Stockholm Syndrome H.S

Chapter 1: Little Mouse

Juliet's POV:

6 A.M. on a Saturday and I'm awake, to work nonetheless . I don't normally work Saturdays, my best friend Lilly and I usually go for breakfast and coffee but today the boss called all hands on deck. We are getting a new patient and apparently he's dangerous... Well I guess that's obvious if he's coming to Edwards psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. We are the best in the country. Do you know why it's called a penitentiary?

Maybe you should have a bit of backup information before going any further. People don't understand why I work in a place like this, but I find it interesting... terrifying but interesting. A psychiatric hospital is a hospital specializing in the treatment of the mentally and criminally insane. We have different wards or blocks to separate the patients . The west wing ,blocks A-D are joined cells of three to four people . They are allowed out to be fed in the cafeteria and an hour on the grounds but are manned by guards at all times . these are simple cases such as suicidal thoughts or actions and people who simply need help processing themselves.They are also allowed visitors and are separated from the rest of the wards as they aren't prisoners.

The east wing , blocks E-H are the higher level mental cases . These are joined cells of only two people and are shackled 24/7 . They are only allowed out for food and an hour on the grounds but their heads MUST be bagged so they can not have contact with anyone other than their cell mate. They are very unstable and if they are exposed to many people they may flip out .They are allowed visitors but must be chained down. Then we have the north wing, this simply houses the cafe, doctors, nurses like myself, and the guards keep . Lastly there is the south wing, this wing is located in the basement, and blocks I-L is probably the harshest, most chilling wing there is ... This wing houses the most cruel and mentally disturbed patients in the country. Those who murder in cold blood, cannibals, I've even heard talk of those who have skinned people. Those kinds of people they don't leave their cells for any reason, and their doors are heavily guarded with only a window to see through. If they are having an episode they could be moved to the solitary confinement ward for 48 hours where their food is given through a small hole in the door.

They sit in silence behind soundproof walls. A dim light and plain walls . I guess they believe solitary causes pertinence and helps ease the mind but I can't be sure ... And we aren't really allowed to see how the doctors do their work .... I just do my job i don't fight it.

I got up and texted Lilly to meet a bit earlier so that we can actually talk about this and see if she heard anything about our new ... patient? prisoner? No one really knows. Half of it is a prison in the ward and the other a simple ward. We are supposed to be there at eight and it's only six fifteen so we have a bit of time to actually have our coffee. I tied my chestnut brown hair up into a high ponytail, as it's part of the uniform, and straightened up the house a bit before leaving because who knows what time I'm gonna be home tonight. My shifts are usually the afternoon to closing.

The overnight nurses have their own post but no body that CAN go home chooses to stay past visiting hours and nobody likes to do the night check. Late nights and mentally unstable patients don't seem to be everybody's cup of tea. They act like they're inhuman because of the acts they've committed or the way their minds work, but that's what interests me most. They're just people, sick people that need help to get better. Of course we also house criminals, but they're criminals normal prisons cannot help nor treat because they are mentally sick. I took a deep breath swirling the coffee in my cup.

"You look contemplative, what are you thinking about?" Lilly said taking a bite of her warmed blueberry scone. I looked up from my cup then back down watching the pale beige liquid swirl around the rim.

"Nothing , I'm just really tired. I didn't get home till really late last night and wasn't expecting to work today." I said taking a sip of the remaining coffee before setting my cup to the side.