The Mansion

Chapter Twelve-The Institution

I was locked up.My hands were locked and my was dressed in white.My hair looked frizzy,I haven't combed it in days.Or is it months?Years?I'm not sure.All I see is the same thing,white walls and white furniture.They say this will help me get myself together,but actually it's driving me to insanity.This isn't the way human-beings should be treated,it's simply not right.

I made a few friends here,one named Janet and the other Hailey.They look very much like me,and we have gone through the same things together.We eat together,we smile together and we live together.Dr Osgood told me that they don't exist,but I know they do.I see them every day.

Someone knocked on my door,probably the nurse giving me my medication.But actually,it was doctor Osgood.He had a genuine smile plastered across his face.

“Hello Claire.How are you?"

“Hailey says hi,"I giggled.He gave me a weird look and grabbed me by the hand.I followed him without a single word.Strange people gave me odd looks and I bit back the urge to curse at them.

“Claire!"the nurse exclaimed,“Where are your shoes?"

“Hailey took them."I giggled.

“Someone wants to talk to you."She said cheerfully.When they took me to the visitor's room,I saw my old friends there.They all looked good,smelled good too.I haven't bathed in days.

“Claire."one of them said.I remembered his face,but I forgot his name.I just smiled at him.Hailey told me that I should always be polite.

“Hello."I waved. They looked at me funny,but I didn't care.I was tired,I wanted to sleep and I was tired of the medications.They asked me stupid questions,but I answered them anyways.We talked a little longer,than they said that I should go to my room.I did so without complaining.

The office was right next to my room,so I could hear and see the doctor from my room.I saw my old friends settling down on the black leather chairs,they didn't look very happy.

“How was it?"the doctor asked them.

“She's not her usual self."one of them said.I was offended,how could they say that about me.I was perfectly normal.

“Yes.She's in a bad mental state."the doctor said.

“What is her problem?"Christina asked.

“Multiple personalities."the doc said.His words confused me,I thought he was my friend.He was the only one I could trust,and he betrayed me.He always said I wasn't crazy,just slightly disturbed because of what happened a long time ago.I never let it go,and it affected my life negatively.

“Oh my God.Is there a cure?Wh-how?How many?"Christina asked.

“In theory,there's three.It's her,Claire the troubled historian.Then there's Hailey,someone that teaches her good manners and the person that reminds her of her morals and values.Sort of like her mother.

“Then,there's Janet.Janet is the one that secures her,that makes her normal.The personality that ensures her that she's not crazy."

“And the cure?"one of them asked.The doctor looked sadly at them.

“There is no cure.Claire is never leaving.She's never going to be normal."

“Oh my God."Christina said.

“But,she saw them.The ghosts,everything.She-"

“Claire never saw any ghosts.It was all up in her head.She hurt herself,and she killed Eric.She wasn't well after you left.She imagined it all in her head."

“That's not Claire."

“There's no such thing as ghosts,sir."the doctor said and his eyes landed on me.“They're all fruits of our imagination."

I glared at him from a distance.He knew I was listening,I know he knew.It hurts knowing that the ones you think are on your side are the ones doubting you.Doctor Osgood will regret his betrayal,this I can promise.They say I don't speak much,but guess what you don't plan a murder out loud.And that's exactly what will guide me to avenge myself.

I will plan my next escape and sure enough I will get out of here.This time,no one will stop me.

I will kill each and every one of them,Christina and all the others.Doctor Osgood included.They will pay for doubting me,they will regret the day they left me in that mansion to suffer alone.They left me there,vulnerable.If they had taken me,I wouldn't be here.

I'm forced to take strong medications because they all think I'm crazy.They don't know me,what's going through my mind.They can't feel my pain,from the inside and the outside.

“We'll avenge this,I promise."I said to myself.I know I haven't been myself,I haven't been me lately.But Hailey is helping me.She supports me and cares for me.That's all that matters.

They will help me.Soon,I will be free.And I will be back.They are there,basking in money and fame while I'm here,known as the woman that went crazy.I didn't kill Eric,I'm sure of that.Whoever did is hiding,but I must find that person.No matter what.

*

“Claire."

I woke up and I saw the nurse smiling down at me.“Someone is here to see you,"she said.

I followed her to the office.The traitor,doctor Osgood was there,observing me.I tried acting as normal as I could.

“Claire this is Dr Britz,he's here to ask you one question.Just one.Can you manage that?"Dr Osgood asked me.

“Of course,"I answered,“I'm not crazy."

“Good."he said.

The new doctor cleared his throat and began the interrogation.“We have news for you."he said,“Eric,your friend.He woke up from his coma."

“Coma?"

“Yes.He wishes to see you and he's very well.Although,he doesn't remember any ghosts or anything like that."

“What?!"

“Claire come down."the nurse said.

“He also said,"the doc continued,“That while you two were in the living room,he doesn't remember why you were there,you died."

I remembered.How wouldn't I?

“Why did you come back?"he asked,“Tell us.Why?"

I didn't answer,I couldn't.It was too intimate to share.It was mine,mine to keep.No one would tear it away from me,the way they stole my liberty from me.

I will never forget that they.I have now learned that three years have passed,and that I was now ageing.If I could warn the world I would.And this would be my message,so that the whole world would hear clearly.

“Never,ever go to Scheinberg castle,for it is haunted.And if you do,be aware,for you may be their next sacrifice,just like I was theirs."

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HEY!

So this is the end of this book.Pretty short,I know.But I really hoped you enjoyed and thought it was a little scary (at least).

Stay tuned.

Ily all!

Xoxo

~Stephanie