I greeted the receptionist before heading off to the boss's room, an eerie feeling of dread settling within my chest, as it did every day on the job. I had grown to welcome it like an old friend. Once I made it to the door, I knocked with the back of my knuckles, taking a quick pause until I heard the light voice on the other side calling for me to enter.
I opened the door, my eyes settling on my boss seated at his desk in the other side of the room.

"Grayson!" I was greeted by his pepy voice, slit pupils staring at me with a toothy smug on his face. "Your patient, Collin Jackson, good news is that his fever has broken and he has woken up, bad news, he's still in solitary confinement. He hasn't been moving much either. Are you sure that you want to continue tending to him? Aren't you worried?" He looked more worried than I felt, which was an odd swap of roles.

I kept my posture up, spine straight with shoulders aligned with my hips. My arms rested behind my back, chin up as I smiled. "Not at all, sir. It isn't like I have not dealt with worse situations."

What happened last week was still a mystery. We still have no idea how Luke snuck into the medical facility of the institution and stole a few drugs. He was under the influence and assaulted me. I remember fighting back until he pulled out a needle. I don't recall what the institute medical examiners said it was, but Drake fought to save me and Luke injected him with the drug. Drake fought, brutally injuring Luke before the drugs began to affect him. It was a major overdose.
I do recall being scared, telling him of bits and pieces of my past to him, my past as a soldier, my family, their murders. I told him that as we waited for the narcan to arrive. Something in the drugs in his system must have triggered him because it was not long after that he began to attack me, stopping as he seemed to come to a bit of sense, just before actually hurting me. After that he just collapsed, convulsions running through his body from a seizure.
By the time the doctors were able to administer it, it was too late. Drake survived, however, he fell into a coma. Hearing this news, it was so relieving to hear that he was okay. I sighed in relief, muttering a thank you to whatever God may be up above.
My boss pointed to the seat across from him, which I took, getting comfortable for the time being. The office was spacious but dark, fitting of the atmosphere to the rest of the institution. Sometimes I felt like the ginger belonged in one of those wards rather than behind this desk. Ferox placed his elbows on the desk, his fingers sliding together with blue eyes that never ripped away from me.

"Well, I don't want what happened the other day to repeat itself. I want you to keep watch over Jackson and keep him away from Rainear. If his behavior continues to be erratic and violent, we may have no choice but to resort to more...shocking approaches."

My eyes grew, understanding what he was implying. My fists tightened, brows furrowed as I began to succumb to anger and frustration.

"Electroshock is not going to help! Sir, I know that what happened with Luke was bad, tragic, but Drake is improving-"

"Stop!" I shut my mouth and did as told. His gaze harshened. "I won't argue. Don't call him Drake either! You're only encouraging the menace to have control."

"He was just protecting me! Luke came at me at the cafeteria and Drake protected me! I could have been killed!"

"I said enough!" I shut up once more, this time knowing that I needed to stay quiet. I was fuming with the flame of anger in my chest, yet Ferox kept up his swave mask despite being obviously irritated by my persistence.

"Grayson, I know that you have formed a close bond with the child, but if you keep encouraging his behavior and his illusions, he's only going to get worse. And when I see the slightest sign of deterioration in his mental state, I'm removing you as his caretaker. Understood?"

I went silent as I took in his threat. He didn't understand that if I left Drake again, his mentality would diminish in progress either way. I don't know how he would handle losing me like before. I glared into Ferox's eyes, furious at that irritating grin. Still, Ferox did not kid around when it came to these situations, as much as the sicko enjoyed his twisted jokes.

"Understood. I apologize for letting my feelings get in the way my ethics." I didn't really, but he bought it.

His smile brightened, the anger fleeting as he sat up. "Good! Now then, go take care of your patients. Don't disappoint me." He smile that never left his face, no matter his mood, caused me to shiver.

I wasted no time in getting the heck out of that office. Once I was clear, a growl reverberated in my throat as I muttered, "Twink b**ch."
...

I examined the sheet on the clipboard within my grasp, reading what was documented about the patient which recorded his assault on Luke and an update added this morning before I arrived that he had awoken and was placed into a padded cell after being allowed to leave the medical facility. I cursed beneath my breath before allowing my arm to fall limp, my head falling back in a sigh. He was making such good progress as well... I was glad that he was awake, but making an enemy is definitely a conflict we did not need, nor the possibility of me being unable to take care of him any longer.
My footsteps harmonized with the clock in the break room as I exited the sanctuary, the sound of the moving clock hands soon becoming no more with only my footsteps and the occasional distant, muffled yell or scream to drown the silence.
Each door I passed, I would peak into a patient's room, just out of curiosity. I had almost forgotten how miserable this place was. As much as I wanted a simple life, these people needed me. Even then, last time I was out I was sucked right back into this well of anguish. It was out for four years, and over that course I married a woman who had a son whose father was abusive and left. I became a cop for three years before quitting after...my wife and son were killed in a car crash. We were too late on the scene. They were trapped and the car was on fire and... I can't think of that now.
It was my job to watch over a few select patients in the facility, mainly that of Collin, or Drake as his split personality preferred. After the traumatic experience he had, suffering third degree burns on half of his body in house fire and spending most of his life in agony, surgery after surgery for it, it's no wonder he developed so many issues. Drake never acted as if he were aware of Collin's existence unlike most of my other patients with dissociative identity disorder. He has never mentioned Collin. I have not heard from Collin in so long, sometimes I wonder if he still exists in that broken body.
I took in a long, deep breath to clear my thoughts. It was cold down the halls. I was used to it, having lived in cold climates for most of my life but I knew that many patients did not feel the same way. Many did not like the cold, including Drake. I could not help but to feel worried.
Honestly, Drake was my favorite patient to visit! Sort of like...a son. I found it entertaining to play along to his claims, to act along to his fantasy world. Dragons, demons, adventure...it sure was better than this h**l hole. Sometimes I wish that could see what he sees, to live the role that his mind has given me. Unfortunately I had to in live reality as well, and there I was trapped. It's isolating and mundane. The total contrast of his world, aside from the corruption of humanity and horrors of death. That remains the same.
I reached a door, looking above it to read the number "351"; Drake's cell number. I unlocked it with a card, which was given to all personnel to open the cells of the more...aggressive patients. I heard a "beep" then a click before I was able to push the door open into the dark room. It was a padded cell with four dimming lights in the roof, evenly spaced by each of the four corners. I messed with a switch by the door frame, pushing it up slightly to brighten the lights. In the corner was a bed, upon which a body was rested on, chest rising and falling. His hair was a mess, but what caused a pit to drop in my stomach was what he was wearing. A light baby blue straitjacket with black straps and a black mask over his face to keep him from biting and spitting, though it still allowed him to speak. It made me feel somber and sympathetic.
The sound of me entering must have woken him up, at least slightly. His eyes would open and close for a time before opening again. Once fully conscious, he sat up, paying no attention to me. It was like he didn't know I was there, calling out for me but never taking in my presence even when I responded. He didn't even notice that he was in a straitjacket. I found myself unable to speak until he finally noticed me.

"Grayson!"

Like always, I played along to his disillusions. We talked about this so called "dragon egg" and I told him that I was at Alduin's keep, a name that I took from a video game. I needed some explanation as to where I was because he seemed scared, scared that he was alone even if it were for a minute...even if I was there the entire time. I removed his jacket and mask when we talked of him getting poisoned, which wasn't too far from being drugged. F**k it if Ferox gets mad, Drake isn't dangerous!...At least not on purpose.
We pretend to head out on a adventure to save his brother...I hadn't the heart to tell him that Armen was in a coma at the hospital because of him. We journeyed through the forest, discovered elven structures. He was surprised by my knowledge on elven culture, even if I stole it all from video games and books. He didn't know the difference. I feel bad about it but his smile makes my happy.
After a few minutes, I jumped when the door opened up behind me. Once again, Drake was completely oblivious to the new person who entered the room. It was a nurse, blonde hair with pink highlights pulled up into a ponytail, holding a tray of medication. I had not seen her before, at least I must have not paid attention to her before. I ignored her as Drake began talking to me, but the nurse must have been intrigued as she did not interrupt, closing the door quietly and setting the tray on a metal table. I was surprised when she sat down next to me, Drake finally noticing her.

"Hello!" She seemed so optimistic and spontaneous. I could see a light twinkling in their eyes. Drake liked her. It was rare for him to connect with others, besides myself of course.

I smiled, sitting down with Drake and the nurse in a circle. "I'm Mia!" She introduced. I expected her to tell him that she was a nurse and that he needed to take his medicine, but instead when he asked if she was an elf, she laughed and replied, "why yes, I am!"

We talked and laughed, myself playing as I pretended to have a cat stealing items from my backpack. It was Drake's fantasy but it didn't mean I could not add my own quirky twists and turns for giggles. It was nice having Mia around to make him laugh, and I noticed that he was smiling more than usual, causing me to smile. After awhile, Mia and I both had to leave after Drake had fallen asleep, the two of us deciding to come back at the same time tomorrow. She was having fun. We didn't mean it to make fun of Drake, of course, but simply because I didn't want to get him mad by tearing down his wall of illusions, and because I enjoy his reality more than reality itself. It is tragic that one day I will have to slowly tear that wall down. Unfortunately, that's how this world functions. We are forced to live in reality...but it's not always a bad thing. You meet new people and see who they truly are, form true love, see the worlds true beauty along with its darkness.
You know, one day when he is free to be discharged and if he's still young enough, I wouldn't mind adopting him.