De Pride Isle Sanatorium

Chapter 17: Breakfast, part three

Marissa and I sit next to Jaxton. To be honest, he seems to be more energetic today. I think he's scared. "You okay?" I ask. "Yes, darling. So glad you're worried about me, babe." He says, grinning at me. I roll my eyes and glare at him. "Ugh, you're annoying. I was just trying to be nice."

"I know! I'm just messing with you."

I roll my eyes again and look around at all the people sitting in the cafeteria. "Lots of twitching." I mention. I don't understand how people can be twitching so quickly. The day just started. "Yup." Jaxton replies. He starts to drum his fingers on the table. My vision slowly starts getting blurry. "Ugh. A blur-" High-pitched ringing starts to play inside my head and I grab my head tightly, trying to sooth the minor headache that comes with the ringing. "I need holy water soon." Marissa says. "I'm going to get my third blur soon. I don't want-" She stops herself. I think she realizes that what she was about to say might be a little sensitive to Jaxton. Jaxton did say he doesn't like people pointing out his twitching.

The blurry vision and ringing stops. I start breathing heavily, trying to recover from that unpleasant feeling. "This is my first one today." I say. "How come my blurs come a little slower?"

"It seems that way, but I can tell we blur faster than the nurses." Jaxton says.

"How can you tell?" I ask.

"Body language, obviously. Blurs are uncomfortable. People are obviously going to respond to it with their body language. I barely see nurses blur twice or three times a day. Only once."

Interesting. So, they blur slower than us?

"Ah! Good morning, darlings! Today we are having some delicious squid and onions for breakfast! I hope you all enjoy! The nurses and I worked super hard on these meals for you all to enjoy!" A nurse announces. The kitchen door opens and the nurses start to bring us our food. "God, I really need holy water..." Jaxton says as he starts to drum his fingers faster. Someone slams their fists on the table. "Stop! That's so annoying!" They yell. "Oh, sorry that I'm making sweet music right now and you're jealous." Jaxton snaps back.

"I'm not jealous. It's annoying. Stop it."

"I'm nervous. Leave me alone."

"Nobody cares."

"Oh my god, shut the fuck up, Sam. You always fucking do this shit." Another patient says, facing the other person who is supposedly named "Sam."

"He started it!"

A nurse starts to place our food in front of us. "Stop arguing, or you two are being sent to isolation." She says. "Sister Amelia, Sam is being a dick!"

"Language! Stop being mean to each other. Eat up." Sister Amelia then walks away and heads inside the kitchen. Sam just scoffs and starts to eat. I start eating too.