The days seemed to speed up as they turned into weeks, and then to months until finally a year had passed... And another... And another... And another...
Four years of college come and gone in a blur. Jonathan had branched off in his decided profession, studying a little farther into abnormal aspects and phobias while taking up a internship at Arkham Asylum. He was still with Shannon, and usually brought her along with him to the asylum. Shannon was not as intrigued by the crazy people residing there, though. She had decided she preferred child psychiatry to that of adults- she trusted children more. Of course, that didn't stop Jonathan from pestering her and pestering her until she had finally branched off with him in the studies of abnormal psychiatry and also took up an internship at Arkham.
The relationship the two harbored had grown, also. Shannon, after two years, had finally revealed the fate of her mother all those years ago, to which Jonathan was glad- he finally knew everything about her. Her greatest fears were in his hands... Jonathan had also revealed a bit about his past- his cruel brother, his insensible grandparents- to which a very sympathetic Shannon had comforted him. Jonathan was also smiling more often and for longer periods of time, though it was only in front of Shannon and never in the eyes of the public. Shannon was very happy, even when Barbara had so often teased her about marriage and Gordon had so often sent glares at Jonathan when he was not looking- he still believed the boy was up to something...
Jonathan and Shannon had graduated with their proper degrees and had promising futures at Arkham Asylum, where they had been offered jobs. Shannon was still nervous about the job, but Jonathan had reassured her multiple times.
"You will be fine, Shannon," he whispered as they stood before the asylum, about to enter for the first time as real doctors- not interns-, "You've been coming here for the past two years and I will be with you." Jonathan hugged her slightly, supporting her even though she had her walking stick with her.
"You don't know that," Shannon muttered, knowing they would probably be separated as soon as they began working- that was why she had brought her crutch along. Shannon was to be conducting interviews with some of the patients while Jonathan was planning on doing a private project, and she didn't think he was planning on giving that up just for her own relaxation.
"Okay," Jonathan sighed, "perhaps not the full time, but I promise to check on you, Shannon. You don't have anything to worry about." Shannon frowned, but nodded still. Oh how she wished she could be in a tall building somewhere in a nice office helping poor children deal with their parents divorcing instead of being locked in with the criminally insane...
Jonathan lifted Shannon up the few steps that came to the grand doors of Arkham, before releasing her. Shannon rested on her crutch and watched as Jonathan opened the large, cracked doors for her to enter. She hobbled inside using her walking stick to find the one running the asylum, Mr. Jeremy Arkham- one of the relatives down the line of the Arkham Asylum founder- himself, waiting for her and Jonathan. He wore a smile upon his face as the two new recruits came to face him.
"Ah, Jonny! Shan! How nice to see you this morning," Mr. Arkham greeted, the smile on his face remaining and making Shannon rather.. uncomfortable.
"It's nice to see you, too, Mr. Arkham," Jonathan responded coolly, though Shannon could expertly detect a bit of annoyance at the nickname. He wouldn't even let herself call him Jonny..
"Yes," Shannon put in shortly.
"Now, it seems you two have much to do today, so much to do!" Mr. Arkham told the couple happily, "Jonathan, you will be working on your 'project' in the lab. Feel free to pull any of the patients to your service, you genius boy! And Shannon, I will show you to your office from now on; you will be conducting the regular interviews with our patients, I believe you know the procedure for that?" Shannon nodded. That was the good thing about the internship Jonathan had insisted she take- it let her jump right into work.
"I suppose I'll see you later, Jonathan," Shannon said softly, but Jonathan didn't acknowledge her words as he had already turned and was walking away. Shannon sighed at her boyfriend of four long years.. her thoughtless boyfriend.. She shook her head, deciding not to dwell on the bad moment. She knew Jonathan often got carried away with his work and having the opportunity to work freely in lab definitely had an effect on him, whether he let it show or not. That was why he had forgotten to say good-bye.. And why he would forget to visit her later...
"This way now, Shannon," Mr. Arkham directed, walking a bit ahead of Shannon, but going slow enough so she could attempt to keep up. She was able to stay just a few steps behind the tall, round man the whole time until they came at a stop before a door with a plaque that read 'Dr. Shannon Gordon, Psychotherapist'. Shannon smiled at the plaque, straightening herself as best she could, very proud of her position and the plaque.
"Thank you," she said as Mr. Arkham opened the door and let her into her new office. She was a bit surprised to see the inside; it looked comfortable in a way, yet menacing in another. There was a large desk in the corner for her, along with a couch and potted plant on the opposite wall. A single chair was in front of her desk, and a small bookshelf was behind it. Of course, none of that was menacing in any way. It was the flickering light, caged window, and the splatter on the wall Shannon swore was blood that made the room rather ominous.
"It could use a little help," Mr. Arkham admitted, shooing Shannon to her desk, "but, I know you could deal with it.. I'll send in someone to fix that light and cover this... um.." Mr. Arkham was examining the blood, and winced as he realized what it was. "I'll get the janitor in here tonight, Shannon, don't fret," Mr. Arkham assured with a nod, then looked back to her and gave that unsettling smile, "Now, the first of the patients should be arriving any moment. I'm going to have them escorted by a guard, so don't worry about anything happening." Shannon let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in as she sat down. She had, in fact, been nervous about the convicts trying something, whether it had been conscious or not.
"Thank you, Mr. Arkham," Shannon responded, leaning her walking stick against the wall beside her desk. Mr. Arkham chuckled.
"Scared of the patients, are you Shannon?" he asked curiously, leaning forward to place a clipboard on her desk. Shannon let her set smiling lips dip down into a slight frown.
"I suppose, deep inside, I may be a little nervous," Shannon admitted. Truthfully, Shannon hadn't been very scared of strangers since Jonathan had stepped back into her life- he had promised to protect her, and he had kept to that promise to the best of his abilities- but she supposed old habits died hard.
"Well, don't you worry, Shannon," Mr. Arkham replied, suddenly sounding rather sincere, "No one will touch you in my asylum." And with that, the odd man turned away from her and walked out the door. Taking a deep breath, Shannon reached forward and grabbed the clip board Mr. Arkham had left her. On it were clipped several papers, each holding a different name, picture, set of information, and an area to record the interview that was to be given to each. Shannon looked through these, checking the names on each, before turning back to the first which read:
Name: Daedalus Boch
Alias: Doodlebug
Age: Thirty
Previous occupation: Artist
Current Ailment: Patient believes everything he paints must become reality, and takes it upon himself to do so.
Committed Crimes: Six counts murders, five counts attempted murder; Seven counts kidnappings; Unknown number of robberies
The picture attached was that of an African American male, a crazed smile upon his lips and murderous intent in his brown eyes. His jet black dreadlocks were matted to his head with something in the picture Shannon had a very bad feeling was blood..
"Ms. Gordon?" an authoritative male voice suddenly called out , followed by a few short knocks on her door.
"Come in!" Shannon called just as the door was swinging open to reveal a muscular guard, guiding the man depicted in the picture attached to Daedalus Boch's file. The same crazed smile was present, as was that murderous look he held. At least his hair seemed free of blood and his hands were rendered useless handcuffed behind his back..
"Good morning, Ms. Doctor," Boch greeted, grinning widely to show Shannon a set of dirty and yellowing teeth. Shannon scrunched up her nose and nodded to the chair before her.
"Please, sit down Mr. Boch," she offered the psycho, picking up a loose pen that was on her desk. Boch laughed happily and walked to the chair before her desk where he sat down. The guard watched Boch warily for a moment before going to the couch to take a seat.
"Call me Doodle," Boch allowed, leaning his body forward and examining Shannon, "No need to be so formal."
"Alright then.. Doodle," Shannon said unsurely, glancing at the guard for support. The man nodded in approval, so Shannon continued, "Tell me, how is your day going?"
"Well, very well," Boch- or Doodle- told her sounding almost sarcastic as he nodded quickly, "And you?"
"This isn't about me, Doodle," Shannon pointed out coolly, trying to imitate Jonathan's normal composure as she scribbled down his previous responce, "Now, have you been taking your medications?"
"Nope," Doodle told her, popping the 'P', his smile growing, "I've been painting, though. Lovely death scenes. Would you like me to paint you something, Ms. Doctor?" Shannon pursed her lips and paled a bit.
"No, Doodle, that is fine. May I ask you begin taking your medication again," Shannon requested, trying to remain calm as Doodle began leaning in.
"But look at that lovely face," Doodle mumbled, "I promise, I could do it justice."
"That's enough," the guard suddenly declared, standing up and marching so he stood behind the chair. Roughly, he pulled Doodle from the chair and dragged the crazy man from the room. When both had disappeared, Shannon found her body shaking and her eyes watering. Was she honestly about to cry?..
Shannon sniffled, quickly wiping her eyes. She was not going to break down, not in her office at her job and certainly not on her first day! What in the world would Jonathan do if he saw her? He would think her pathetic- though he'd never say it. And she was. Shannon quickly composed herself, awaiting the next patient. Her brown eyes flickered to the clip board. She used the pen she still held to finish the interview section, and then turned to the next page.
Name: Humphrey Dumpler
Alias: Humpty Dumpty
Age: Twenty-two
Previous Occupation: None
Current Ailment: Extreme form of obsessive compulsive disorder causing patient to believe things are broken; patient thinks he must assemble things to fix them even if he must first disassemble them.
Committed Crimes: Three counts of murder
"Lovely," Shannon muttered just as the door opened once more. Shannon looked up to see a man led by the guard, but not the plump one shown in the picture she had been looking at. This man had tanned skin, black hair, a pencil mustache, and a rather thin face.
"I thought you could use a quick break from the real psychos," the guard explained, pushing the man- who was free handed, unlike Doodle- into the chair, "This guy should be the forth on you board. Joe Coyne, known better as Penny Plunderer." Shannon blinked at the guard, then nodded.
"Thank you, Mr..?" Shannon tried to thank before she found herself lost. She didn't know the guard's name.
"Berns," the guard told her, "Charlie Berns, Ms. Gordon. Call me Charlie." Shannon nodded, then turned her attention to the man before herself as Charlie took is place back at the couch.
"So, Mr. Coyne," Shannon began, flipping to his file, "tell me, how is your day going?"
