Mary Eunice spent the night cradled against Lana. The brunette had finally dosed off around midnight, and occasionally she would twitch in her sleep. Mary Eunice stayed up, whispering sweet nothings into her ear when she started to stir. The impulsiveness inside her kept urging her to leave. To go and secure their files. To erase their existence inside Briarcliff. But she chose to stay. It was a war between two extremes inside her, constantly alternating from one side of the spectrum to the next.
Lana awoke to the sound of locks being clicked shut. Mary Eunice was throwing things into suitcases, clicking the latches into place. She wasn't in her habit, but rather in a white form fitting dress, with chiffon sleeves covered in black lace designs. The blonde grabbed a folded pile of clothes and rushed over to Lana. She tossed the clothes down next to Lana and kicked a pair of heels over to her bed, gently pulling her to a sitting position.
"Get dressed, we have to go." She pulled the edge of Lana's denim dress up, removing it. Lana was still a little groggy, and was slow to move. Mary Eunice sighed and lightly slapped Lana's cheek. The brunette jumped a bit, but was more alert. "We have. To go." She tilted her head towards the pile of clothes before turning back to the luggage.
The blonde opened the top dresser drawer and started rummaging through the mass of habits. Lana started dressing. She had a red knee length pencil skirt and a white blouse. She pulled the skirt into place and slipped the silk top over her head when she noticed the glint of green hiding inside the red blazer. She had almost forgotten about her necklace. Mary Eunice had insisted on keeping it in their room after the first few days. She brought the metal up to her neck, unintentionally holding her breath as she shut the clasp. She let out her breath as the cold metal touched her skin. It felt different this time. She slipped on the blazer and found the heels. She was still surprised how everything fit her so perfectly, but she had learned to not bother asking.
Mary Eunice had found her ring, and it glistened on her finger. She finished packing away the various trinkets hidden in her dresser, leaving the habits sporadically tossed around the room. She handed Lana a suitcase, taking one in her own hand. She grabbed two files off of the dresser before moving to the door and turning to face Lana.
"We walk straight past the day room, go down the stairs, and out the door. No stopping, no touching anything."
"Okay." Her nerves were unusually calm.
The blonde pushed open the door and the pair walked out. The blonde's steps were commanding, and her strides were long. Lana hurried behind, the confidence of the blonde affecting her. It was infectious.
They were coming upon the day room now. The asylum was eerily silent. Oh no.
"No stopping." It was a warning.
Lana could see the red splotches on the glass doors. One of the doors was shattered in a few places. She could see the crimson pool of bodies strewn about the day room.
"Mary -." She was shocked.
"No stopping."
Lana hesitated for just a second, when the sound of doors opening echoed through the hallways. She was immediately grabbed by the blonde, who pulled her into the adjacent doorway, towards the spiral staircase. She heard two men conversing, walking down the hallway they were just in. They started making their way down the staircase when she heard both men shout obscenities. They must have made it to the day room. Lana breathed out a small whimper. The blonde pulled her again, moving faster and faster. They reached the front doors, and pushed through. The bright light burned Lana's eyes, but still the blonde kept her moving. There were a pair of police cars parked out front.
Just as they made it down the front steps another cab came down the gravel road. Mary Eunice let Lana in first, taking her suitcase and placing them both in the trunk. She quickly entered the cab, closing the door as the driver took off. They made it a little ways away when the two men burst out the front doors. They tried to enter one of the vehicles but Mary Eunice narrowed her eyes and the doors wouldn't open.
Lana wasn't as worried as she usually was. Her own calmness surprised her. She watched as the blonde checked her nails. Lana moved to see the driver of the cab. Another man, same glazed look. What did she expect? She let out a small sigh, and moved back to her original position.
"Should I ask about the massacre in there or just leave it?" She was more playful than accusing.
The blonde adjusted her ring and crossed her legs. "What do you mean? I thought they were just painting." She smiled. Lana even laughed. When did her humor get so dark? Her hand shot up to toy with her necklace.
"Seriously, what happened in there?"
"Natural selection. They were all weak."
Lana rolled her eyes. "Fine. Don't tell me."
The brunette looked out the window a bit. Mary Eunice lit a cigarette, offering one to Lana. She turned her down. The cab rolled to a stop. Despite how much she wanted to be happy, her heart sank. Wendy's house looked exactly as she had left it. She pushed back the image of her frozen corpse out of her mind. Mary Eunice placed her hand over Lana's and lightly squeezed it.
"Grab anything you want to take with you. This isn't our last stop."
Lana nodded, giving a solemn smile. She couldn't get herself to open the door.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
Lana bit the inside of her cheek. She nodded again. Mary Eunice smiled and exited the cab. She walked over and opened Lana's door, closing it behind her as she got out.
They slowly made their way through the house. Lana inched through the all too familiar rooms while Mary Eunice strolled around, touching trinkets and looking through photos. They separated, Lana moving into her old bedroom. She grabbed a few of her old dresses, and a pair of earrings Wendy had given to her for her birthday. They felt so heavy in her hands. She grabbed a few other random items, and walked back out to their living room. She noticed a drop of blood on the carpet on the way. Mary Eunice was on their couch, looking through a photo album.
"Can we go?" Lana paused. "I'm ready."
Mary Eunice smiled at the pictures. "You were cute when you were little."
"Mary. Please."
The blonde huffed and got up. "Fine. Yes, we can go. But I'm taking this."
They exited the house, reentering the cab, piling the items in the backseat.
Mary Eunice resumed looking through the small album, waving her hand, the driver continuing their trip.
"Where to now?" Lana was curious. She started to evaluate her decision making skills. Once again she had gotten into a cab with this woman and not thought to ask where they were even going.
"I made arrangements for a home near Boston." It was a distracted response.
"Arrangements?" Lana laughed. "I assume the realtor will have the same lovely expression as our dear driver then?"
Mary Eunice smirked. "Maybe."
"Lovely." Lana rested her head back and closed her eyes. She smiled. She could finally forget about Briarcliff.
The second pair of police officers made their way down the dark hallway. After calling backup, they were instructed to investigate the rest of the asylum. Both had their pistols drawn, a flashlight in their other hand, illuminating the cells. Each cell they had inspected so far housed an emaciated body. No signs of life.
"What the hell was goin' on here Frank?" The officer looked through another metal flap. Another body. "It's like a fuckin' psychopath lived here. Disgusting."
Both officers turned to see a backup team come down the hall. They started to open up each cell. The two officers heard a groan. They turned, hurrying to the source. Another groan. Someone was alive in here.
"Hey! Get those things down here! Someone's alive!"
The backup team came down the hall, unlocking the door.
"Holy shit."
An almost skeletal Thredson was propped against the wall. He looked up at the officers before lunging at them. A few gun shots rang out, but they quickly stopped, the screams of the men and the sound of ripping flesh drowning out anything else.
Oliver took the handguns out of the officer's hands, slowly making his way down the hallway.