Asylum

Chapter 11:

(Doctor Michael)^

****
Today was the day of the annual ball. It was only permitted for the staff of course. I hadn't grown familiar with too much of the staff, but i was excited to. Just yesterday I was introduced to an older man named Julio, he was one of the guards around here. He had a thick, Italian accent and was such a sweet, old man. He always made sure to save me one of the sweets, and he would call me Angelo or angel.

I went and did my rounds for the day. Stopping in each room and getting familiar with my patients. The girl with Down syndrome was around 20, her name was Gloria. They instructed that we gave her these blue pills everyday. I walked in and gave her a little nod. She was sitting on the floor, giggling and playing with wool dolls. I knelt down and introduced myself quietly.

"Hi Gloria, I'm Hazel and I'll be taking care of you from now on. Are these your dolls?" I asked.

"Yes, miss Hazel! I hide them under my bed so the other n-nurses won't take them. Pwease don't take them." She asked with large eyes.

"I won't take them. I'm here to bring you your medicine and breakfast!" I smiled warmly.

I pulled out the bland porridge and stared at it. It was lumpy and flavorless. No human deserved to eat this. I gulped and frowned. Just do it Hazel you need to keep this job. You can't go back with your parents. You are unmarried and this is my freedom.

I placed the food in front of her and got the pills. I wanted to go find out what these pills were for. I would visit the doctor later and asked. I had strict orders to make sure she took them. I glanced at my clipboard and still had many rounds to do before tonight.

So I sat with her as she ate breakfast and wanted to ask her easy questions. I didn't want to be intrusive and ask her deep things until we were more familiar. She got so excited when she found out I was staying with her, while she ate. She stared off into space and swallowed the pills and giggled at her thoughts. I smiled and held her hand.

When she finished she gave me a big hug and giggled.

"Bye Miss Hazel, you good nurse!" She exclaimed.

"Goodbye Gloria! Enjoy your dolls!" I smiled and took the tray and clipboard out with me.

I hummed a tune my mother used to sing to me as I did my rounds. Some of the patients were very difficult to deal with. I had an old man spit at me and saying sexual stuff. I ran out of the room as fast as possible. Today already felt like a bad day. This nurses dress was scratchy and uncomfortable.

I stopped by Justin's room and opened the door. The silence was overwhelming. He wasn't there.

*****

I searched everywhere. He was my last stop anyways in my rounds. I went down the old spiral staircase and my heart was beating fast. As usual, people bustled around with work. I decided to go the common room and look for him. He wasn't anywhere. I was sweating and really starting to lose it. I went down an unknown hallway and i found myself at a door.

I knocked on the door and a younger man with dark brown hair and black eyes opened the door. He was wearing spectacles and wearing a doctors coat. His eyes were the darkest I've ever seen. And his face was chiseled. He looked like an angel.

"Can I help you miss?" He inquired, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Hello I'm so sorry to interrupt, one of my patients is missing and he's autistic. I've looked everywhere and he is nowhere to be found. Please help me, doctor" I stumbled over my words and pleaded.

"Oh no..." he mumbled adjusting his glasses. "We have to check the surgical room, Edward likes to take the patients back there for Shock Therapy if they are disagreeable....this is not good." He shook his head looking very nervous.

"My name is Michael by the way, Doctor Michael." He said quickly.

"I'm Hazel. Now let's go find Justin." I said.

We ran down another dark hall. You could feel your hairs rising on your arms. Electricity surged and sparked from behind a door. We bathed through the door to find Edward giving Justin Shock Therapy. Justin had a rag stuffed in his mouth and his eyes welled up in pain.

"Get the fuck out of here now! Hazel and Michael leave or you will be dismissed." He growled.

"No, I'm staying right here! You are hurting him! You are hurting Justin! Why are you doing this? This is psychotic." I yelled right back.

Edward wiped his hand on a cloth and stared at me.

"Don't be hysteric Hazel. This is the treatment Doctor Michael ordered. Justin needs this. It's still in the experimental stages. I'll leave you here to clean him up." He walked out of the room pushing past me and doctor Michael.

I glared at Michael.
"What is wrong with you? This is inhumane. This is hurting him." I screamed at the top of my lungs.

He grabbed me by my arms and shook me.

"HAZEL. I don't have a choice. This is Edward's doing. He will dismiss me. Or even worse. He will admit me into the hospital. Once you are here he won't let you leave. We are trapped here."

******