Mental (Lams)

Chapter Seven

John Pov
I'm trying something..
new with Alexander today.

I've stayed longer then most of his therapists have at a whole whopping one week.

I had to do so major convincing but, I got Herc to come to work with me today.

I want to see how Alex acts in a situation where I add new people in the equation.

Like always, Alex was pushed in by the guard. Alex noticed Herc immediately and cocked an eyebrow.

I told the guard to leave,
like always,
so the only strange factor
- at least in Alex's mind-
was that Herc was here.

Alex stared at Herc and I was sure he was doing 'the thing'.
You know.
Where he looks at you and can do the whole deduction.

Eventually he scoffed and muttered, "Normal people are so boring."

Then he looked at me.
"Why's he here?" He asked.

"Oh! You haven't figured it out? This is my friend, Herc. We want to just play some ga-"

"Games..right. Pardon me, but why? No, not why..
I mean more like..
no. I don't want to do this."
Alex said.

He glanced at me.

"Aw come on. You want me to do the- Ugh.
Fine.
But I'm only doing it once because I'm not your monkey John."
Alex groaned.

Herc looked at me nervously.

"Hercules Mc-no. Mulligan.
Twenty three, Princeton grad.
Ew.
You're a Princeton prat?
Heh.
I admire that. Takes true skill to get in such a pretentious school full of only assholes.
Wait. If you're a...
then how'd you meet Jo-
oh!
I see, your friend...no.
Gir- boyfriend.
Ooh! You're gay?
This is only getting better. Alright."
Alex rambled on.

He stopped and took a deep breath.

"Damn I love meeting new people. It's like bringing a dog on a walk. All new smells." Alex said, smiling softly.

Herc raised his eyebrows and looked at me. I shrugged.

"Okay. From the beginning.
Psychology grad at Princeton.
Met John through a boyfriend of yours and have been extremely close since. How cute. 
You took side classes for..
being a tailor?
Ooh how fancy!
Haven't slept all night, you were..nervous.
Why were you nervous?
...Meeting me.
You didn't sleep all night because you were nervous meeting me.
Huh.
Isn't that something. You didn't take a shower, only ran your hands through water then your hair.
Would you like me to keep going or can I stop now John?"
Alex asked.

"Oh! Erm..you can stop." I said.

Herc seemed very nerve wracked. Makes sense.

"H-How'd you do that?" Herc asked Alex.

Alex smiled.
"Elementary,
my dear Mulligan." Alex replied.

Did..did he just quote Sherlo-

"That's it I'm fucking out." Herc said, taking his bag and walking out of the room.

I didn't stop him.
Alex giggled.

"That was almost fun! It eased my boredom for a minute there. Thank you John." He said.

Since when have we been on a first name..
whatever.

He's insane and I love it.

"Of course I'm insane, why else would I be here?" He asked.

"What?" I asked in surprise.

"Nothing you just had that stupid look on your face." He replied.

"Right." I muttered.

"Sorry. That was mean. I tend to do that. I'm quite abrasive without second thought so please, do excuse me."
He said, his hands trying to make gestures..but were handcuffed.

I sighed.
"Alright. So what's on your mind today?" I asked.

"Well today, I sat still in my cage, staring at the camera and planning the deaths of everyone here. Not a real plan though. Just..possible scenarios. I try my best to not get bored and do it, but I always find myself going back to the bad habits." He told me.

"You should talk to Mr.Mulligan. He's a little freaked. Not now, no but definitely later. Wait. You live together of course you're going to talk to him later. You know, sometimes I wish that I had a cell mate like some of the other people here. I've always wondered what it's be like to have an ordinary person as a companion. Or..
close to normal."
He said.

I nodded softly.
I drank a little bit of my coffee.

"Your friend was hot." He said.

I choked on that little bit of my coffee.

"He has a boyfriend." I said, coughing. "Oh I know. Shame. Do you?" He asked.

Oh my god he asked me a question. With out telling me the answer.
I didn't say anything.

This has never happened before.
I'm shook.

"I tried to be normal one damn time Laurens by asking a good question and ya didn't even answer! You just cant do that." He whined.

I chuckled at his behavior.
He giggled.
Why's he so happy today?

"Guess what?" He asked in a singsong voice.

"What?" I asked.

"I was provided with paper and pens. The world has gone to hell!" He told me in the same singsong voice.

My face dropped.
"What?" I choked.

"It should be in the news soon.
I've killed again. I'm sorry John, I really am you have to believe me. I'm just so, so bored! I snapped. I'm really sorry. I couldn't help it." He told me, in a fake sad voice.

"How many people? How many people did you kill?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"One." He said softly.
"Two."
"Three."
"Four."
"And Five. I'm sorry John and guess what else?" He asked.

"What?" I hissed.

"I made it all up in my head." He told me.

A rush of relief went through my body. Oh thank god.
He giggled.

"Got you!" He exclaimed.
I laughed nervously.

"Yup! Yeah you got me." I said.

Soon, Alex was escorted back to his cell by the guards.

"I'm not giving up on you kid. Not yet. You're just a little misunderstood is all." I whispered, as I watched them brutally throw Alex in his cell.

Just a little misunderstood.