Kirsty

I woke with a start; bolting up right, a cold sweat beading on my forehead and the back of my neck. I felt panicked and restless whilst my strange dream seeped into my consciousness. It seemed so real to me, like memories, but I would have remembered this if it were true. I could admit to myself that I was quiet scared of Kathy but I wouldn't say it out loud to anyone. But even so my dream made her out to be nothing short of evil. I tried to relax and snuggle back into the soft bed, willing myself back to sleep but it didn't work. I gave up after a couple of seconds, too riled to even keep my eyes closed.

It was still dark out side making it difficult to see around the room, but I could work out the outline of Ruth sitting up in her bed looking sleepy my way. I'd woken her. I could imagine the concern in her eyes, even though it was to dark to see.

"I'm fine, it was just a dream." I said trying to convince her as much as myself.

"You were talking." She said quietly as she slipped from underneath the covers and came to sit on the edge of my bed. As she came closer I could see her more clearly. Her eyes were wide but not with concern.

"What was I saying?" I asked dreading the answer, hoping that the wide eyes weren't because I'd just spilled my darkest secret.

"Well," she paused like she didn't want to tell me and I held my breath waiting for her to continue, "you weren't, you were."

"Just say it." I said not being able to bare the tension any longer.

"Begging; you were begging." She stopped there watching my reaction carefully.

"For what?" I asked clueless, and impatiently.

"I'm not sure, you kept saying: don't leave me, don't do this, what about Warren and Nita, you can't do this." Suddenly my body tensed. Those words struck a memory inside of me and abruptly I was torn away from the comfy bed where I sat and instead I was limy propped against the bath on the cold bathroom floor watching Kathy place the bottle of pills in my hand, then smile cruelly at me before turning and walking away.

It wasn't a dream!

How could she do that?

"Nita," I had to get to Nita now.

I threw back the quilt and launched myself off the bed already looking for my clothes.

"Kirsty stop." I stopped and turned to see Ruth looking horrified. "You can't leave they won't let you."

"You watch them try and stop me." Was angry and it showed clearly in my voice. I hadn't been strong enough to protect my daughter. Ruth moved to stand in front of the door.

"If you try and leave now they will think you've had some sort of episode. They will drug you and you'll be in here even longer." God, when did Ruth become so level-headed, it was her trying to drill into somebody's brain the other week.

Ruth

I could see Kirsty milling over her options in her head. I was still ready to catch her in case she made a run fir the door. I'd seen enough of this place to know that would be a bad move. Finally she sunk onto the end on her bed and I let out a sigh of relief, at least she'd listened to me.

She promptly brought her hands up to her face resting her elbows on her knees. Tears silently fell from between her fingers and her body shacked with silent sobs. I walked over to her cautiously thinking that she might still make a dash for the door but she didn't and I sat next to her on the bed placing my arm around her shoulder. I'd never been any good at comforting people but I still tried and was shocked when she turned and pulled me into a hug. I, Ruth Winter's did not hug just anyone.

Slowly I brought my arms up and placed them around her small body but she quickly pulled back, looking at me through red, teary eyes.

"It wasn't me." She choked out her body still trembling with sobs. Was I meant to know what she was talking about?

"I didn't do it, I didn't take those pills. I didn't try to kill myself." Strangely I believed what she was saying but she sounded like she was convincing herself as well.

"What happened then?" I asked intrigued as to why she was so confused about the whole thing. She'd calmed considerably, determined to tell me. Then just as she was about to start her face formed a small frown.

"I don't know, well I do know; but I don't know all the details." She said still sounding very confused. I stayed quiet waiting for her to elaborate.

"It was Kathy, she drugged me. She made it look like I'd done it but I really hadn't, you've got to believe me." She was begging me now, holding my hands in-between hers. Her expression was so desperate that there was nobody in the world who wouldn't have believed her at that moment.

"I believe you. I saw the way she treated you when she was here yesterday, I believe you." She looked so relieved but part of her questioned whether I really did or not, I could see it in her eyes.

"You really, honestly believe me." She asked wide eyed.

"Yes, I really, honestly believe you." I almost giggled. Then she relaxed and let her relief flood her. She turned to me again, a small smile plastered on her face.

"Thank you."

So Kirsty remembered, what next? I want to thank PoppyNoble for her awesome feed back. It's great to hear what you think should happen and I've tried to work it in. Thanks for reading :D xx