Day 3

"Now don't feel like you have to hold back from anything here, this session is intended for us to discuss our feelings, really let them out and connect with each other."

The exceedingly patronising tone of Dr. Shule, one of the only humanoid employees of the clinic, rang out across the circle of irritated looking patients.

Titus sat, arms crossed in a petulant strop, slouching back in his chair with the defiance of a moody adolescent. He'd slicked his dark brown hair back with the water from the drinking fountain in an attempt to still appear somewhat preened despite being dressed in the horrible grey uniform he'd been given.

"Titus, perhaps you'd like to speak? You're a newcomer to our circle of connection after all."

There was a single second's pause before Titus burst out laughing. The laughter eventually deteriorated into muffled snickering as he hid his face in his palms.

Day 5

"Come now, Lyta. How much can you really be earning, sitting here at this desk?"

Titus leaned over the desk, smiling strangely at her, moving far too close for comfort. He put a tremoring hand against her own, as she reached for the keyboard. His hand was drenched with sweat, and would not stop shaking even as he held her palm firmly down against his. Was he trying to be seductive? She couldn't tell. All she could pick up on was cringe-worthy desperation.

"What if I told you, you'd never have to work again?" Titus was still trying; his attempts at grooming his hair with tap water (like it wasn't obvious) had been increasingly unsuccessful, his hair now hanging in front of his face in tasselled strands. "All you have to do, is get me some of the stuff I asked for…"

"Get you some contraband material, Mr Abrasax?" Lyta asked, loudly, to which Titus winced at terribly. "Now if I'm not mistaken, that would be in violation not only of the rules of this clinic but of the law too, would it not?"

"It's Lord Abrasax! For fuck's sake, you're a bloody splice! I'm offering you riches beyond your wildest dreams!" Titus snapped, pulling his hand away from Lyta's.

"If this..." Lyta motioned towards Titus, "…is what riches beyond your wildest dreams does for you, I think I'll pass." The sloth splice replied, glancing over to a nearby guard. "I think Lord Abrasax would like to return to his room for a bit of rest, if you'd like to escort him?"

Day 7

Titus didn't leave his room that day. He'd spent the first few hours of the day gazing into the mirror, feeling slightly sorry for himself. Why had this happened to him? He didn't deserve this.

Slightly sorry for himself was maybe an understatement.

As the day went on, however, he began to think about his siblings. Balem was dead, and he hadn't really acknowledged it fully until now. And Kalique, why hadn't Kalique visited him?

Also, why was he still being forced to wear this horrible outfit?

Day 10

"Would anyone like to share their feelings today?" Dr Shule, again.

"I think I would." Came the trembling voice of the walrus splice on the other side of the room.

"Go ahead Marinus."

Titus watched the walrus splice begin his story, reach the blubbering climax, and then begin to be comforted by the surrounding circle with an irritating script of platitudes.

He snorted, began laughing, and once again, couldn't stop.

"Something wrong, Titus?" Dr Schule.

"No, no, please…" Titus managed, through gasps of laughter. "Go on."

Day 12

"Lyta, you know I'm sorry about last week. I was angry, you understand. You see, I don't deserve to be here. I really don't. This is all part of a spiteful vendetta against me."

"Didn't you try to marry and then kill your mother?" Lyta's eyebrows raised slightly.

"That bitch is not my mother!" Titus snapped.

"And you're not getting those drugs you want. Do I have to call the guards again?"

Day 14

Two weeks. It had been two weeks and still no visit from Kalique. Was she angry? Titus wasn't sure. They'd barely spoken a word since Balem's death.

Day 15

"Does anyone want to share their feelings today?" Shule.

"I would." Titus raised his hand, to Dr. Shule's surprise.

"Ah, Titus, I'm glad to see you finally contributing. What is it you'd like to share with us today?"

"I'd just like to express how much of a fucking waste of time these sessions are, Dr. Shule. Also, I was wondering how much I'd have to pay you to get me some of the drugs I keep asking for?"

Day 16

Titus hadn't even been aware solitary confinement existed within rehab.