The Hypocritical Oath

Chapter 4: Unraveled Secrets

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Sarah said, "What if you set him off."

"I'll be fine," Lewis said with a look of fear in his eyes as he looked at Chris,. "Besides, I've fought worse."

"I doubt this would be much of a fight," Sarah said under her breath.

To Sarah's surprise, Lewis got up from the table and started walking to Chris who sat in his usual corner. With every step, Lewis got more and more nervous, until he finally reached his destination. His hands were soaked with sweat, his leg was trembling, but he pushed through and to finish what he started.

"Hey there big man," Lewis said trying to seem brave and friendly, but Chris didn't react, he didn't even look up. Chris just sat there whispering to himself. "Hello, You there?"

"You can drop the act. We know why you're here." Chris said, still not looking up.

"Y-you do?" Lewis stuttered, "Um, okay."

"You're here to hurt us, you aren't trying to be a friend." Chris said while he started to rock back and forth, "I don't need a friend, He's the only friend I need," he said as he pointed to his head finally looking up at Lewis.

"Oh, that's not why I'm here." Lewis said sitting next to him. "If I'm being honest, I'm here because you looked alone and I felt bad."

"Lewis, it's time for our therapy session, follow me please." doctor Jenson called out.

"Listen Chris, I don't care what the voice says. We are stuck in this place together, so we might as well get along," Lewis said standing up to walk away.

As Lewis began to walk away he heard Chris start whispering again. He couldn't make out what he was saying except for two words, "New friend". Lewis kept walking away feeling better about himself. He followed doctor Jenson to the room that she said was for personal therapy from when he first arrived. Lewis couldn't remember how long it's been since he got there, but he does know that he has lost weight due to the fact that the hospital clothes are starting to get too big.

"So, is this your first time in a hospital like this?" doctor Jenson said sitting across from Lewis.

"Yeah, and part of me thinks it won't be the last."

"Oh come on now, don't think like that. This is a fine establishment, I'm sure you will be out of here soon."

"And what if I'm not!?" Lewis snapped, "What if I'm stuck here 'till I die!"

He immediately regretted raising his voice at her. He could see her trying to hold back the tears while her lip quivers.

"Look, I'm sorry." Lewis said with a sigh, "I just, I feel alone here."

"Don't worry about that, I've seen you with Sarah, You've made friends here." She said with a faint smile, "But I don't recommend it. You two may never see each other outside of here."

"What does it matter to you." Lewis said, turning away.

"It matters to me because I used to be a patient here," Doctor Jenson said leaning forward in her chair, "And I made some friends too, but we weren't allowed to give out our information, so I never saw them again. They were like family to me." She said trying to hold back the tears again. "And now they're gone," Finally, the tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Lewis couldn't help himself but to go help. He felt genuinely bad for her, something he hadn't felt in a long time. Lewis sits next to her and rests a hand on her back looking at her tear stained face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Lewis said struggling to show he cares.

"It's fine." doctor Jenson said standing up. "You should probably go back to your room, it's almost time for your weekly journal writing."

Realizing what he did, Lewis decided to obey and walked out of the room with doctor Jenson to the lounge, where there was a notepad and pencil chained to the table waiting for him. When he sat down, he noticed he was next to Chris, and across from them was Sarah.

I don't know how I feel about this place. It gets me away from home and I don't have to worry about school, but I still don't feel right here. The doc seemed off, but I feel like that's how it is at all of these places. Sarah told me that she doesn't seem to notice or care, all she wants is to go home. Part of me is enjoying being away from home though.

"Hey," Chris whispered gently kicking Lewis in the ankle, "Don't look up, we just have to tell you something, but we need to know something first."

"What is it?" Lewis whispered back pretending to continue writing.

"Did you really mean to call us friends?"

"Yeah, Yeah of course," Lewis said looking out the window, "we're stuck here together so we might as well be."

"From friend to friend, we have to warn you about the hospital." Chris said setting down his pencil to stretch, "It's best if you avoid trouble, those who get into trouble disappear for a long time, and when they come back, they aren't the same."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that when they come back, they don't talk to anyone besides the doctors, they don't participate in group therapy, and they barely eat."

"Okay? Why do I have to worry?" Lewis said Looking back down at his journal.

"Because You're our friend," Chris said, glancing at Lewis, "Trust me, it's best if you avoid trouble."

And with that, Chris stood up and handed his journal to the doctor and walked away, leaving Lewis to his thoughts until he was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"You should probably stop staring and go to your room." Sarah said, trying to get his attention.

Like a mindless zombie, Lewis stood up and walked away to his room.