Lives

Prologue

   Elizabeth stared at the wall but didn't see it. Her mind was swirling with thoughts of what she'd read yesterday. The old asylum- a building long ago gifted to the elements- was being torn down in four months.

   This upset Elizabeth, though she didn't know why. Maybe it was because the old place had so much history, and Liz loved history. Maybe it was because she'd always wanted to explore the place. Liz suspected that, maybe, it was because it was the place her grandmother had been sent.

   Elizabeth's grandmother had been both bipolar and schizophrenic, but back then, nothing was really known about the disorder. When the symptoms of schizophrenia had begun, Granny Beth was locked away. Beth had been torn from her family and hidden away in a padded room. Elizabeth had been gifted her name, her looks, and- she was told- her personality. But she went by Liz, not Beth. She was already so much like her, she didn't want her nickname.

   "Elizabeth!" Liz's head snapped to her teacher. Mr. Gatsby was a bright red, and Liz imagined steam flowing from his ears. Liz slouched in her chair just a little as he raged about her daydreaming. As Mr. Gatsby raged about her daydreaming, Elizabeth daydreamed.

   She allowed her thoughts to drift back to the asylum. The old place had always called to her. She thought maybe she just wanted to go to the cemetery, track down the final resting place of the woman she'd always been told she was so much like. Maybe she should go and do just that, at least once. It would be nice, a final farewell.

   "Do you understand me, Ms. Fastion?" Liz nodded quickly. She never listened, but she always agreed. "Good." Mr. Gatsby bobbed his head like he'd just decided on some astounding theory. As far as Liz knew, he very well may have.

   By the time the final bell rang, Elizabeth had made a decision. She'd talk to Deke and Samantha and, even if they refused to go with her, she'd go to the asylum. Maybe a few days or so before the demolition crew got to work, Elizabeth Tanya Fastion would go to that asylum.

   And she would regret it.