[Location: Xellene, Unit 3, Emergency Room]
I couldn't remember what happened when I woke up but I did know that I was out for at least a few days. My whole body felt numb but I still tried to sit up on the bed until I realised that my arms were strapped against the bed railings. 'Careful as always aren't you Blake', I thought, giving up quickly. I looked around but my eyesight was still fuzzy, and it didn't really help when the room was so goddamn bright.
I decided to close my eyes as an attempt to calm down but it was useless, no matter what I did it felt like my eyeballs were getting clawed out. Suddenly, I heard someone coming towards my room, I could recognise those footsteps anywhere. "You're awake", Blake's loud voice pierced through my ears, making me wince. He seemed to have noticed my discomfort when he said, "Ah, my apologies. Your hearing is probably still sensitive from all that sleeping".
"The lights", I whispered, sounding more weaker than I'd liked, "You know I can't stand them". "Of course I know that dear", he smiled taking a seat in front of my bed, "It was just a desperate measure to wake you up". I couldn't help but scoff at what he said, "I wonder what would happen to you if I die". "Terrible things", he answered looking off into the distance. "Terrible?", I asked catching his attention, "Will it be worse than the things you've done to me?".
There was a heavy silence in the room after my daring question. "Maybe the term horrendous would suit better", he answered smiling faintly. "You cannot die Hel", his tone was suddenly serious, almost demanding, "I won't let you". Before I could reply, our little conversation was interrupted by someone knocking on the door, it was his assistant Celia. She seemed surprised to find me awake, "Y-you called Sir?", she stuttered slightly revealing her uneasiness.
I continued squinting painfully as the they discussed in hushed tones about transporting me back to my cell room. "We can call in security to help right now if you want", Celia offered but Blake immediately shot it down. "Let her rest here for tonight", he said rubbing his forehead as if he had a headache, "We'll start transfer first thing in the morning tomorrow". Celia nodded her head and left the room after nervously glancing towards me.
"Now that we're not distracted anymore", he looked at me and smiled faintly, "I decided to add in a few more sessions with some of our staff". He immediately took out his phone and started reading out my whole schedule. I wasn't paying any attention to what he was saying until, "I'm sure you've met Dr. Liam before". He glanced at me for any reactions but I knew what he was trying, 'You can't fool me anymore Blake'.
"He was the one with glasses", I answered coldly which earned a smile from the old man. "That's correct and he'll be in charge of your therapy sessions from now on", he concluded and got up from his chair. "Rest well because you're starting this new schedule from tomorrow onwards", he said looking at me. "Well?", I looked at his in dismay, "Do you have anything else to say or are you just going to stand there forever?".
He let out a sudden eruption of laughter after what I had just said, "You've grown even feistier", he mumbled to himself before walking out of the room, leaving me alone once more. I felt so tired after the interaction but I knew sleeping wasn't going to help, 'What else can I do with my arms tied up?'. Suddenly the room dimmed until it was similar to my room back at Unit 4, at least he listened to my requests.
I realised that my eyesight had gotten better so I took a quick look around the room, it was just like any other but you could tell it was made to prevent the patient from escaping. The room was shaped in a wide square, with no windows and only a locked metal door as the only way out. The walls were solid concrete judging from the way I couldn't sense any heat from the other side. I was starting to feel constricted from the hand restraints holding me back but there was nothing I could do.
Time seemed to pass even slower when I was awake, every second felt like a minute. 'Am I even living?', I thought as I stared at the walls mindlessly. One thing I've learnt throughout the years of living in isolation was that your mind was your biggest enemy. Just when you find the tiniest of hope, your thoughts will always be the first to shoot it down. 'That's exactly what's happening right now', I thought closing my eyes.
My mind-set was the only thing that was saving me from this netherworld but lately I couldn't help but think if it was still working anymore. 'I'm still scared of death it seems', I thought finding it utterly ridiculous. It was moments like this when I wished my parents were still alive, I could really use the company. The fact that I had a family was still shocking to me, even after all these years I still have times where I felt like I was always alone. 'Not that it matters now', I started feeling drowsy and before I could even realise it, I fell asleep listening to the stillness of the room, not caring about what's about to come.
[Location : Xellene, Unit 3, Staff Room]
Liam arrived at his new workplace feeling uneasy and wary. Today was the first day he was supposed to have a session with Hel and as much as he disliked the idea, he didn't really have much of a choice at the moment. He walked up to his new desk was surprised to find it decorated with flowers and candies, scattered messily across the small table. He couldn't help but smile at the unnecessary gestures made by the women occupying the office.
'Dark chocolate would've been a better choice', Liam thought as he disliked sweets. He began picking up all the candies that he could and hurriedly placed it inside one of his drawers. 'I should give them to Max later during lunch', he thought as he sat down and took out the files that Max showed him last night. They spent all of last night flipping through them while Max would explain anything he couldn't understand, Max was an actual fan of Hel.
'Maybe that wasn't a good idea by the looks of it', he thought as he felt tired from the lack of sleep. He leaned against his chair as an attempt to stretch when suddenly, Liam heard the metallic door of the office opening to reveal Max and Celia walking in together. "Please Celia? At least for old times sake", Max urged Celia, who was paying no further attention to Liam's poor friend but instead began walking towards his direction with Max following closely.
"Mr. Wright?", she called Liam's last name formally, her tone hard and cold, "Dr. Blake had asked me to tell you that the session with 0604 has been cancelled". She was bared faced and was wearing a dark blue turtle neck with a pair of black trousers, it was quite simple compared to the others. "May I ask what happened?", he asked as he glanced at Max, "I wasn't told anything about it".
She continued staring at me before saying, "Dr. Blake will explain further during lunch, I'm sure that he's told you about that". Liam was taken aback by the sudden invitation and it seemed that Max was too as he protests, "Um no Celia, he sure as hell wasn't told that, and neither was I". Max suddenly stood in front of Liam creating distance between the two and Liam couldn't help but feel relieved about it.
"And what does it have anything to do with you Dr. Hansen?", she said rudely, the contrast between how she spoke to him and Max was surprising to Liam but he remained calm. "I told you not to call me that", Max said his voice hardening at the mention of his surname, "It makes me feel old". Celia just rolled her eyes in a sarcastic manner and said, "Can't you be professional for once Max?". "Of course I can", Max replied nonchalantly, "But that wouldn't be as fun, now would it?".
"Anyways, tell Blake that he's sure as hell not having lunch with Liam", Max said before dragging Liam out of the office and away from Celia. "Max-", Celia was cut off by the sight of us running away from her but Liam could sense that the hot headed lady wasn't letting us go easily. "We should probably run", Max said to him as he bursted into a sprint leaving me behind, "Come on! That woman's not letting you go so easily".
'Just my luck', he thought running after Max, he personally didn't want to have lunch with Blake as well, something just told him that it wasn't a good idea at the moment. Liam was finally able to catch up to Max but he realised that the area was somewhere he wasn't used to, "What, what is this place?", he asked breathlessly. "Oh, here?", he asked, "I guess you could call it my hideout?". It was a wide room with some furniture but it looked like no ones' been coming in as everything seemed new.
"It's in the middle of renovation", he continued taking a seat on a nearby couch, "Whenever I feel stressed, I come here to relax". Liam nodded and sat down next to him, it's only been an hour and things already seemed so tiring. 'Might as well get some sleep', he thought making himself comfortable, "Mind waking me up after twenty minutes?", he asked Max. "Sure", he replied as he was on his phone, "Want some peppermint by the way?", he offered some from his lab coat.
"No", Liam refused harshly, "You know I hate sweets", he seemed sincerely offended by what Max had said. After that, only the sound of Max laughing was heard and soon enough, Liam fell into a deep slumber forgetting about his current situation.