'What room is Daniel Howell in?' Phil leant over the desk in the reception. 'I need to see him urgently'.
'I'm sorry Sir, I'm afraid that's not allowed' the receptionist replied, batting her eyelashes at the attractive man standing in front of her.
'Why not?' Phil snapped impatiently. 'I'm his flatmate. His best friend. I need to see if he's okay'.
'I'm sorry Sir, but they are doctors looking after Mr Howell, he's in safe hands' she replied irritably. 'Mr Howell is in lockdown, anyway'.
'Lockdown?' Phil repeated, his legs beginning to shake.
'Yes, Sir. That's what I said. You can either wait here for Mr Howell or go home. I'd advise you to go home; it'll be a while before you're allowed to know about his current state; let alone visit him'.
'Okay. Thanks' Phil said to her before exiting the hospital.
Dan paced the empty white room, his hands tangled in his dark hair. 'Goddammit' he muttered angrily to himself. He threw his hands up in the air in frustration and exhaled loudly.
'Mr Howell?' A nurse popped her head into Dan's room. 'Dr Fischer will see you now'.
Dan walked to the office quickly; he wanted to get this meeting over and done with. He already knew what Dr Fischer was going to say: his medication will have to be increased, he won't be allowed to be in contact with any other patients, and he will be isolated until they think he's not a danger to himself anymore.
'Come in Daniel' Dr Fischer said, opening the door to let Dan through. 'Take a seat and we'll begin, shall we?'
Dan reluctantly walked in and sat down on the chair, tapping his foot against the floor.
'Okay then Daniel, I'm going to be straight with you, alright? Due to your recent suicide attempt, we're going to increase your medication. You will have three pills to take in the morning, at midday and at night. We've also decided to move you to a separate ward so you're not a danger to anyone else or yourself, alright?'
'Will I still get to see some people?' Dan asked. He wanted to see Chris. And more importantly, Alice.
'That depends on who it is. If it's another patient here, then no. We don't want to set yours or the other patient's progress back'.
'Okay. Fine. Whatever. Dan sighed angrily.
'I understand it's hard for you to be on your own, but it's for the best, okay Daniel?' Dr Fischer said, leaning forward, his chin resting on his hands.
'Fine' Dan said, standing up to leave. 'See you next week?'
'Yes. A nurse will show you where you'll be staying from now on soon'.
'Bye' Dan muttered as he left Dr Fischer behind.
As he exited the office, a nurse grabbed him by the arm and led him along a maze of hallways to a new ward. His ward.
'Here's your new room' the nurse said. 'I'll be back later'.
Dan stepped inside and looked around. It had the same, peeling paint on the walls and dirty floor. The single white bed was the same but there was no window in the room. He was surrounded by 4, white walls, there was no escape.
'Psst' Dan heard a whisper from behind him.
'Alice?' he said incredulously, leaping up to great her.
'Keep it down! They don't know I'm here' she giggled.
'How did you get in?' He asked.
'I've got my ways, and I know this hospital like the back of my hand' she laughed as she shut the door behind her. 'How come you've been moved here?'
'Suicide attempt' Dan replied. 'It failed'.
'I gathered' Alice smirked. She was now standing directly in front of Dan, her green eyes glittering and her lips curved up into a smile. Dan noticed she had dimples.
'I'm gonna get lonely here' Dan murmured, making an unhappy face.
'Well, I guess I'll have to visit you a lot then, won't I?'
'That would be nice' he said. He wanted to wrap his arms around her tiny frame, hold her close; run his fingers through her silky hair; kiss her.
'I'm not meant to be here' Alice said, reaching up to speak gently in his ear. Her breath made the hairs on the back of Dan's neck stand up.
'You're a naughty girl then, aren't you?' Dan replied, daring to place his hand on her waist.
'Well, that depends' she replied, pulling back and stepping out of Dan's grasp.
'On what?' Dan asked her.
'Wouldn't you like to know?' She teased him. 'I'm gonna go see Chris now, but I'll be back soon. Bye Dan' she gave him a wave before slipping out of his room, shutting the door quietly.
Dan sat down on the bed, it creaked under his weight. His head was filled with Alice's face: her emerald green eyes; her fiery hair to match her personality; her breath-taking smile and the dimples that accompanied it. He grinned as he remembered her words: 'I'll be back soon'. He wanted her. He knew he'd only known her for less than a week but he wanted her to be his.
Dan lay down on the uncomfortable mattress and turned his head so he faced the wall. He bit his lip in attempt to stop himself from grinning as he thought about Alice. But he couldn't; it was almost as if she's taken over his mind.
He placed his hand on the wall and began to move it without really thinking about it. It calmed Dan down, just rubbing his hand over and over the smooth, white wall. He felt his fingers skim over some cracks and he focused his eyes on the wall. He realised that they weren't just ordinary cracks, it was writing.
"You'll never get out of here alive".