What You See...
Chapter Two
A Return to Hell!
Gray was already halfway out of the car before it was fully parked. It was not that he found Aki unattractive or anything. It was just that she, and most of the other mental patients, scared the living daylights out of him.
And Aki in particular seemed to like him. It was something that, if it got out of hand, could lose him his job.
Which was why he would make sure it never get out of hand.
"Good luck, you guys," Robert said cheerfully, snapping Gray out of his thoughts, "Have a good night." He heard his fellow night staff reply in not dissimilar tones, but the best he could manage was a low mumble.
Robert was one of the daytime security staff, and, like everyone in a daytime position, was the object of Gray's envy. He could not complain, though, as Robert was a very generous man, and often helped the hospital on his own time. Like, recapturing runaway patients, for example.
By the time Gray looked up, the car, along with Robert, was gone. He realized, with a feeling of dread, that Aki was also missing. Again.
"Where'd she go?" he asked anxiously, "She was jus…"
He trailed off as he caught sight of her behind Ryan, and sighed in relief, "Alright, let's…." he was going to say, "go inside now," but the others had already started across the yard towards the doors. He grumbled some complaints under his breath and followed them.
---
The security rating of the institution was one of the highest in the state. Neil often wondered if that was truly the case why there were so many escapes from the place. After every breakout, security got tighter, and every day more and more items were added to the list of things that were not allowed on the asylum grounds.
Neil suddenly realized that the contents of his own pockets were dubious at best. Searches of staff had become mandatory, albeit irritating. The only people that were never searched were the supervising scientists.
He quickly found a safe method of disposal for whatever he thought would get him into trouble, and stepped forward for inspection.
"Enjoying yourself?" he asked cheerily, watching Jane get frisked by the front desk worker. Turnabout was fair play, after all….
---
Gray stood still, keeping an eye on Aki, and allowing the receptionist to thoroughly search his clothes without trouble.
"What's this?" the man asked, fishing something out of one of Gray's front pants pockets.
"What's what?" Gray wondered. He never carried anything in his pockets….
"This," the man held the packet of bubble gum in front of Gray's eyes. The confused younger man might have replied had a sudden flash of pain and the sound of shattering pottery not suddenly invaded his sense of perception.
Stunned, Gray fell forward.
Surprised, Ryan rushed to catch his friend.
Shocked, the rest of the present staff could only watch in amusement-tinged confusion as Aki began snapping orders.
"Put him on the table," the touched woman said, placing the now potless plant on the counter. She stared at the people surrounding her, wondering what they were dawdling over. Obviously, this man needed help!
"Just… let her do her thing," Neil reasoned as some of the others began to act, "It'll be easier that way."
Ryan looked around uneasily. There was no table, only the front desk. A quick glance at Aki reminded him whom he was dealing with, and, with that sudden insight, he lifted Gray onto the counter. Neil was right; it was always easier to simply let the crazies have their way. Flawed logic, Ryan thought, if these people are supposed to be encouraged towards the better.
Gray was recovering, but Aki held him down. He realized that if he tried to get away, he risked either hurting Aki or making a mess of the papers, files, and things that were so carefully lain out under and around him; either of which would bring trouble back to him later. So he stayed still as she reached over him and grabbed something off the desk. He shot an angry, why-the-hell-aren't-you-helping-you-bastards glance at his coworkers. What were they thinking? Just standing there like that…
After a few minutes of scribbling furiously, Aki backed off and allowed Gray to get up. An attendant retrieved the magic marker from her as Gray slid off the desk carefully to avoid attention or, to a lesser degree, disturbing the papers. He tried not to think about the deep black marks that now marred his uniform, and probably his skin beneath it.
"Are you okay?" the secretary asked, seemingly the only one truly concerned. Gray grunted an incoherent reply and watched Aki from the corner of his eye. She was one of the more docile inmates, and why she would suddenly attack him was beyond his comprehension.
At any rate, I won't have to deal with her for a while, he thought, pleased to see that the woman's uncle had arrived. Someone had probably called him when Aki had escaped. Which meant the visiting staff dealt with it.
He shot a glance to where Jane and Ryan were conspiring amongst themselves, and inadvertently overlooked Neil, who was repossessing the now forgotten packet of gum.