The screams. She'd never forget the screams. People blended together. Their faces and names were all a blur of a dream. She purposefully didn't think too hard about it, about them. As a result, they lost their humanity and she could selfishly cope with the fact that these faces, these humans were being destroyed before her eyes. So instead they became shapeless beings that she just happened to pass in the hall. But the screams. She could never stop hearing the screams. The shrieks and wails of pain, despair, and fear. Each was a unique song that wrenched apart her heart, shredding her soul. They wove their way into her very being stitching permanently into her core. She could never escape them. Perhaps it was a form of divine punishment for trying to ignore the plights of her fellow inmates that caused the screams to resonate with her pounding heart and loop through tattered mind. Then again maybe it was her own internal battle of righteousness that struggled desperately to hold onto something about them, anything at all, so they would not slip out of the world completely. It could be just the screams gave voice to her own insanity and pain.

The screams torn down the hall. They were a vengeance on the ears that had caused the high pitched wails and anyone else who could hear them yet chose to abandon the poor souls. A tornado of pain and unraveling personified whipped through the building threatening to tear down the asylum. However the guards kept moving, unflinching against the shrieks. The cascade may as well have been nothing but a whisper. How, how could these people remain standing in this whirlwind of despair? Rene sunk into the cement wall just around the corner from where the guards were patrolling. One good look and she'd be caught but she couldn't bring herself to move. The screams anchored her. She clenched her hands over her ears wincing with each rise and fall. There was so much pain.

So the question remains, what shall you do about it young one?

Rene slowly lowered her arms. What would she do? What could she even do? Fight...the word a drifting thought of her mind. No, it was more than that. It grew strength with each passing moment and relinquished scream. It was an urge, a desire to do something and earn something better for herself and the others. It was a promise. She smiled, perhaps not much of a pep talk but it would have to do. Here goes nothing. Rene leaned forward carefully checking out the situation around the corner. It was not exactly what one would call good or even okay. Multiple guards strolled up and down the halls randomly entering and exiting rooms. Their perfectly polished boots tapped a beat of "you're screwed, you're screwed" in Rene's head as she hid out of their direct line of sight again. Fun times for all.

Options, options, options. She could try faking it. Just act like she belonged, obviously Kristy had been walking around willie-nillie even though she was a resident. Then again a majority of the guards knew Rene's face from how much trouble she caused, and those who did know her didn't exactly like her either. Second plan try the old movie technique and grab a guard to 'borrow' their uniform as a disguise. Cons that would probably make a lot of noise and Rene wasn't the fastest with the quick draw. Pros she'd have the chance to take down a guard if she succeeded. She sighed; unfortunately she'd more than likely end up on the floor twitching from a taser. Alright on to the next strategy, after all third times the charm. She could storm down the halls in a blaze of furry kicking ass as she went and rescue everyone. She sighed leaning back against the wall again. She'd save the last one for later as her 'screw it' backup. Hm...

Abruptly a guard turned the corner, his mouth dropped open when he saw the unexpected surprise. He froze in the middle of the hallway. Rene squeaked involuntarily, well this sucked. She gave a nervous wave unsure how to react. Recovering he narrowed his eyes and grabbed her wrist. He dragged her down the hall away from the other guards to the nearest room. She kept her mouth shut admittedly curious to what the crap was happening. He wrenched the door open forcefully shoving Rene into the room. She stumbled in barely managing to stop herself from landing face first. How graceful. He wiped his head back and forth checking the coast before shutting the door silently encasing the two of them in darkness.

"Uh..."Rene started.

"Hold on let me find the lights."

Fumbling could be heard as the guard ran his hands along the wall searching. A light flickered trying to stave off the black before it finally burned. Rene investigated her...her helper, captor? Whatever he was. His lips were quirked down in an annoyed frown as he gazed at her intensely with burning blue eyes. His pitch black hair was covered with one of the standard issued security caps. He towered over her by at least 5 inches, probably more. Rene self-consciously tried to stand straighter pushing forward a bit on her toes. He continued to glower.

Rene gasped, "Hey I know you! You're that guy that was in charge of interrogating Kristy after the night in the pit. De...something."

"Declan."

His voice was incredibly harsh for someone who hadn't ratted her out for nicking the knife during the chaos incident, not that it had helped in the long run. Thought that counts though, right? Rene watched him fume. If he was so pissed off at her why did he drag her away from the other guards instead of raising the alarm? Well, now what? She rocked on her feet anxiously breathing deeply. Now was not the time to panic. If only she had a choice in that. With each passing moment her anxiety levels were rising like the tide. Rene closed her eyes focusing in on her breathing. In, hold, out, empty, and repeat.

"You alright?"

Rene opened her eyes to meet his. They were no longer shooting daggers at her but they still looked angry. "Not really." She shrugged retrying to remain focused "Nothing you can do about it though."

The waves were pulling back and receding fast. She bit her lip sharply. A small trickle of warmth slipped down her chin. Water only shifted that fast when it was getting ready to swell. Soon would come the break. Her entire body tensed up petrified of the force of the crash. Everything from recently was swirling in the waters making it dark and seemingly endless. One moment she was in control, the next...

Rene wrapped her arms tightly around her middle gasping for air. Her breath was heaving gulps and her heartbeat erratic. Declan eyes grew wide as he took a step forward a hand out. "What's going..."

"Don't touch me!" Rene shrieked stumbling back and falling onto the ground.

Declan dropped to his knees moving close but careful not to touch her. "You need to calm down. Someone is going to hear you. Just relax I'm not going to turn you in."

Rene gapped trying to keep her head above the crashing waves. "You're not helping." She hissed.

"Then what the hell do you want me to do?"

"Shut. Up."

He frowned growling. "Then calm the crap down. We can't risk getting caught. You're perfectly fine. You're safe I promise."

"It's not that simple you freaking idiot." She rasped out with each word clawing at her throat and choking off her desperate attempt to gather life giving oxygen.

She squeezed her eyes shut trying to ground herself to ride it out. Rene clasped her hands tightly over her mouth only allowing small slits between her fingers to breathe as she tried to minimize the straggled sounds coming from her. She was panicked not stupid. She knew they couldn't get caught even if she couldn't stop herself. She felt Declan get up and go guard the door. She was glad he had taken the hint. For someone who worked in a mental health institution he was clueless to say the least. Then again most people were. Anxiety was a beast always lurking and waiting to strike. It knew how to use all a person's biggest fears, insecurities, and worries against them. A mighty predator stalking its prey and to complicate matters more, no two were the same. Anxiety was and never would be just worrying or being overly dramatic. It had taken Cassie and Danny's help to fully understand and accept the creature it was.

How does one describe this battle between a creature of such a personal nature and oneself to someone who hasn't fought it themselves? How could someone understand the overwhelming feeling of panic without experiencing it? Sometimes it came to the point of paralysis over things that were, could be, and so much more. All the thoughts that in an instant could suddenly bombard one with their crushing pressure. Physically she could be fine and safe, like Declan said. But mentally, everything in and out of her control is suddenly crashing into her. All past decisions and future ones are swirling. All those little worries were foaming crests of the waves. It was terrifying. She was suffocating. Her body was in full fight or flight mode against an inescapable, imaginative assailant. Adrenaline pumped through her body like pulses of electricity. She was being fried and numbed at the same time. She supposed that was why it was called an attack. Worse, it was one not easily defended against. Usually, if she couldn't get herself under control before one started, she just took the beatings of being repeatedly tossed by the waves until it was over. No there was nothing innately wrong with being "chemically imbalanced" (as Michael put it) but there wasn't exactly anything pretty about it either.

It took maybe ten minutes for the ocean to still. In the moment, it had felt like an hour at least. She knew from past experience that it hadn't been. She collapsed fully onto the floor splaying out as though she was creating a snow angel. Rene became silent as her rhythms returned to normal. She felt drained.

"Feeling better?" Declan questioned from a distance, obviously uncomfortable with the situation.

Rene managed to raise her heavy leaden limb long enough to give him a finger for response.

"Pleasant." He mumbled.

"I don't want to move ever again." She whispered. Rene rolled away onto her side pulling her legs into her chest. "You must think I'm pathetic."

She could feel his eyes on her rather than see them. She shuddered clinging to her fraying pieces weaving them back together as she tried to find a shred of dignity. This was worse than the other times. The other times she had had a panic attack were mainly in private with the only occasional times in front of others, always patients like when it had happened with Michael. It was with people as ruined and crumbling as her. But Declan, he was normal, stable, and strong. For someone like him to see how precariously she walked the tether of her mind made her feel so broken, so weak...

"No."

"No?"

"No, I don't think you're pathetic." he paused a moment, "This wasn't the first time was it?"

Rene pulled herself tighter together at his response nodding slightly. It was embarrassing to be seen like that. A wreck as her own body fought against her. She heard a sigh.

"Look," He gathered his words "I'm...I'm not exactly sure what just happened now. But anyone who can go through that and come out the other side fighting has my respect."

Her chest hurt. It was aching and tingling from everything. She just wanted to shut her eyes and fall asleep. Times like this made her miss having a hoodie to wear instead of the stupid standard t-shirt. A hoodie could blind the world from her and hide her face from it. A distant scream wandered its way into her ears causing her to cringe. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up!

Rene pried herself off the floor with a groan. Every part of her body was weighed down and sluggish. She really didn't have time for this. It was like whiplash. Just because the episode was over didn't mean that pain still didn't lag afterwards. She would be feeling the effects of this particular one for a while. It had been quite some time since she had a panic attack so severe. Perhaps her body was telling her that heroing really wasn't her thing. Too bad she was a terrible listener or maybe just too stubborn, probably both.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" Rene growled glaring at the floor as though it was the thing physically causing the distress. "I'm standing up. Then I'm going to go out there and saving everyone."

"You're joking right?" She continued her struggle ignoring him, "You're not joking." He threw his hands in the air frustrated. "Look at you, you can barely stand. There is no way you're going out there. Not to mention Lora would kill me if I let anything happen to you."

Finally standing straight, she gave him a triumphant smirk that was only slightly minimized by her still swaying legs. "Take that gravity."

Declan slapped his hand on his forehead slowly bringing it down to rub at his eyes. "This is not going to end well."

"Yeah, for all those idiots out there when I get my hands on them." Rene grinned before grimacing with a flash of spots. "What were you saying about Lora?"

"I said she was going to kill me."

"What for? You pee in her coffee or something, cause she really seems to like that stuff."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You always this sarcastic?"

"More or less." She shrugged. "I find words can make a lovely a weapon as any if delivered properly."

"Perfect." He sighed with a roll of his eyes, "I'm going to ignore that. I meant if I let anything happen to her precious little troublemaker Lora would kill me."

"So you two are working together on this whole mutiny thing?" He gave slight nod. Rene scrapped her top teeth over her bottom lip feeling the split from earlier. "Then what are you doing, well wherever we are. This crap doesn't exactly seem like it's on the up and up."

Another scream echoed down the area rattling Rene's heart urging her to hurry up. Declan frowned, "Not that it's any of your business but Lora asked me to find out what was going on down here. She isn't allowed down here, but I'm new enough that being curious about this stuff isn't suspicious. Unlike Lora, who made it clear from the beginning that she didn't want to know the dark secrets of this place."

"Pleasant." Rene mimicked his earlier tone making him get annoyed creases between his eyebrows. Her lips quirked up slightly involuntarily. This guy was far too easy to mess with.

"Point being, I'll handle this. You just get out of here while you still can."

"I see. You mean like you've been handling it so well so far. I'm curious, you're obviously not deaf, so are you just being heartless, cowardly, or stupid when you continue to let those people scream as they get ripped apart. I know! You must think that they are riding a roller coaster or maybe going through a haunted house. It all makes sense now!"

"Will you please shut up."

"No, no I get it now. I must be crazy to think those were screams of pain and terror. It's so obvious now." She gave herself a duh tap to the head for added effect. He glared at her, one eyebrow visibly twitching in anger. "Face it guard-boy. You are nowhere near in control of all this crap." She gestured at the door her voice rising with emotion. "My friends and other innocent people are out there at this moment having God knows what done to them. I refuse to just go back to my room and pretend nothing is happening. So you can help me or get the hell out of my way."

She moved to shove past him. He grabbed her arm only tightening his grip when she tried to shake him off. "You're crazy if you think you stand a chance out there. You're just some girl!" He hissed at her.

"And you're just some jerk." His brows quirked annoyed again. "Sorry, I thought we were stating the obvious." Rene smiled.

Declan became quiet gazing into her eyes intensely, searching. "You're serious about this aren't you?"

She nodded, "I'm going to save them."

"Spoken like a true heroine." He sighed and dropped his hand taking a step back.

"I wouldn't say that exactly, probably more like the only one crazy enough to try."

He smiled slightly. "Regardless, if we are going to do this we'll do it my way, understand?"

"Define your way."

"It means we go when I say go and if I say it's getting too dangerous we will be calling it off to regroup."

"I have a better idea. How about we play the game by my rules? What better way to fight crazy than with insanity, and bonus it'll be far more fun."

He took off his cap and put it firmly down on her head lowering the brim to shadow her face. "I'm thinking not."

Rene sighed, "It was worth a shot." She gave him a salute. "So what's the plan captain?"

"For starters stop being a smart ass," Rene gave him a sweet smile and a shrug to which he rolled his eyes. "Second you need a disguise."

Minutes later Rene was wearing the standard security uniform pulled from a locker in the room. She had been so adsorbed earlier she hadn't realized that he had pulled her into some sort of break room for the guards. Rene hummed as she checked herself out in the mirror. With minimal swearing, she had managed to twist her ponytail up into one of the buns most of the female guards wore. She straightened the collar and again tipped the cap down to cover her face. Especially if she was walking with Declan, most people wouldn't give her a second look.

"Ready?"

"Yep, let's go save the world and crap."

Declan strode to the door laying his hand on the handle. "Act like you belong and people will believe you do."

"Gotcha," Rene gave him a thumbs up. "Fake it till you make it."

"Yeah, something like that." He shook slightly in his shoulders before taking a deep breath. "One last thing, you're not going to like what you see out there. I'm not even exactly sure what we are going to be walking into. No matter what though you need to keep it together or we won't be able to help anyone. Can I trust you to do that?" He looked back at her holding her gaze.

"Yes." She replied firmly. She hoped so anyway then again with a pep talk like that who needed hope. She braced herself taking a deep breath and followed him out.

Don't worry young one you will not be alone in this.

He's right. It's time to make them all burn.

Pleasant...