What You See...

Chapter One
Prelude to Insanity

Aki Ross stepped out of the car and looked around at the alleyway. She sighed deeply and closed the car's door before starting off towards one of the more active main streets. She acted strangely, examining things no one would think of, and nervously avoiding other people. What she saw, and heard, was different from what everyone else did. They failed to see what she could.

She walked down the sidewalk, unseen by people and she paid them no heed. The boulevard was crammed with vendors in the evening light; a street fair of some kind was taking place. Aki saw none of this as she continued on her way.

---

Gray Edwards cursed his luck. Of all things… How did this woman come to be the bane of his already miserable existence?

"Do any of you see her yet?" he asked, trying to look through the crowd.

"You expect us to identify one woman in a crowd of hundreds," Neil said, straightening his hat, "Give us a coupl'a minutes."

"I'll stay with the car," Robert said confidently, walking back towards the parking lot. Gray might have complained, but Ryan got his attention first.

"Hey, is that her?" he asked, pointing to a woman examining a nearby vendor's booth. Something frightened the girl, and she fled towards them. This allowed Gray to get a good look at her face.

"Yeah, that's her," he nodded, "Come on." He started towards the woman, who virtually ran into him anyway, "You've got to come with us," he started calmly, taking hold of her hand.

Without warning she shouted something and pulled away from him. She ran off towards an alley, and he sighed.

"Well that was good," Jane remarked, "Not drawing attention to ourselves whatsoever."

"Let's just go get her," Gray grumbled, starting off after the woman, "Okay?"

"Sure thing."

"Yep."

"Whatever."

---

Aki followed the alleyway. She heard her pursuers trailing her, but didn't look back. They caught up with her quickly, and suddenly one of the men in steel-gray uniforms grabbed her arm, "It isn't safe out here."

"Let go!" Aki shouted, "I have to find it." Again she twisted away, and began to run down a connected lane.

---

"Goddamn," Gray cursed. He ran after her, his coworkers close behind him. After months of not having to deal with her, the inpatient had finally escaped again. All because of the simple fact that the administrator didn't lock his car.

When they caught up to her, she was back on the main street. They almost didn't notice her, but she was standing nearby a florist's stall, looking over the plants there. She picked up one as they were approaching, and inspected it carefully.

"We have to go back, now," Gray made another attempt. Aki ignored him as she studied the plant.

"Look, lady," Ryan tried his luck, "We've gotta go back, or we're gonna get in trouble."

Aki looked up at the dark-skinned man, and blinked, "Yes, we have to get back."

"Good," Gray said, smiling nervously at Ryan, "Let's just put this…."

"No!" Aki cried as he tried to take the plant, "No, we need to bring it with us."

"That'll be six dollars, sir," the florist said, "For the plant…."

"No thanks, we don't want it," Gray replied, still wrestling with Aki over the plant. She started to scream, and people stopped to watch the scene.

"It's all right, folks," Neil grinned at the growing crowd, "We're professionals."

"Professionals," Jane snickered, "Right."

Neil dug into one of his pockets and paid the woman for the plant, "That simple, man."

"Let's just get out of here," Gray growled, "Before Rob decides to leave us behind."

They pushed their way through the crowd, back towards the parking lot where Robert waited with the car. When they got there, a problem regarding seating arose. In the end, Ryan, Neil, and Jane ended up crushed into the back, while Aki and Gray had to share a seat up front. Much to his fellows envy, Robert got his own seat, as he was the one to drive.

"Look," Gray tried to explain to Aki, "You can't keep running away like this."

"I don't need your advice," the woman grumbled, examining her plant.

Gray sighed. Of all the jobs he'd ever held, this had to be one of the worst. He removed his hat and scratched his head, and stopped when he found Aki staring at him, "What?"

"It's you," she said, sounding surprised. Gray paled. She'd finally recognized him. The laughter from the backseat informed him it wasn't his imagination. Yeah, a patient that had a thing for him. Wonderful.

"Shut up back there," he snapped, "And you… keep your eyes on the road."

"Sorry, Gray," Robert apologized, the amusement still present in his voice. The laughter behind him continued.

And his shift had just begun. How he loved working for the Ironwood Mental Institution.