Asylum

Pseudocoma

"Mmm."

I groaned at a massive headache I wished to rub away. My temples mercilessly pounded making me dizzy. I made a motion commanding my hands to move towards my head but I was unable to.

With tightly closed eyes, I furrowed my brows giving it a second attempt tugging my arm from the shoulder. It stayed in place. So did the other. Careful to understand what was happening, individually I wiggle each one of my fingers.

"Phew," I expelled. None were broken yet I still couldn't move my arms.

Realizing the attempt to pull my lids open was futile, I sought to assess where I was. My body was stretched and a bed was below me. I knew with certainty it was not my own. The mattress was thin and I could feel the springs pressed at my spine.

With what I believed to be minimal movements, I waggled my toes and consciously felt up my legs. I didn't seem paralyzed and based on the pain, I could tell I had a severely bruised thigh. Squirming, I winced fully aware of it. I let out a sharp gasp and made a face. I felt my left hip was hurt and perhaps some of my ribs.

A compressed bandage-like cloth was tied around my waist up to my chest and I wondered, thanks to my shivering frame if I laid half-naked. Making myself aware of each part of my body, I realized I was freezing and my body was exposed.

I gave another try at peeling my eyes open, but they did not respond.

Momentarily distracted by firm steps echoing into the room, I instinctively tried to speak. My vocal cords were unresponsive and the taste of bile along with a puncturing ache in my throat prohibited me from articulating sounds.

I brought my focus up to my ears and grew aware the steps paused at the side of my bed. I perceived someone's face leaning in over mine and their eyes on me. I felt myself burn from the inside consumed in embarrassment.

Help! Help me!

I screamed clearly knowing it was all inside my head and they couldn't hear me.

The click-clop of the heel of dress shoes moved along the side of the bed towards my feet. I perceived something, maybe fingers, run over my chest and waist, and then slither down from my hip to my leg.

Although vaguely unaware, I took offense to the touch and trembled.

The thin sheet covering my body was pulled back and fingers compressed a few of my toes on one foot and then the other pressing tighter from one digit to the next. The last squeeze hurt but I couldn't yell. Instead, tears stung behind my eyes.

A piercing pain pricked my big, left toe, and ripped up my body.

Fuck it hurts!

I wriggled, at least that's what I felt to be doing yet my body was immobile. The temporary warmth of liquid puddled at my bottom and I realized I peed myself from the excruciating agony.

Did he puncture my toe with a needle? Am I in hell?

A rush of thoughts hit me at once and I discerned where I last had been. The thought of my friends, Jonathan, and arriving at the asylum became clear. The terrorizing sounds and visions inside of it, I recalled too.

Why can't I talk or open my eyes? What happened last? What was it? Think!

I searched the corners of my mind. Jonathan! He was running away from me. But why?

"Goddamn it! Nurse!"

I became alert at the aggravated, male voice which demanded a nurse to assist him.