(Edited version, 9/18/2011)
Hello all! This is the first chapter of my new story, Taming. As seen in the summary, it is an AU that takes place in a mental ward, but for further description, go to my profile and read the summary posted on there. Thanks! Constructive criticism appreciated.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, otherwise I'd be on the bookshelves and not fanfic.
I'd like to thank my new amazing beta, memory-flower for editing this chapter for me! (This chapter is being reposted)
Taming
"Mrs. Everdeen, we know this may be hard on you, but it is for the best. Your daughter will fit in just fine at HMI, and she can recover and be safe from the hazards of home. Be aware,ma'am, that this is her only refuge in North Carolina; theothers are out of state. Our care is given by professionals and our therapy sessions are recorded so you may know your child's progress," the monotonous woman stops to look at the blurry eyed woman across from her.
She is not my mother; she is just a stranger that holds my surname and carried me in her womb, and that is where our connection ends. We don't look like we are related: I inherited my father's features. My hair is the color of a crow, my eyes the color of river rock, and my skin olive; her hair is a fine gold, paired with her blue diamond eyes and fair skin. She looks older than her age, from years of stress and work. She is no longer the lively girl she used to be with perfect skin and clothes;now, she is tattered and wrinkled with sadness that never leaves her eyes.
"Mrs. Everdeen, are you listening?" the institution's representative asks, waiting patiently for a response from the ashen-faced mother. Mother is a foreign word in this family: I only see her as a hollow corpse.
Mother nods slowly before a tear falls from her topaz eyes.
"How long would she be needed to stay?" she asks shakily. I send her a glare before the lady answers, but quickly stop when I feel eyes watching my back.
They never stop watching me. Sometimes, I can even feel their breath on my neck, sending chills down my spine. I guess they aren't that bad; the dreams and the things that happen to me are worse. I know this is a dream because of the way I'm dressed (in nice clothes, as is my mother), and my sister isn't present. This is a dream because my life is much worse than this. Nightmares of my past in the Hunger Games tear at me in my real life;here, I have no nightmares because this is merely a dream.
"Ma'am, leaving this problem unaddressed is very dangerous. Her health will increase as her stay lengthens. However, there is no way to tell you now. When her progress has started being recorded, we can give you an estimate on how long her stay will be." The lady's hair shifts from grey to orange, sometimes filled with thorns. I watch as her little blade, stuck out from her pocket; she's ready to stab me with it to end my suffering. Dreadful woman she is indeed.
"Will her sister be able to visit her?" Mother allows a tear to slide down her cheek, instantly sending me into hysterics.
"Crying is a state of... my sister can't come... I don't want to go... they watch... don't let them take me!" I yell at my mother. She looks at me questionably before turning back to the scary woman.
"The last day of every monthshe is allowed visitors if we see fit," the woman explains.
"Thank you,Fulvia. Do the treatments require me to pay?" Mother asks. Fulvia goes to answer, but no sound leaves her mouth as she goes to speak. What's going on?
Silence fills the air before screaming pierces my ears. I join it, terrified that whatever happened to the girl down the hall doesn't happen to me. My screams echo off of the walls, making my mother jump from her seat.
"Katniss, please calm down!" she attempts to quieten me. Why should I stop? This monster may get me too; I hope that my screams will scare him away!
"Stop the screaming!"
"What screaming dear?" she asks worriedly as her hand grasps my shoulder. Does she not hear it? Maybe if she doesn't...
"Madame, I believe the expenses are taken care of by your insurance. We can meet to start making room and assigning a schedule for Katniss tomorrow. I'll see you then, with packed bags in your arms I hope!" she smiles,standing to leave the room. She stops at the door, making snakes fall from her dress.
"Oh, Schizophrenia is only treatable by therapy, by the way" she smirks before scurrying out of the room, leaving silence in her wake.
"Let's go pick up Prim; school should be getting out soon, Mother declares.
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I'd like to go ahead and thank a very great writer, AsTheDarknessFalls, and would also like to say that I love your stories! Thanks so much for everything, Average Writer