Insanity

Chapter 4

Michael's P.O.V.

I walked down the hall to Cheryl's office. I leaned my head in from the doorway. "Need anything?"

Cheryl looked up from her paperwork. "Yes! Can you go to Annalie's cell and fetch the dress from her?"

"Sure," I turned around and walked back to Annalie's cell. I'll ask Cheryl about the dress later.

As I walked down the hall and get closer to Annalie's cell, I started hearing whimpering, crying. My head moves around and my eyes look for where the whimpers are coming from. The whimpers become louder when I reach her cell door. I leaned my ear against the door and listen. Sure enough I hear her crying. I rushed to get my key out and unlock her door. Once I step in, I immediately see blood. Annalie's sitting on the floor gripping her wrist tightly and I can see a stream if blood pouring out. Spots if blood can easily be seen on her uniform and a small pool of blood is forming around her. The mirror above her sink is shattered. I walked to her and took her hand and examined it. Shards of glass stuck out from her knuckles. I cringed at the sight. "What the hell did you do?" I sighed and took some of her bed sheets and wrapped them around her hand. She yelped and squirmed around. "Annalie, why did you do this?"

She looked up me, she was still crying and her cheeks were wet with tears. I raised my hand to wipe them away, but she flinched. I lowered my hand and she opened her mouth to speak. "I-I need an anchor."

"An anchor for what?"

"F-for..." Then she broke down again. I sat next to her and held her tightly. She sobbed into my chest as I stroked her hair. What has this girl been through?

Annalie's P.O.V

This is bad. This is really bad. I don't think I've calmed down enough to suppress an episode. I can still have one right now. And if I do then-shit! Michael! No, no, I don't want to hurt another guard. If I end up attacking Michael, then I'll be punished, and the punishment is hell. I don't want to be punished again, I've already been punished many times that I've almost gotten used to the pain. Almost.

I need to calm down. I need to stop crying. Michael needs to get away from me. Far, far away.

Calm down. Come on, Annalie, calm down!

Fuck. Just telling myself that makes feel in edge. That girl. Whenever I see her again, I'll beat her to a pulp. I don't care if I get punished for it. She did this. She caused horrible old memories to surface. I couldn't help but start crying again as the memories played in my head again. Why did this have to happen to fucking me?! Does this world want me to suffer?! If only the judge would listen. If only we didn't stay after school so late. If only something was changed, I wouldn't be in this mess. And Caroline would still be alive and well.

God dammit! Stop thinking about her! She just going make things worse! Oh what am I thinking? Things have already gotten so worse that I'm at my breaking point. Michael being here makes my hatred and fear of men worse.

"Get away.." My voice was hoarse from screaming.

"What?" I can hear a tinge of hurt in his voice. With all theses things on my mind, it wouldn't be safe to be around me.

"I said get away. Get away from me." I pulled myself away from his embrace and backed into a corner. "You'll be safer if you did."

"Annalie, you won't hurt me. I'm pretty sure I'm stronger than you so-"

"Go away! Now! I don't want to hurt you! I don't want to be punished again!"

"Annalie, you ca-"

"LEAVE!" I was shouting now. Damn it, Michael! You're so stupid! Just like all the other guards. Why can't you just listen and leave?!

He flinched at the sudden shout. He stood up and his hands formed fists. Oh no. No, no. Don't tell me he's going to beat me. Maybe he'll beat me so I won't freak out. No, don't be ridiculous. He wouldn't do that. Michael doesn't seem like that kind of person, right?

His fists loosened and he looked at me. He cautiously took a step closer. "Just calm down, okay? Just breathe slowly."

I didn't realize that I had started hyperventilating. I closed my eyes and tried to slow down my breathing. My breaths where quick and shallow. My heart was beating rapidly and loud enough that it rang in my ears. I bet even Michael could hear it.

Damn it! It's as if trying to calm myself down just makes it worse. My breaths became quicker and more shallow. I started feeling lightheaded. My vision blurred a little.

"Annalie?" Michael asked. He stepped closer. The next thing he did surprised me a lot. He sat down and hugged me tightly. I froze in shock. What the hell is he trying to do? He kept whispering things like "shh" and "it's okay". Doesn't he know that won't work?

I won't be able to calm down soon. Then I'll end up having an episode. Damn, I thought I stopped having those. If you took a look at what happened to all my other guards, you'd be afraid of me. I can't imagine what I'd do to Michael, and having him so close to me doesn't help at all.

Being so close might make it more worse than it'll already be. This is the longest I've suppressed an episode. Usually it would come just like-

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