Vigil could feel herself hyperventilating already, the walls of the coffin closing in on her. A tiny line of light seeped through a crack in the boards, and she squirmed into a more comfortable position. It wasn't any better. She was propelled into the tiny casket after breaking down in shuddering sobs after the visitor was hauled away.

Even though the tiny crib was supposed to calm her, her body was still trembling and her face was still damp and red. She felt as if he might only be outside of those wooden boards. She tried to believe in it, tried to play pretend. The gardener was standing right outside, watching her through the cracks. Her nose almost tingled with the salty odor, her ears twitched at his imaginary voice.

He was only there a moment ago, strangely surreal. It was peculiar seeing him in such a grim place, like spotting a seraph in the inferno. When she had first felt him beside her, she was too afraid to look at him, to say anything to him. Now that she was alone in this damp, shadowy box, she wished more than anything that she had shot from those sheets, wrapped her arms around him and never let go.

Suddenly, light filtered into her tiny incloser , followed by a loud whining noise above her head. A white face stared down at her, covered by a blue mask. It wasn't James, only one of the nurses.

"You're done here. Please follow me to your cot." The woman said flatly.

Once Vigil had eased her stiff body from the hard crib, she trailed behind the woman through more halls. When they stopped at the door to the cots, the nurse spoke up.

"You should have alerted us of the intruder," She said in a clear, authoritative voice that made Vigil feel like a whiny toddler.

"Why would I do that?" Vigil muttered, impatiently twisting the doorknob. She wanted to get to her bed as soon as possible.

The nurse placed her hand firmly over Vigil's, holding the knob still. "Visitors are not allowed here, and this rule was made to protect our patients."

Vigil scoffed, but it sounded more like a shuddering cry. "Protect us? From who— our loved ones?"

"When the patients are reminded of these emotions, they break down. Such unstable people simply cannot be trusted with such strong emotions."

"They break down when people like you rip their loved ones from them," Vigil hissed, tearing the nurse's long, white fingers from the doorknob. "I hope making up these ridiculous philosophies help you cope with the fact that you don't actually care about helping these people."

She ripped the door open and strode inside, her face set coldly. She walked straight to her cot and sat down. She was getting out of here—even if it took her a million years.