"I'm not crazy! Let go of me!" I strained and pulled against the thick ropes. "Father! You can't do this to me!"
"These 'voices' of yours have gotten out of control, Edward. You cannot keep insisting that you can hear other people's thoughts. It is unsettling to others. You need help and I'm going to help make sure you get it." My father's permanently calm voice had no effect on my angry mood. If anything I became more enraged when I heard, not for the first time, what he truly thought of me. Lazy, ignorant, useless, and crazy. What could that woman possibly see in him?
I was the only child and my mother adored me. She understood about the voices. Unlike my father who was willing to cart me off the the nuthouse as soon as she became ill with the Spanish influenza. She heard everyone's thoughts too. How I wish he would just let go of me! I couldn't hear anyone's thoughts unless they touched me like my father is doing right at this moment!
"Just hit him, John. That'll knock him right out." Ah, yes. How did I forget to mention the fat slob that my father is the best of friends with? Let me tell you something, he has a violent streak and looks for any excuse to hit people. Any excuse at all. The last thing I want to do is hit this boy. That thought was coming from my dear father. His hands seemed to be full of trying to tie me down at the moment anyway and any second he would ask-
"Rob, you do it. I'm trying to hold this little brat at the moment." Mr. Jenson grinned, showing off all of his lovely yellow teeth, pulled back his arm, and struck me hard. I didn't stand a chance and crumpled right down to the dirty floor. I heard one final sound before I blacked out, the sound of my father's calm laughter. He enjoyed my pain. Perhaps leaving home would be a good thing. If only I could take my mother with me.
Slowly, I woke up. I reached to rub my eyes and shield them at the same time from the glaring light that was glaring into my eyes. But my hands weren't moving. I strained and twisted trying to get them free. But they still weren't moving. I struggled with my ankles when I realized they were tied too. I stopped struggling when I realized they weren't going to magically free themselves. I looked to my left and saw rows of beds. Looking to the right showed the same thing. Upon closer inspection I realized there were people in most of the beds. Almost all were restrained but I noticed a few who were milling about aimlessly. Was this the nuthouse? I noted a sleepy doctor glance up at me and came over to me when he saw I was awake.
"Hello, Edward is it?" I nodded. "Good. Do you know why you're here?"
"My father sent me away."
"Do you know why he might do that?" I shook my head. I had learned that telling people about hearing thoughts was never a very smart move anywhere; especially not here.
"That's a crying shame." He looked very disappointed. "I'm going to find Dr. Cullen and have him look over you. Perhaps he will decide that it's safe for you to wander unrestrained." He looked at me once more and got up to go speak with the one of the other guards hovering around the room. Now what am I to do? I'm lying in a bed, in a mental ward at that, and I have no way of moving. Perfect. I wondered idly what day it was.
"Edward Masen?"
I looked up and suddenly I couldn't speak. Standing in front of me was a doctor that was absolutely stunning. It was as if I couldn't think anymore after I saw him. He laughed as he watched me.
"Not many can speak when they first see me." He looked amused as if it lost the initial hilarity, but still it amuses him to watch people's reactions. I felt my face flush when he said that. Now not only do I seem incredibly rude for staring but I've let my father down by falling into what the majority do when they see him. I cleared my throat and got ready to speak.
"Yes, I'm Edward. Is it possible to get these things off?"
"Ah, the restraints you mean? I looked over your file and it said you fought against your father." Damn. Because of that, I may not be able to move my hands?
"He was trying to tie me up! It was instinctual to struggle."
"Yes, is suppose it was. Allow me to ask you questions and see if I find the need to keep you restrained. Or perhaps, you can become my assistant. I am in need of one." Assistant? How the hell did we get to that? I just want out of these restraints! After a lot of questions Dr. Cullen decided that I was safe to wander around myself and he went off to discuss the idea of letting me go back to his house and be his assistant. I don't see how I would be chosen considering that I hadn't been here long. Speaking of that, I forgot to ask how long I've been here! Damn! How did I forget that? How much of an idiot can I be?
"Edward?" Dr. Cullen is back.
"Yes?"
"My request has been approved. All we have to do is sign you out and get you settled in at my place." That was fast. I looked pointedly at my wrists and ankles. He laughed and unlocked them.
"You're rather single-minded, aren't you?" I sat up, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and rubbed my wrists. Those things were tight enough to dig into my skin. I had to hold my head for a few minutes when I saw those rainbow stars dance across my vision. Dr. Cullen looked concerned so I held up hand and one finger, signaling to him that I was okay and I just needed a minute. I finally looked up again and tried to stand up. When I stood up, I fell down and landed on the floor. At least this floor was cleaner than the floor at home. It took me a second to realize that if I fell, I had obviously been laying down for awhile.
"Dr. Cullen, how long have I been here?" I spoke quietly with my face down towards the floor.
"You've been here for a week. You've woken up several times and each time you were fed and escorted to the lavatory and were heavily sedated. It's common procedure for the first week." I could tell by the way his mouth twisted in disgust that he didn't agree with this 'procedure.'
"Come, Edward. There is something I have to tell you when we get to my home." He had adopted a grave expression since he returned. I didn't need to be told twice. I put on my clothes and shoes, deciding not to ask why I was wearing something other than what I came here with, and followed him out the door.