Hit the Road, Jack (Jelix)

Escape

Jacks POV
When I first wake up, it feels like I have slept for a thousand years. I get up, painfully stretching and hearing my bones crack, before rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I am lying on a cold hard floor, in the middle of an unknown room. It's chilly, and I pull my sleeve down to cover my hands. I cross my arms over my chest, and stand up, taking a moment to regain my balance. I step forward apprehensively, and see a figure in the distance. I try to call out, but I find my throat is raw and dry from lack of usage, and I sound like a dying frog when I try to formulate words. I squint at the apparition, watching it grow closer and closer until I can make out the details on its face.

It's Felix.

He is limping, and I frown, not seeing why. He looks in my direction and his eyes widen, and he begins to frantically wave at me. I am confused, and look behind me, but see nothing. He is getting anxious now, and the terror in his eyes is becoming more and more evident. Suddenly I get the message, and turn to run in the opposite direction, when I slam into an invisible barrier that I could've sworn was not there before. I look back towards the scene, and see not one, but two figures. Mark is there too.
Phew, I think, relieved. Mark is strong, he can protect Felix from whatever is coming. Then Mark slowly undoes his belt. He takes his time in unlooping it around his waist, and snaps it quickly, making a large cracking sound. It gave me a start, and I looked again upon the confusing scene.
Suddenly Felix collapses to the ground, and Mark lashes out at his back, metal side down, causing Felix to cry out in pain. I regain my voice, and cry out in empathy for Felix. Mark looks up at me and smirks a condescending smirk. He lashes out again, and again at Felix, until his white t-shirt is non-existent, and his back is stained red. I am exhausted from shouting, and struggling against the second invisible wall, keeping me from rushing to my friends aid.
Finally, Felix is laying on the ground, and I can't tell if he's breathing or not, and honestly at this point, I couldn't tell whether I was breathing or not. Mark smirks at me once again, and walks over, seemingly immune to the barriers that previously stood in my way. The last thing I remember is a chilling cracking sound, and white hot pain extending from my collarbone to my left hip.

I don't recall waking up, I just remember being there. My head was still fresh with the thought of what had just happened. I tried to get the picture of Felixs limp body out of my head, but to no avail. I open my eyes eventually, to see that I am once again in a dimly lit area, this time much more compressed, and built of wood. It is extremely small, approximately measuring 6×8 metres squared. There is a flickering dim lightbulb in the centre of the room, dangling by a stretch if thin wire over a wooden chair. There is a rope noose, also hanging from the ceiling, and the intention is clear. I am determined to stay strong this time though. Suddenly a picture appears on the wall. It is of Felix, dead, his body limp and gushing blood. Next I see Mark, a dark demon, a shadow of his former self. I see each member of my family, come and go in sad twisted versions until my body is heaving with dry sobs that echo through the tiny room.
I stay strong though, and never once let my eyes drift over to the chair in the center of the room. Next I hear voices in my head, like the ones I heard before I defeated my own hallucinations. These ones are much softer though, and instead of bringing me down with insults, there are whispering encouragement in my ear.
Do it, it won't hurt....it will all be over....you have nothing else to live for....your mother wants you, Seán....she is waiting for you....do you not love her? She wants to see you.....no one cares , but they will if you do this....don't ruin your legacy.....leave before it is too late....

Their words cut deep, biting my into my skin, and they really strike a nerve. Now I cannot help but look at the chair. It is old and wobbly. I decide to get up, and kick the chair, over and over again, until it is in piles on the floor. I stand back satisfied, and look at my handiwork, watching the noose evaporate into the air. I sit down with a sigh, and see pills lying next to me.
I pick up the bottle, which just has two words written on it. 'cookie flavour'...
Ok, I'm not that gullible. I kick them away, and finally see a gun on the table. The walls melt into the earth, and I am left seeing all the people I love standing in a line. Blindfolded. A woman comes over, and picks up the gun, picking it up expertly. She hands it to me. I look at it apprehensively, wondering why she gave me this power, until.she pulls a gun out of her own pocket, and aims it at my head.
"Shoot", she says.
I shake my head in disbelief. This can't be happening. Honestly I would much rather shoot myself than them at this point, probably even before they were put at stake. I know that this is what she wants though. My family and friends all have heartbreaking expressions, like they already know they will die, and with a jolt, I notice neither Felix nor Mark is present. I sigh and pull back the top part of the gun, making a small click, and I can almost hear the woman smirking behind me. I stand for a while and formulate a plan. I turn around quickly, and without looking shoot, the bullet hitting her in the temple and knocking her out in one go, but not before another gunshot is heard resounding around the room. I call to the floor clutching my side and roll in pain. I start to see spots, and a large white thing above me. It is a light, and I can hear my mother's voice inside, so soft and welcoming.

Come on, Seán, you did brilliantly...I am so proud of you....
I look a her and blink back tears.

"Mam, I don't want to die..."

She beams at me then, from the light, and her eyes start to well up.

I am so proud of you...

An envelope drifts down from above, and I can feel the pain in my side getting worse. My fingers catch the edge of the page, and I open the envelope with trembling hands. Inside is not the usual white note, but a light green one.

Congratulations,
You have successfully defeated all syltoms of Schizophrenia. Not to mention BPD, suicidal thoughts, self harm, and insanity. You are fit to return to the conscious world.

As soon as my eyes drift off this page, the light becomes brighter than ever, and I am quite certain that I am dying.

Until I hear panicked voices. Familiar voices.

"Doctor, doctor, he's waking up!"