I blink countless times to make sure that my eyes aren't deceiving me. But no matter how hard I try to blink away the truth, his image simply refuses to diminish. I find myself accepting a caliginous reality.

He has found me.

"Thought you could get away huh?" he says as he tauntingly steps into the room. Like a predator angling their prey, about to pounce at any given time.

Our eyes are locked onto one another's. With the telephone still glued to the palm of my hand, I stand frozen in my spot. Scream! You're in a sheriff's station! Scream! I open my mouth but find myself unable to do exactly just that. My voice somehow concaves right when I need it the most. I clear my throat in an attempt to at least say something, since my cry for help is uncommunicative.

"Steven. What are you doing here?" It takes me a few seconds too long before realizing that I'm not the one who uttered those words. Just then Sheriff Porter steps into view with a puzzled expression and a few files tucked neatly beneath his arm.

The Sheriff knows him? How!? I don't know, but we'll find out soon Jess.

"Good day Sheriff," Steven says as he turns to face Sheriff Porter and reaches out to shake his hand. Which they actually do. Sheriff Porter is shaking my kidnapper's hand!

"Always with the formality lad. I told you, call me Leonard or Mr. Porter for the most," he says with light laughter accompanying a carefree smile, a little too friendly for comfort. 

"You know him!?" I shriek, an octave higher than needed. Although, the situation hints otherwise. Both heads snap towards me at the sound of my voice as if noticing me for the first time and I feel the bile rising in the back of my throat. 

"Of course. Steven's my neighbor." His brows knit together not understanding my outburst. "You look like you've seen a ghost child. What's you discomfort," he questions.

It takes everything in me not start hurling objects about in anger. No human being should possibly be this oblivious. 

"He's my kidnapper!" I clamor, hoping to raise some form of suspicion to anyone passing by as well.

Sherrif Porter's features fall to bewilderment. "What?"

"He's the one who kidnapped me! Please! You have to keep me away from him! Arrest him for crying out loud!" My yelling is enough to draw three officers to stop in their tracks at the door to see what the commotion is all about.

"Steven!? Why that's most certainly impossible. Steven couldn't possibly have been the one to do this to you." The Sheriff says like a father who just heard that his son is part of the KKK clan.

"That's because I didn't. Sheriff, This-" Steven begins but I refuse to allow his venomous words to diminish the truth. "No! Don't listen to a word he has to say! I'm telling you that he's the one who took me! He hurt me! He caused these bruises!" I exclaim.

"This can't be true. I've known this man for just over four years now. He has a clean record. The town's people trust him." The Sheriff speaks more to himself than me while shaking his head in disbelief. I can tell that getting through to this man is going to be challenging.

If someone were to tell me Jessica was secretly a 'world class' serial killer, I wouldn't believe the tale even if the bodies stared me smack in the face. It's the simple fact that once we grow to know people over a long period of time, we find it difficult to comprehend knowledge from a stranger. Especially if it doesn't suit the traits of the individual we claim to know.

"Sheriff, is everything okay here?" The lieutenant questions as he pushes past the other officers to enter the room. I notice him carrying a parcel, a takeaway bag resting above articles of clothing. The other three officers stand steadily behind him. They stand guard, ready to attack when necessary.

"It's-" the Sheriff tries to explain, but Steven cuts him off. "Apologies. This is all my fault. I'm the reason the girl is here." Our attention immediately falls onto him. I furrow my brows together trying to figure out what exactly his plans are. "Do care to elaborate on your statement. How are you the reason that she is here?" The Sheriff questions.

For the love of- what part of 'he kidnapped me' doesn't Leonard seem to understand? Silence, Jess. I want to hear.

"Do you remember my step-brother's aunt's niece I told you about?" Steven begins. 

"This is pointless!" I yell out in frustration, unaware that I dropped the telephone. "Arrest him already!" I lunge forward to claw out his eyeballs and the lieutenant immediately walks over to me.

"Hey hey hey... just relax and let him speak," the lieutenant says while holding me back with his free arm. The takeaway bag and clothing still rests in his other. I decide to do as he says since I need them all on my side. "Where was I?... Oh yes... The one they had signed into a psychiatric ward?" Steven continues. 

"What does this have to do with me!?" I question, but they flat out ignore me. It is recommended that the victim not be made felt left out, invisible nor unimportant, but they're currently succeeding at all three.

"Yes, I remember. Sarah's little girl was it?" Sheriff Porter replies. "That's the one," Steven response a little too proudly. 

What on earth is this deranged fool planning?

"But I don't seem to recall what for? And what's the correlation between this girl and her?" he questions truly befuddled.

"She was diagnosed with a severe case of Paranoid Schizophrenia. Her-"

"What's that?" One of the officer's question and my eyes roll to the back of my head. He has to be a rookie. I'm pretty sure that they're supposed to be educated with these things.

"It's a type of schizophrenia where the person feels that the world seems to be against them. They are preoccupied with paranoid delusions which is a huge part of their psychosis. People with such a mindset, fear being injured to an unrealistic degree. They feel vulnerable and out of control." So much useless information. This is getting us nowhere.

"What the hell is your point!?" I yell in frustration. Honestly, he takes the term 'prolonging-a-situation' to the next level. "I agree. Steven, get to the point." Thank goodness the Sheriff is on my side. I can't have people turning against me right now. Especially law enforcement.

"Later on she was diagnosed with Paranoid Personality Disorder. They discovered that she doesn't have all the symptoms of schizophrenia, but rather a personality that is driven by chronic manifestations of paranoia. Meaning she's constantly suspicious, skeptical and convinced that anyone trying to help her is out to hurt her," he continues.

Someone's clearly reciting the Wikipedia... Agreed Jess.

"Where are you going to with this?"

"She is the girl Sheriff." Steven states blankly while pointing a finger in my direction.

"What! Have you gone insane!? I Know that everyone is entitled to be stupid, but you abuse the privilege you asshole!" I shrill in pure anger and frustration. I am livid to the core. My insides are burning up. The hairs on my skin are standing on edge, sharper than blades ever could. My eyes pierce through his so deeply that it's enough to make him lose sleep for weeks.

I fight my way past the lieutenant to get to Steven. He can be a thousand men stronger than me for all I care, but he will not shame me like this. He will not turn them against me. He will not take me back to that hell-hole. I need to feel his skin under my nails. I have to claw at his flesh. I have to rip out that tongue of his that so easily spits words of manipulation.

But the damn lieutenant drops the clothing and takeaway bag to the ground like it's nothing. He grabs onto my body trying to grab hold of my arms while I fight in his grasp. Two of the other three officers rush in and grab at my arms, preventing me from breaking free. 

"Patients with this disorder are known for their tendency to become violent," Steven's irritating voice announces to the Sheriff.

"Steven. What she has accused you off, you of all people should know I find it hard to believe. But matters are not to be taken likely. Do you honestly want to tell me that this young lady is suffering from PPD? And since you seem to know her so well, do you care to justify her bruises? Better yet. Do explain as to how she ended up at the station in the first place!?" the Sheriff queries seeking answers.

"I had a feeling you would ask Sheriff. So I've brought the paperwork." Steven says as he reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a ream of folded paper and hands it over to the Sheriff. Back it up a couple of notches. Paperwork!? As in proof!? How? When? I don't know Jess.

"It's to state that I have permission to relocate her to a new facility. At the previous psychiatric ward, they were under the impression she was improving and as a reward started loosening her restraints for more freedom. But she started committing self-harm and told everyone that her nurse was abusing her. Which explains all of the bruises. They could no longer control her and requested a transfer. Her aunt entrusted me to transfer her," Steven explains while Sheriff Porter scans through the pages.

"I'd like to see from your point of view, but I can't stick my head that far up my ass you deranged psycho!" I screech in pure hatred. His lies need to end.

"You kidnapped me! You did all of this to me! Stop living in your own little fantasy world and leave me the hell alone!" Having three people hold me back while my actual kidnapper simply gets to stand there without restraints rouses me up even further. He should be in handcuffs right now. The prison cells are screaming his name.

"The poor soul. She'll say just about anything to lure people into believing she's innocent and sane. And mind you she's a damn good actress. Fooled me into believing she needed the restroom, next thing I know she's missing. I searched everywhere, then decided to take a chance looking here." I sense a slight truth in the last sentence of his hour-long fable. Maybe he really did take a chance coming here.

"The paperwork is legitimate. Everything clears out. The times, dates, places, signatures. Miss Marthis, I'm sorry that this is what your life has come to. But-" Sheriff Porter says as he lifts his head and folds the papers back to its original state.

"Miss what!?... No! I'm Viv-" I try to explain but the Sheriff's glare sends shivers down my spine. My chest heaves up and down. This cannot be happening. There's no possible way that this can be true. The air around me becomes thick and gloomy. 

"Enough!... Listen, I won't tolerate your behavior any longer. You have caused an excessive amount of chaos in my station and enough is enough!" What happened to the sweet old man? I want that guy back.

"No, you don't understand! I'm not-" 

"I said enough!" He slams the paperwork back into Steven's hands. 

"Please! Just phone my parents! I'm not-"

"Steven, do remove her from my office and make sure that she doesn't escape again," the Sheriff states sternly as he storms to exit the office. Oblivious to my plea for help.

Make sure that she doesn't escape again... those last words ring throughout my head and cut deeper than any knife possibly could at this point.

Why would he say that? Why won't he believe me? It's pure madness. And just like that my confidence, hopes, and dreams withers away. "But I'm innocent!" I cry out as the tears begin to form in my eyes. Steven walks closer to me and stops only a few centimeters away from me. The two officers let go of my arms. "Time to go, hell cat," he whispers in my ear.

Then he grabs at one of my arms and I squirm in his hold, using my free hand to try to loosen his grip. I push my body back into the chest of the lieutenant without even realising that he's still there. The lieutenant shifts uncomfortably not knowing how to deal with this situation.

"Maybe it's best if I take her outside," the lieutenant speaks up.

Steven nods in agreement and the lieutenant softly pushes me forward. Knowing that I won't be able to get away this time, I walk unwillingly. We make our way out of the office and once again everyone decides to stop and stare at the tear-stained tormented teenager. The girl who just wants to go back home, but no one seems to want to take her there.

We push through my standing ovation of spectators and head towards the entrance doors. I scan around looking for the sweet old lady. Maybe she's my last chance. But no, she's gone too. The three of us exit the station and make our way down to Steven's vehicle. The room for a second escape plan remains nonexistent.

"Where exactly is this new facility?" The lieutenant questions out of the blue. He has a surprisingly good grip on me. One that's not painful, it's the kind of grip you have on someone when you're trying to protect them. To keep them safe... or have I really lost it? 

The sun must be affecting my brain cells.

"It's all in the paperwork that the Sheriff already approved of. So that shouldn't concern you much." Steven unlocks the vehicle doors.

"Actually it does concern me. You see. Something just doesn't add up," he says.

And suddenly the atmosphere shifts. It's danger with a spark of hope.