Chapter One

The entirety of Briarcliff had been gathered into the common area that night, and with no explanation. The Monsignor's orders had been short and clear: "All patients and staff to the common area immediately. I repeat, immediately." Every patient had been taken from their rooms, many with great difficulty, and rounded into a cluster of seats. A large silver screen sat in front of them. Most of the patients found this to be a comfort; it must have been another boring Pro-Christianty film.

Two guards hurried to hold open the double doors. Sister Mary stepped through the doorway, wrinkling her nose as she surveyed the nervous crowd. The Monsignor followed her, his nose in the air, as usual. "Evening," she said in a monotone voice. "Don't you all smell like a bushel of roses. Frank, don't you make sure they all have their baths anymore?" Frank's eyes flickered down, and Mary snickered. "I suppose you're all wondering why you're here."

Jude sat in the third row, right beside a very nervous Pepper. She leaned in toward Pepper's ear. "What's she gonna blame us for now, you think?"

"Quiet, Jude," hissed Pepper. "You don't want to be caned for talking during a film again, do you?"

"I'm not afraid of Mary Had a Little Lamb over there. I'd like to see Satan try to beat me when I'm angry."

"Is there a problem over here?" chimed a soft voice. Standing above them was Mary Eunice. She looked down at them with fake concern in her eyes. "Surely there's something very serious going on. Otherwise, we would be courteous and not talk when I'm talking. Right, Pepper?"

Pepper hunched her shoulders and stared down at her feet.

Jude leaned her elbow on the back of her chair. "Oh, we were just curious."

"What ever are you so curious about, Ms. Martin?"

"Why we're in here this time. This is the...hmm...fourth time this month?"

Sister Mary scowled at Jude, her eyes slowly becoming a glowing yellow. "Well, you see-" she shoved her pointer finger into the other woman's chest "-Judy, if I hadn't been interrupted, you would have known by now." She stood upright, her eyes returning to their normal color as she held her hands behind her back and continued up the aisle. "As I was saying, there's been a serious rise in conflict over the past two weeks. More fights than I can count, more of you men getting...shall I say, frisky? Normally I would just leave you to your devices, but now that it's my job to control you mongrels, it's on my back if any of you kill each other. Anyhow, tonight you will be shown an informational film about how aggression can ultimately lead to a fiery eternity in Hell. How fun. Afterward, we will be having a serious discussion."

"Oh, no," Jude mumbled sarcastically, chewing her fingernails.

Pepper's eyes went wide. "Jude!"

Mary snapped around, her eyes filled with rage. Her lips pursed tightly as she turned her gaze to the nearest guards. "Joe, Magnus, please send Ms. Martin up to her office – oops! I mean, my office." She smiled smugly at Jude. "Make sure she stays put until the Monsignor and I arrive."

"I told you to hush, Jude. I told you." Pepper clasped her hands together, her leg bouncing with anxiety.

Jude was taken by her right arm by Joe, her left by Magnus. The two men forced her from her chair, practically dragging her into the aisle. "Ow! You bastards!" she shouted. "Let go of me, I can walk myself! Let go, I said!" The men only tightened her grip as they led her out of the room and to the stairwell.

Kit and Lana had been observing quietly from the back row, praying that Sister Mary would not catch them and accuse them of 'snooping' again. "Poor Jude. From the top of the food chain to the bottom in less than a week," said Kit, shaking his head.

Lana nodded, staring forward at the screen. "Agreed. Now hush, before we get sent up there with her."