Plead Insanity
Chapter 4: Wrong Use of Wheelchairs
After lunch, Carlos and Matthew sat in their cell talked business. They both decided that everything they had would be shared. They both promised that whatever payment one of them received they would bring back to the cell so the two could divide everything. Carlos also suggested that they keep track of each others customers so as to not have anyone overdosing on medication. Matthew made the suggestion that Carlos kept a hold of all the medication they were able to sneak out. Carlos agreed and showed Matthew a secret compartment in his cigar box which held all the pills.
"I'll put them all here," Carlos said.
"What kind of medication do they give you anyway?" Matthew questioned.
"A mild anti-psychotic and there's a few anti-depressants' here too which have a sedative in them." Matthew reached in and held up a blue capsule. "The anti-depressants are what people really go for. These things knock you out cold."
"So if I keep hold of my sleeping medication then we'll be able to get more things?" Matthew asked, putting the little pill back in its place.
"Exactly, I've been turning away customers now because I've almost run out," Carlos closed the box.
Just before his roomie closed the cigar box Matthew noticed a few tiny yellow pills. "What are the yellow ones for?"
A strange look dressed Carlos' face. "Y'know that small guy who's always got that cat with him?"
"Hughie? Yeah I met him," Matthew nodded his head. "You give those to him. He mentioned something about you."
"They lowered his dosage so I give him some of mine. He pays me in cat treats," Carlos sniggered.
Matthew mentally pictured the crazy small man. He actually seemed pretty young, no older than twenty-one. Matthew actually found the young man to seem pretty nice if not a little bit loopy. "What did he do to land himself here?"
"I think he tried to strangle his little sister, claims that demons were trying to get her." Carlos twirled his index finger at the side of his head. "He's a good kid. He's getting out in about six years."
"Six years," Matthew nodded. "That actually doesn't seem so long."
"Weird isn't it?" Carlos asked. "Knowing that from now on this is where you live."
Matthew nodded and an eerie silence cast over them. The thought had never really set itself deep in Matthew's brain expect for that moment. Now his whole life would consist of Pentkuck. Nothing else would exist in his life other than Pentkuck. By Pentkuck he would live and eventually die.
It was Carlos who quickly spoke first. "But I don't like to think 'bout that too much. Thought like that will give you an early grave." He tried to lighten the mood but neither the two felt like laughing.
Slapping his thighs, Carlos stood up and grabbed Matthew's collar. He playfully tossed the blond man out the room. Matthew almost fell on his feet but laughed nevertheless.
The west common room was strangely rowdy, but not because someone was trying to claw their eyes out, or tare off their skin using only their teeth. In fact there was neither violence nor creepy vibe coming from the room. Carlos and Matthew pushed through the small crowd trying to see what all the fuss was about.
A pale skinned man with sheet white hair was laughing hard as he zoomed up and down on a wheelchair. Occasionally he'd stop tilt back in the chair so only two wheels were rolling on the floor. The inmates clapped along and laughed happily as the man entertained them.
"I don't think that's the proper use of a wheelchair," chuckled Matthew as he watched the pale man slide the wheelchair along the floor.
As soon as the man spotted Carlos he halted the wheelchair and stood up much to the disappointment of the inmates. Before he went towards Carlos, the man bowed to his audience who clapped for his performance.
The crowd dissolved and went about their way, while the pale man strolled along to Carlos a grin plastered to his face. Matthew couldn't comprehend how happy the man seemed in such a dark place.
"Carlos," he out stretched his arms and the two shared a quick hug. "Did you enjoy my awesome performance?"
Carlos looked around the room to see the other inmates with little smiles on their faces. "You certainly cheered up this lot."
The man bowed his head slightly in form of a thank you before turning to look at Matthew. "Who's the new guy?" he asked.
"This is Matthew, they moved him to Ward F yesterday," commented Carlos.
The man took Matthew's hand and shook it tightly. "Nice to meet you Matthew, I'm the awesomely amazing Gilbert."
"Gilbert here is in Ward B, lucky bastard," Carlos jokingly snarled.
"Hey Ward B has its real crazy sonsofbitches," laughed Gilbert.
Matthew looked between the two as they exchanged small talk. Eventually Carlos asked about his payment. Gilbert nodded and reached down his trouser leg. When his hand came back he held up three cigars and a lighter.
"Damn Gilbert, how'd you manage to get a light in here?" Carlos snatched the items from Gilbert's hand.
Gilbert tapped his nose. "That's for me to know."
Carlos and Gilbert exchanged smirks between each other then Carlos turned to Matthew. "Matthew here is gonna be my new business partner. Isn't that right, Matthew?"
Matthew nodded at Carlos who was looking at Gilbert.
"You two seem like a nice little team," Gilbert laughed. "Oh, before I forget." Gilbert reached into the pocket in his hoodie and pulled out a cheap looking watch. "This is for Roderick's payment."
Carlos gave the watch a questioning look before taking it from Gilbert's hand. "Can't he pay by himself?"
Gilbert shook his head. "He seems to be taking a weird turn. Then again he's always been a total weirdo."
"Who is Roderick?" Matthew whispered up to Carlos.
"Gilberts cousin," mumbled Carlos.
"Only by marriage, there's no actual way my awesomeness and his lameness could run in the same gene pool," scoffed Gilbert. "Anyway, I have an appointment. I'll see you two after dinner."
Gilbert rushed past the two dealers and out into the hallway. Matthew watched as the upbeat man raced through the hall. Gilberts hyperactive demeanour was strangely refreshing for Matthew. He'd never met someone like Gilbert, even outside Pentkucks walls.
"What's his story?" Matthew asked, Carlos.
Carlos shrugged his shoulders. "Gilbert doesn't talk about why he got thrown in here. Whatever it was it couldn't have been too bad."
"How so?" questioned Matthew.
"Ward B holds the more petty criminals in a sense," commented Carlos as the two walked through the common room. "Gilbert actually gets out in about six months."
"How lucky," mumbled Matthew. "What about his cousin?"
"Oh, he's in Ward D," Carlos said, taking a seat on one of the lush couches. "Now that guy is loopy. Stabbed his wife in the stomach, she lived though."
"That actually doesn't seem that bad compared to other people in here," Matthew mentioned, looking around the room at the slightly happier inmates.
"She was eight months pregnant."
Matthew flinched at Carlos' comment, wishing he could take back his words. "So that's why he's in Ward D."
"Yup, he actually doesn't come out his room much," Carlos gestured for Matthew to sit next to him. "The only people he sees is Gilbert, myself and his physiatrist. If he's not with them then he stayed up in his room, playing an invisible piano."
Matthew almost found Roderick comical. He mentally pictured some man sitting alone in Ward D, moving his fingers along the air mimicking stroking keys. Holding in his laughter, Matthew nodded his head at the larger Cuban man.
"Who is his physiatrist anyway?" Matthew questioned.
Carlos took one of his new cigars and inspected it closely. "Same as yours. I think Dr. Zwingli actually took the job here so he could watch out on Roderick."
"What makes you think that?"
Carlos placed the cigar in his pocket. "According to Gilbert, the two were pretty close when they were kiddies. Zwingli was a kind of mentor for Roderick."
Matthew nodded his head. "Must be nice, having a close friend look out for you like that. Not only that he has his own cousin paying his debts." There was a pang of jealousy which filled Matthew's chest. He pictured Alfred and wondered what he was doing at that moment. Yet, just as the thought entered his head Matthew pushed it aside. He didn't deserve to think about Alfred, not in a place such as Pentkuck.
"Speaking of which," Carlos held out the watch towards Matthew. "Want this? It looks to small for me."
Matthew mumbled a thank you and took the watch from his companions hand. Matthew looked down at the watch as it quietly ticked away. It was odd that Matthew should keep such a thing. Time honestly meant nothing to him now. He wouldn't need to keep track of it anymore, not now he was sentence to a life inside Pentkuck. Nevertheless he strapped the watch to his wrist. It fit him perfectly.
"Like it?" asked the Cuban man.
Matthew nodded his head. "It looks pretty nice. I've never really worn a watch; ironic that I should now."
A slight meowing sound made Matthew look down. Millie had strolled over to Matthew and was preparing herself to rub up against his ankles. Matthew smiled down at the cat and looked around to see Hughie standing near the couch.
"Mill wanted to see Glasses," he sighed with a bright grin. "Here." Hughie handed Matthew a few cat treats. "Those are Mills special treats. Mill, Mill, Mill."
Matthew took the treats from Hughie and lowered them to Millie's nose. She gingerly sniffed the little treat before nibbling at it slowly. Beside him Hughie laughed a childish giggle. Matthew's heart bleed for the young lad. He seemed so innocent, far too innocent for a place such as Pentkuck.
"Where are your friends?" Carlos asked.
"Ti-Ti and Berry went to see the office men," cheered Hughie, as he sat crossed legged beside Millie.
Matthew looked to Carlos, wondering what 'office men' were. Sensing Matthew's confusion Carlos answered, "he means the physiatrist."
"That's too big a word for Hughie," said Hughie, hugging his knees and rocking himself back and forth. "No, no, no. Too big for Hughie." Hughie never took his eyes off Millie who was still eating a treat out of Matthew's hand.
Carlos put a hand to Matthew's back and leaned close to his ear. "I'm gonna finish up with the rest of my payments. I'll meet you back at the cell."
Matthew nodded his head. Glad to stay with the tabby cat and Hughie. The two were such gentle creatures Matthew found himself almost honoured at being able to spend time with them.
"Sure, I'll meet you later," Matthew whispered back.
Carlos went over to Hughie and said goodbye to him. He gave the boys hair a little ruffle before walking over to a few inmates who were standing at the other side of the common room.
"I like Car," Hughie spoke up. "Car gives night night pills."
"Do the 'night night' pills help you sleep, Hughie?" Matthew asked softly, feeding Millie another treat.
Hughie hugged his legs tighter and Matthew worried that he had asked the wrong question. "No," Hughie rapidly shook his head. "The night night pills take Hughie's bad dreams away." Hughie paused for a few seconds, making Matthew feel awkward as he fed Millie more treats. "I don't like the bad dreams. I always see Mill there. Mill, Mill, Mill."
Matthew raised his eyebrow. "You see Millie there. But Millie's right here," Matthew gestured to the cat.
Hughie let out a giddy laugh, as if he was in on a private joke Matthew wasn't a part of.
"No dumb-dumb," Hughie rolled his eyes. "That's the other Mill. The one in my bad dreams in my Mill. Mill, Mill, Mill."
Matthew raised his eyebrow at the lad as he stopped hugging his legs. Still on the floor he shuffled himself towards Millie and picked her up. The cat purred affectionally as Hughie rubbed his face along the tabby cats fur.
"Who's your Millie then?" questioned Matthew, running a finger along the top of the cats head.
Hughie froze mid-rub. "The demons tried to get my Mill…" he sniffled. "I had to stop them or Mill would go to hell. Mill, Mill, Mill."
Matthew stared at the boy in shock. He remembered Carlos talking about the reason as to why Hughie was here. According to Carlos Hughie had strangled his little sister in claiming demons were trying to get her.
Matthew ran out of the room and to the nearest bathroom, leaving Hughie alone to pet the cat named after the sister he had killed. Matthew filled up the sink with water and dunked his head in it, forgetting that his glasses were still on his face.
He hoped that the cool water would calm down his shakiness. While Matthew was spending time with Hughie and Millie he'd almost forgot that he was also spending time with a murderer. Even though Matthew had killed people himself the fact that someone as innocent as Hughie could have chocked his little sister to death made Matthew's head spin.
Matthew looked up at the mirror and at his wet face. Hughie was right about one thing though, thought Matthew as he looked at his face, his expression now into a scowl. Demons did exist and all of them were in Pentkuck.
I am not an animal. I am not an animal. I am not an animal.
I'm a demon. I'm a demon. I'm a demon.
AN: Four chapters in one day? Wow, lucky you guys. Prepare yourselves for like another seven month wait for another chapter - joking, joking!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading/reviewing.