Daughter of Fear
Week 2
Day 7 September, Sunday
9:01 am
Last night, I dreamt of cornfields and a sky full of angry black birds. It's the forth time I've had that dream since last Wednesday. I barely remember most of it, but those two things always stood out in my mind. I don't think this is normal. Is the Asylum already starting to get to me?
No! That can't be it, unless…eyes in the vent. They never blinked. I stayed in my office staring back, afraid to blink or look away. If I did, well, I had a feeling something bad might've happen. It was almost two in the morning when Leland finally came in, I turned to her, then quickly back to the vent. The eyes were gone.
Did HE do something to me. Is it those famous toxins? No, wait. Maybe not. I'm just thinking about him a lot. Can't really blame me after those incidents the other week.
Besides, if it were the toxins I'd be seeing some pretty freaky shit 24/7. Nightmares in the daytime, when I'm awake…
I have to leave for work, now. Write later. Hopefully.
10:38 am
When I had walked out to my truck, there was a crow. It was perched up on a telephone wire. I know this sounds crazy, but I swear the bird was watching me! It's beady black eyes didn't leave me. The crow stared at me until I dropped my keys. After I picked them back up, the crow was gone.
Things staring at me, then disappearing…that's been happening a lot to me lately.
Or, perhaps, I'm seeing things. Is it that toxin? Scarecrow's toxin? Is it! I don't know. I think I'm scared. Maybe it is.
After all, he obviously has his way of getting around the asylum.
I need to talk to Leland.
12:06 pm
It took me a while, but I finally found Leland. I had to run around a small portion of the asylum as well as ask the guards and nurses; to which I got a lot of responses of grunts and "I don't knows". People are just ever so helpful!
I found Dr. Leland at one of the many water coolers just lying around. I was out of breath and I'm pretty sure that I was completely flushed.
"Leland!"
She's turned around to face me, "Margaret? W-what is it?"
It took me a little bit to catch my breath, "Can we-we talk?"
"Of course."
I had hesitated, unsure of how to word my question.
"Doctor, lately…well…I've been having these…nightmares. The same one every night since Wednesday. The nightmares are about cornfields and…crows, I think. Look, I realize this sounds pointless and absurd, but um…I saw Scarecrow last night in the vent in my office and I…think he may be the cause of those nightmares."
"Let me try to understand this, Margaret…you saw Jonathan Crane in your vent?"
"He went away after you came in. I saw his eyes looking at me at least…I think they were his eyes..."
"You believe he may have caused these nightmares?"
"I dunno…maybe. Or the nightmares could be my own product after last weeks incidents."
"That maybe, but it is best to make sure. Follow me."
Without another word I followed after Dr. Leland, all the way to Cell Block C.
Shit.
Leland told me not to show fear, she said to stand tall and to keep my eyes ahead of me. Easier said than done, I'm afraid. As soon as we entered C, all hell seemed to break loose. The cell block echoed with jeers and taunts and…laughter.
I can still recall some of the things they said to me.
"Oooo, look here! New jail bait! Hey, doc! I have a surprise here in my cell if you want it! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Riddle me this, young doctor: What's blonde and isn't going to last another week? What, give up? It's YOU!"
"Fancy seeing you again, Doctor Alice.I do hope we can continue last weeks art session. It was quite frabjous, whut! Oh, how's your arm by the way?"
Ugh, Jervis. I'm really not starting to like how this day is turning out.
Leland led me further down the cell block; the shouting of the inmates soon became a roar as we neared one cell in particular. It was the cell of Jonathan Crane. The Scarecrow.
We stopped in front of his cell. The front of it was all glass, so the inmates had little to no privacy. The cell was completely dark, but I could see a hunched silhouette hunched up at the cell's other end. The only distinct thing I could see of Crane was the light reflecting off of the rim of his glasses.
Leland stepped closer to the cell.
"Dr. Crane,"
He didn't seem to move or acknowledge her.
"Dr. Ellis and I have a few questions for you."
Still no response or reaction.
Leland sighed, "Crane, Dr. Ellis says she saw you in her office's vent last week."
I'd watched him intently for any sign of a reaction. Not even a twitch.
"She's been having nightmares since that night as well. We just want to make sure that they weren't caused by you. Dr. Crane, do you have anything to do with her nightmares.
His head turned towards us, no…me. The light fell on his glasses fully and across his eyes. They were the same eyes I saw in the vent. Those same pale eyes. Unblinking.
Cranes eyes were locked on mine. I couldn't look away. I couldn't even blink.
His voice was soft and almost asexual in pitch. If you heard his voice alone, not knowing what the embodiment of that voice looked like, you wouldn't be able to comprehend the gender of that voice, nor the age. The softness was very startling in itself, though. It was much to gentle and there was a light southern lilt to it that was almost indistinguishable to the untrained ear.
He spoke to me.
"You have my eyes."
I ran. I ran and didn't look back. Leland called out to me. I ran.
Margaret
Session 2
Margaret Ellis
3:30pm
"Dr. Leland, is this really necessary?"
"Margaret, I think we should talk about it. You are still in shock and it's always good to get things off your chest."
"Jeremiah put you up to this, didn't he."
"…Yes, he did."
"Tch. Figures."
"But I agree with him that we should talk about this."
"So, I'm being recorded like I'm one of the 'patients'?"
"I understand that this is uncomfortable, but…we need to understand a few things."
"Such as…"
"Jonathan Crane has taken an interest in you, and Dr. Arkham wants to understand why."
"Do you honestly expect me to know why!"
"Margaret-"
"I don't fucking know! I haven't even seen the guy's full face! Just his freaky little eyes! How am I suppose to know why he's fucking interested in me! I don't fucking know-!"
"MARGARET!"
"Yes?"
"*sighs* Look, I understand that you're stressed. Maybe, we can talk about this next week. You'll probably have calmed down by then. You are free to go."
*chair pushes back, footsteps, door slams*
"Margaret seems very defensive. It's not the first time I've noticed this. She appears to enjoy using the f-bomb quite extensively when angered or under stress. I fail to see the appeal that Jonathan Crane possibly sees in her. Perhaps, though, she's just a new 'target'. Dr. Arkham seems to believe this. But I don't believe this.
"Dr. Crane is interested Dr. Ellis. I'm just not sure in what way. It makes me nervous how he's interested. I'm worried for Margaret. I will continue to watch over Margaret and keep a careful eye on Crane.
Hopefully, Dr. Arkham and I are both wrong."
*tape ends*
Day 8 September, Monday
10:30 am
Okay, yesterday was just fucking-fuck-fuck! That didn't even make sense to me. Crap, I need a nap. I arrived at work early. No, wait…I slept at work. Thank Freud for that stupid therapist couch. It's not the most comfortable thing to sleep on, but I wasn't really ready to drive home. Too shaken up.
Hell, I'm still shaken up.
What the fuck did Crane mean that 'I had his eyes'?
Yesterday I did nothing but lock myself in my office and stare into my compact mirror. I couldn't stop staring at my own eyes, trying to see the resemblance to Crane's.
His eyes were an extremely pale blue. Almost colorless. It was very unnerving just to think about them. They never blinked. They just stare. His eyes were almost soulless. Those pale eyes could have been the eyes of a blind man if it wasn't for those pinpoint pupils, those pupils that never seen to dilate.
My eyes were blue was well, but they weren't like his. A ring of grey surrounds the pupils; the rest of eyes are blue and grey swirling together and remind me of light reflecting off of water; then there's a ring of indigo surrounding my eyes.
My eyes are nothing like his. So, why did he say that? Leland seems to be interested in that question, too. And, apparently, Arkham as well.
Dr. Arkham wants me to meet with him is his office. This can't be good.
Session 3
Margaret Ellis
11:49 am
"Another tape recorder, Dr. Arkham? Really?"
"It's necessary."
"So, am I a patient as well as a doctor here."
"Margaret-"
"I would appreciate it if you called by my title."
"In my eyes you haven't earned that title."
"Excuse me!"
"You are so far proving to be in capable of the job assigned to you."
"But I barely even got started!"
"Nonetheless! Margaret, you have a week to reach out to one of the patients in the file I have given you last week."
"The Rogues! Are you out of your fucking mind? I'm aware of what those people do to their doctors. Most doctors have either gone insane, committed suicide, or have been killed. You honestly expect me accomplish this task in a fucking WEEK!"
"Margaret!"
"I thought the inmates were the crazy ones, not the other way around! Fuck, your unbelievable, Arkham! Just fucking unbelievable!"
"A week, Margaret. That's all you have. If you are unsuccessful, you will never work in the psychiatric field again. I guarantee it."
"You fucker! I'll have your hide for this! I'll fucking show you! No one fucks with me! NO ONE!"
*loud footsteps, door slams*
"Dr. Leland was right about the f-bomb. Margaret is very defensive and has an extremely short fuse. We might have to be careful around her, though she hasn't attacked physically, it could still happen.
"I still believe Margaret is incapable in her methods. She's young, inexperienced, and too rash. I think it will be the end of her.
Here's to hope."
*tape ends*
1:13 pm
The nerve of that god damn bastard! I'll fucking show him! He'll see. I'm capable. All I have to do is find a patient willing to cooperate within the Rogues Gallery. That'll be like Arkham cutting me some slack…never going to happen.
I'll be going through the files until I have them memorized. I Google Search until my hands blister and my eyes explode. I will learn everything I can about these Rogues. I will succeed, even if it kills me.
Jeremiah will not win. I won't let him!
I refuse to be laughed at. I refuse to be mocked and undermined. When I succeed, I will be the one laughing. Arkham will kiss my ass and clean my apartment by the time I'm through with him.
You'll see. Everyone will see. Margaret Agnes Ellis is not one to fuck with.
Doctor Margaret Agnes Ellis