BlackBird
Disclaimer: I do not own any Law and Order: SVU characters or any Beatles lyrics.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arrive
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free The Beatles
Prologue
The young girl pushed her way through the nighttime traffic of pedestrians. It was a bitter winter night, and she shivered as the cold nipped at her uncovered legs and fingers. She had the ragged look of a vagrant, with mismatched clothing. Her shirt, while faded and worn through, showed the signs of once having been beautiful; it had an intricate floral pattern. She had a ratty glove with the fingers missing, and a plaid torn skirt crusted with what looked like dried blood. Her feet were covered by flip flops. Her greasy black locks were pulled back, showing a face ravaged by hunger and grief. She had large black eyes that would have been considered beautiful if not for the cold lifeless look in them. She was pale and waifish, an ethereal ghost in the fluorescent glare of the city lights. On her ankle was a band similar to a hospital bracelet, but with no break to release it. Gough marks and nicks showed failed attempts to get it off. On the front, in small writing, were the words Kleppinger Institution Number 1902693
She had no idea where she was going; all she knew was that she had to put as much distance between her and The Place as possible. Although she could not, or would not, remember what had happened, her befuddled mind linked it with great pain and sadness. All she knew was that she could not go back, not ever. She shivered as a gust of wind blasted through, and it wasn't until then she realized how cold it was. The chill seemed to permeate to her very bones, and in the small part of her that was still logical she knew she had to find shelter, and soon.
She didn't know how long she walked, or in what direction. When the panic finally subsided she was alone in a side alley. The moon was at its zenith; its pale light feebly illuminated the dark alley. She felt her head start to pound; she knew she needed a pill, and now. Taking a small bottle from the folds of her skirts, she popped it open and quickly dry swallowed 2 pills. She had to start watching how many pills she took, the bottle of pills she had pilfered from The Place was running out. Putting her prize back into its resting place, she contemplated what to do next. She knew she couldn't stay out for much longer, she could feel the insanity creeping up on her. Sometimes the fits lasted for weeks or even months, but every time it happened she felt her true self slipping farther and farther.
Stopping suddenly, she felt the small hairs on the back of her neck start to prickle. Her instinct was never wrong; years of needing it to survive had honed it. Turning around, she had only a glimpse of a shadowed hulking figure before her world exploded into colors.