Asylum 41

Nightmare one

Patient name: Andrew Myers
ID: 4101
Status: Released, innocent.

1:27 a.m.

I can't sleep, again, too many thoughts racing through my mind. I sighed as I slipped some clothes on, opening my apartment door and slamming it shut as I ran down the stairs and outside the building. The air was crisp and fresh, perfect for a run. Hell, after the day I had, I almost pitied the road I was about to take out my frustrations on. I looked down each side of the dimly lit road, seeing what seemed to be a ghost town, before taking off. Feet pounding on the pavement, music blasting in my ears. I began to feel the stress of the day blissfully melt away. I never heard the footsteps behind me, never even got to turn around before I was tackled to the ground, my cheek pushed against the pavement with a firm hand covering my mouth. I struggled with all my strength when I felt a sting in the side of my neck, I felt my body become weaker as my eyes drooped. And then everything became black.

12:38 p.m.

I woke up with a jolt, looking around at the white cushioned room. A pain shot through my chest as I took a deep breath, my eyes barely able to focus on what surrounded me. I tried to lift my hand up to grasp my head only to realize I was confined in a straight-jacket. My heart began to have palpitations as I feebly rolled to my knees, my cough echoing around the room. It was then I realized I was in a mental ward, panic took over me as a man in a white lab coat walked in. "No, no, no. Relax. Do you know your name?" he asked, pulling out a clipboard and scribbling some words on it.

"Why am I here?" I asked hurriedly, doing my best to scoot further away from him.

"Do you know your name?" He repeated, slightly firmer.

"Andrew..." He nodded and continued to write before coming to stand in front of me.

"You were brought here this morning because we have reason to believe that you are homicidal." He answered my previous question bluntly, cutting me off as I went to defend myself. "Where were you two nights ago when Cheyenne Myers was murdered?"

I scoffed and turned away, "At home... you've got the wrong guy!"

"Do I?" He challenged, pulling pictures out of a folder and laying them in front of me. "Do any of these look familiar?"

I cast a glance at them, my heart wrenching at the sight of a young woman hanging above her bed. Fish hooks dug deeply through her hands and feet, blindfolded and gagged as blood was smeared all around the room. "What makes you think I could do that?!" He screamed at the doctor.

"Many people have said you've had many disagreements with Mrs. Myers, even going as far as shouting that you were going to kill her."

I rolled my eyes "We've been married six years, we're going to fight. But I would never do that to her! I love her! Besides, the police already investigated me and-"

"And you were said to be innocent." He interrupted "However, they have yet to find any evidence of anyone else being there, so you're guilty until proven innocent. It's my job to deduce if you truly are homicidal." I shook my head and looked away, refusing to say anything else. "The nurses will be in soon, you'll be given medication. It would be appreciated if you took it without a struggle." He sighed at my silence and walked out, I heard the door lock behind him.

Fourteen days later, 7:48 p.m.

"I know you did it." The cocky doctor said in a patronizing tone. "Admit it, you killed her, and you laughed as the blood flowed over your hands because you're insane!"

I cringed at the word, trying to get away. I hadn't been sure exactly how many days I've been here, not with them drugging me every two hours and no sign of life in the room except the doctor and nurses. But over the course of this time the doctor became more and more cruel, angry at not being able to prove I was a murderer. My face was bruised from all the times he hit me, my body skinnier from where he chose to starve me, my ribs clearly visible. "I did nothing." I stood my ground, wincing as he raised his hand to strike me. "No matter how many times you hurt me or how, I'll never admit to that. I'm innocent!"

He scowled and pulled me up by my hair, bringing us face to face. "We'll see." He spat as he continued to flip me on my knees, violating me in one of the most demented ways I've ever felt. This continued every day as I sat in that padded room for what seemed like centuries, no one able to hear my pained screams. The nurses weren't allowed in my room after that, only the doctor having a key. And this is the day my hell began.

Seven more days later, 8:29 a.m.

I woke up to the sound of the doctor talking to someone outside my door, irritation flooding his voice. "And you're completely sure?" He asked the other person who replied with a yes, talking about my newfound innocence. I sat up straight, excitement going through my body, this is it! I'm getting out of here, and this doctor will regret the pain he caused me. The doctor opened my door, regret covering his face as a sheriff walked in.

The sheriff smiled at me as the doctor unlocked my strait-jacket, me jumping up and away from him "You'll be happy to know we caught your wives murderer, I'm very sorry about how long it took. The doctor informed me that some other inmates got a little rough with you, and I promise there will be repercussions. I've already filled out all of your paperwork and had one of my deputies bring your car here. You're free to go." I cast a look toward the worried doctor and took a set of clothes the sheriff held out, shoving my way past them as I finally escaped the asylum.

10:11 p.m.

Hours later I finally arrived at my house, slightly aggravated by the thumping coming from my trunk. I walked over to the flower bed first, shifting through dirt to pull out a key and DVD before walking inside. I tiredly went to the fridge and grabbed a beer, going to sit in the living room to watch the disk I had just pulled up. Sitting in the recliner, opening the beer and pushing play. I started to space out as a sex video came on that I had made with my late wife, submersing myself in my thoughts.

I thought about my Cheyenne, how much I missed her and the awful things we had to endure. I thought about the doctor, whom I promised myself wouldn't get away with what he had done. I was pulled out of my mind when screaming came from the TV speakers, casually looking over at it as it showed myself, torturing Cheyenne before gagging her. "I should have taken my time..." I grumbled as I watched it continue, her face contorting in pain with every move I made. Soon she was hung from the ceiling and the video ended, I chuckled to myself. "Intriguing." The word echoed around the room as I got up, walking back to my car and putting my hands on the trunk. "You know... I always let my anger get the best of me. I did that to my wife because she had been having an affair, it wasn't fair to me. I loved her all these years, made sure she had everything. She chose her own fate, just like you chose yours."

I opened the trunk to see the doctor gagged and tied up by a large rope, fear crossing is face as his eyes watered. "What you did to me wasn't nice, and it will never be forgiven." I ignored his muffled cries as I smashed the beer bottle against the car, looking at the perfect point. "Tell my wife I said hello." I smiled cynically before forcing the glass down into his throat, blood spilling and soaking around the gag as it came out his mouth. I watched as the life slowly drained from his eyes, sighing at the thought of getting rid of the body. I would have to go for another jog afterwards, otherwise I might not be able to sleep.

I never understood how they didn't see the crazy in my eyes