The Coming | The House of Voices #2

Ten - Discussion

Discussion

“Excellent, Michelson,” Dr. Larkson’s overly chipper voice squawked as Darren stepped into her office. “You’re right on time. I was just telling Dr. Lipnicki here that maybe I should give your cellular a ring.”

Dr. Lipnicki was the warden of St. Elizabeth’s; the high security mental facility that Dr. Larkson had planned on shipping both October and Parish to. Since their escape, rumors had swirled around Abercoster’s that Larkson was working closely with the warden to find and capture the two. Darren hadn’t believed the stories, but seeing the warden in his boss’ office was a clear sign that they were all true.

“I’d have been here sooner,” he said, closing the door behind him and moving to sit in the empty seat beside Dr. Lipnicki, “but I had to finish up with Miss Hendricks.” He’d been careful not to appear to close with his patients in front of Dr. Larkson, mostly because even though she seemed to be completely over the idea that he had anything to do with Parish and October’s escape, he couldn’t be too sure.

“We understand,” She gestured for him to sit down, flashing a smile in Dr. Lipnicki’s direction. Darren assumed the friendly demeanor was all simply a show for the warden’s benefit.

“Hendricks…” The warden repeated, scrunching his nose and scratching his bristly mustache. “That’s the bi-polar girl, correct?”

His tone was very similar to the one Darren’s father got when he spotted a new stamp to add to his large collection. Darren had to force himself not to hiss. “Yes.”

“And she’s not giving you any trouble, is she?”

“No,” Darren gripped the arms of his seat. “She’s not.”

“Good, good.”

“What’s all this about, Dr. Larkson?” Darren asked, wanting to get the conversation over with and retreat to his office where he could worry about October and Parish some more. “Why am I here?”

“Dr. Lipnicki drove all the way here to discuss our little runaways,” she explained. “We’ve kept it a secret, but he and I have been working together to come up with alternate solutions to finding the children because, as you already know, they were supposed to fall under his care. He’s just as worried about them as we are.” Worried. Darren resisted the urge to scoff. “So far, the police have no new information for us, and the two of us are almost at the point where we feel like we need to take matters in our own hands.”

“Be a little active in searching for the children,” the warden added, dark eyes glistening with whatever same scary emotion that swirled in Dr. Larkson’s eyes, too.

“Alright. So what’s the plan here?”

“We were hoping you could tell us. Since you were their doctor, you’ll probably know a more effective way to trap them than we would.”

Trap them? Darren forced himself to breathe evenly. “I don’t know, Dr. Larkson,” he said, voice coated in uncertainty. “I was only their therapist for a week. You’d know more about October than I would, and Parish… well, he was a closed book.”

None of what he’d said was a downright lie. It was true, Dr. Larkson should have known more about October than he did – and Parish truly was a closed book. Though, in comparison to October, he was very easy to read. She was a book welded shut. All he’d managed to learn about her is what she decided to tell him. What she chose to show him. Everything had been filtered – he’d not been able to read a thing on his own.

Dr. Larkson frowned. “They didn’t mention any places they liked to go to when they were with their families? No close friends or relatives that they’d trust enough to go to? Special places where they’d gravitate towards?” Darren shook his head. “That’s unfortunate.”