by J N Tensley
“Yeah we’re ready.” Latrell answered. He grabbed the crutches on the side of the couch and used them to help him get up. He made his way over to the door where Trisha and Kia waited for him.
Kia turned around and headed out the door first followed by Latrell and Trisha was last. Trisha locked the door behind her and made her way to the side of Latrell.
“I’ll drive.” Kia told them.
They headed to the elevator and then out to the parking lot.
It was a warm muggy day. The sun shined bright with barely any clouds it seemed like.
Good thing I wore shorts, Latrell thought happily. He had on a baggy pair of blue gym shorts that went to his knees and a black T-shirt. He didn’t like to be hot. The sun did something to him. Made him feel crazy if he stayed out in it too long.
Kia had a suburban truck. She hopped in the driver’s seat and unlocked the doors so Latrell and Trisha could get in.
“You can sit up front.” Trisha said. “It might be easier for you up there.”
“No the ladies can sit up front. I’ll just chill in the back.” He insisted.
“If that’s what you want.” Trisha said helping Latrell get into the back of the truck.
Kia looked back at Latrell and then over towards Trisha before she started up the SUV. She put it in reverse and then drove out in the parking lot.
The suburban was getting cool now that Kia had the AC on.
Latrell couldn’t stop thinking about what they would run into at the Asylum. Would Malik be in some sort of straight jacket? Would he be doped up on medication? Would he be screaming and jumping around like a madman? All of the possibilities crossed his mind. He couldn’t help but think about them.
Latrell closed his eyes and sunk his head into the headrest. He tried not to let his thoughts run wild with crazy images of the Asylum but it was hard.
“I can’t wait until I see his face.” Latrell could hear Kia say.
“I bet you can’t girl. I know he misses you too.” Trisha said.
I miss that knucklehead too, Latrell told himself. Even when Malik is serious he can be funny too.
Latrell shifted his body in the seat when the car started rocking back and forth as they went down a bumpy road.
“I just hope they let him outta there.” Kia said softly. “I hope I can bring him home today. Then I’ll hug him and never let him go.”
“They can’t keep him in there forever. They can’t just hold a person in there against their will.” Trisha said.
“I hope so.” Kia said.
Latrell’s body leaned to the left as Kia made a sharp right turn.
“I just hope that the staff there aren’t assholes.” Trisha said looking over at Kia.
“Yeah me too. We have enough to worry about with Malik we don’t need to have the staff on our asses.” Kia said
“The nurse at the hospital said their really nice over there. That she volunteers there sometimes and it’s a decent place.” Latrell interjected keeping his eyes closed.
“Yeah well of course she would say that, she’s not a patient there. I’m sure it’s different for the people who are patients.” Kia said.
Latrell hoped she was wrong. He hoped they didn’t give them a hard time and try to keep Malik there unnecessarily.
About ten minutes later Kia pulled into the Shadow Point Asylum parking lot. The building was huge almost the size of the hospital. But there was something dark about it. The windows had bars over them and the outside had long vines attached to the building.
“We’re here.” Kia said as she drove through the parking lot.
Latrell finally opened his eyes and took a look around. “This place definitely looks the part.” He said.
“You know what I’m saying?” Trisha responded to Latrell.
Kia parked the SUV around the middle of the parking lot and hopped right out. “No time to waste.” She said closing the door behind her.
Trisha stepped out and helped Latrell out. All three of them headed to the main door.
A gush of cold air rushed past them as the automatic doors slid apart.
Straight ahead of them was the receptionist desk. They made there way over to it and a red headed nurse was sitting there typing something on the computer keyboard.
“May I help you?” The nurse said looking away at her screen up at them, she had on all white shrubs.
“Yes we’re here to see Malik Johnson.” Kia said.
“Ok. If you three will please sign in and have a seat I’ll let him know you’re here.” The nurse said. She pointed to the large sign in book that was sitting on top of the counter in front of her.
Kia signed her name and then Trisha and Latrell signed there’s. They then walked over and sat down in the little lobby across from the nurse.
“I hope this doesn’t take all day.” Kia said glumly. “I hope they bring us right back so we can see him.”
“I’m sure they will. They probably just want to make sure he’s safe.” Latrell said.
Latrell looked around and noticed the flat screen TV hanging in the corner of the lobby area. He also noticed the metal detector on the side of the nurse’s desk.
“I just hope he’s okay.” Kia said quietly. “I hope my baby’s okay.”
Trisha was sitting next to Kia and put her hand on her knee. “I’m sure he’s fine girl. We’ll bring him home soon. If not we’ll break him outta here.” She smiled.
Kia smiled back at her. “Thanks for coming down here with me.”
“Are you kidding me? Malik is like family. That’s my man’s best friend. Of course we gonna come.” Trisha said sassily.
Malik was like a brother to Latrell. They had been best friends their whole high school years together. Now in their twenties they still were very close.
“Do you think he’s drugged up on medication?” Kia asked Trisha.
Trisha shrugged. “I don’t know if they can just put you on medication like that. Unless he was flipping out when he came down here I don’t see why they would do that.
“I hope not. Malik’s never been a fan of medication. His only medicine is weed.” Kia giggled.
It was nice to hear her giggle for a change. Nice to see her cute face smile.
But smoking weed is what got us into this situation in the first place, Latrell thought. If we just would’ve stayed at my place or his, this never would’ve happened.
Sitting there was uncomfortable for Latrell. His lower back was hurting. He was getting tired of just sitting there waiting.
As if hearing him the nurse came over to them. “Alright Mr. Johnson is ready to see you now.” She said smiling. “If you’d follow me through the metal detector then I’ll take you right back to see him.
The three of them stood up and followed behind the nurse through the metal detector. Kia and Trisha had left their purses in the SUV. Latrell handed the nurse his crutches and leaned up against Trisha who helped him through to the other side of the metal detector.
“Ok, everything looks good.” The nurse said now that they all had gone through the metal detector and it hadn’t beeped. She led them through two silver metal doors and down a long hallway.
Latrell looked off to his right and saw what looked like a big room where some of the patients were walking around with a couple nurses keeping watch over them. A man was shaking his head and yelling something. Another older blonde haired woman standing facing the wall and knocking her head against it.
Latrell shook his head. Is this really a good place for Malik to be? He’s not that crazy he just lost his cool.
They turned the corner and went past some patient rooms, some doors were open some were closed. The ones that were open they could see some patients walking back in forth anxiously in their room. One man was saying. “They’re not gonna get me! They’re not gonna get!” Over and over to himself.
The hallway was lit well the lights were bright.
Latrell was already felt uneasy about being there. But h
e knew he had to see his home boy Malik. He had to make sure he was okay. He had to get some answers.
The nurse stopped in front of a door and peeked inside the viewing glass on the door. “Malik you have some visitors who want to see you. I’m gonna let them in okay?”
Why is she acting like he’s dangerous?
Latrell and Trisha stared at each other as the nurse unlocked the door and walked inside.
It was a simple room. A bed with a metal frame. A desk with a chair and a lamp on it and metal bars across the window.
The three of them walked in behind the nurse. Malik sat at the desk on the chair with his back turned to them facing the barred up window.
Latrell’s heart began to race as he slowly made his way across the room on his crutches.
Kia quickly walked over to Malik. “Baby, you okay?” She hugged him from behind and kissed his cheek.
Malik didn’t answer just continued sitting there staring out the window.
Latrell came up to the right side behind him and Trisha stood next to Kia.
“Visiting hours are until eight. I’ll give you guys some privacy. I’m gonna close the door. There’ll be a guard patrolling the hallway so if you need anything just let him know.” The nurse smiled and headed out the room closing the door behind her.
“Malik. You can talk to me. You can talk now baby.” Kia said getting on her knees and putting her arms around his waist.
Malik looked down at her but kept quiet.
“What’s wrong with him?” Trisha asked looking at Latrell. “Why is he being so quiet?”
Why was he being so quiet? The last time Latrell had seen him they both were cracking jokes and getting high before that evil cloud showed up and ruined everything.
Latrell took a step closer and put his hand on Malik’s shoulder. “Hey bro, how you holding up?”
Malik slowly turned his head towards Latrell and stared at him coldly. His eyes seemed to be pitch black all over.
Latrell quickly removed his hand from his shoulder and leaned back. He took another look at his eyes. They weren’t black they were normal. Brown pupils stared back at him.
Why an I seeing shit, he asked himself. What’s wrong with me?
“Baby can you talk?” Kia asked still hugging him tightly. “Say something. Say anything.”
Malik turned his head back to Kia. “Yeah.” He said softly.
Kia smiled. “Well that’s a start. Tell us how you’re doing. Tell us how they’re treating you down here. Did they put you on any medication?”
Latrell waited for Malik to answer. Everything seemed weird. Why was he acting like that? What did they do to his friend?
“I’m okay. I just want to go home.” Malik said quietly.
A tear ran down Kia’s face. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you outta here. I promise you I will.”
Malik wiped the tears from Kia’s cheek and kissed her forehead.
“I miss you so much Malik. I’m going crazy not being able to see you.” Kia said.
“I miss you too angel.” Malik said.
“Malik, do you remember anything? Do you know how you got here?” Latrell asked.
Malik shrugged. “All I remember was us being in the forest then I woke up here. Everything between that is blank.”
“They say you hurt a nurse and Trisha. That you choked them. Almost killed them. Why would you do something like that?” Kia asked, more tears running down her face.
“I don’t know. I don’t remember.” Malik turned to Trisha. “Did I hurt you?”
Trisha nodded. “Yeah but I’m okay now. I knew it wasn’t you. You didn’t look like yourself.”
“I’m sorry Trisha. This whole thing doesn’t make any sense. I can’t even remember any of it.” He reached out his hand to hers and patted it softly.
“I know. We need to know what happened in that forest. Trell says he saw something over you. He said it like swallowed you. Do you remember any of that?” Kia asked.
Malik shook his head. He look confused and tired.
How are we supposed to get answers if he doesn’t even remember anything?
Latrell moved closer to Malik. “Malik just try to remember what happened. We were in the forest and this black cloud thing came up behind you and covered your whole body. You then disappeared. I was scared so I started running and then this happened.” Latrell looked down at his cast. “Do you remember that?”
Malik looked up at Latrell and shook his head.
“Do you remember choking me?” Trisha asked. “Why did you choke me Malik?”
Malik put his head down. “Because I wanted to kill you.” He said lowly.
Latrell raised his eyebrows.
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Chapter 6
Latrell’s body temperature seemed to raise. The words kept replaying in his mind over and over. “I wanted to kill you.” Sounding over and over in his head like an echo.
Trisha gasped. “What?” She said in a shocked voice.
“I wanted to kill you. There was something in me and I couldn’t control myself. I just felt the urge to kill you and to kill that nurse. It’s like I could see the whole thing happening but I couldn’t do anything to stop it.” Malik raised his head and looked at her sorrowfully.
Trisha put her hand on her chest, like something was stuck in it. “I’m not sure I know how to respond to that.”
Kia just knelt there quietly. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Couldn’t believe the man she fell in love with could do something so evil.
“So do you remember anything from when that cloud thing entered you?” Latrell asked leaning on his crutches.
“All I remember is everything going black. Like I was taken somewhere deep inside me. Somewhere dark and held there. I don’t even know how I got to the hospital. That’s the strange thing about it.” Malik looked back towards the window as he talked. “I wish I could tell you but I’m just as confused as you all are.”
I wouldn’t expect him to remember anything, Latrell thought. I wouldn’t expect him to know the bad things he tried to do in the hospital.
They continued talking and asking questions. Trisha and stood there nervously ever since he said he wanted to kill her. The time now fifteen minutes to eight. They all sat on the edge of Malik’s bed with Malik facing them in the chair.
“When can I get outta here?” Malik asked, his eyes looked tired and glossy.
“I don’t know babe.” Kia responded. “I’ll ask them. Just make sure you don’t do anything else crazy so that they wanna keep you up in here.”
“I told you guys I don’t remember. Everything is blank. Do you really think I’d hurt you Trisha? You’re like family.” Malik said emotionally.
Trisha stared hard at him, like one part of her wanted to believe that but the other part of her was in doubt.
“Trisha I would never intentionally hurt you.” Malik stared back sat her. Then his eyes went to Kia. “Or you. Or any of you.”
Latrell knew it was the dark cloud that made him do those things but Kia and Trisha didn’t see it so it sounded like they were just high. “Don’t worry man, we’ll get to the bottom of this. We’ll find out what that thing was that got you acting like that.”
“I hope so. I hope it’s gone because I can’t take not knowing if I did something like that or not. This whole thing is tearing me up inside.” Malik’s eyes moved back towards the floor.
“Malik I believe you.” Kia said softly. She reached her hand over to him and placed it on his leg.
Of course Kia would believe him, that was her man. Now they just had to get Trisha on board. They had to get her to know there was something dark inside that forest.
Trisha kept looking at Malik. “If you just would’ve seen your eyes Malik. I’ve never seen someone look like that before. It’s like it was pure evil. Like you had no soul.”
Malik stood up. “I’m so sorry Trisha. You know if I was control of myself that would’ve never happened. ”
He stretched out his arms for a hug.
Trisha looked at him strangely for a moment before standing up and giving him and tight hug.
It looked like Malik had a tear running down his face.
“Damn man this is some fucked up shit!” Latrell said. He grabbed his crutches and pushed himself off the bed. He joined in the hugging of Malik and Trisha. “It’s okay bro. We’ll figure something out.”
Kia stood up and joined the group hug.
A knock at the door cut their hugging out. Keys rattled on the other side of the door and the door swung open.
“It’s eight o’clock.” The nurse said walking up to them. “Visiting hours are over with for the day.”
They all turned their heads to look at the nurse and then back to Malik after letting him go.
“Well I guess we gotta get going.” Latrell said.
“No!” Kia said. She hugged Malik again tightly. “Nurse when can he come home? I miss him so much.”
“That’ll be up to the doctors but usually they’ll keep patients anywhere from fifteen to thirty days in here in cases like these.” The nurse crossed her arms in front of her.
“Fifteen to thirty days?” Kia sounded surprised. “That’s too long! Why can’t he leave now?”
“The hospital still needs to evaluate him. They still need to know why he snapped like that. If Mr. Johnson is deemed safe to be around others he’ll be released.” The nurse said.
Kia looked sad. She was sure he was getting out today. Sure she was going to take her man home. She looked at Malik, hurt. She kissed him on the lips.
“It’s okay. I can do it.” Malik said. “I’ll stay in here so you guys know that I’m not a threat.”
“I know you’re not baby.” Kia said kissing him on the lips again.
“I’m sure he’ll be out of here in the next few weeks. You can come back to visit him daily from four to eight. Those are the visiting hours.” The nurse said.
Kia kissed and hugged Malik one more time before wiping a tear from her eyes and heading to stand by the nurse.
Trisha waved to Malik and Latrell gave Malik a pound on his fist.