Red Insanity

Chapter 2: Shattered Command

This was bad. VERY BAD. I turned around and ran down the hallway I was on but there were 2 ways it intersected off to. Maybe someone would realize I was gone! But after reviewing the rules in my head it didn't seem likely. Once they did realize she would probably tell them "too bad". He broke the first rule and don't forget number 3". This was not going to end well.

It was then I first heard HIS voice.

"Aww poor little kid......lost in the winding hallways of asylum X....how unfortunate...."

Apparently I wasn't alone it seemed or at least at some degree of sanity I wasn't. Though I truly had no idea. His voice was crisp and clean like a mint. Refreshing yet icy.

"w-Who are you?!"

"No one special. Probably the only patient here capable of actual audible human speech...."

He had a point. But I wasn't so gulible.

"Well then Mr......wait....what's your name?"

"It's been a while but I'm Jack, Jack Rier."

He sounded a little sentimental. I guess even insane people have had a past. No I mean duh of course they have....There's a reason they're here. I messed up my hair frustratedly with my fingers.

"Okay then...Mr. Rier-"

"Jack is fine, thanks."

"(Sigh) Okay Jack, can you see me?"

"Define see?"

Was he really that......how do I put it....out of it???

"Like.....do you know what I look like and where I am?"

He replied quite simply, "No and yes."

"Uhhh.....as in?"

"It's not that hard to explain kid. I DON'T know what you look like but I DO know where you are."

".......might I ask how?"

"I lost my sight a while ago. Stuff happens. I can sense you but I don't know what you look like."

Stuff huh. That only made me more curious. And questions began to fly around my brain like innocent little butterflies.

"So kid.....ahaha...this is getting annoying. What's your name? If I may return the question."

I thought for a moment. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to reveal my name to a random person. Especially one locked up in an asylum FOR PETE'S SAKE! Though he had already shared his name, my mouth moved without a second thought though it really shouldn't have...

"Marshall, m-Marshall Perkins."

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance MARshall."

He audibly tested the syllables of my name slowly and accurately. Memorizing them and rolling them, to show his interest. It only made me more uncomfortable, but the deed was done.

I gulped, "So Jack, why talk to me? I'm sure you realize I'm not gullible enough to accept your greetings without at least...I don't know......A LOT OF SUSPICION?"

He chuckled, "You're a smart kid Marshall. I just happened to notice your presence. And I talked to you cause I'm bored. These people haven't spoken to me in years AND meals are delivered through the ceiling in a slot that no human can get through."

"Takes away any escape plans I presume?"

"Ha how bold of you! I guess it does IF I really wanted to....."

"You mean....you DON'T!?"

"Not everybody wants what you think they want Marshall."

"I never signed up to receive life lessons from a random patient in an insaneous asylum."

That only made him laugh.

He then sighed,  "Yeah you're right."

Silence echoed for a bit. I assumed he was wondering what to say next. It was light humor we exchanged on the grounds of a stiff and starch reality. He was in here for a reason, I reminded myself. Even the most normal person can be so different in nature from what you see.

"You must've had quite the life."

I ventured trying to answer my own questions. The butterflies turned into hornets were stinging my brain.

"Mhmm. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them-"

"REALLY!?"

Darn, too sudden. I sighed. He got me.

"Sure. But.......I have a few conditions."

This did NOT sound good to me. He may have said he didn't want to escape but I've even met this guy. I swallowed dryly contemplating his words over and over again. Then I finally asked,

"And what exactly would those be?"

"Ah nothing special. I have a few questions myself actually. And one more thing other than that."

His tone implied he was lazily inspecting something pretending his attention was elsewhere. It made me feel like a dumb fish following a worm on a hook.

"What is this OTHER thing?"

"My questions first and then I shall answer."

Curt as expected, he was choosing his words now. Carefully and precisely.

"Ask away." I said, "But then you'll tell me."

"Deal."

He cleared his throat, "What year is it?"

"2022."

"What month, day and day of the week is it?"

"Friday, November 19th, 2022."

"And what is your future profession Marshall? What do you wish to be when you grow up?"

All easy questions he was asking. Though the last one was irrelevant he still wasn't in the red zone for knowledge he could know.

"I guess I want to be a writer."

"Interesting."

Silence once again emerged.

"Is that all?"

"Hmmm. Tell me about yourself Marshall."

Odd. The last time someone asked ME that was a while ago. I'd never been terribly interesting so to speak. These moments were probably the most exciting of my life so far. I know people care about me but I guess not enough to realize certain things.

"I'm just swimming in a sea of people I guess. More like drowning. I don't really matter much."

It was surprising how easy the words came and how much I wanted to take them back.
The hornets were stinging. Savagely in my head. I tried to distract myself by thinking about my favorite book plot. It always worked, but I was too eager to hear this one other condition,

"So.......what's the other condition?"