Thanks to my two reviewers, new york Mike, and RxRFannnnn! Next one's coming.
( Madness runs. )
When Richard returned to his room, he quickly made a dash for the crumpling sheets of paper he had left lying on his bedside table. The charcoal was smudged in many places, but the image of the bird was still recognizable. He sighed still frustrated over his meeting with Dr. Slade and Karen's idiotic slander on his sketch.
Richard was good at many things professionally like business and science. He was training to join the police academy in the detective department but when he wasn't focused on academics or family/social affairs, Richard found sketching to be his favourite hobby, apart from solving puzzle games. Ever since he was small, he was talented at it and his mom encouraged it, his dad enjoyed it. Robins were his favourite subject. They were harder to sit still but easier to draw, and Richard always liked a challenge. So in hindsight, his papers were filled with a majority of them.
But living in Arkham didn't give him very much chance at it. Papers and pencils were given out of 'therapy treatment' and not to be kept by patient's - he secretly shoved crumpled balls of them into his socks and snuck a stubby pencil into his room. Richard hoped he was a special case now that Karen and Dr. Wilson knew. But he'd never seen one bird around the hospital through a dirty window. They avoided this institution the way sinners avoided church, like they knew what was going on. Un-creasing them gently, he placed them hotly into his pillowcase and stretched his out body in a long, tired pull.
Deciding not to obey Dr. Slade's command, Richard wanted to leave his room in search of food. He opened the door quietly and peeked out into the filthy hallway. It was quiet and empty. Advisors and staff members were nowhere in sight. But just as he went to take his first steps of freedom, footsteps sounded. He decided to step back in quickly and shut the door and remove any evidence he had tried to sneak out.
He didn't get far from his quarters when an older gentleman passed him in the hallway with a wayward look on his face that Richard couldn't do anything but stare. A shiver ran up his spine. Something about his distant gaze onto the decaying wallpaper of the hall, didn't comfort the young man in anyway. Suddenly the old man shifted his gaze slowly onto Richard, suddenly aware (or was always aware) of his presence. Richard swallowed a mouth full of spit as he glared softly.
"Ah young man, can you tell me the best way to reach the botanical gardens from this western wing?"
Richard blinked but began slowly. The sooner he helped him, the sooner he'd leave him alone.
"...Of course, you can take the stairwell down this corridor and exit the grand doors on the left side. From there you will reach the open grounds and when you spot the large building with the glass roof, that's where you... will head...?"
The older man kept his unblinking gray/blue-eyed gaze on Richard for what felt like an eternity that it was enough for Richard to shake with frustration. How he desperately missed his warm home and dead family. Then like a ghost, the old man turned slowly on his heel and began walking again, his footsteps and voice were a whisper.
"So it is..."
When he was out of earshot, Richard exhaled softly through his nose and crinkled his eyebrows.
"Hm... strange man..." he muttered.
"That is Dr. Amadeus Arkham. He is the founder of this hospital."
The new, higher, clearer voice broke Richard out of his shake. When he turned back down the hallway, a young girl about the same age as him was walking by herself about to past his room. She stopped in front his door. She had long, red hair that looked like it needed combing and steady, bright green eyes. She wore a dull, gray dress much too big for her with similar patterns to his but had a cloth tied around the waist to keep it from falling. A tall and beautiful teenager, Richard knew that if they both weren't patients in this asylum, he would've tried to woo her at some point. But nothing was rose-colored to him anymore, so he regarded her with wide, cautious eyes and dry lips.
"That was... Doctor...Arkham?"
"Strange how you did not know him. Unless of course, you are fairly new and have never met him, as of yet. He only returns to his majesty of work once every couple of weeks. He spends most of his time and efforts at the State Psychiatric Hospital in Metropolis."
Richard knew of Metropolis. It wasn't as rundown a town as Gotham – his father and he used to go there for Sunday drives all the time. Richard grew brave and spoke with little curiosity.
"You... must have been here for some time to have known all of that."
She nodded eagerly.
"Indeed. Too long to remember, actually. But I am most joyous as of late to announce that I will be leaving soon."
His eyes grew wide again. Dr. Slade never mentioned anything about the progress of other patients, let alone if they left. He assumed this asylum was meant to let people rot in it forever.
"Yeah?"
"Oh yes, Dr. Wilson says I am making a speedy recovery to normalcy. I will be healthy and amongst regular townsfolk very soon. It feels good to know that I am being cured of my disease."
Richard didn't feel comfortable with her words.
"Well, I...wish you all the best."
"Thank you. And I wish the same for you. My name is Korina. But please, call me Kory."
Richard gave her a small smile. At least she didn't bite.
"And I'm Richard."
"Just call you Richard?" she said with a shine in her eyes. He chuckled lightly, but nodded his head.
"That does you well. Well, I will be heading off to the lavatories."
"Wait, can I ...ask you something...personal?"
"Ask away, Richard."
"What got you in here... the...'thing' you did ..or have... was it... something bad?"
Kory remained patiently silent, but Richard was quick to realise how quick her eyes darkened and how stiff she became. But she released a slow sigh, and bared a tiny grin. She probably decided Richard was someone she could trust with her secrets.
"Richard it happened such a long time ago, I..." She sighed slowly. "... but I will tell you this. My sister is gone because of me. Missing. I did something to her I can't possibly remember."
"..."
"They said we used to fight many times as children. A rivalry, of sorts. But even if we had hated one other I still don't believe that I ..." She shook her head violently, suddenly shaking. She turned away from Richard for a moment.
"No! No, Dr. Wilson has told me. I am in here because of what I did, I am at fault! I am here to repent! Condemned! Don't lie to yourself, Kory. You bottled it up! I-I...!" Kory's voice grew louder, more heated. She was having a tantrum over herself. Her eyes were like fire on Richard, flitting back and forth from him and the wall and the window.
"Enough, Kory! Shut up! You're stupid! Listen to yourself, she is GONE and you are here to get better! To get-! To get better..."
Richard would've backed away in fear but something kept him still. Some invisible force that wanted him to watch what other twisted people he lived with, in this hospital. Where were the nurses in the hall? Shouldn't she need...!
"I am here to be cured...I must accept fate. It was my fault. I am being treated, gaining progress. I..." and with a small huff, Kory began to melt back into a relaxed state. Her mood changed drastically. She smiled with apologetic, gentle eyes.
"I am sorry, Richard. I didn't mean to set such a horrible example for the rest of those who stay in Arkham. And I certainly didn't want your impression of me to falter." Something about the look in her face, told him she felt embarrassed and defeated. Like, she had just lost a chance at something. When he didn't say anything as a response, Kory began to turn on her heel. She suddenly had a warm grin on her face.
"I must leave you now, Richard. Perhaps I will see you in the future before I am scheduled to leave. Again, I look so forward to it!"
And like a star, she flew away down the hall with a skip in her step. It chilled him to his very core.
"Aw, what's the matter, boy? Afraid she's gonna turn kitten on you one second and BOOM! A viper the next?"
Richard whirled around. He had never heard any of the other patients make a sound in the rooms around his since he arrived. An older man with a manic grin on his face and short dishevelled hair was grinning at him through a door with a small barred window. A name said 'Jack' on it.
"Don't flatter yourself, honey! That little angel's like that with everyone! Ohhh, how I love her style. She could open a show for me any day. Would scare the audience sssssssilly! And then get me the attention I need! God knows I don't get enough of it in here...! Hehehe!"
Richard watched suddenly as the manic man behind the door suddenly threw his head back and tossed what looked like a pill down his throat. When he was finished swallowing, he jumped right back onto the door again and eyed Richard down with fresh beady eyes.
"Shhh! Don't tell the big boys I have these stashed away in here! It's the only thing keeping me sane in this place, otherwise I'd bore to death without 'em!"
Richard said nothing as his heart pounded in his chest wildly. He felt sick all over again, feeling like the robins he drew caught under the gaze of a hungry chesire cat.
"Try to keep me off this stuff, they do! But I keep tellin' em, why would I wanna live a dull unfunny life like the rest of 'em? Hahaha, anti-depressants are the future, my boy! They'll keep everyone smilin' for hours! ...Hmmmm and by the looks of it, you look like you could use a couple. Hehe, want some? Just stick your hand through the bars. Don't worry, I don't hurt 'family'... only nurses get a stabby!"
He made to turn around.
"Hehehe! And remember! Don't tell anybody! Otherwise I'll have to...let's say, hmm, ah! Run you through with a butter knife! Ha! How clever is that! 'Course I've tried other knives but, there's a first for everything...! Hahaha!"
And in a flash, Richard was gone, slamming his bedroom door shut.
( In the family. )
This was a filler-fic. Ten points and a virtual high-five if you knew who 'Jack' was!