The Hypocritical Oath

chapter 3: Acceptance

The food was terrible, but Lewis figured it was the best they had, so he ate it anyway. As he was in line, he was staring at one of the doors leading outside, thinking about how far he could run if he were to get through it.

"You might as well forget it, you won't make it out if you go that way." Said a short girl with fiery red hair. She didn't look up at Lewis but instead kept looking forward.

"Excuse me?" Lewis asked looking back at her.

"Many have tried to run out and go home, but after a while of being here, you forget what home is."

"I didn't plan on going home."

The more Lewis looked at her, the more he wondered how long she'd been here. She looked like she has been to many other hospitals worse than this one. Lewis could tell she's been to others by the amount of hospital bands she had on her arm.

"Good, because I doubt anyone would take us in if we did manage to get out."

"Quiet up you two, keep the line moving." One of the doctors said pushing Lewis forward a bit.

Once Lewis got food he saw all the tables with people, but he went to the corner which was far away from the other patients. When he sat down, he noticed a large man, probably over six feet tall, walk up to him.

"Your in my spot." The man said, "Move, now."

Lewis didn't know what to do, he wanted to fight him, but he was afraid of breaking his hand after hitting this guy. Just before Lewis could say anything, he saw the girl motion for him to come sit by her. When he sat down she looked away as if she never asked him to sit there.

"You don't really want to mess with him. He's been here longer than anyone, and very few scare him."

"He seemed kinda rude." Lewis said, glancing back at him.

"His names Chris, he's an orphan, and he doesn't like people that much. At least, that's what I've been told. He says the voice tells him that people are dangerous and want to hurt him, personally I kinda agree."

"The voice?" Lewis said, finally looking away from Chris, "What voice?"

"The voice in his head you idiot," she said finally looking up at him.

Now that they finally made eye contact, Lewis could see how dark yet innocent her eyes were. He couldn't help but stare until she finally looked away.

"He's schizophrenic. He claims the voice tries to help him, but the doctors think that he's just imagining it."

"I'm sorry, but I haven't caught your name." Lewis said, pushing his food away. He didn't really feel like eating.

"I'm Sarah, and you are?"

"Lewis, at your service." He said with a slight bow.

"Oh shut up." Sarah said with a faint smile. Lewis couldn't help but smile when he saw her smile, he noticed that she was very attractive.

"You know, you have a wonderful smile." Lewis said. Sarah stopped smiling, but her pale skin turned a bright red as she looked away.

"Break it up you two, time for group therapy." said one of the doctors.

"Welcome everyone, today we have a new addition to our group, this is Lewis, he just transferred yesterday." said doctor Jenson. "Lewis you can sit over there by Kyle and Sarah."

Lewis could see that most of the other patients were uneasy when he walked in. Kyle stood out the most as when Lewis sat down he started rocking forward and back.

"You okay?" Lewis asked Kyle, but got no response.

Lewis noticed that the therapy lesson was going very slow, and he couldn't wait to go back to his room. When the lesson finally finished and he opened the door to his room, he saw a tall slender man with round glasses sitting on his bed.

"Can I help you?" Lewis asked closing the door behind him.

"No, no I'm afraid you can't. But I am here to help you." The man said standing up. "My name is doctor Christin, I am the head of this fine hospital."

"Oh great." Lewis said with a hint of sarcasm.

"I'm just here to welcome you, and to tell you to stay out of trouble. You won't like the things that happen to troublemakers here." the doctor said with a glare.