. "Da-da?" He sounded like he was sitting at the top of the steps. I looked up there and saw Daryl scoop him up. Luke shoved his foot into his mouth and looked up at Daryl.

"Reiko!" Daryl called out.

Luke pointed to their room. "Ma-ma."

I pulled away from Thomas and stumbled up the stairs. I followed Daryl to his and Reiko's room. Reiko was laying on the bed, her hands covering her face. She was gasping for breath.

"Reiko?" Daryl called. She couldn't respond- she could barely breathe. Daryl ran over to the side of the bed and grabbed her wrist. My expression was blank as I watched. She wrapped her free hand around her neck and wheezed for air.

"What the hell is wrong?!" Daryl cried. He turned to me. "Go get help!!!"

I didn't move. Brynne ran into the room like on cue. "What's going on?!"

"What does it look like?" I said slowly. My brain wasn't working with my feelings.

Brynne ran back out of the room to get help. Tears were running down Reiko's cheeks. She laced her fingers with Daryl's, taking shaky breaths. I watched them, not knowing what to do.

Luke started to bawl. He stretched his arms out for Reiko and wailed. She smiled weakly at Luke, then Daryl. Foam was slowly oozing out of her mouth. Daryl started to freak out. Brynne didn't return- and there was some sort of hassle going on downstairs. Reiko rubbed Daryl's hand with her thumb, her breathing slowing down. Her eyes drooped, and her chest stopped moving. Daryl started to sob. Brynne finally got back upstairs and froze, slapping her hand over her mouth. "The medicine cabinets are empty...!"

Reiko was dead. The room went dead silent besides Daryl's cries. I walked out into the hall, my expression blank. 

Thomas pulled me into his arms. Apparently he'd been watching the entire thing from right behind me but I didn't notice.

"I'm tired. Are you?" He asked. I could tell he was crying, but I didn't bother to ask about it. He was trying to distract me.

I started to laugh. "The guns are in the cellar, right? I could use one right about now. Woah. I lost two people who meant everything to me in only a week! First, my half sister, now, my best friend. How much worse could it get? I'd like to lose myself right about now. Is that okay with you, Thomas?"

I continued rambling on and on.