Goosebumps

Chapter 18: Mental Hospital Arrival

Stine pulled over at a building after another hour was up, getting out of the car. I took my seatbelt off, opened the door and stared at the building. Does seeing that place made me feel any better? That will be a no. A big no. Even seeing that sign that reads Mental Hospital makes me feel even worse.

Hey...maybe it won't be so bad. Just like Stine mentioned, I assured myself, getting out of the car, my eyes all wet from crying that I quickly dried them with my shirt. And once I did that, Stine handed me my duffle bag. I took it so I won't look like a stupid person...or in any other case...a crazy person.

"There's something in there for you that I hope it'll make you feel better," he told me after I took it, putting the strap on my right shoulder. "It's actually from Hannah," he informed me. "It's something that makes her feel better when she sad about something. Even when she has one of her bad days... so we both hope it helps."

"What is it?" I wanted to ask, but I decided to wait and see for myself. Possibly so I won't spoil what Hannah gave me. Instead I ask, "What else did you pack for me?"

"Just your clothes and books," Stine answered as we walked to the building. "I didn't pack anything so you won't...you know...hurt yourself with, because they take those things away. In fact, they go through everybody's stuff to see if they pack anything that is 'harmful'. Luckily, I put things that are not harmful objects. I didn't even pack up your scarf."

"Why?" He turned to me with an arched brow. "Oh... Now I know why," I understood, catching his look that looks like a hawk waiting for its prey. "Also, you don't have to give me those stern looks, Stine," I mentioned. "They...creep me out because Jeff does that to me before and after he...beats me."

"I didn't know that my stern looks freak you out. But tell me, how many times does Jeff hurt you?" he questioned.

"...Everyday. He'll hit me and leave my room without any words. There was this one time when I came home from school after the bus driver dropped me off, Travis stopped me from going into my room. I actually forgot that he comes home before me since he's a middle schooler and all that. He asked me where I was going, which is again, my bedroom. He then ask me if I want anything to eat since Jeff and Kelly won't be home until later. All I did was declined and went to my room after he purposely tripped me." I took a deep breath, not wanting to start sobbing. "So... I went to my room to just sleep and this is before I had trouble sleeping, and the next thing I knew, I got dragged out of bed and felt pain all around me. To me it felt like forever and once the stinging slaps are done, I saw Jeff...glaring at me through his framed glasses and his leather strap clenched in his right hand. And he did it a second round before leaving my room." I looked at the ground, watching my feet take steps closer to the building, my hair falling in front of me even if it stops at my shoulders. "While I just stayed on the floor, my dreaded god brother came to my bedroom door and just smirked at me, announcing me that getting that 'punishment' will teach me a lesson of 'breaking his window'."

"Wait a second," Stine interrupted, raising his hand for me to stop. "Are you telling me that he lied to his father about you breaking his window? And you're god dad believed him!?" I can tell that he was now in flames. "Did you try confronting him?"

I looked back at him with a sad look. "I did once..." I admitted. "Only he said that 'he doesn't need proof'," I quoted, recalling his words. I let out an exasperated sigh. "Travis is such an ass!" I cried. "Telling lies to both Kelly and Jeff. Mainly at Jeff, making sure my life is terrible as possible... and it worked!" I threw my duffle bag on the ground, kicking it aggressively, and began talking gibberish, my words not making any sense, even for me.

"Are you done?" Stine asked after my fit was finished.

I picked up my duffle bag, placing the strap back on my right shoulder. "Yes, I believe so." I took a deep breath and let it out. "I just don't understand why my god family hates me. I never did anything to them other than join the family..." The anger got mix with other emotions that I can barely talk right now anymore. "I...I just...wish...that this would never happen to me. It's my god family's fault and the kids at school...it's their own fault, too," I stuttered, my voice breaking the words. I looked over at Stine, seeing that he was looking at the ground, too. "Stine?"