Inside the Asylum (Book 1)

Chapter 12 - Stuck with Hope

Max is still asleep, clinging to me. I decide to sit quietly, I don't want to wake him and force him to move. He looked so peaceful, almost like the torture of a few hours ago never happened. I didn't want to wake his as I know his world would come crashing down when he finds out that he is not able to leave this horrible place.

Max moves to lean the other way so I move to my corner. To think. Trying so desperately hard to find a way to make everything better. The only problem was there wasn't anything I could stop him from hurting. However, I knew the pain would pass even though it felt like the end of the world for him right now.

When Max wakes up, he quickly moves so that his wrist is close to his body, covered and out of site clearly not wanting to be reminded of what had happened today. Not wanting to look at the sign of his entrapment. He stands up and walks towards the door.

"Max." My voice so quiet I wasn't even sure he had heard me. He stopped dead, never taking his eyes off of the door, clearly wanting to leave.

"Please! Say something? You can't leave now or the people out there will threaten you. They will treat you like you are the scum of the earth, like you are the worst type of person. Like you're insane." I wait for him to say something. He doesn't. He walks back to where he was sat before and sits back down. He is still holding his arm, so it is obviously still sore. He looks up just for a split second. That's when I notice the tears falling. I move close to him.

He sat staring off into the distance, looking right past me.

"I'm sorry." He said quietly.

"Why are you sorry?" I asked feeling beyond confused. He had nothing to be sorry for.

"I'm sorry for complaining. I'm sorry for feeling sorry for myself and I'm especially sorry they did that to you!" He looked me directly into my eyes and I could see how sorry he truly felt.

"Don't be. I survived the last time." I show him the mark on my wrist again. I see his eyes flicker to it then to the ground. His eyes full of sadness. I move closer to him pulling him into a hug, as I do, I feel him relax.

"So, what now?" He asks sounding terrified. I couldn't lie to him.

"I don't know but whatever it is we'll get through it together." I had no idea where the optimism was coming from I myself was terrified but here I was trying to convince Max we would both be okay. The only thing I knew for certain was that Max was now as stuck here as I am.