(The audio begins with a long monotonous beep. A chair scrapes on the floor and there is the sound of shuffling of paper.)

Voice 1: Amelia, are you comfortable to begin now?

(There is a muffled response.)

Voice 1: The date is Friday 18th June. 4.05pm. I am Dr. Edward Kinghorne. Present are psychiatric nurse Frances Mellor and patient Amelia Austen, currently seventeen years and 2 months. Amelia is a resident here at Collindale Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit and is in her... (the sound of a pen tapping four times against the table) ... seventh week of residency. Amelia was due to be released next week back to her family unit, however an extension has now been granted pending review, due to an incident that took place on Sunday 14th June in the communal suite.

Doctor: How are you feeling today, Amelia?

Amelia: I'm fine.

Doctor: Good. Let's talk about what happened on Monday. Can we do that?

Amelia: I don't want to.

Doctor: I understand, but the problem is if we don't address the issues that led to the incident, then how can we hope to progress? We talked about how much you want to return to your family. Is that still what you want?

Amelia: (sniffs) It doesn't matter what I want.

Doctor: Of course, it matters. Do you want to go home?

Amelia: It makes no difference.

Doctor: Are you referring to our previous conversation? (The pen taps again, four times.) On Monday 7thJune, you said that it didn't matter where you went, that they would always follow. We talked about that, Amelia. We agreed that no one was following you. We talked about paranoid delusions. Do you remember what that meant?

Amelia: A belief that something is real, even when evidence proves otherwise. The inability to tell what's real and what's not.

Doctor: And do you remember I asked you to repeat it over and over whenever you felt you might be about to suffer from one such delusion? We talked about how that would help you to focus your mind on the real reason behind these fears of yours. So, what happened on Monday in the communal suite?

Amelia: An accident.

Doctor: We both know it wasn't an accident. You attacked Matty. You held him down and poured paint into his eyes and mouth. He's in the hospital wing. That's not an accident, Amelia. That's intentional aggression.

Amelia: It wasn't Matty.

Doctor: If it wasn't Matty, then who was it? Because it's Matty in the hospital wing, Amelia. I've seen him for myself. Matty is your friend. Why would you want to hurt him?

Amelia: Not Matty. I didn't hurt Matty.

Doctor: Okay, who did you think it was?

(Amelia doesn't respond. Through the audio, there is a faint whispering noise.)

Doctor: Why don't you tell me what you think happened? I've seen the CCTV footage. You're both painting at your easels. There was no exchange. Nothing that looked like a disagreement or argument. One minute, you're painting and then you attack him. It was completely and utterly unprovoked.

Amelia: Not unprovoked.

Doctor: Then tell me what happened.

(He taps his pen four times.)

Amelia: It was the painting.

Doctor: Are you going to tell me you attacked Matty because you didn't like his artwork?

Amelia: Not Matty. I keep telling you!

(There is a scraping sound as if the chair is being moved.)

Nurse: Sit down, Amelia. Please answer the Doctor's question.

Amelia: I want to go back to my room.

Doctor: You can return to your room after this session. Talk to me about the painting, Amelia. What was it that upset you so much? I have the painting here, you know. Why don't we look at it together now.

Amelia: No! I don't want to look at it!

Doctor: It's just a painting. Nothing to be afraid of. Remember, Amelia, this is a safe space.

Amelia: Nowhere is safe...

Doctor: Rest assured, you are safe here. We're here to protect you.

(There is the sound of paper being unrolled).

Doctor: What do you see, Amelia? What is it that caused you to react in such a way?

(Amelia's breathing becomes shallower and faster.)

Amelia: It's there... there...

Doctor: Do you mean this number? I can't make it out. I think it's a 3... I'm not sure... 33?

Amelia: Stop!

(A chair scrapes on the floor again, sharp and sudden.)

Nurse: Sit down, Amelia, and remain calm.

Doctor: Amelia, look at me now. How can a number frighten you so much?

Amelia: It isn't just a number. Numbers are never just numbers. They mean... (She breaks into muffled sobs.)

Doctor: What does this number mean to you? Does Matty know the significance? Is that why he painted it?

Amelia: Not Matty. Them. They know.

Doctor: Who knows, Amelia? What is the significance of 33?

Amelia: Not 33 (she whispers something).

Doctor: 333? Is that what you just said? What does 333 mean?

Amelia: (whimpers) You are in the hands of the Master. He is here beside you.

Doctor: Amelia, who is the Master? Someone you think is trying to hurt you?

Amelia: (breathing hard) Yes. He was there right beside me. That's what he wanted to tell me. That's why he used Matty. He wanted me to know. He was sending me a message. They always send messages.

Doctor: They send you messages through numbers? How often do you see the numbers?

Amelia: Every day. They manifest...

Doctor: Does this have anything to do with the numbers you wrote on the wall in your room not long after you first arrived here, Amelia?

Amelia: I told Nurse Mellor that wasn't me...

Nurse: Well, yes, you said that, but who else could have done it? No one had access to your room apart from facility staff.

Doctor: Let's just say it wasn't you. What did the numbers mean? (The sound of pages being flicked back and forth). It was... um, 422 and 1111, I believe.

Amelia: (sobbing) 422... they have heard your call. And (whimpers) 1111... they are coming.

Doctor: Who, Amelia? Who heard you? Who is coming? (Taps four times with his pen.)

Amelia: Stop that! What are you doing? You keep doing that!

Doctor: I'm just... tapping my pen.

Amelia: (shouting now) No, you're not. It's the same number each time. Four taps. You have to stop!

Doctor: Look, I'll stop tapping my pen. Okay, see? I'm placing it on the desk. I'm not going to tap it anymore. What's the significance of the number 4?

Amelia: (audible gasp) Your watch...

Doctor: What's wrong with my watch? It says 4.44pm.

Amelia: That's not the time. That's not what it means!

(There is a loud scraping and a crash).

Nurse: Amelia, stop that! Calm down now!

(The audio glitches, a buzz of static white noise, then clears. There are shouts and the sound of a struggle.)

Amelia: Get off! You have to let me go!

Doctor: Nurse, get a hold of her, damn it! Amelia, calm down. What does 4.44pm mean to you? If you don't tell me, I can't help you.

Amelia: You can't help me! Can't you see that? Haven't you worked it out by now? It's too late...

Doctor: What is the significance of 4.44pm?

Amelia: Not 4.44pm. It's the number. It's their message. Don't you see?

Doctor: 4-4-4?

Nurse: I'm calling security! (An alarm sounds, shrill and loud.)

Doctor: Tell me about 444!

Amelia: (shrieking) Stop saying it!

Doctor: It's just a number, Amelia. It has no power. It only has power if you let it. It means nothing. Say it with me. 4-4-4.

Amelia: No! Stop it! (high-pitched shrieks).

Nurse: Doctor, I really must insist...

Amelia: (screaming) They are here. They're all around me. Can't you see them? Can't you see them now? Don't you see what you did? You let them in, you let them in and now they are all here.

(The audio erupts with noise. The sound of multiple male voices. The Nurse is shouting to be heard. Loud bangs and crashes. The Doctor screams, a terrified rasping scream full of pain.)

Amelia: (screaming) You did it! They're here now. They're here...

(More shouting. A door slams and Amelia's shrieking becomes muffled and eventually fades. We are left with the sound of the Doctor sobbing in pain, his breath coming in gulping, harsh gasps.)

Nurse: Quick, he's in here! Please help him... she stabbed him with the pen. His eye... oh god, his poor eye...

(There is the sound of voices trying to soothe Dr. Kinghorne. His gasps of pain are heart-rending. The door slams again. The room is now empty, but the recording continues.)

(There is a silence from the audio and then it seems to glitch, a low buzz of static that lasts about ten seconds. Once it stops, there is an unmistakable whispering sound, multiple voices, but the language is indiscernible.)

(Audio ends).