«The Last Stretch»

Chapter Two

{Elliot Banks}
"Alright Elliot, are you ready for these questions?" She asked. She gazed into my eyes as if expecting me to break and ask to be put back in my room. She should know I'm not backing down anytime soon.

"Of course." I replied, with a hint of a challenge in my tone. She gazed at the two others who I had learned were interns learning the ins and outs of mental hospital workings, watching in rapt interest, as if if they blink they would miss something important.

"You know he's around your age," Dr. Evans started. "He was checked in involuntarily for ranting and raving about the end of the world. Mad claims of seeing the future no one else knew." I fidgeted uncomfortably in my seat, making sure I look ashamed while catching her eye. "He's been here voluntarily for about three months now and he recently filed for release. He started his three-day letter to us about a month ago, since then he worked on it, made sure to make no mistakes, gave it to me, and it has been carefully considered."

The Boy and the Girl looked at each other, then back to me. I shrugged and tried to seem like I didn't care, but her little speech about me made me very uncomfortable. For a 22 year old I'm so easily rattled. "I know what you're thinking. Yes I can see the future, no my biggest prediction was not correct, that's why I'm in here. Everyone thought I was insane because I saw the mutant world ending and then the future changed. I'm 22. I was 21 1/2 when I got checked in so you know I had my birthday a few days ago. July 15th actually." I explained, I wanted this to be over so I could get out. "So um, can we get to the questions?" I inquired hoping to speed this along.

"Alright," Dr. Evans smiled. "First question. What are you planning to do after you're released?"

"I'm going to start by finding and apologizing to the people I mistakenly harassed. Then I'm going to come back in a few days to get Sydney after he's released, after that we are going to find an apartment and stuff and we're gonna start a life outside of this place. Next I just wanna go through life like a normal person, with the occasional vision, get a gym membership or something mundane to keep me busy after I finish college. And that's about it."

"Good. Now what will you do if the visions come back."

"Go to the police. Tell them to check something out for me then if it's nothing I'll be back here for some medication."

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Minutes that felt like hours passed by as she asked him a few other, very similar questions to the ones she asked before. Some answers were easier than others but never anything that I couldn't answer. After all that I heard a sentence that brought my impatient conscious such joy and relief.

"Excellent. Now, last question, will you get back in touch with family?"

"Um... doubtful. I get that they were doing what they thought was right, but I can't deal with them again. At least not for a while.

"Okay then. That'll be all. Elliot you're free to go." Dr. Evans said.

"Thank you, so much." I made a move to hug her but she shied away so he drew back. "I really appreciate this chance to make it right. I won't relapse, I promise." I did my best salute and marched out of the room. I went to the front desk and stated my name and the date I was admitted. The receptionist gave me the belongings they had stripped me of during my stay at the institute. I got my phone, wallet, and my keys. After that I walked out the doors and turned around. I looked at the sign which read "RINGGOLD MENTAL INSTITUTION" I smiled to myself and said a silent goodbye in my head.

I decided to say a better goodbye to someone else.

{Sydney Lurch}

I heard several taps on the window before getting up to go check. I looked down and see Eli standing there with a small pile of pebbles in his hand and a shit eating grin. He makes a motion with his hands to tell me to open the window.

"Hey Syd." He yelled semi loudly. I looked down at the ridiculous boy and couldn't help the small grin that broke out on my face at the dorks antics. He was incredibly cute, and so impeccably stupid for someone of such high intelligence.

"Hi Eli." I called back. He smiled brighter. "How's freedom?" He frowned slightly. He scratched the back of his neck.

"Pretty boring without you honestly." He put his hands in a heart shape. "Wish you were here." I don't think I've ever laughed this hard before. His face fell. I tried to control myself before saying anything back but the bubble of laughter kept floating from my

It took a few more seconds before I could respond. "You're a purebred piece of cheese, Eli." I spoke with occasional chuckles. "I wish you were here to pick me up already. And we could get that apartment, and the queen sized bed, and other stuff. I'm particularly excited about the bed aspect of getting out of here. These beds feel like hardwood." He smirked and let out a sound akin to a chuckle but not all the way there.

"Is that all you were looking forward to about the new bed?"

"Yeah pretty much." His face fell once more. "Get out of here. You have someone to warn, a world to save. I'll be waiting for you." I muttered the last bit in an attempt not to sound like a clingy girlfriend, even though I was the literal equivalent.

"See you in three days then. I'll miss you." With that he turned on his heels and headed for his destination. At least that what I thought  he was doing until he veered left into a garden, plucked a few flowers, ran back and threw them into my face. "Love you Syd!" Then he raced off into the city leaving me shocked with a some of flowers sitting in my lap and a petal on my face. Hopefully he pulls this off cause if he doesn't we're screwed.
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I was going to put this out on Saturday but I had festival for choir all day. We sang, the judges judged us, then we went to six flags until the ceremony and then we got our trophy. We got an excellent, but we were just shy of superior so we did really great. I had fun and made better connections to people.

So we're learning a bit more about Elliot and his past and where he is, what he's done, what he can do, his family, him and Sydney's goofy relationship. So leave anything in the comments but hate and I know this is like wtf this is just about their relationship, it will change up very soon, so I'll be active for a little bit. I'll answer questions and respond to your comments and that's kinda all I had to say.

QOTD: What's your favorite hobby? Mine is performing for myself. I constantly put on self directed musical numbers lmao.

Anyways, that all for the day, thanks for being in my corner of the galaxy and I'll see y'all next time.

~Mick