"We have to go back."

"We can't."

"Waylon, we have to…"

"Ivy…"

"I can still save him! Please… Please."

"You know we can't. That's not how things work."

"Please!"

"Don't."

"I can't live like this… I want to fucking die."

"It's ok. It'll be ok."

"Waylon I will fucking carry him if that means we have a chance."

"There is no chance! He's dead!"

I stopped in my tracks. I couldn't deal with this. Somewhere in my mind I knew nothing could bring Eddie back. I was just too stubborn to realize it.

"We're going to die in here."

"No, Darling, I'm going to die in here. I know you'll escape someday."

"How could I go back to society?"

"You'll manage just fine."

"Not if you aren't with me. I'm a wreck without you."

"Now, you know that's not true."

"No, I am! You're that thing that kept me sane. Without you, I'd be ruined."

He grabbed my hand through the bars where our cells separated and smiled. He then proceeded to stand up and head to the door of his cell. He asked for sewing materials and promised he'd make me something extravagant. His smile grew wider. I always loved seeing him embrace his passion. It's that fire someone gets in their eyes when they talk about that thing they love so much.

"I'm an old soul," he said, "but you make me feel like I might not be all that bad. Like nothing's wrong with me. I'm going to make you the perfect gift, you'll see, Darling.."

I still have it. I remember he was too embarrassed to hand it to me up front, so he snuck it through my cell bars at night. A lot like a shy teenage boy or something. It was a perfectly crafted flower. He told me it was supposed to be from a poison ivy plant, but he wouldn't look at me when he said it. I asked him what was wrong and he said that he believed that I had expected a full suit or a scarf. Something "bigger". He told me that the flowers were ugly but soon took it back because of my nickname. I laughed and stuck it in my jumpsuit, reassuring him that everything was fine.

I wore it under my clothes every day.

I know what you're thinking. This is sounding a lot like a stupid teenage love story. Well, it kinda felt like one. Two people, desperate for escape, and finding it in each other. Damn, that does sound dumb. I'm an idiot. But just to put the icing on the cake, that fucking flower smelled like him. And it pissed me off so hard that I cried. I cried when I looked out the window to see the church burning to ash outside. I cried when we got to the asylum's lobby, and I cried even harder when we sat on the steps for a while to take it all in. I hate life, but I love it.

I don't want to survive anymore. I want to live.

You know, I promised Eddie that when I got out, I'd have kids. I hope he didn't take that too seriously, because I'm not living up to that shit. I was still crying, though. It wouldn't stop. Waylon had taken some time to look around the front gates a bit.

"Hey, Ivy."

"W-what..?"

"What's this?" He asked as he held up a curious 'classified' file. He read it aloud to me, hoping I'd know what it meant.

Case Number: 288

Patient: "IVY"

Consultation Dated: 2013.05. 15

Patient Age: 19

Gender: Male

Observing Physician: Dr. Garnett Snow

THERAPY STATUS:

Lucid dreaming analysis shows unfortunate improvement. Patient shows control of dream state, nearly incapable of manipulation. Shows signs of false awakenings. Engine activity shows respite at 70 PPM.

DIAGNOSTICS:

Nearly refuses hormone therapy, must be sedated to accept. Slight bronchial accumulation.

INTERVIEW NOTES:

As crude as ever. Is extremely frustrating subject. Refuses to answer any questions he doesn't want to answer. Hasn't told us his real name yet. When asked why he repudiates a haircut, he responds by telling that he broke the barber's rib when he attempted to shave his head. This has been confirmed. Won't speak about anything outside of Case Number 196: Eddie Gluskin, along with spouting similar stories as said subject. Turns down any attempts to ask about his progress. Seems mentally stable for the time being.

"So…?" Waylon shut the file.

"Murkoff was excited when Billy Hope started making progress. They assumed it was because he was young. I assume they wanted to see if even younger blood would make more progress. They made me think I was a paranoiac. They made me send myself here. They called it Paranoid Personality Disorder. I should have given a second thought, but I didn't."

"Why do you and Eddie have the same physician?"

"He was there when Eddie was interviewed… and he was curious. He said that Eddie wouldn't stop talking about me." I became rather silent after that.

"I-I'm sorry that I let go… really, I am."

"It's ok… I know you didn't mean it." I was getting choked up again.

"Come on." Waylon tapped my shoulder. "We have to get out of here."

OKAYYYYY I think this is where we end the story but seriously I reEALLYY didn't wanna kill Eddie but it was kinda necessary for this fic im sorry. And seriously the amount of research I had to do for this chapter too. Lol but really. Im kinda tempted to bring eddie back but I think that will kill the mood and it'll be kinda cheesy. I don't think im gonna but ;_;

Thanks 4 stickin around till the end u guys :P

-Hollow