Inside the Asylum (Book 1)

Chapter 15 - Hope

The next morning, I was awoken by the click of the door. Grace and her mum enter. They came in, a smile stuck on their faces, but it didn't reach their eyes.

Something was wrong!

I could tell that they did not want us to know as whatever it was. That meant it must be something big.

I look over at Max who is smiling, happy to see his family.

"Max, how are you?" His mum asks. He doesn't say anything instead just shrugging. Then they both look at me.

"You have a visitor." Grace says. "Do you want us to let them in?"

"Who?" I ask scared of the answer.

"Your brother." Grace says calmly.

"Daniel? Is he really here?" They nod then Grace leaves. Their mum sits beside Max. They then have a conversation. I sit quietly in my corner waiting on Grace to come back. I didn't want to interrupt Max's conversation, so I decide to count the padded squares, for the millionth time. It felt like an eternity before Grace opens the door again. She walks in, Daniel following her looking slightly nervous. As the door closes Grace sits down beside Max giving him a quick side hug before joining their conversation.

I watch as Daniel sits down in front of me.

"Hi." He says trying to hide his fear, his voice betraying him.

"Hi" What was he doing here? What does he want? I move slightly as I cross my legs. Daniel moves uncomfortably, opening his mouth as if to say something before swiftly closing it again.

"What are you doing here Daniel?" I didn't even care how annoyed I sounded and how rude it may have seemed. I wasn't really in the mood for having company.

"Well I came for two reasons. Firstly, because I wanted to see you. Secondly, because something is happening. Robin.... she....um..." She stops searching for the words that had clearly escaped him.

"What? What is it?"

He was infuriating me. His eyes were emotionless as he said. "She's here."

I looked at him shocked. "What? Why? Have you met her?" A million questions were flying around my head.

"I met her last week. I went to see mum and she was there." I was not happy. Why was she here? What did she what?

Daniel moves. I try not to flinch, the reflex still very strong. "Do you want to meet her? She is very like you." I try to ignore his comment but can't help but get annoyed.

"How would you know what I am like? I was 16 when I was brought in here! I have been here for 14 almost 15 years and you only just found me half a year ago! How do you know if she is like me?" I yell at him, getting to my feet and watching him stagger backwards as I move towards him.

I feel Max take hold of my arm. I instantly relax.

"Let me think about it." I walk over to where Grace and her mum are still sat, Max falling me and sitting back down. I want their opinion.

"Go for it. If you don't like her give me a small sign and I'll get her to leave." Grace says smiling, earning a laugh from Max and myself. I look at Max hoping he will understand my resistance. He takes a deep breath.

"If I was you, I would want to meet her. Just so you can say you gave her a chance. You know?" I nod understanding where he was coming from.

"Okay. I'll meet her." I say to Daniel. "But." He stops in his tracks. "If I don't like her then she and you both have to leave an she is not allowed in here Ever!" He nods then leaves the room to get her.

The next five minutes pass so slowly. When suddenly Daniel enters again with Robin behind him.

She looks like my 'mini me'. From beside me I hear Grace gasp. I couldn't take my eyes off of 'my little sister'. Her mid-length blonde hair curled and landed on her shoulder just like mine had been when I came here. Of course, it had grown and been cut several times since then. She looked at me as if I was going to attack her. I wasn't. I didn't move as she walked towards me.

She turns, looking at Daniel for reassurance. I look at Grace and Max who were trying to figure out if Robin would cause me to lose it. As Robin moved closer, I got up and walked over and sat next to Max. I looked at him pleading with my eyes. I wanted to be beside him. He was good at calming me down and I liked being around him. Hoping he understood. I move closer to Daniel and Robin, who as I moved closer looked more and more uncomfortable. I couldn't help but smirk, trying to frighten her. I didn't know if I should trust Daniel or this Robin kid. I didn't care if they were family. I had been betrayed by family before, for example my mother. I hear Max chuckle beside me, clearly realising what I had done to make Robin uncomfortable. Daniel glares at me. I smile at him innocently.

"Hi." Robin looks at me terrified.

"Hi." I say not really wanting to do this. Not wanting to have this conversation. Robin looks at Daniel for help.

"How have you been since I was last here?" I say looking at Daniel.

"Fine thanks. I got to go out yesterday. We went to the carnival. It was amazing with all the lights and rides. Max and I went on the Ferris wheel twice! It was the best thing. So yeah that was nice." Robin looks at me in shock.

"They let you out? For the day?" She said her fear fading slightly. Clearly, she thought if they were letting me out, I was safe.

She didn't have a clue.

"Wow" She said. She looked at Daniel. "I didn't realise you could just go out into the world while they were in here." She smiles at me. Yeah, she thought I was harmless. She was wrong and everyone else in the room knew it. Although it was nice to have someone believe in me.

The hour passed quickly, and I had learned a lot about Robin, and how alike we were. Although she was a little gullible, but hey everyone has flaws. She really was a lot like me, more like me than I thought possible. To make it better she was really easy to talk to and despite only being 13 years old she was incredibly intelligent. It became clear to me why mother loved her more than me. She was the daughter my mother had wanted.

Soon enough the guards were back escorting everyone back out of the room. Unfortunately, that meant that Grace had to leave as well. I look over at Max, who was very upset. He still wasn't used to the fact Grace and his mum could leave while he was stuck in his own version of prison. The reality was this was worse than prison. I shoot him a small smile, knowing this was breaking his heart. I wrap my arm around him trying to comfort him. Failing. Seeing him there, heart breaking, as he watched his family leave killed me.

"I'm sorry Max." I whisper knowing he would hear me.

That night I fell asleep thinking about how similar Robin, and I were. Why has mother hidden her? Why were we so similar while Daniel and I were so different? I didn't understand. I did however, like that I had met her. Although one question rang louder than the others. Why if she was that like me was I in here while she was free to do as she pleased?

I woke with a start. It was still the middle of the night. Why was I up? I felt wide awake. The white padding all around me was like a blank canvas. I move to the corner near the door and write something. Something I didn't believe in anymore. I hadn't for a while. Or I hadn't for the longest time, but meeting Robin had given it back to me. I had always thought it was for suckers.

Hope.