I woke up with a raging headache. It took me a few long moments before I was able to squint enough to try and see where I was, and when I did I let out a soft sob. I was in a stark white room with a large window on one wall, with a small bed with white sheets and a blue blanket. There was a small book shelf a small dresser and a plain chair, which were bolted down. There was also a small toilet and sink. Oh... did I mention that the door had a small window in it and no handle... Yeah. Guess where I was. Une must've sucker 'punched' me, knowing I was about to freak out. I was feeling a little slow, kind of like being a gravity that was too high, and I was groggy. I didn't think the grogginess was from being KO'd...

As I looked around my little room, an overwhelming sense of depression settled over me. I put my back against the wall and pulled my knees up under my chin. I wasn't given long to brood before someone peeked in my window and, seeing that I was awake, unlocked and opened the door. I glared from my perch on the bed.

"Hello, Duo. My name is Dr. Galen. How are you feeling?" I ignored the question and after a while he continued, "Do you know why you're here?" Again, his question was ignored. The man sighed deeply, "Duo, being difficult will not get you out of here any more quickly..." No, but I can. The voice in my head made be jump about a foot off my bed. Dr. Galen raised an eyebrow, "Is everything alright." Like I was going to tell him I was hearing voices new. Right. I will get you out of here, if you let me. The voice continued and I told it to shut up. I was starting to feel a little hysterical. Dr. Galen sighed again. How about I show you around, Duo," he didn't phrase it as a question, "You're not a prisoner here... you're just staying here for a while."

"How long is a while?" I asked, glaring again. I was glad to hear I wasn't stuttering any more.

He thought for a second, "As long as it takes. We'll work out some medications to help with things, and you'll talk to me several times a week. We'll also work out an official diagnosis. I think with the right treatment, we can get you back to your life in a couple of months."

A couple of... months? I stared at the doctor. How was a couple of months supposed to be a good thing?

"Come on. Let me show you around," the doctor said again. I thought about it for a second and decided that I would have to figure out a way to get myself out of here. I would disappear and find myself a life away from everyone I knew. For the time being, I would cooperate... cooperation would at least let me see what I was dealing with.

He led me around the inside of the building explaining things as he went. The showers were public, of course, and all the patients on the block –all men- showered at the same time, with a guard present. He showed me the common area where there was a TV, several couches and tables with puzzles and games set up. He told me I could also find books here. New books were delivered once a week, donated from libraries and such. I could take as many as I liked and keep them on the shelves in my room. He explained to me that the bedroom doors were locked at 9 o'clock at night and unlocked at 8 am.

Then he took me outside. I was surprised at first, until I saw the number of guards swarming the lawns and the ten foot fences with barbed wire along the top. I watched a few patients wander around. Some gardened, others just sat on the grass, in their own worlds, so to speak.

Dr. Galen smiled, "That's the end of the tour. You're pretty much free to do what you like. Showers are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 am, after breakfast which is at 8:30. Lunch is at noon, Supper is at 5 pm. Meals are in the common room. We like to see you spend most of your time in the common room or outside. I have to get back to work. You'll be alright on your own?"

I nodded, and he left me alone. I walked around the yard, thinking about how I might get out of here. I didn't think I'd be able to scale the fence and there were no handy trees that I could climb instead. The bastards knew what they were doing. I puzzled on it for a little longer when a guard came up to me, "Time to go inside," he said, "It's just about supper time." I raised my eyebrow at him and he lowered his eyebrows at me. I decided to get the hint. It would be to conspicuous if I didn't. So I went inside to the common room where the other patients were gathering around a couple of nurses with tray carts who were passing out what looked suspiciously like a tray of hospital food to each person. When I got to the nurse she asked me for my name and then selected a try with my name labelled on it. Before she gave me my tray, she handed me a small paper cup with pills in it and a cup of water. I stared at them for a second, "What are they?" I asked.

She gave me a look, "They're your pills. Take them please. I was about to refuse until I noticed a couple of looming male nurses who looked about ready to pounce. Apparently pills were a necessary in here. So, frowning I tipped them towards my mouth. None of the nurses saw my slight of hand, and none of them saw me tip the pills into my sleeve. I made a show of drinking the water the nurse gave me, and then giving her the empty cups. She handed me my dinner and I made my way to an empty chair, away from the rest of the patients.

I was mildly surprised when I opened my dinner and found warm roast beef. It was actually pretty good too. The beef was a little dry and the gravy needed salt, but I ate it all and returned my tray. I checked out what books were available grabbed one and went back to my room. I sat on my bed for a long time, thinking about things. Then I remembered the voice and goose bumps ran up my arms. Had that been... Shinigami? He had never spoken to me before. It scared me. What if I really was insane?

I'm not sure when I fell asleep, but my dreams were dark and filled with whisperings from a voice I didn't know.