The writer here.
I hope the reader will enjoy this story and I also hope I will get valid constructive feedback from you. Especially when it comes to grammar since English is not my native language and I would also have enjoyed it if I got reviews on my take on canon characters.
But I will also note that I'm in no way putting stigma on people with mental illnesses as I know that very few of them are criminals. But to a story like this it is essential to have one or more characters suffering from it and of course this goes to my OC. No one would have gotten incarcerated at Arkham without it but one of my concerns is that I may have made my OC perhaps a little bit too innocent but time might show if I have made a good decision.
Just to mention it, I would love to discuss my AU with anyone and also the canon world.
Thank you
Doctor Leland hurried down the halls. She had only five minutes left to get to her latest appointment and it had not been her intention to arrive this late but she had read her patients file endlessly in an attempt to be as prepared as possible.
Lily Petersen
24 years old and just recently she had become a killer. Surprising some but others claimed she had been a ticking bomb waiting to explode. Doctor Leland was not sure if anyone of them were correct but time would show. Lily had also divided the workroom earlier tonight, having a new patient being transferred to section D always got the gossip going and in this case many had fought for the privilege of being the first doctor assigned to Lily.
But Jeremiha Arkham had decided that based on the patients file, which stated that Lily had never opened up to any male doctor and the fact that Leland was the most experienced psychiatrist on the night shift, she had gotten the case.
The patients file had stated that Lily had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Through the years she had been in and out of mental institutions for both psychosis and mood changes but to Doctor Leland the section about her patients psychosises intrigued her. In the files her psychosises were described as having bouts of paranoia over the institutions surveiling her but these had changed drastically the last month into beliefs of higher beings using radios and other mediums as a means to control and invade her mind. The file also stated that her new patient had said that her former self-harm were these beings fault.
She seemed like an interesting case.
Stopping infront of the interview room, Doctor Leland collected herself before going in, she was met with the sight of a small woman on the other side of the table. She had a couple of bruises that were still turning purple and with an expression that the doctor could not read. With good intentions Doctor Leland gave her her most reassuring smile before settling down in the chair.
From her pocket she fetched her tape recorder and made a point in turning it towards herself as a means to not get her patient anxious. It failed as she saw Lily's eyes turning big.
«I've checked it twice and there is no radio transmitter in it».
Surprisingly her new patient did not start to argue with her, she had expected atleast a little outburst over it and perhaps even having to put it away but Lily remained calm as the taperecorder started to make whirring noises as it were turned on.
«This is Doctor Leland with patient number 135577, this is the first interview in a series of five during her first month here at Arkham Asylum.» The good Doctor started with the usual formalities that were expected of her but in her mind she wanted to start immediatly at trying to get to the core of her patients mind.
«Now Lily I will have to ask you some questions, some of them may be difficult and personal but I hope you will nonetheless answer them. You will also be able to come with input and I will also ask you to elaborate your answers. You are safe with me» Doctor Leland could see that her patient did not believe her a bit but the last sentence seemed to had struck a cord in her patient.
With a turn to the guard on the outside of the interview room, Lily bent forward in her seat, touching the table with her shackles and with a look into her Doctor's eyes she whispered.
«I'm not safe her and you should know it better than anone else.»
Again Doctor Leland had failed at being reassuring and she found herself thinking that her new patient reminded her of a child from a broken home.
«But I'll prove you otherwise.»
Lily found herself wondering if she could trust this new Doctor. She had been the first person trying to reach out for her and for some reason it looked like that in some strange way, perhaps if she cooperated she could survive this place and maybe get out alive. Arkham Asylum had a reputation, with it's ominous looks and it's more colourful patients it had become known in the world as a place to avoid at all cost. Lily knew about section D, where the mentioned colourful patient resided and the thought that she would soon be among them were something that made her mouth go dry. She would be like Daniel going into the lions den.
In Leland's mind some of the same thoughts were popping up. She had yet to believe that Lily should be sent into section D and despite her crime she could not help but sympathise with the woman.
«Maybe I should start. My name is Joan Leland and I've been working here for about five years, in that time I've interviewed many of the first timers in here and not only those who is to get incarcerated into section D, nothing that you tell me will shock me» and with a smile she finished «Your turn.»
With that Lily seemed to relax a little bit more and with her head turned up she started talking.
«My name is Lily Petersen and I've never had a job. I've also never been here at Arkham before and I'm scared of going to section D.»
That piece of honesty Leland thought, was a good start to this interview and a good sign of Lily starting to warm up to her.«I understand that you are scared, as I mentioned earlier I've interviewed many of the first timers going to Section D and many of them was also scared of going there.»
Lily grew silent for a moment and looked to be in deep thought as she contemplated this. But as the moment went by she furrowed her brow and she wanted to ask her new Doctor a simple question but something held her back and Leland noticed this. «Anything on your mind?», the woman shock her head and tensed up expecting a follow up question but it never came.
«Well then we can continue.»
«Wait!»
«Yes?»
«What will happen to me?» Lily stumbled with her words but they came out understandibly. «That depends on what you're reffering to, but if you mean how you will get treated here then the answer is simple. We will try to cure you and make you an upstanding citizen.». The woman nodded her head and let her mind drift to what happened earlier tonight.
«What are you thinking about?»
Lily wondered how far she could trust this woman. She had only known her for about six minutes and as far as she was concerned she could be affiliated with the higher beings as she reffered to them. What if she were? What could she possible do to her?
To Leland it seemed that to get her trust were essential to get these interviews going so she told Lily that they had aproximately half an hour left. She only hoped that it was not a mistake as it could have been interpretated as an impatient move on her part. So she started with the questions form. «Lily I will now go trough a question form with you, this is completely ordinary on your first interview and from now on remember that these may feel invasive but they are required from our part as we want to get to know you and how we are going to treat you.»
The woman looked frightened for a moment but she also seemed interested and curious.
«First question: Do you know why you are here?»
Lily pondered on it but answered truthfully. «I bombed a building and with it I killed twenty people but hurt thirty five.»
«Good» Leland thought, this interview seemed to go well from the start.
«Second question: Why?»
With a look of regret the girl started to inform her on the reason. «I believed that one of the higher beings were constructing a new radio transmitter there, Doctor Leland, it was not my intention to hurt those people, I was not myself and if I could do something about I truly would.» Lily started to get agitated as she said it but Leland broke policy when she touched Lily's hand. It was a stupid move but she did not want her patient to shut down.
«It's okay Lily, you have done good so far and I believe that you did not intentionally hurt those people.»
Lily calmed down as the cool touch transferred up her arm. She was baffled at this act but it worked and her trust hightened, none of the people affiliated with one of the higher beings had been so kind and reassuring and as the Doctor retrieved her hand she started to ask the questions regarding her past.
«Lily, the next questions will be about you past and how you turned out the way you are.» Leland looked down at her form and remembered how much she hated it as it in her view stiffened up sessions too much. It was policy to use it but she wished that she could have been allowed to make her own set of questions.
«Question three: How was your childhood?»
«But haven't you read my file?»
Pushing her glasses to it's correct place she answered «I have but I would like to hear it from you and besides it is on this form that we will have to go through.»
Lily thought about this for awhile but she started with one word: «Happy».
«Would you like to elaborate?»
With a tiny sigh the girl told Leland that her childhood had been free of abuse, that her parents had been loving, devoted to her and tried to help her with her illness.»
Leland knew it was a lie as the file had had a section explaining how Lily had ended up being disowned on the basis of her being schizoaffective, her parents may never have been physically abusive but they had certaintly been a factor in Lily's declining health. It baffled her that people had it in them to simply leave someone they were supposed to protect and support but she had seen it in former patients too so it did not shock her.
With a gentle voice the Doctor assured her that it was okay to tell and that Lily could trust her and the rest of the staff, «Afterall it is our duty to help you.»
Deep in though Lily muttered, «It was not a living hell.»
«But still it must not have been easy.»
By that she recived a tiny laugh taking her by surprise. «What is so funny?», the woman stiffled down and gave her a small smile, «You trying to make me open up.».
«Why is that so funny?»
«You already know it.»
Leland tried to ask her more about it but Lily refused and asked if they could continue. Abiding to her wish Leland asked the fourth question: How was your social life in school. At this the tiny smile vanished but in it's place a look of determination appeared and with a simple sentence she answered, «I was alone.» Doctor Leland did not want to push it further as the trust between them were still fragile.
«Fifth question: How was your social life in adult age?»
At this Lily perked up and with a genuine smile she replied. «It was good, I ha done reliable friends who have been very supportive of me and we have had our laughs.» But for Leland those words were a double edged sword. «What do you mean by it was good?» and Lily's expression became unreadable again.
«I guess they won't be visiting me no more.»
«Don't say that, after what I've read in your file, especially about your best friend, it seems that she won't just leave you behind.»
«You sure about that Joan?»
By using her first name, Doctor Leland knew that she had established trust between them and now it was essential to remain that trust. «I'm absolutley sure about that» she reassured her patient and it seemed that Lily relaxed a little as she settled more in her chair. «Should we continue?». Lily nodded already before Leland asked her.
«Questions six: What were your plans in life before you ended up at Arkham?»
Lily grew miserable in an instant and Leland did not want to push it but she could not help herself wondering if she should ask the question again but Lily gave her an answer. «I wanted to enroll at Gotham University.». It was an honorable answer and Leland knew what would be her and the staffs goal when it came to Lily. Getting her on her feet again and making sure she would get both an education and her life again.
«What did you want to study?» Leland was genuinely curious. Lily lifted her head up again and with a hopefull voice she said «Psychology.»
Leland was not surprised but her mind likewise got pleased. Lily also seemed more motivated to do the interview as she answered, «I would love to become a scientist.» and with a smile Leland investigated further, «On what would you like to study?».
«Oh I'm not entirely sure but, this might come off as cheezy but I would love to study people like me.»
«People like you? what do you mean by that?»
«People who have the same diagnoses as me. Leland? I really want to help people, I am not evil despite what I've done.» at the last part Leland had a concern that it could all be a ploy to reel her in on some sick and twisted plot, but in this case she wasn't so sure about that. Her patient seemed to be truthfull and in some way eager to redeem herself. Lily could maybe be one of the very few that got reformed and could be sent out to society perfectly safe for the bystander. In her mind this was one of her highest wishes.
Just like Lily, Leland had in her whole life wanted to help people, first she wanted to become a cop, then a lawyer before she ended up as a psychiatrist. Not that she knew that she would end up at a place like Arkham but nonetheless it was her contribution in this world. If Lily could get her life back she would be rooting for her all the way. It would be worth it in the end.
Lily saw a very thoughtfull look on her psychiatrists face and wondered if she had said something wrong. She voiced this concern and her doctor assured her that that was not the case.
«I was just thinking about how we are going to treat you here and that we have a goal to strive towards»
Again Lily perked up and a look of hope replaced her worried one. «You really think that I can get out of here?» she said with a shaky voice. Leland nodded with a smile on her face. «There seems to be a bit of hope to reform you.». But at that very moment the guard tapped at the door, the session was over and Leland had to pack down her tape recorder.
«Will you be my Doctor from now on?» the woman asked as the doctor was to leave.
«Yes» and with that the guards came to retrieve Lily but as they passed by the doctor saw that a smile was on her patients face.