6 months earlier

Mark's POV

I stood at the corner of my breakfast table, sipping coffee from my favorite mug while reading the newspaper.

Today I wore a black suit with a grey tie and a well-polished shoe. My hair was neatly combed into a suitable style that matches my circular face. I was readily dressed for my day at work, also known as the Dayleaf Phsychiatric Ward.

I quickly picked up my case and walked out the door of my apartment building. I opened my car and hopped inside, and shut the door behind me and drove off.

When I arrived at work, it was easy to tell that I was very serious about my work. I've been working at the Phsychiatric Ward for about five years of my life. It became my dream job when I was ten, after I observed my uncle's behavior after war.

As I walked in, Lydia, the secretary, stood up with a smile on her face as always.

''Good morning Mr. Davis!''

''Good morning, Lydia.'' Our ward was a bit similar to many others. There were men seated around tables playing card games, women standing against the walls, lost in another world and other people who were smiling joyfully for a anonymous reason.

''Max wants to see you in his office.'' she said after sitting back in her seat.

I immediately made my way towards my boss' office and knocked.

''Come in.'' He said with a low, business-like voice.

I opened the door and entered. Max was dressed in a black suit and a blue tie. He had long black hair that fell down his face and ended at his chin and he was about 40. I never bothered to ask. ''Ah, just the person I was waiting for. Please, sit down. ''

''Why'd you call me here, Max?'' I said with an angry grunt. ''Because I mean it had to be real important for you to call me into your office. '' Max held a surprised look as he put his right foot on the desk and he placed his left foot above his right one. He joined his fingers together.

'' Well Mark, I've called you here because you have done an excellent job with our last patient. She now works at the Federal Departments. So, I see no reason why I should have you working here. ''

''Are you firing me?'' I asked, shocked.

''Of course not. What I meant was you deserve better than this.'' Max waved his hand around the small, congested room.

''Meaning?''

''The Red Oak Mental Institution could use a bit of help. They're short on doctors and rather tall on patients. They could use a fella like you.''

''Is this like a promotion? ''

''Call it what you want. The main point is you're no longer needed here.'' He removed his feet and brought his chair closer to the desk.

''Geez. You sure know how to make a guy feel special.''

''That's just the way it is. '' Max's lips turned up at the corners but he kept a straight face.

''Thanks, this really means a lot to me.''

''Of course it does. Don't disappoint me. I've a lot riding on this promotion.''

''Oh really?''

''Precisely. Remember what I taught you.''

''Right. Like you taught me any of what I know.''

Max handed an envelope to me whilst I stood up.

''You start tomorrow if that's okay with you?''

''No, it's fine. Thanks. A lot. '' I left the room feeling excited and relieved at the same time.

...

The next morning, I woke up at 4'am due to the excitement spreading over every cell in my body at visiting The Red Oak Mental Institution.

I pulled on my NYC t-shirt and blue jeans. I wore a black boots, combed my hair neatly and took my sunglasses, heading for the door as I pulled them on.

I jogged down the staircase and jumped into my car. I drove as quickly as possible because I didn't want to be late.

The Red Oak Mental Institution was an enormous building located through a deserted highway. It was surrounded by trees, grass and tall fences. I stood there for a while admiring the building then entered.

I walked down the hallway, with my head held high and a proud  but nervous smile on my face.

A tall man with large, brown eyes approached me and welcomed me by holding out his hand. He wore a white lab coat over his clothing.

''Hi, you must be Mark Davis.'' He said with a delightful grin.

I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. '' Yes, Mark Davis. ''

''Hi. Max told me a lot about you. The new psychiatrist, right? ''

''Yeah.''

'' I can't tell you how grateful we are to have you here.''

''Well, I'm happy to be here.''

''I'm Doctor Charlie Luther, by the way, but you can call me Charles. Everyone does. Let me show you around before I introduce you to your patient, but your patient doesn't talk to psychiatrists. I'll show you around for today and tomorrow you'll start on the patient. Keep in mind that there will be a  background check on you,  just to let you know.'' He walked down the white hallway to show me the different rooms.

''That's okay. It was expected.''

He chuckled lightly as he said, '' Of course it was. Anyways, this is where we keep the amnesia victims, '' Charles pointed to a room on his left. One by one I was shown the different rooms and people and their diseases. After showing me the 'minor mind malfunction victims', he stopped at a metal door, and hesitated.

'' Uh... this is your patient. ''

I took a step closer to the door. I frowned and jumped back, startled, when a shrill scream erupted from the room followed by the sound of falling metal.

The screaming continued pausing at irregular intervals. It sounded like someone was being attacked. Four men in the same lab coat as Charles rushed past me and Charles into the room. Charles and I may have slipped in before the door closed and I saw her.

A slim, pale girl who looked to be seventeen to nineteen with coal black damp hair struggling against the men as they held her around the stomach, shoulders and feet. She screamed either from pain or irritation.

During her struggle, her gaze met mine for a few seconds. She looked at me with a devilish glare and anger blazing in her blue eyes. I watched as they injected her, in the shoulder, with a syringe filled with translucent liquid. She calmed down and slowly relaxed on her small bed.

I watched as one of the men rested a hand on her head. Her face was blank and she didn't appear to be blinking. They immediately left the room which brought suspicion to overtake  me. They left as if they were used to it. It didn't bother any of them.

''Say hello to your new patient, Mark. Start getting use to her. '' Charles said with a slight smirk.

He then left me just staring at her and her staring at the ceiling with the same blank expression. Then suddenly, she slowly got up from the bed and took two steps towards me. Being the idiot that I was, I took two steps backward. She saw my expression and immediately stopped walking and stared at me. She scoffed and walked back to her bed.

Trying to get to know my new patient, I thought I should ask her the question that was on my mind since I saw her. ''What's your name? ''

She stared at me with a blank expression as if I didn't say anything. While waiting patiently for an answer I realized she wasn't going to answer me so I asked another question. ''Do you have a name?''

The look on her face was all I needed to tell that that was a stupid question. I knew she heard me. She started to look down on her bed and draw shapes that I never knew existed.''Okay, um, my name is Mark Davis. I'm going to be your new psychiatrist.'' She immediately stopped tracing shapes with her finger still placed on her bed. She looked up at me and if looks could kill, I would already be dead. Her blue eyes now carried a darker expression and I could feel the anger radiating off her pale skin. She slowly got up from her bed and walked towards me.

The thing about being a psychiatrist is that there can be danger in any direction and you must not expect patients to be in their right mind at all times. I loved my job although it was dangerous but she didn't radiate danger nor anything particular, so I found it difficult to read her body language. Her face said anger whilst her fingers said nervous.

She stopped 2 feet in front of me and the anger was quickly replaced with a blank expression. She searched my face as if looking for something specific and she suddenly confused me by smiling excitingly. It wasn't an amused smile, it was more of a mischievous kind of smile.

She then turned around and walked back to her bed. I know I shouldn't be confused but I've never worked with patients like that. I mostly worked with patients who couldn't stop laughing or patients who kept catching invisible flies. She laid down on her bed and picked up a small teddy bear from the top of her bed that I haven't noticed was there. I almost screamed from horror at the sight of the bear.

It was brown with a bit of the cushions coming out of it. It's neck was slit and hanging to the side and when I looked up further I saw one of its eyes was black and the other was gone. The only thing left on that vacant area was a red x.

''Mark,'' I heard someone say. I looked at her and saw her staring at me. It was a bit confusing at first because I thought she didn't speak much but I recovered from that and focused on the commencing conversation. ''That's your name right?''

''Y-yeah, um, Mark Davis. I thought you didn't speak to any of your psychiatrists.'' That came out as a question. Surprisingly, she made me very nervous and awkward when she spoke to me, but I blame it on the fact that her speaking to me was unexpected.

''What gave you that idea? I'm speaking to you, aren't I? '' she said with a slight smirk.

I was a bit taken back by her response. ''W-well, yeah, of course.''

For a minute there I almost forgot she was a patient. I took it upon myself to know as much as possible from her before she decides to return silent. ''So, what's your name?'' She let out 'what I thought was the cutest but evil laughter I'd ever heard in my life'. I thought for a moment what she could possibly be in here for. To me she looked normal, like a normal teenage girl but then the thought came to mind that looks can be deceiving.

''Maybe you should've brought that question to Charles' attention because I'm not telling you anything.'' She said in between laughter. She had a slight English accent that was only noticeable when she said certain words. A bit like Charles.

''Why not?'' Time after time she just gets more suspicious.

She immediately stopped laughing and her exciting blue eyes were transformed into angry ones. After what felt like hours she finally spoke up.

''You ask a lot of questions.'' I found it confusing that someone could turn from mute to talkative and after she changed emotions so quickly I became more curious. It was usually due to split personalities but I was not completely certain.

I about to ask another question but was silenced by the sound of a bell ringing outside, interrupting my question game. She looked towards the door then looked back at me.

''Well I guess there goes our time Mr. Davis. It was nice meeting you.'' She said dismissing me completely.