Mirrored

Chapter One

            

"Lucinda is in her bed, she's locked in the cell. She can't go anywhere."

"Good. She's not good news. I had to sedate her twice today in the space of fifteen minutes. It's getting to a point where we can't help her anymore and the best thing to do is to put her down."

"Yes. Both you and I know that, that is illegal and unethical though. We don't have a choice but to at least try to help her be more comfortable. Are we any closer to finding out what is triggering the attacks?"

"No. The lab results came back with nothing and her mental health specialist hasn't determined anything new. This isn't going to end well, for any of us if we keep letting her out of her cell. She needs to stay locked in there, chained to the wall where she can hurt only herself."

"That's no life for a young lady. You talk about wanting to help her yet you so easily give up on her and condemn her to death? Maurice, you need to understand that this poor girl is trying. The attacks aren't her fault, it's her mental health. If we can change her outlook on life and perspectives of reality, we can help her lead a life where the attacks don't rule her, but she rules the attacks."

"That's the point Janet! I don't want to help her. I gave up long ago when she tried to gouge my eyeballs out, or don't you remember her trying to do that to you too? Look, I couldn't care if you kept trying but I'm done. All she is, is a hazard. A ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any given moment."

"Maurice! If you aren't up to the task of being able to handle and help Lucinda then maybe you should go back to standing by a psychologist at a school. You signed up for this job, you knew the dangers, but you still signed up, now suck it up or quit because right now, you'll only be making the poor girl worse than she already is. She doesn't need this negativity. She needs to feel positivity around her."

"Fine!" Maurice stomped down the hall, leaving Janet standing shocked outside Lucinda's cell. Janet sat down, leaning up against the cold concrete wall of the hallway and began to calm herself. She had gotten too angry with Maurice, knowing that Lucinda was on the other side of the wall, fully conscious. Janet listened to the sobs from the other side of the wall. Sobs that belonged to Lucinda.

"Lucinda? Hun? Are you alright?" Janet called across the hall.

"Yes...Yes I'm fine." The sobs continued. Janet slowly got up from her position on the floor and slowly walked across to the other side of the hall, to the door which lead into Lucinda's cell.

"Hun. I'm coming in. I know you're chained up but I want you to take a deep breath and relax as much as you can." Janet stated.

"How can I relax? She hurt me! She gave up on me! I'm worthless! I don't mean anything!" Lucinda pounded against the wall numerous times. She began to scream and cry even louder.

"Lucinda! You are worth almost everything to me, you are so much like my daughter. You're gorgeous. You're amazing and you're strong. You will make it through this Hun. I promise you, you can do anything, you're strong enough." Lucinda began to quieten down and relax. "Okay Hun, I'm opening the door and I'm going to come in. Are you okay with that?"

"No Maurice! No! You can't come in!" Lucinda started to panic again.

"No Hun, it's Janet. Can Janet come in?" Janet asked again.

"Oh... yes... Janet can come in, just no Maurice. I don't like her, she's evil!" Lucinda responded, scared but knowing she was doing the right thing. Janet clicked the lock open and the door swung open. Janet walked in and closed the door behind her.

Janet reached out toward Lucinda and Lucinda took her hand, pulling her into a hug. Janet wrapped her arms around Lucinda and reassured her. Janet let go of Lucinda and Lucinda pulled away. Janet removed the chain that was wrapped around Lucinda's arms and right leg, allowing her to reach her bed. Lucinda turned and looked at Janet, stunned.

"Hun, it's okay. You're allowed to roam your cell freely. Maurice was wrong to chain you here. She won't be coming to see you again, ever. I promise Hun." Lucinda crossed the room carefully and quietly to her bed. She curled up into a small ball and snuggled under the covers. She had no intention to move anytime soon. Janet grabbed the chains and walked toward the door.

"Janet... Do you have to go?" Lucinda's voice echoed in Janet's head.

"No Hun, I'll be right back. I've got to take these away" Janet replied nodding toward the chains in her hands.

"Please hurry back, I don't know if I'll be the same when you get back." Janet looked back toward Lucinda, noticing she was in a tighter ball and had moved toward the corner of her bed but thought nothing of it.

"Okay Hun. I'll be back in a minute." Lucinda nodded so Janet clicked the lock open and the door swung open. Janet left dragging the chains behind her, creating an ear-piercing sound, leaving Lucinda to scream in pain as she walked down the hall with the chains. Janet may have been getting further down the hall but the ear-piercing sound echoed down the hall along with Lucinda's screams.