*Tuesday Morning*

*Norman's POV*

The smell of blood wakes me up, and my heart starts racing afraid that Mother has done something.
What am I saying, Mother is a delusion. Well, was a delusion.
Ever since I requested for Jolene to no longer be my nurse, the facility stopped giving me my medication. Dr. Vincent said I pretty much don't need it anymore. I wipe my nose and see that my hand has a bright red streak of blood. I can taste it as well.
Extending my hand, I notice that my fingernails have been cut below the tips of my fingers. It's only then I realize I'm in a padded room.
No, I'm in confinement. I notice my head is pounding and I wanna know what's happened.
I see a nurse walk by through the small window and I jump up, running over and pounding my fist on it. She turns around and opens the door, giving me a contumelious look.

"Yes?" She asks, her voice consumed with disinterest.

"Could you explain to me why I'm here? In confinement?" I ask, wiping my nose on my soft cotton shirt.

She scrunches her nose at the blood on my shirt. "You really don't know?"

I shake my head.

"Well, from what I heard you had a psychotic episode, slipped into a trance, and tried to kill a nurse." She shrugs.

I'm somewhat offended by her choice of words, but also in disbelief. "Which nurse?"

"The new one. Blonde." As soon as the words leave her mouth my heart sinks.

"Jolene? Peterson?" I ask quietly, not sure if I want an answer.

She nods. "Yep, she doesn't work here anymore here though. She quit shortly before that happened."

My eyes widen. "Quit? Why would she quit?"

"Jeez, are you writing a book? I don't know why she quit." She scoffs.

A minute or two passes in silence and she pops a hand on her hip. "Is that all?"

"Why am I bleeding?"

"When you tried to choke her she pushed you back onto your desk. You busted your nose and your mouth. You're gonna be in some pain but there's really nothing I can do about it. Now please, I have to get to work and you're wasting my time." She says, turning on her heel and closing the door.

I walk back over to the corner of the room and sink down to the floor, pulling my knees up to my chest. This room has a bed and a toilet. That's all. It's pretty much a jail cell. I would rather be on the floor than that pathetic plank of wood they call a bed.

I can't believe what I've done to Jolene. I must have scared her half to death. She made me angry the other day, but maybe she meant well. Who am I kidding, they always mean well.

Someone knocks on my door, but I don't bother telling them to come in since I know they will anyway.
Sure enough, the door opens and Dr. Vincent looks down at me on the floor, smiling. "Norman, would you come with me please?" He asks.

I sit there quietly, looking back down at the floor until he clears his throat. "Now, Norman."

Reluctantly, I stand up, following him out of the room. We go up the stairs, since confinement is in the basement, and down the first hallway. He chuckles as we pass my room. "That's where you'd be if you hadn't tried to kill someone, huh?" He continues laughing.

I, for one, fail to see the humor.

We get to his office and he opens the door, letting me go in first. He sits down in his large chair behind the desk, resting his arms on the table and leaning forward. "Do you know what you did yesterday, Norman?"

I sit there quietly with my arms crossed.

"Look, Norman. We can do this the simple way or we can do it much more complicated. It's all up to you."

Slowly, I nod.

"What did you do?"

"From what I was told, I had an episode and my Mother tried to kill Jolene Peterson."

He lets out an exasperated laugh. "Norman, your mother is dead. The only person that tried to kill her is you."

I shake my head. "No, I care about Jolene. I would never try to kill her."

"Then why did you?"

"I told you, I didn't. It was my Mother. She was angry..and when she's angry, she can almost be monstrous."

Leaning forward, he gives me a look. "How many times do I have to tell you? Your Mother is dead. You killed her! Do we have to dig up her bones and display her skull on your dresser as a reminder? Although it would be a taste of home for you, wouldn't it?"

I sit, not knowing how to reply.

"Listen, the only monster here is you. There's no Mother. Just ole Norman Bates. The murderer with a knack for incest." He says.

I jump up, balling my fists and he gives me a smug look. "See, look at yourself!"

He stands up, walking over and moving his face inches from mine. "Look Norman, I don't like you. I don't like you one bit. If I could, I'd drive you so damn crazy you couldn't see straight. I don't believe someone that's killed six people deserves much of a chance to get better. Which, you're never going to get better. You proved that yesterday." He turns around, walking over to a self and fiddling with one of his trinkets.

"Why'd you take me off of my medicine?" I ask sharply.

"It was difficult making everyone dislike Jolene, but I had to since she was so damn naïve she actually thought you deserved another chance at life. She was stupid enough to give you your medication and even built a relationship with you. I convinced her to tell you to go to therapy, which I know you hate. And I made her days here practically hell, hoping I could get rid of her. It worked though. She quit, and now things can go back to how they were." He gives me a look.

"I'll report you to Mr. James. You can't do this to me." I threaten.

"I've been doing it for a year and you haven't known the difference. If you tell him, I'll simply backtrack it by saying you're off your rocker and inject you with a little bit of that sleeping liquid." He says.

I can't even believe this. Jolene didn't actually mean to upset me. She was helping me get better. Sure, I still heard Mother occasionally, but not like this. I haven't had a blackout in over a year, well, that I know of. Knowing there's absolutely nothing I can do makes me feel so helpless. Everyone here is against me and there's nothing I can do.

Since I'm tired of hearing this, I turn around and walk to the door.

"Oh, Norman?"

I pause, turning my head.

"Don't let Mommy keep you up too late." He smiles.

Bastard.

*Jolene's POV*

Well, we just packed the last box into the moving truck.
I've been jittery ever since what happened yesterday. Richard keeps asking what's wrong, but I just told him I have butterflies about the move.
That's another lie.
I've gotten good at that.

I didn't sleep a wink last night. Norman was on my mind constantly, no matter how much I tossed and turned.
I couldn't get his shrill voice out of my head, or the lost look on his face as he bled from his nose and mouth.
I feel so guilty. He may have done what he did, but that wasn't him. I know it wasn't. He's never had a blackout like that under my care and it just makes me wonder what they're doing differently with him.

My thoughts are interrupted by Richard wrapping his arm around me and kissing my temple. "Well Jo, it's time to say bye to this house. Are you ready to start our new life?" He asks cheerily.
I give him a weak smile and he guides me to the car, opening my door. I get in and immediately lay my head against the window, yesterday still replaying on a continuous loop in my head, like a broken record.
Not just any broken record, but a broken record of the worst possible song ever.

We've been driving for about twenty minutes, I still haven't said a word.

"Jo, seriously, what's wrong with you?" Richard asks, briefly looking over at me before turning back to the road.

"Baby, I told you, I'm just nervous about moving." I say, using a tone that I hope will convince him.

Scoffing, he raises his voice, "Don't give me that. I don't understand why you always feel the need to lie to me and he. You mope around all the time as if the world hates you. I mean, I've bought you every damn thing you've ever wanted for and you still give me the cold shoulder! You got angry when I told you I'd take care of you! What more am I supposed to be doing, Jo?"

I give him a sympathetic look, trying to calm him down. "Honey, what are you talking about?"

"I guess a man buying a woman the world still isn't good enough this day and age." He says, tightening his grip on the steering wheel.

I sigh. "Well, you know what they say. Money can't buy off unhappiness."

He turns to look at me, squinting his eyes. "What did you just say to me?"

"I was just saying that money can't buy-" I'm cut off by a sharp pain in my left cheek. I look at him with wide eyes as I realize he hit me.
Although it isn't the first time, I didn't expect him to do that.

I lay my head against the window as my eyes well up with tears. I blink, letting them fall.

"You can cry all you want. Maybe you'll learn to respect me." He says.

Bastard.

Three chapters in three days..you can tell I have nothing to do! Hahah.

Again, thank you for the review! The longer the better! I look forward to reading them when I post a chapter. It's a very kind reminder that someone actually notices my story! I really really appreciate it, and I love reading them!