p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It was always the same./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The name calling, the bullying.../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It never ended./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel had started tuning everyone out, even when she was pushed down the stairs. Countless times she would come home and have to cut gum out of her hair. Her parents worried. They had no idea how to help her. But they worried not just because of the bullying but because of the way she would talk. Ever since she was young she would talk to people that nobody else could see./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"They thought it was different imaginary friends when she was a child but she kept speaking to nothing even after she hit her teenage years. The neighbors were horrified by the girl, the teachers constantly arranged a meeting with the parents. Eventually, she was put in a mental ward when she started hurting herself. The parents did not know what else to do./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So, here she was. In a straight jacket surrounded by padded walls./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"em"Please help me get through to him, you are the only one who can do this for me, Hazel!"/em/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I can't, I'm sorry. Please... Just leave me alone before they force more medication down my throat..." To others, she was talking to nothing but little did they know... There was very much someone there./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"em"Please! He is coming in soon to bring you medication... Please, let him know that it was not his fault!"/em/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel sighed, "Fine."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sure enough, the doors opened and a man walked in. It was one she had never seen before, she assumed he was new. He was rather attractive with his spiky brown hair and blue eyes. He was muscular and seemed to be in shape./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Logan," Hazel said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""...Yes?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Can I tell you something?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He looked unsure when he answered, "Sure. Go for it."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Its not your fault."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Excuse me?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your mother, the car accident that took her life. It wasn't your fault."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"His eyes narrowed at her and she could feel the room become tense, "Who told you about that? No one here knows about any of that."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your mother did. She said the necklace you are wearing was hers. When no one else was around she used to call you Sugar-foot cause you would suck on your feet when you were a baby."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What kind of black magic were you into?" Logan went to his knees in front of her, "How do you know this?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""It's not magic. She is here, beside you right now." Hazel said, "The argument the two of you got in before she drove off, she said it wasn't your fault."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""There is no way... There's no way-" She knew the nickname his mother used when only the two of them were near each other. Nobody else never knew about it. He sat there for a moment before a tear fell down his cheek, "You're not lying to me?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ask... Ask her... If she is in Heaven?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The spirit beside him bopped his head while yelling, em"Of course I am! Or at least I was before I saw you blaming yourself down here on Earth! Are ya stupid or something? Cause ya can't fix stupid!"/em/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel snorted a laugh at the last comment, "She said, of course, she was until she saw you beating yourself up and blaming yourself for her death. Then she asked if you were stupid and said 'Ya can't fix stupid.'"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ya can't fix stupid." He laughed and stood up, "That was her favorite thing to say..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He looked at the pills he had in the cup then looked to her before walking out of the room, moving to the next patient. The woman watching the surveillance cameras witnessed the entire conversation. This wasn't the first time for Hazel to start conversations like this and she always had proof she was telling the truth./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;".../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Several months later the phone rang. The blonde doctor pressed the speaker phone button when she saw the caller ID, "Professor Bruttenholm, it was months when I last called you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We have been busy and having various issues. Do forgive me." The voice on the speaker said, "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I wanted to ask if you could come talk to one of our patients, Professor."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Any particular reason why?" He asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""She... She can see dead people, spirits of people who have passed away. She can communicate with them and has proved she isn't lying. She has a few other abilities but she refuses to tell us anything else. I contacted her family and wrote down all of the information you may need. I also mentioned that the B.P.R.D. could possibly help her. The parents are okay with it." The doctor seemed to say everything in one breath, "I just really wanted you to speak with her."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Then I'll be there as soon as I can."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;".../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It only took an hour for Bruttenholm to arrive, John Myers by his side. After a security check, they were able to enter the room the girl was being held in./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Myers looked over the papers that had her information on it and saw that she was diagnosed recently with depression. Not eating or sleeping, refusing to take any and all medications. Seeing her petite body in the corner all he could think about was the girl from The Ring. Her black hair was long and covered her face, some of it different lengths as if she had cut it randomly. Her skin was pale and she wasn't moving./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"'That explained why they had to come to the actual padded room...' He thought./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hazel Patterson."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She slowly looked up at him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I am Professor Bruttenholm with the B.P.R.D." He inched closer to her, "Can I talk to you about the organization I represent?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He received a hesitant nod./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""The B.P.R.D. is an organization responsible for protecting the world from the occult, paranormal and supernatural. Quite a few paranormal agents have joined us. We learned of you and were wondering if you would like to come with us and use your abilities to make a difference."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Short but sweet and to the point./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel nodded./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;".../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She was quiet on the way there. Her clothing she had bought when she was first entered into the mental hospital was still clean as she hadn't worn it long before she was put in a straight jacket. Her long black hair almost blended in with the long black shirt and black boots she had on. Everything matched her black shirt and jacket./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Myers thought she looked like a witch from the movies but said nothing. Though goth, she was polite when they spoke to her and asked questions about her but kept her face mostly hidden by her hair./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"When they arrived she felt a bit of excitement after realizing she wouldn't be at the hospital for the night, at least./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your abilities," The professor started, "Includes communicating with spirits of those who have long since passed..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I can see them and talk to them. I... Can also sense and see demons but I try not to mess with them if I can help it." She explained, "I don't see how much help I can be considering I didn't get to graduate high school. They took me out in 9th grade and stuck me in the hospital because they were scared I would hurt myself. They didn't believe me when I tried telling them what was happening."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Bruttenholm smiled at her, leading her into a library, "Everything you need to know in life is here. We would be honored if you would stay a while and try being an agent. You wouldn't have to do any fighting, there are others for that."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel nodded, "Okay. But sometimes a spirit has a solid form and look like normal people going about their everyday business. With those, I can never tell if they are spirits or not unless I touch them."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Seeing a girl talking to nothing is normal for this place. Unique is a popular term here, you have no need to worry about any one judging you." He said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The girl gazed around the room and saw all of the book shelves. She smiled when she saw there was more than one floor with more than a ton of books./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You like to read?" A voice came from behind her, "You like the more paranormal, 'scary' stories."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yes..." She turned and saw a tank and jumped slightly when she saw a mutated man swim up behind the glass. A smile formed on her face and she approached the glass, "Oh!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We call him Abraham Sapien, or just Abe. He is one of the agents I mentioned." Bruttenholm smiled and she heard the doors open again./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"This time another voice spoke, "So, this is the new girl?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel turned around and her eyes grew wide, "Hellboy?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yeah. You're a bit smaller than I expected."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Sorry..." She pouted a bit but couldn't take her eyes off of the red man, "This is amazing... This... I have to be dreaming..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I can pinch you so you can see if it hurts or not. If it doesn't then you're dreaming." Hellboy said, gently pinching her arm with his stone hand, "You're awake, kid."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She was awake! She wasn't dreaming!/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel smiled, the first time she had actually smiled in years./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The name calling, the bullying.../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It never ended./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel had started tuning everyone out, even when she was pushed down the stairs. Countless times she would come home and have to cut gum out of her hair. Her parents worried. They had no idea how to help her. But they worried not just because of the bullying but because of the way she would talk. Ever since she was young she would talk to people that nobody else could see./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"They thought it was different imaginary friends when she was a child but she kept speaking to nothing even after she hit her teenage years. The neighbors were horrified by the girl, the teachers constantly arranged a meeting with the parents. Eventually, she was put in a mental ward when she started hurting herself. The parents did not know what else to do./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So, here she was. In a straight jacket surrounded by padded walls./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"em"Please help me get through to him, you are the only one who can do this for me, Hazel!"/em/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I can't, I'm sorry. Please... Just leave me alone before they force more medication down my throat..." To others, she was talking to nothing but little did they know... There was very much someone there./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"em"Please! He is coming in soon to bring you medication... Please, let him know that it was not his fault!"/em/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel sighed, "Fine."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sure enough, the doors opened and a man walked in. It was one she had never seen before, she assumed he was new. He was rather attractive with his spiky brown hair and blue eyes. He was muscular and seemed to be in shape./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Logan," Hazel said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""...Yes?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Can I tell you something?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He looked unsure when he answered, "Sure. Go for it."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Its not your fault."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Excuse me?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your mother, the car accident that took her life. It wasn't your fault."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"His eyes narrowed at her and she could feel the room become tense, "Who told you about that? No one here knows about any of that."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your mother did. She said the necklace you are wearing was hers. When no one else was around she used to call you Sugar-foot cause you would suck on your feet when you were a baby."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What kind of black magic were you into?" Logan went to his knees in front of her, "How do you know this?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""It's not magic. She is here, beside you right now." Hazel said, "The argument the two of you got in before she drove off, she said it wasn't your fault."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""There is no way... There's no way-" She knew the nickname his mother used when only the two of them were near each other. Nobody else never knew about it. He sat there for a moment before a tear fell down his cheek, "You're not lying to me?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ask... Ask her... If she is in Heaven?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The spirit beside him bopped his head while yelling, em"Of course I am! Or at least I was before I saw you blaming yourself down here on Earth! Are ya stupid or something? Cause ya can't fix stupid!"/em/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel snorted a laugh at the last comment, "She said, of course, she was until she saw you beating yourself up and blaming yourself for her death. Then she asked if you were stupid and said 'Ya can't fix stupid.'"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ya can't fix stupid." He laughed and stood up, "That was her favorite thing to say..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He looked at the pills he had in the cup then looked to her before walking out of the room, moving to the next patient. The woman watching the surveillance cameras witnessed the entire conversation. This wasn't the first time for Hazel to start conversations like this and she always had proof she was telling the truth./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;".../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Several months later the phone rang. The blonde doctor pressed the speaker phone button when she saw the caller ID, "Professor Bruttenholm, it was months when I last called you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We have been busy and having various issues. Do forgive me." The voice on the speaker said, "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I wanted to ask if you could come talk to one of our patients, Professor."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Any particular reason why?" He asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""She... She can see dead people, spirits of people who have passed away. She can communicate with them and has proved she isn't lying. She has a few other abilities but she refuses to tell us anything else. I contacted her family and wrote down all of the information you may need. I also mentioned that the B.P.R.D. could possibly help her. The parents are okay with it." The doctor seemed to say everything in one breath, "I just really wanted you to speak with her."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Then I'll be there as soon as I can."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;".../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It only took an hour for Bruttenholm to arrive, John Myers by his side. After a security check, they were able to enter the room the girl was being held in./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Myers looked over the papers that had her information on it and saw that she was diagnosed recently with depression. Not eating or sleeping, refusing to take any and all medications. Seeing her petite body in the corner all he could think about was the girl from The Ring. Her black hair was long and covered her face, some of it different lengths as if she had cut it randomly. Her skin was pale and she wasn't moving./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"'That explained why they had to come to the actual padded room...' He thought./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hazel Patterson."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She slowly looked up at him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I am Professor Bruttenholm with the B.P.R.D." He inched closer to her, "Can I talk to you about the organization I represent?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He received a hesitant nod./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""The B.P.R.D. is an organization responsible for protecting the world from the occult, paranormal and supernatural. Quite a few paranormal agents have joined us. We learned of you and were wondering if you would like to come with us and use your abilities to make a difference."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Short but sweet and to the point./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel nodded./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;".../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She was quiet on the way there. Her clothing she had bought when she was first entered into the mental hospital was still clean as she hadn't worn it long before she was put in a straight jacket. Her long black hair almost blended in with the long black shirt and black boots she had on. Everything matched her black shirt and jacket./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Myers thought she looked like a witch from the movies but said nothing. Though goth, she was polite when they spoke to her and asked questions about her but kept her face mostly hidden by her hair./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"When they arrived she felt a bit of excitement after realizing she wouldn't be at the hospital for the night, at least./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your abilities," The professor started, "Includes communicating with spirits of those who have long since passed..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I can see them and talk to them. I... Can also sense and see demons but I try not to mess with them if I can help it." She explained, "I don't see how much help I can be considering I didn't get to graduate high school. They took me out in 9th grade and stuck me in the hospital because they were scared I would hurt myself. They didn't believe me when I tried telling them what was happening."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Bruttenholm smiled at her, leading her into a library, "Everything you need to know in life is here. We would be honored if you would stay a while and try being an agent. You wouldn't have to do any fighting, there are others for that."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel nodded, "Okay. But sometimes a spirit has a solid form and look like normal people going about their everyday business. With those, I can never tell if they are spirits or not unless I touch them."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Seeing a girl talking to nothing is normal for this place. Unique is a popular term here, you have no need to worry about any one judging you." He said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The girl gazed around the room and saw all of the book shelves. She smiled when she saw there was more than one floor with more than a ton of books./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You like to read?" A voice came from behind her, "You like the more paranormal, 'scary' stories."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yes..." She turned and saw a tank and jumped slightly when she saw a mutated man swim up behind the glass. A smile formed on her face and she approached the glass, "Oh!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We call him Abraham Sapien, or just Abe. He is one of the agents I mentioned." Bruttenholm smiled and she heard the doors open again./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"This time another voice spoke, "So, this is the new girl?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel turned around and her eyes grew wide, "Hellboy?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yeah. You're a bit smaller than I expected."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Sorry..." She pouted a bit but couldn't take her eyes off of the red man, "This is amazing... This... I have to be dreaming..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I can pinch you so you can see if it hurts or not. If it doesn't then you're dreaming." Hellboy said, gently pinching her arm with his stone hand, "You're awake, kid."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She was awake! She wasn't dreaming!/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Hazel smiled, the first time she had actually smiled in years./p
