*four*

                                    

                                          
   Before I know it I'm back in my cold, dusty cell again staring at the same place in the ceiling. Life in Arkham would be hard and it wasn't something I could see myself getting used to. I growl in frustration and roll over to face my door, I can hear the person in the cell beside me murmuring and chattering loudly followed by a loud, high pitched cackle. This is the last straw, I jump bolt upright and yell at the top of my lungs "shut up!", the prison falls silent for a brief moment before returning back to the way it was before.
     I throw myself back into bed and huff loudly, squeezing my eyes shut and praying I would get to sleep soon.
     I awoke to the buzzing sound, again. My breakfast once again pushed through the slot in my door. I ate it quickly before two orderlies arrived to take me to the other side of the asylum informing me it was time for my psych evaluation. 
    The evaluation took about an hour, the therapist asked me questions about my childhood and lifestyle.I had half expected her to tell me I was sane and let me go, but to my disappointment when the session ended the orderlies returned and once again escorted me back to the Rec room with the other inmates.My eyes immediately fell on the red head boy leaning casually against the wall on the far side of the rec room. 
    In front of him, sitting at a long table were the men from yesterday. Barbara lay on Sionis while a large bald man painted her toes, Greenwood sat across from them with a skinny man I hadn't seen before. They had all been engaged in a conversation but looked up as the gates buzzed, a smirk appeared on Jerome's face and Barbara waved me over.
"Sage c'mere!" She called and I walked on over taking a seat in front of them, Jerome swinging himself into sit beside me, I can't help but blush a little as his arm subconsciously brushes my own.
      We had all been sitting there a while, making casual small talk, I couldn't help but stare at Greenwood with a face of disgust whilst he picked at his teeth, he really was revolting.Barbara sighed loudly.
 "I'm bored, someone tell me a funny story" she said, Sionis smacked the table lightly.
 "I have a good one" he announced and I almost rolled my eyes, he was clearly desperate to impress Barbara. "So when I was in college, I played for the varsity polo team and I had a string of ponies..." his monotone voice and lack of comedy made me zone out, my eyes finding Jerome who is listening intently, a sinister smirk on his face. I smile slightly and my eyes fall to my lap, I didn't like to admit it but I think I have a little crush on Jerome.
     The gates creek open, my head snaps up as an odd looking man is pushed in, he's chubby with a bald head and two bushy patches of hair growing on both sides of his head, everything about him screams loopy.
"Greetings!" He yells "I am Zaardon the soul reaper!" I scrunch my nose slightly at the looney as everyone turns their attentions back to Richard, I assumed they had gotten used to this sort of thing.
"so I had these ponies" he continued. My eyes once again found their way to Jerome who was now looking at me, his chin resting on his hand. I quickly looked away, blushing heavily at the grin growing larger on his face. Thankfully nobody else seemed to notice the exchange as I return my attention back to Sionis.
"and the maître d' says, 'you can't bring them in here-'" 
"Hear me slaves! My patients is wearing thin!" The new man interrupts once again, causing us all to glance up at him. Sionis looks anything but amused. "surrender your souls to my mercy" he begins to climb onto the table next to ours "or I swear by the master, I shall feast on your pain, I shall gorge on your torment. I shall crush you like a bug".
     I look around at the other inmates beside me, my brows slightly furrowed, surely this couldn't be normal, even in here?, Jerome is watching him an amused smile playing on his lips while Greenwood glares at him,  his brows knit together. I watch in confusion as the man begins to cough and splutter before falling onto his knees, a strange blue smoke starts to rise from his mouth. I quickly turn to Jerome, the amusement no longer showing on his face, it had been replaced a growing look of concern. 
     Everyone jumps up, a murmur spreading throughout the room. I back up quickly as panic sets in, what if it's poisonous? Where are the guards? My back hits the wall making me jump. I try to hold my breath but soon realise there's no point. My eyelids begin to feel droopy and my legs weak as the gas surrounds me, I watch as the other inmates hit the floor one by one before my eyes lock with Jerome's
 "Jerome" I manage to croak out quietly before giving into the tiredness, the last thing I see is a hand reaching out to me before everything goes black.