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Chapter 2: Demon
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They were rushing in, like it was seventeen months ago or something. They jumped over the upturned cot and stepped over the broken nightstand to where I sat in the far corner, completely ignoring my broken eyeglasses in the process. My knees were pressed against my chest, my arms wrapped around my legs as I shook from anger and exhaustion. The doctors were ready with the syringe in hand as they sat next to me. Procedure- they called it. They had to sedate me every time- every night when he came to me.
For some reason, it had gotten even worse. He came almost every night, but I never screamed and shouted curses for that long; I was never afraid of him than I had been this night. I wasn't sure why, but it just happened, and here I was- in the corner, shaking, a needle piercing my skin. This was no way to live. I could remember everything, and I just couldn't get his words out of my head:
It was one of those rainy October nights, which was actually quite surprising. I mean, raining, in California? Either way, I was in my "room", lying in my cot, waiting. I was positive every time he would show. In some way, he would come, and he did.
"What are you waiting for?" he had whispered into my ear. I had jumped then, my heart racing as I fell to the floor from fright. I heard him laugh sadistically- he always did.
"What do you want from me?" I had asked in a whisper, my hands balled into a fist.
"You know? You always ask me that." He answered with a smirk; his eyes were glinting from the light from the window that showed me only a little part of the outside world. "Do you remember what I always say?" he asked as he stepped over the cot, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. I backed away slowly- something done very commonly since the past year.
"Revenge." I whispered half-heartedly just as he said it aloud in a much brighter tone.
"Exactly." He had replied before grabbing my collar in one swift motion. He pinned me against the wall with little effort, and I did little to get away. What was the point? My back should be tougher now with less bruises after doing this for so long. "Why don't you fight back?" he whispered into my ear.
"Why should I?" I had replied, "You've been doing this for a year, now. Why don't you just kill me already?"
"Because I enjoy this." He said; I felt his one hand rest on the side of my waist and I began to panic, trying to release his grip on my collar. "You killed me, Jade. I knew I should have killed you before, but I never thought you were so capable of murder. I'm getting my revenge on you, and on your little friends back in Hyrule, too." I had gasped then and began squirming. He had backed away, but quickly tossed me onto the cot. The springs creaked in protest, but before I could realize what was happening, the cot had turned over, pinning me to the floor.
"The day will come, Jade, when you wished this was all I did to you." He said, kneeling to look at me closer with those bright red eyes. Tears formed in my eyes as I tried to push the cot off of me.
"You're sick. Kill me, now. Do it. I dare you." He just watched me with a sickening smile. Where was my Kenny through all of this? I continued: "You can't do it." I said, smirking, "You're a damn coward." He narrowed his eyes at me. In a second I was out from under the cot and pushed against the wall, a blade pressed against my neck. Something clattered loudly somewhere in the room.
"Making you suffer screws with you doesn't it, Jade?" he asked. I just stared at him, thinking I could get away, hoping he would back down, but in a second, my own death flashed before me: my blood spilling everywhere, me on the ground, clutching my throat as he stood there with his stained katana in his hand.
Tears spilled uncontrollably from my eyes as I fell to the floor, crying. I hadn't even realized he had left. The only thing I remember was my "death". He showed me what he wanted to do. Oh, God…
I had screamed then, wanting this to be over in some way other than that. I had crawled to the corner, then. Only a couple of minutes later, the nurses and doctors had rushed in.
That's exactly what happened. Over and over it had happened to me in the seventeen months of my imprisonment in this godforsaken hellhole. Not every time did the staff hear; it wasn't all that bad every time. Sometimes he would talk to me about the past, remind me of things, other times he would threaten, and like this night, he would act as though he were going to kill me. And when he didn't come, I would dream. I'd have nightmares of him chasing me, killing me…I never knew what was going to happen; there was no way to tell. I was lost. And I knew only two ways to leave this:
One- was to kill him. I needed to get out of here to do that; I had only tried once, but it had never worked. It would never work. My mind was plagued with crap I couldn't be rid of. Plus, if I ever did get away, was I willing to kill him? Again? But this time, I wasn't just killing him- I was killing Kenny. How could I ever kill Kenny? Or even hurt him? He was in there somewhere-he had to be.
The second option was simple. It had been done before- nothing new, really. It was actually common in prisons and institutions. What I'm actually talking about is suicide. I mean, I've never been so miserable in my life. I would have not given suicide a second thought, but I just couldn't live this way. I just couldn't live with the tormenting. If he wanted me to do this- I wasn't sure, but I sure as hell didn't want him to kill me. I couldn't really say that I wasn't going to let him kill me because that was just out of my line. I was defenseless. There was no Link, no Zelda, no Kado, and no Kenny that had the capability to come and help me. He was trapped, and so was I.
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She had almond-shaped eyes. It was common among Asian people, but the fact that she had these beautiful, dark, chocolate brown eyes added to the simple little beauty that she was. I wasn't sure why she had been sent to a psychiatric ward, but either way she was new. She was young- much younger than anyone here. It was hard to tell why such an innocent-looking girl with long little curly locks of brown hair and big brown eyes would be sent to an asylum.
The young girl had been clutching a little blue teddy bear, it's ear near to falling off. I wasn't sure of myself to go talk to her; I mean, what if she had done something so horribly wrong that had gotten her here? Of course, what would make her want to talk to a sixteen year old teenager that could have split personalities and capable of murder? Besides, why go and talk to her? I, never in my months in this hellhole have ever talked to one of the patients. None have ever talked to me, and I have never talked to them. Not to be rude and such, but because I was too lost in my thoughts to care about anyone anymore. I glanced at her sitting on the small couch in the corner. She was staring off at the ceiling, as if she was lost in her own little world. How many times have others seen me do that?
For a second I hadn't realized she had switched her gaze to me. I was surprised from the odd contact and quickly turned back to the window, trying to think of a way I could turn my cot blankets into a type of rope. I, of course, was sitting in the same old spot I had been sitting in for the past year- right on the window seat at the far side of the large room. No one came near me there. I was glad of it... Small, shuffling footsteps brought me out of my own little world and I quickly snapped my direction the person's way.
It was the little girl. I smiled awkwardly, preparing to speak, but she had already begun:
"You should get away from that window." Her voice seemed so much more intelligent- as if her body had stayed young, but her mind had aged ten years. Was that a reason to be sent to an institution?
"Why?" I asked, curious but still a hint of irritation evident in my tone.
"He can see you." She replied, her voice simply innocent. I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Who's watching me?" I whispered.
She smiled sadly, "The demon with the red eyes." I furrowed my eyebrows. Did she mean-?
"Miss Walker?" my head snapped to the direction of the nurse behind the girl. I just stared at her, not wanting to speak to the already frazzled blonde. She continued: "You have visitors." My eyes widened at that. Visitors? I hadn't had any visitors since they decided to tell me the case of my missing family had been closed two months prior their visit.
She beckoned me to follow her and I stood up slowly. The girl just watched with her big brown eyes before sitting down where I had been seconds ago. I glanced at her before we exited the lobby just as she clutched her bear with one hand and waved at me with the other. We walked through the large, white corridors in silence, my rubber shoes making small squeaky sounds against the linoleum floor while the nurse's Mary Janes made light pitter-pattering sounds. Ugh, whom am I kidding? Who gives a shit about the noise our shoes made on the linoleum or whatever-floor?
It took only a minute or so until we reached the visiting area: an opened area room with round tables here and there and sofas placed at random areas. Large windows allowed much needed light. I didn't even bother to look up at the visitors as the nurse sat me down at one of the tables.
"How are you doing, Jade?" I recognized the voice immediately. Glancing up, I saw the familiar faces of Officer Jacob Van Newton and Officer Tally Mackenzie. Remember them? The cops I had run into the night I had escaped the hospital? I scowled at them, though. Why be happy? They hadn't helped me one bit.
"What does it matter to you?" I retorted, beginning to fiddle with the sleeve of my turquoise shirt.
"Listen, we don't really have much time." Tally had spoken this time.
"What are you talking about?" I glanced up at them in confusion and squinted for a few seconds to be rid of the blurry image in front of me.
"We may be able to get you out of here." Jacob said.
"But you have to collaborate." Tally added as she pushed a manila envelope towards me. I took it and emptied out the contents. Photographs spread out easily on the table, and I looked back up at them with an eyebrow raised.
"Why are you showing these to me, again?" I asked, completely aggravated before glancing back down at the photos that showed of my vandalized house. Everything was here- the trashed living room, kitchen with no knives, and my room with the signed wall.
"We may have a lead to who did this." Jacob said as he pulled out another envelope.
"Really?" I brightened up before adding sarcastically, "Because I'm sure I, as a victim of this suspect may have some idea as to whether who it is."
Tally sighed, "We already told you, Jade. They can't be sure what you saw was true. For all anyone knows, you could have done all that by yourself."
"Then why are you here?" I remarked, my voice edged with anger as I squinted once more to get a clearer vision of them.
"Because we think you know who kidnapped your family." Jacob answered, fiddling his thumbs.
"And caused me to lose my sanity, and try to kill me thousands of times?" I added, sarcasm dripping my voice.
"Please, Jade. Just calm down." He said, his hand reaching out half way.
"Don't tell me to calm down." I retorted, stopping my squinting as I flinched away.
"You have to convince the doctors you're fine, now." Tally cut in. I glanced at her, her bright red lips exceptionally brighter today.
"How?" I asked, "He's always there. I can't get away from him." They knew whom I was talking about. I had told them the first time they had visited to tell me about my family's disappearance.
"If you play his game, Jade, he might realize he can't threaten you anymore." The female cop said, furrowing her eyebrows.
"I've been playing his game." I said coldly. It was silent for a few minutes: I supposed they were thinking, and I wasn't sure of exactly what they were thinking about, but what use was it?
"Here…"I heard Tally break the silence, and I watched as she pulled something from her coat pocket. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but once I saw the wooden cross dangling from the beaded rope…
"You're giving me a rosary?" I asked as she placed it in my hands.
"It's not much, but maybe- if you believe, it'll give you hope, and maybe even protect you." She replied, a faint smile crossing her features.
I returned the smile half-heartedly, "Thanks."
"Listen. We'll do all we can. Once you're out, we'll head for the Hills to the couple's house." Jacob voiced.
"Who's the couple?" I asked as I fingered the rosary.
"Um…" he picked up the envelope and opened it in one swift motion. He picked up a picture and turned it over so I could see it. My breath caught, but they hadn't seemed to notice. Jacob continued: "John and Carrie Blake."
"They have two kids, I think. The older one's away on his fourth year in college in some other country and the other's in his second year- I think. They said he went somewhere to France- or was it Italy?" Tally said thoughtfully with a small smile, "Nice couple. Though, they have some weird symbol-stuff in their house."
"What do you mean?" I asked, still staring at the photo of the black-haired couple that Jacob had set down on the table.
"I don't know- eyes here and there, or rather. Must be their religion or something." Jacob answered before adding, "We have the address at the precinct."
"How soon do you think I can get out of here?" I asked.
"Depends on how good you are. You have to stop screaming at night and vandalizing your room." Tally replied.
"I told you I'm not the one wrecking my room." I answered.
"Of course not." Jacob said, smiling too sweetly. I narrowed my eyes at him before glancing to my side. Not too far away stood a male nurse scribbling down something on his clipboard.
"Alright." Tally cut in quickly as she leaned forward and began whispering, "We'll be back in a few days to get you out if you can act like you're sane, again."
"Fine, but can't you just catch him in the act?" I asked hopelessly.
"With what you've told us about his capabilities, Jade, I doubt it would be possible." Jacob added before gathering up the photos and placing them in their rightful envelopes. "Take these." He finally said.
"Why?" I inquired as he handed them to me.
"You never know what might help you." Tally whispered.
"No joke…" I replied as they gestured to the nurse that the visit was over.
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Nightfall once again. I was in my room, staring- or rather squinting up at the moon through the window while whispering incoherent things that if the glass had ears only it could hear. In only a few days, it would be Halloween. It would have been a wonderful feeling to dress up, go trick or treating, but for some reason, I couldn't help feel dread on that day. I shook my head and thought; every damn day gets me feeling dreadful and paranoid. Snap out of it! No use…
Something shuffled in the darkness behind me. I closed my eyes and clutched the rosary in my hand as I felt someone grab both of my arms. I didn't need to see to know who the hell had just burst my personal bubble. I could feel him as he slowly moved closer to me, enough so that he could whisper into my ear:
"Hi."
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Well, hope everyone liked this chapter. It was a toughie. :-)
Also, want to thank all those who reviewed! So glad you guys came back to read the sequel, and I hope so far you've been enjoying reading this and I hope this was a bit longer. And if she'll ever see the gang again- you peeps will just have to wait to find out. :-)
xbluxmoonx