CHAPTER 3:
As I took my first step into the department, the cold air enveloped me, bringing a sense of relief. But suddenly, the chill intensified, and I felt my body freeze, as if encased in ice. Just then, a hand touched my back, and Sophia's voice whispered in my ear, "Rowan, Rowan, your nose is bleeding again." Her words were laced with concern.
I tried to respond, but my voice was barely audible, muffled by the ice that seemed to surround me. "Oh my god, someone help me, please," I whispered, my words lost in the frozen landscape. Despite the icy barrier, I could hear everything around me, the sounds muffled but distinct.
As the ice began to melt, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, like the whole world had come alive. I wondered what was happening to me, my mind racing with questions. Why was this happening? It had only happened once before, and now, since Rose arrived, I was experiencing these strange visions every day.
As the ice melted further, my eyes slowly began to open, and I saw Sophia standing in front of me, her face etched with worry. Jack was talking to a doctor, and a team of robots was surrounding me, reading my nervous system. I tried to sit up, but it felt like no one could see me. I was trapped in a world that wasn't quite real.
But then, something shifted, and I could see myself and everyone else in the department clearly. My body was still frozen, but my consciousness had expanded, and I could see the connection between Rose's hand and mine. The monitor in front of me flickered to life, and as it did, I felt my breath return, and I was back in the real world.
Now I knew this wasn't just a dream; it was something more. The robots were still reading my nervous system, Sophia was still worried, and the doctor was still talking to Jack. The monitor was on, but the image was blurry, probably because we hadn't put on our goggles yet.
As I looked around, I felt a sense of disorientation, like I'd been pulled back into my body from a great distance. The world around me was familiar, yet strange, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted. I was left with more questions than answers, my mind reeling with the implications of what had just happened. What was happening to me? And what did it have to do with Rose?
As I regained consciousness, I sat up, and everyone around me was shocked. Sophia rushed to my side, embracing me tightly, and tears began to stream down her face. "Let's get you to a good doctor," she whispered, her voice trembling with concern. I felt a bit uncomfortable with the sudden display of emotion, so I gently pushed her away with one hand and asked, "What happened? Was it just another one of those dreams? The doctor said it wouldn't cause any harm."
Sophia's grip on my hand tightened, and she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, "Rowan, your breathing stopped for a while." I was taken aback; this had never happened before. I glanced down at my hands, still clasped with Rose's, and then turned to Jack. "The monitor is on; we should focus on the task at hand. I can worry about my health later."
Jack's eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked, "Are you sure?" I nodded firmly. The robots handed us goggles, and we put them on. The monitor flickered back to life, showing us Rose's garden once more. Jack restarted Rose's thoughts, and the screen went dark before gradually brightening up.
We were now looking at Rose, 23 years old, standing in a room, and it was her birthday. She walked towards the light source, and as she peered outside, we saw a figure standing there. The face was unclear, but the clothes suggested another patient from the mental asylum. Rose's eyes were fixed on the figure, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
The scene was unfolding like a puzzle, and I was eager to see what would happen next. Jack's voice was calm and professional as he guided us through the process. "Let's see where this takes us," he said, his eyes fixed on the monitor.
As we watched, Rose's story continued to unfold, and I felt a sense of fascination mixed with trepidation. What secrets would we uncover about Rose's past? And what lay beyond the door she was staring at? The unknown was both thrilling and unsettling, and I was drawn into the mystery, eager to learn more.
As Rose stood at the door, the person behind it, Juliet, revealed a cake, and we heard her voice for the first time. She was a girl, probably a friend of Rose's, and her tone was cheerful. "Tala, Tala, Yummy sent this cake for you. She couldn't come herself because she had to attend a shock therapy session." Rose's curiosity was piqued, and she asked, "Who's she going to give shock therapy to now?" Juliet's response was hesitant, "I don't know, she just told me to give you the cake."
Juliet slowly opened the door and handed Rose the cake. "Don't eat it here," she whispered. "Yummy said to cut it while watching the stars." Rose's eyes lit up with anticipation as she asked, "When will Yummy come?" Juliet replied, "She said she'd meet you tomorrow, when she brings your gift." Rose nodded, seeming to accept the arrangement.
As Rose's gaze drifted away from Juliet, it fell upon the room opposite hers, where the most notorious mental patient was kept. She'd never seen the patient's face, but she was familiar with those eyes, which seemed to pierce through the darkness, always fixed on her. The air seemed to thicken with tension as Rose's eyes locked onto the room, her expression a mix of fascination and fear.
The scene was unfolding like a dark fairy tale, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Who was this patient, and what was Rose's connection to them? The mention of shock therapy and the ominous atmosphere of the asylum sent a chill down my spine. I was drawn into the mystery, eager to learn more about Rose's world and the characters that inhabited it.
As we watched, Rose's eyes remained fixed on the room, her thoughts unreadable. The cake, the stars, and the gift all seemed to be part of a larger narrative, one that was both captivating and unsettling. I was hooked, wanting to know what would happen next in this strange and haunting world.
As Rose stepped out into the hallway, she gazed up at the sky, her face tilted towards the moon. But to her disappointment, the stars were nowhere to be seen. "Why does this always happen to me?" she whispered, her voice tinged with sadness. "No stars tonight, and now I can't cut the cake." Her eyes drooped, and she looked crestfallen.
Just then, she noticed the patient she'd seen through the window standing outside her room, bathed in darkness. The patient's face remained obscured, but their eyes sparkled like stars, sending a shiver down Rose's spine. There was something unsettling about the way this patient looked at her, but Rose tried to brush it off. She cut the cake and took a bite, the sweetness momentarily lifting her spirits.
As she walked through the asylum, distributing cake to the other patients, Rose's demeanor changed. When she approached the mysterious patient, she quickly retreated to the safety of her room, locking the door behind her. She knocked on the door, left the cake, and hurried away.
The patient emerged from the shadows, extending a hand to retrieve the cake. Rose watched from a distance, her heart racing with a mix of fear and fascination. Despite her curiosity, Rose lacked the courage to approach the patient, to initiate a conversation that might bridge the gap between them.
The scene was filled with a sense of longing and trepidation, as if Rose was drawn to this enigmatic figure, yet hesitant to take the next step. The patient's eyes, like stars in the darkness, seemed to hold a deep significance, but Rose's fear kept her at bay. As we watched, the dynamic between Rose and the mysterious patient remained unresolved, leaving us wondering what would happen next in this intricate web of emotions and secrets.
The screen was dark, and Rose was likely sleeping, when a loud noise shattered the silence. Suddenly, a ward boy appeared in Rose's room, his eyes filled with malice as he began to beat her mercilessly. Rose's eyes widened in terror as she tried to defend herself, but the ward boy's grip was too strong. He attempted to assault her, and Rose's gaze drifted towards the room opposite hers, where a pair of furious eyes stared back at her.
The patient in the opposite room, a mysterious figure with an intimidating presence, began to throw objects around her room with incredible force, shattering the eerie silence of the asylum. A deafening roar, like the growl of a lion, echoed through the corridors, sending shivers down the spines of the staff. The mental asylum staff rushed to Rose's cell, only to find the ward boy attempting to assault her. Dr. Soniya, a kind-hearted doctor who had always shown compassion towards Rose, was outraged. "How dare you!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with rage. "You're going to pay for this!" The staff members beat the ward boy mercilessly, but the caretaker intervened, his voice calm and collected. "Don't do it again," he warned the ward boy. "I'll let it slide this time, but next time, there won't be any mercy."
Rose's anger wasn't just directed at the ward boy's actions; it was also fueled by the caretaker's words. She felt a deep sense of betrayal, knowing that the people she trusted were capable of such cruelty. The screen flickered, and the image became distorted, reflecting Rose's turmoil.
Later, we see Yummy visiting Rose, a look of determination etched on her face. She handed Rose a key and whispered urgently, "My friend is waiting for you outside, with a truck driver. As soon as everyone falls asleep, I'll unlock the door, and we'll make a run for it. My friend will take you to Thailand." Rose's eyes widened in confusion. "Why are you telling me to escape now, Yummy?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Yummy's expression was resolute. "You've spent years here, Tala. These people will never let you go. Please, come with me. It's your chance to freedom."
At midnight, Rose crept out of her cell, her heart pounding in her chest. She moved stealthily, trying not to alert anyone. As she made her way through the dark corridors, she knew she was taking a chance, but the promise of freedom was too enticing to resist. With every step, she felt a sense of liberation, a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in years. Rose was finally taking control of her life, and nothing was going to stop her.
To be continue...