People

Lucas

A short guy came up to me after group therapy. He was wearing a lab coat and a small pair of glasses.

Are you Lucas? He asked

I nodded and he stuck his hand out. Th sleves hung over it and only his fingers were visible. I shook it and he grinned.

I'm Isaac, your new personal therapist.

I looked him up and down seeing his small figure. He didn't even look like he was fouteen, how could he be my therapist?

Putting aside my thoughts I studied him for intellect.

He wore the same thing as the other employes, but had on a pair of Vans. They were grey and tattered at the sides, but other than that they were in good shape.

Nice shoes. How'd you convince them to let you keep 'em?

I have my mysterious ways. He said waving his hands in the air.

I laughed under my breath.

What? You don't think it's true? Well I'll have you know I wasn't exactally assigned to you randomly. I had to do a lot of sweet talkin' and convincing to get you.

I leaned down to his level and ruffled his spiky hair, Sure ya did squirt.

He smacked my hand away from his hair and shook his head trying to fix it.

Hey! Who's the one with a PHD here? Yeah, I thought so, now go to lunch, or dinner, whatever you're having now. You're gonna be late.

He flailed his little arms motioning for me to hurry and took off after that.

At lunch and dinner I pushed around my food and listened to the sounds of the facility.

Squeaking of med carts, clicking of door locks, and the chatter from the rest of the pyscos in here with me.

I wasn't paying attention to Kevin or anyone else for that matter, I was more focused on Isaac.

Why would anyone choose me to help? I'm just another basket case.

The thought bothered me all day and the best I could think of was he was looking for a better pay and needed me for it.

We got back to our rooms after the day had ended and I cleaned myself up. I stared at the ceiling as I laided on the bed. Tracing through the patterns in my mind I counted them.

1, 2 ,3 ,4 ,5 ,6 ,7 ,8 ,9 ,10...

240

I looked closer now seeing the individual patterns. It was an array of bumps shaping a lopsided square. I started counting.

1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,5 ,6 ,7 ,8 ,9 ,10...

24 in one square.

24 times 240...

I did the math in my head.

5,760.

There are 256 combos you can make with that number.

0000 0005 0006 0007 0050 0055 0056 0057 0060 0065 0066 0067 0070 0075 0076 0077 0500 0505 0506 0507 0550 0555 0556 0557

0560 0565 0566 0567 0570 0575 0576 0577 0600 0605 0606 0607 0650 0655 0656 0657 0660 0665 0666 0667 0670 0675 0676 0677 0700 0705 0706 0707 0750...

I counted off everyone aloud until my eyes got heavy and I fell asleep.

I drifted I of to dream land not minute later and found myself walking a brick road.

The road was barren with only fields of barley surround it. I looked down at it seeing it begun at my feet at counted each brick in one row. They were big and only five were in the row. I looked at the one in front of it and saw it was the same. I walked forward counting the rows one by one and I kept my steady pace.

Soon the rows stopped. Well, I say soon because that's how it felt, but I had reached almost five hundred.

At the end ther was a small well sitting at the edge of the path. I peaked my head in down at the dark water.

My reflection was different, I had rope burns around my neck and my face was pale. I reached up with my hands and felt my face, it was cold.

My focus turned back to the reflection.

Wake up Lucas. Wake up.

I woke up with Isaac by my bedside.

Lucas! Come on I wanna show you something.

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H-hello world! We hit 45 reads!!! Yay I'm so happy!!! I'd like to thank the Academy... Just kidding, but I would like to thank everyone for support and vote on this story, and I'm sorry I took so long to finish this chapter. I've been at school all week with orchestra and registration. I hope you guys enjoyed it and thank you for everything!

_3ianney