Mental State

Chapter 2

The car halted to a stop, waking me from my daze. I peered through the back window of the car, & to my amazement, I see a giant building that appeared to have been from colonial times. It was a simple three-story box shape in the middle with rectangular two-story wings on either side. The red bricks had cracks running through many of them & a thick layer of kudzu covering other portions, showing the true age of the building.

Wow, this place is so historic. It must be haunted or something. I surge of excitement ran through me; history & the paranormal has always caught my interest.

"Well, it looks like we're here." Mrs. Kherr unbuckled her seat belt & stepped out of the car, with me & Addison following in her footsteps.

Walking up to the front door was a stunning view. The lawn was full of oak & pine trees, & other thriving greenery. The sun shone through the gaps of the tree leaves, allowing patches of light to dance across grass as the breeze blew. I can just imagine how beautiful the yard will be in the fall time when the oak trees paint the ground with varying shades of orange & yellow.

Once up the steps, Mrs. Kherr knocked on the double doors at the front of the building.

Next to the doors, there was a metal plate that read 'Washington State Psychiatry Hospital.' We're at a mental institution?

I gave Addison a confused look, but she didn't seem to notice.

The door suddenly creaked open & a young man, who appeared to be my age, poked his head out the door. He had floppy, dirty blonde hair & thick rimmed glasses that gave him a stereotypical 'nerdy' look.

"H-hello. What brings you here today?" The boy stuttered out, opening the door more once he realizes the three of us were not threatening in any way. A thought in the back of my head wondered what he was so scared of, but I pushed the thought the back of my head for the time being.

"Hi there! I am Addison." Addi chimed, sticking her hand out for the boy to shake. "This is supposed to be my new home!"

A smile met the boys face as he shook Addi's hand. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you young lady, come on in."

I followed the three into the main lobby of the hospital. Wood panels reached halfway up the walls while the upper half appeared to be cream color wallpaper. Old hardwood floors ran across the room with an old wooden desk set against the wall in the middle and two staircases on either side. The room appeared to be straight from colonial times, but was kept up with nicely.

A women in her mid thirties sat at the desk, filing through paperwork.

The boy cleared his throats to catch the ladies attention. "Elizabeth, the new one has arrived."

The lady, Elizabeth, looked up from her work & smiled. She hurriedly came to greet us. "Oh well hello there, I'm so glad to meet you. My name's Elizabeth, shall I take you to your room while Mrs. Kherr sorts out the paperwork?"

Elizabeth doesn't wait for an answer & quickly proceeds to walk up the stairs to the right. Addi shrugs her shoulders at me & follows the lady up the staircase.

Once we reached the top, we continued to walk down a hallway that had windows lining one wall while metal doors lined the other. We stopped at a door towards the end of the hall. Elizabeth rattled around a ring of keys before she found the one she was looking for & unlocked the room.