"You're late," I deadpan as Millie swiftly slides into the passenger seat of my car.

She rolls her eyes at me. "Stop throwing tantrums. I am just five minutes late. Fashionably."

I eye her outfit; a brown chiffon blouse with a bowtie in the front, paired with a pair of beige formal pants and brown boots. And her usual bold makeup? Gone and replaced with a natural one.

I immediately look down at mine and grimace. A white henley and a pair of dark jeans. Plain and boring.

Great. Seems like my friend is the only one who seems like she's actually visiting a mental institution and I am just her bodyguard who's gonna to take a stroll in the building.

"Someone else will be joining us too?" Millie's voice breaks me out of my thoughts.

Turning the ignition key on, I reply to her with a 'nopes' and proceed to drive to our destination.

Throughout the entire drive, Millie belted out to every single One Direction song that has been played on the radio. And while I also fancy the boyband, what I definitely don't prefer is having someone singing like a whining crow seated beside me. Which is why the entire drive I had a permanent scowl etched on my face.

When we reach the parking lot of Morningfield Psychiatric Institution, Millie checks her makeup for one last time, before getting out of the car, followed by me.

Uneasiness settle inside me as I look at the burnt brick building in front of me. I have never visited any mental asylum before, and only came across one person who was mentally ill, which ended up traumatizing me. And while I don't have any problem with my major and know for a fact that the doctors here will not assign us to dangerous patients, the thought of reliving my nightmares is not settling well inside me.

A hand touch my shoulder and I turn my head, catching my friend already starting at me with a sympathetic look.

"You are going to be alright. And if you don't like the person assigned to you, we'll ask for a replacement. And if not, then we can go to a different asylum," Millie says softly and gives a firm squeeze to my shoulder.

I try to smile and give her an assuring nod, silently saying that I am going to be alright.

"Let's get over with this," I jerk my head towards the building.

Entering the building, we went straight to the reception counter. The receptionist sitting there has her head bowed down, typing something on her phone, her face hidden by her bangs.

"Good Morning," Millie speaks in her chirpy voice. "I'm here from Stanford University. I contacted you yesterday regarding our assignment of observing patients. I believe everything is ready by now?"

The receptionist starts to lift her head. "I'm sorry can you please repeat that again?" Her voice sounds a lot familiar. "I'm new here and Bethany didn't fi- OH MY GOD NYE IS THAT YOU?!?!"

A grin breaks out on my face as Phoebe, the receptionist rounds the corner of the counter and engulfs me in a bone crushing hug. My arms immediately go around her as a gleeful laughter bursts from her.

"Oh My God it's been such a long time!!!" She almost shouts, momentarily forgetting that we're in literally in a mental asylum right now. But I guess she doesn't care, "cause that's exactly how your friend should react after bumping into you after several years.

I pull away from her and give her a side hug.

"I wasn't expecting to meet you before Lois's wedding," I say. "And since when did you start working in medical field? I thought you were going to be a super sexy cop."

Maybe I was imagining things, but I think I notice a falter in Phoebe's smile. But then she rolls her eyes and lightly smacks me on the arm.

"Glad to know you still haven't gotten out of your flirt-boy era." She fixes her bangs. "And yeah thought I'd look badass and all with a pistol by my hip but seems like I am too chicken to hold one." After a pause, she continues. "And I love being a nurse and treating everyone locked in here. To help them being better."

I open my mouth to say something, but someone clearing their throat behind me makes me stop. Phoebe's eyes widen as she looks behind me and mutters a 'oh fuck' under her breath.

I immediately pivot on my heels and come face to face with a woman in a white coat over a green shirt and navy blue pencil skirt, with a stethoscope around her neck. She looks around my mother's age, her
blonde hair tied in a neat bun and her makeup is kept nude and professional. She has crossed her arms over her chest, her face holding a stern expression.

She might be one of the doctors in this asylum.

My thoughts are confirmed when Phoebe clears her throat and tells me in a professional tone. "Nye, meet Dr. Johnson. She's the head doctor of Morningfield Psychiatric Institution."

"Hello, I'm Nye Mitchell. It's nice to meet you." I hold out my hand, which she takes and shakes with a firm grip. Okay, the woman looks strict as fuck and has a strong grip. Her scrutinizing gaze fleets over my face before landing behind.

"And you? Are you with him?" She asks the person behind me.

"Yes!" The person behind me squeaks. "I mean, hello. I am Millie Torres."

Oh. For a moment I forgot with whom and why I came here.

Millie comes beside me to shake Dr. Johnson's hand. And then the doctor nods at us. "Are you kids from Stanford U?" She asks.

My friend and I nod at her in unison. Dr. Johnson swings her eyes to Phoebe and says, "The files I gave you in the morning. Give them each."

"Sure, Doc," Phoebe immediately goes behind the reception counter and retrieves two identical looking blue files from somewhere.

"Before you're escorted to your assigned patients," Dr. Johnson's voice makes me turn my head to her. "I am going make you go through some rules."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she continues, "You are going to have exactly forty minutes with your assigned patients. Before going into their rooms, you will be given a list of what cannot be carried in there. You are allowed to ask questions but if anything you say or ask them and it triggers them, call us immediately." She retrieves two small remote-like devices from her pocket with a big red button and holds them in front of us. "Take these, each of you. It's an emergency call device. If by any chance you trigger our patients or they try to cause you any harm. Just press this red button." She points at the said thing. "Someone will immediately reach you and you'll be assigned to a new patient. Understood?"

Both Millie and I mutter out an yes. Phoebe comes to stand in front of Millie with a big smile and holds out a black file in front of her. "Good luck with your assignment, sweetie."

"We don't fraternise with our visitors, Phoebe," Dr. Johnson mutters under her breath.

Phoebe just rolls her eyes and proceeds to give a black file but pauses. Confusion swims in my head as I take in her knitted eyebrows and purses lips.

"Umm Doc," Phoebe hesitantly speaks, her eyes focused on the file she is about to give to me. "Are you sure about this patient?" She turns towards the doctor and points at the file in her head.

With a blank face, Dr. Johnson raises a single brow. "You are going to question my duty now?"

Phoebe turns around and hesitantly hands me the file. My eyes search for the name of the patient it belongs to and at the bottom right corner, they find it.

Theresa Jones.

"And one more thing," I raise my eyes, only to find the doctor already looking at me. "No physical contact of any sort. Keep that in mind." She turns towards Millie and says, "I'll escort you to your assigned patient's room. Phoebe, do the same for Mr. Mitchell." The last sentence was directed to Phoebe who is standing behind me.

"Nye," Millie whispers, and I turn my head towards her. "Good luck."

I give her a hesitant smile and reply, "You too."

We parted ways, Dr. Johnson escorting Millie into the hallway by the reception counter while Phoebe doing the same to me to the hallway opposite of the counter. I notice now that there is barely anyone on this floor, except for the security guards outside and an elderly lady sitting in one of the waiting chairs.

As we walk, I watch my childhood friend turning into a professional and babbling about my assigned patient.

"Albeit a schizophrenic patient, Theresa Jones is literally  one of the sweetest patients around here. She's around your age only, which might make it easier for you to talk to and connect with her. No mentions of her family otherwise it might trigger her schizophrenic tendencies and lead her to harm you or worse, herself."

We round the corner and my eyes follow a nurse holding the hand of a little girl, who might be ten years old if not less, sweet talking and guiding her to walk. The kid looks pale and holds a blank expression. When her eyes lands on my face, I give her a small smile. She just keeps looking at me. The nurse beside her throws me an apologetic smile, to which I return with a reassurance one. They pass by us and I turn my attention to whatever Phoebe was telling me.

"..... but only fiction. And yes since you're carrying a notebook and a pen with you, along with her. I highly suggest you to hide away your pencil if you see any odd behaviour of the patient, and press the red button of that device given to you."

We end in front of a white door, with a label of '903' on it.

"I'm leaving you here. And before leaving the hospital, don't forget to hand over the device to me." She pats on my back. "Good luck with your assignment. She should be awake right now."

We both exchange smiles and then she turns around and heads back to the reception counter most probably.

I take a deep breath. And then let it out. Closing my eyes, I hold the door knob and slowly turn it. And enter the room as quickly as possible, closing the door behind me.

My eyes clash with caramel hues as soon as I open them and I freeze in my spot.

Theresa Jones, my assigned patient for the next six months, is staring at me with a curious expression.

"You are not a doctor."

                   ──────────

THEY FINALLY MEET HURRAYYYYY!!!!!!

What do you think of the chapter?

Do you like Phoebe? (If you don't, sucks for you 'cause you'll be seeing her a lot)

Do you find anything suspicious in this chapter? I tried my best to place a couple of Easter eggs and tried to make it as hidden as possible 👀

Also, I'm so sorry for the lack of updates in the past weeks. Life got in the way (in both good and bad way). Although it might not be book related, I can't wait to share it with y'all.

I didn't write this on my laptop so apologies in advance if you find any sort of typos.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share with your peeps as it motivates us aspiring writers to keep writing and not give up.

See you in the next update (hopefully next week). Until then, read a lot, eat a lot and sleep a lot.

Lots of love and nutella sandwiches,

- your 1dgurl.