Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
I find myself clinging on to the walls of the hallway as I walk. I've never felt so queasy. The room is spinning and my head is pounding. Maybe I should tell Anthony.
                          
I turn to go back to go to the office, but what I see makes me completely forget about my thumping headache.
                          
It's the crazy man that I keep seeing. 
                          
I take a step back. But he starts walking towards me. More like stumbling actually.
                          
He grabs a hold of my shoulders. There's a mad sense of urgency in his eyes that frightens me.
                          
"You don't believe me do you!" He hisses at me.
                          
I try and push him off but his hands have such a tight grip, it hurts my shoulders.
                          
"Get off of me! I don't know what you mean! Get off!" I try causing a scene but there doesn't seem to be anyone around
                          
"You're crazy! You're crazy!" He keeps repeating while shaking my shoulders.
                          
He suddenly grabs hold of my wrist and takes me along the corridor. 
                          
I pull against him but he is not budging. I don't know where he's taking me.
                          
We pass Anthony's office. The door is open and he's not there. 
                          
"Let go of me!" I shout.
                          
He doesn't seem to hear anything I say. 
                          
He starts walking even faster. I can barely keep up. When I lag behind he yanks my arm to make me go faster. 
                          
I don't know what to do. Why is no one around? Maybe if I call for Ahren he will hear me. I try to call for him but nothing comes out my mouth.
                          
I look around for something to grab. I didn't notice him coming to a stop. 
                          
He throws me forward and suddenly I'm at the edge of the hall way. the building just stops: comes to an end. I look down and its an endless drop. 
                          
I have to be dreaming. It feels so real though.
                          
My hair is blowing in apparent wind coming from the abyss bellow. 
                          
I look back at the man. Hoping the fear in my eyes would cause him to spare me. 
                          
"You see it? You see that don't you?" He points down and the never ending void below, "do you want to go down there?" 
                          
Tears well up in my eyes a little. He's scaring me. Who is he? Why is he doing this to me?
                          
He grabs me with one hand by the collar and leans me over the edge. 
                          
I gasp and grab his lab coat in attempt to save myself. I don't think he's dropping me over, but I still don't like it. 
                          
"Please! Please, don't!" I beg him. 
                          
He fizzes with anger and madness, "You never listen to me! I've always hated you!" He says through his teeth
                          
"What are you talking about?! Just leave me alone!" I start to sob.
                          
He was starting to salivate, Reminding me of a mad dog, "WE ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU MAD, JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS CALLED US!" 
                          
I scream and with all my might, i tear his hands off me. But in my desperation to get away from him, I forgot I am leaning over an edge. 
                          
That realization hits me as I lose my stomach and plummet into the void. 


                          
I wake up suddenly gasping for breath. I have the feeling... like when you are walking up stairs and you miss a step; you feel like you are plummeting to ground, only to realize you're safe all along.
                          
Ahren is next to me. Worried and holding my hands.
                          
"Hey, hey, it alright. You're okay." He whispers. 
                          
On seeing him, I burst into tears. He takes me in his arms. 
                          
I realize we are in his room. I'm on his bed. He must have found me somewhere.
                          
I wipe my eyes and sniff, "What happened?"
                          
"I found you last night collapsed near Anthony's office."
                          
"But...I don't remember fainting." 
                          
"You won't usually."
                          
"Wait, you said yesterday. Did I sleep here?"
                          
"Yeah, I just slept on the couch. I didn't want to leave you alone."
                          
"thank you." I groan and hold my head, "that was so awful."
                          
"Do you want to tell me about it? You don't have to if you don't want to."
                          
"No, I should tell you. I can't keep it all to myself."
                          
I tell him everything. How I keep seeing that crazy man. All the things that remind me of my life. And how strange Anthony is with me. 
                          
He tells me he notices it too. He says Anthony seems to favor me more than any other patient, and he does not like it. 
                          
"Why is this happening Ahren? Why does it feel real, but its not?"
                          
Ahren has a grim look on his face, "I don't know yet. I'm still trying to work it out." He stops, but I can tell he wants to say more, "I get it too. The hallucinations."
                          
"You do?"
                          
"yes."
                          
"are we...are we going crazy?" I search for any sign of hope in his eyes.
                          
"No." He says quickly, "I know it's harder for you because you have no idea what we were like before. But I can assure you, everything they said about you was a lie. You're the farthest thing from psychopath!" He sees my doubting eyes and takes my hands in his, "you are the kindest, most sweet person I have ever known. You have always had the best manners, the best disposition, and the worst poker face." I laugh, He stares at me, "and the most beautiful laugh."
                          
This boy somehow makes me feel more at home than than I've ever felt. I wish I could remember him. We must have been so close before I lost my memory. Which something now occurs to me. He must know what happened; why we are really here.
                          
"Ahren...can you please tell me the truth of why we are here? What happened? And how haven't' my real family came to take us away from here?"
                          
He looks sad then smiles, "All of that will come in good time. I can't overwhelm you with information. It would put much too much stress on your head."
                          
"Please...can't I just know-" I'm interrupted by the door sliding open. 
                          
In comes Anthony and Jasper the guard. Jasper suddenly punches Ahren in the face. 
                          
I gasp and look at Anthony, expecting him to rebuke the guard. But he just stands there with his hands behind his back, and a blank expression on his face staring at Ahren. 
                          
Anthony takes a hold of my arm. Which makes Ahren suddenly spring to his feet. He's in a state of panic. He tries to get to me but Jasper holds him back.
                          
"No! No, you can't take her away I love her! Please stop!" 
                          
Anthony leads me out. I feel almost in shock.
                          
"Why did you do that?" I ask him.
                          
"He needs to know his place."