Unhinged

Loony

I had just woken up from another nightmare. They were getting scarier and scarier each night. I had beads of sweat dripping down the back of my neck.

My mom can't find out, I thought, not after what happened last time.

My name is Alice Drew, and I'm going insane.

I'm not sure exactly when they started, but I remember my first nightmare. I sat in a chair, completely bound up, in thick rope. I looked around me, and I was in a perfectly square room, that was pale white. Out of nowhere, a door opened, and in walked a boy. He was wearing a hospital gown. He walked cautiously towards me. When he got closer, I took a better look at him. He was tall and muscular with shaggy brown hair, and green bloodshot eyes. He looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen him before. Then in walked a girl. She was beautiful, with long cocoa colored hair. She didn't belong in an ugly place like this. They both surrounded me, and the girl pulled out a knife. I flinched. She took my bound hands, and cut the rope. I looked into her eyes, and instantly knew, she was going to help me. She cut the rest of the rope, then pointed at the boy. He walked over to me, and picked me up, bridal style. I fell limply into his arms. He easily carried me out of the door, following the girl with the beautiful hair. I thought we were escaping from my "cell" when all of a sudden, something started running after us. The thing barely looked human, but I was sure, at some point, it was. It was hunched over, and a pale color of blue. It looked straight at me, I saw why we were running. The thing had a face, but the features were not where they were supposed to be. One of its eyes was sewn where its mouth should be, and its mouth is where its nose should be, like a creepy Picasso painting had come to life. My two rescuers ran faster, and I weakly bounced in the boys strong arms. I looked over his shoulder, at the creature, and saw it getting closer. I screamed, but no sound came out.

That's when I woke up.

But that wasn't the worst of it. Once every month, in my dream, I would become the monster. I would chase my victims through the hallways of an asylum. It was awful...

My family was scared of me. They acted like they weren't, but I knew they were. Everyone at school was scared of me too. Whenever I would ask my teachers something, they would ignore me. My peers stayed as far away from me as physically possible. Everyone was scared of me, except for Grayson. Grayson Ashby is my only friend. He is tall, with short brown hair, and hazely/green eyes. He's UBER athletic, and super sweet. He seems to understand what I'm going through, and says he will always be there for me. I believe him. At least, for now I believe him. He's the only person I trust. He knows about my dreams, and he tries to help me. He calls me, before I fall asleep every night, and sings my favorite song, Always, by Panic! At The Disco. It always calms me down.

It was morning, so I walked downstairs. My mom was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking tea.

"How did you sleep last night," she asked.

"Great, fabulous," I responded.

"I heard you scream bloody murder at 1:30 last night. You sure you slept well? Anymore dreams?"

"Nope! I'm great. Just great," I said, walking towards the fridge.

My mom rolled her eyes, and walked away, almost, angry at me. I shrugged, and grabbed a knife. I cut up the apple I had just grabbed from the fridge. Just as I shoved a piece of green apple in my mouth, I saw an interesting sheet of paper sitting on the island. I picked it up, and started reading it. It was from Icarus Insane Institute. It was a typed letter, saying that they wanted me to come, and take some tests there. I kept reading, and it said that, if I tested positive, I would have to be sent there, to live.

I can't believe this, I thought.

I grabbed my phone, a coat, put on my black converse, and ran out of my house. I ran and ran and ran, until I couldn't breathe anymore. I needed to run away. I can't be sent to an asylum. Doesn't my mom know what people do in asylum? Has she not seen all of the scary movies that have taken place is asylums?

The first horror movie I'd ever seen was called, Grave Encounters, which took place in an asylum. It was an awfully scary movie. I hated it. I hate the movie. I hate asylums. I hate my mom for sending me there.

It was actually really cold outside, so I decided I would go home. Maybe hide myself in my room, and never come out.

By the time I got home, I was shivering. It was so cold. I walked into my house, and saw that my parents, and little brother were gone. Sometimes, they just leave, not telling me. I guess I don't mind, most of the time. I honestly wish my family would accept me, but I guess I have to accept that they never will.

I again, saw the Icarus Insane Institute letter. I picked it up, in my frozen hands, and ripped it in half, then in half again, screaming all the while. Tears, flowed down my face.

I cried for my mom. I cried for my dad. I cried for my brother. I cried for my teachers. I cried for my peers. I cried for anyone who was scared of me. I cried for Grayson Ashby. Most of all, I cried for myself.

No. My life can't be like this. I can't be going insane. Can I?