"How lucky I'm to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."-Winnie.T.P

Chloe's POV:

Melissa once did say not to inquire too much about the upper floors but the little she said only made my curiosity peak to higher limits.

My stomach drops the moment I spot the figure advancing towards me.

Run.

I wanted to run further away from the sight but my body felt nothing but numb.

I couldn't feel my own legs as they began to shake, betraying my commands.

I clench my sweaty palms standing in front of the metallic bars, separating both of us.

The silhouette of a man takes small steps towards the bars before finally coming into the view. He grabs the bars with force trying to break free but only ends up shaking it.

The chains clatter and hit the bars making more noises ring across the dreadful corridor.

The man shrieks, vigorously tilting his head in every direction before banging on the metallic barrier as loud as possible.

My wobbly legs start to back off slowly as I stare at the man petrified, my lips quivering in fear.

My heart drums abnormally as I felt sweat beads start to form on my forehead.

My steps back off sluggishly from the lunatic man but I stumble on my own feet, tripping under the old rusty carpet and falling down with a loud thud.

A startled yelp escapes past my dry lips and I close my eyes shut, embracing the fall with no choice.

My back comes in contact with the dusty material of the carpet.

I gasp out loud trying to sit up quickly, placing my sweaty hands on the rusty flooring.

A pain shoots up on my lower waist and I grit my teeth, suppressing a hiss.

Damn, it hurts.

Another shrilly scream rumbles from the man's chest making me jump out of my skin.

My back collides with the bars behind me that I didn't notice earlier.

There has to be dozen of these bars all lined up one by one with insane individuals locked up inside.

I grit my teeth, sucking air through them, trying not to scream in pain as my aching back hits with the cold bars.

Before my thoughts could process for me to take any action a tingling sensation runs on my back.

My eyes widen as I feel something touching my back, a shudder passes through me. I stop breathing and hesitantly turn my neck to look over my shoulders and freeze.

A woman sat right behind me smiling ear to ear showing her pale teeth. Her hairs were loose and untied, hiding half of her face.

My own breath hitches, I try to move but I felt her long frail fingers run over my back.

Our faces were merely inches apart from the black metals. Her hot breath fans on my face, she speaks in a shaky and raspy tone, "M-myy my-"

It took everything in me to hold back my scream but I failed the moment she says the words trying to get a hold of my face.

I scream on top my lungs on her face, making the patient scrunch her nose at me.

A sudden rush of adrenaline passes into my veins.

The legs that I didn't feel seconds ago decided to control me by picking up my terrified form. My steps were still shaky and another pain shoots up my back making me hiss loudly.

Cling, clatter, bang.

These sounds along with the screams of numerous patients, all rang in my ears.

They didn't stop until I headed towards the stair case and started to descend, panic-stricken.

I blink fiercely trying not to cry as I kept descending to the first floor.

The lights of first floor finally start to show, making me choke on my own saliva.

I rush faster and stop the moment I reach the floor to meet with a pair of black orbs eyeing me curiously.

Melissa stood, leaning against one of the walls, munching on her red juicy apple.

This time tears brim my eyes as I stare back at my dumb friend, thanking god to be alive.

I swear I will never go up there ever again.

I mentally vow.

"Tald ya to ollaw ules." She speaks mouthful.

Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she eyes me up and down. I can bet that I look like a mess, panting for air.

I want to strangle her for not telling me the complete reason for these rules but I didn't.

Instead I walk up to her with teary eyes and crash into a tight hug.

"God, thank you that I'm alive and able to see her face." I mutter calmly into her neck, snuggling further in her warm embrace.

She chuckles before returning the hug with her one free arm. I step back from her breaking the hug and wipe my tears away.

I glance at her smug face, my anger coming back as I felt the pain run all along my lower half due to the fall I had minutes ago.

"You should tell me the reas-no wait, at least you could have alerted me about the danger up there."

She shrugs at me casually."You can never stop human curiosity. Even if I warn you, I was damn sure you will end up trying to check on your own."

I glare at her.

"Well if you tried telling me earlier that there are hideous looking spooky patients, I would have restricted my curiosity a little."

She raises her black eyebrows and covers her mouth with her balled fist trying not to laugh.

"You met our special guest up there, man that's hilarious! You actually went further into those corridors?"

I cross my arms and give her a stern really-now-look.

Melissa's face lit's up at my silent answer and she barks out a laugh. I roll my eyes and shudder recalling the events.

"Seriously, you are an idiot." I mumble at her.

"Me, A and Emma went through what you just did. So cheer up." I glance up at her words and frown at her confession.

So they all tried their lucks up there.

"Well what do they say, curiosity kills the cat."

I shake my head at her as we both walk back towards our pending chores.

After spending two hours of relaxing and watching Melissa curse and work alone, my mood was back to normal.

Floral and Olivia were kind enough to let me rest up, making Melissa do all the chores.

"Can't these machines dry up the clothes as well!" Melissa whines, holding a handful of clothes in her arms, filling the laundry basket.

I lean against the plastic chair carefully so I don't hurt my aching back.

I smirk at her.

"They do and the process is called spinning. Oh wait- you didn't know how to even switch the machine on."

The smirk on my face grew wider seeing her face turn red in anger and embarrassment.

Melissa sends a deadly glare at me but Olivia standing next to her can't help but chuckle.

"Well Mel never actually did her duty in laundry." I look at Olivia as she retreats to the backyard with the basket to dry the clothes.

"She is just lying, don't you dare tell that to anyone here."

Mel whispers, looking behind to check if Olivia is there, pointing her index at me and eying me suspiciously.

I give her my most evil smile and she continues.

"I'll tell Rachel you went to the third floor." At first that made my heart skip a beat and my smile falters. The thought of scolding or punishments didn't sooth my growing nerves until it clicks me.

"Uh-huh..what if I alert her about you seeking up on your own, along with Aiden and Emma."

Her eyes widen as she hushes me and scurries outside with the laundry basket in her hands.

Victory Royale~

Hours later, everyone was back to their rooms inside the asylum. I stare through the small window as I watch the colorful sky with hues of different shades during the sun set.

"Look Emma, Eric is just a small boy. I'm telling you he will love the cars theme lot more than flowers." Aiden announces making me snap out of my stance and look at the group.

Everyone in the room except for Eric sat around my bed with notebooks and pencils trying to figure out the perfect theme for Eric's last birthday in the asylum.

Eric has completely recovered of his disorder and his parents will be coming within three days to pick him up. A day before he leaves, we will be celebrating his ninth birthday here in the asylum.

This was initially Aiden's plan.

He managed to talk it through with Rachel and Trinity, involving them in his plan.

They will order the cake while the four of us decorate the cafeteria.

"The hall will look lot prettier if we go with the roses theme A." Emma pleads to him making him sigh at her.

"No wait, I think the lavenders would look better."

Melissa smiles at her scribbling on her book. She points out the flowers she added in the hall. I roll my eyes at the girls and Aiden shakes his head in disapproval.

"You both just suck at this." Aiden looks at me with the last ray of hope in his brown eyes.

I clear my throat catching the attention of the other two.

"I really don't know anything about themes but what do you think about normal colorful theme."

They all frown at my incomplete imagination.

"I mean, we can just do a decent yet good looking theme by adding all colorful balloons and paper work I guess? After all its also a farewell party."

Before the girls could open their mouth Aiden points his pencil at me."Perfect."

I blink at him in surprise.

"Wha-"

"No lavenders will-"

Aiden shakes his head at them and cuts off Melissa.

"We have low budget here fools. If Doctor Donald finds out he will be mad so we need to keep it simple yet good-looking."

Emma hums at him. "Right, even if he finds out, the cuteness should shut the old guy." Melissa nods her head at them. I smile lightly at the group.

"Since this party is a mashup of birthday and a farewell, it being simple and decent will do the job."

With those words everyone gets back to drawing different images of hall decorated with balloons and its shapes along with other paper works.

It takes about more than an hour to finally come to a conclusion for the type of decoration that has to be ordered along with the cake.

I yawn, falling down on the bed as Eric enters our room.

I watch from the corner of my eye as he walks towards his own bed and sits on it.

Emma and Melissa hid away all the books before he even arrived.

Aiden excused himself to go discuss the theme with Rachel and Trinity.

Everyone acts normal around the kid, trying to keep the party as a surprise. Emma informed me during our discussion that the party will be small since not every member of hospital is capable to attend it.

Only few will be there along with their nurse apart from the four of us and the two lady doctors helping with the party. I close my eyes shut and sigh.

If everyone were able to attend the last party for Eric, it would have been wholesome, though most of them aren't even aware of how to eat properly or dress up.

It saddens me to watch any of the patients being vulnerable when we do the patrolling duty during the noon.

This place isn't much different from the orphanages. Everyone here is innocent as a child and more likely to be helpless and vulnerable.

I open my eyes and watch Eric laugh nervously talking about going home with Emma and Melissa. I smile at him when our eyes meet I wish him a silent luck with his life.

Those grey eyes twinkle at me.

He will be able to live the rest of his life, grow normally with his parents.

"Chloe can you join me in the classroom tomorrow." He asks me in his tiny sweet voice.

"It will be my honor Eric." He jumps of the bed, hopping in excitement. He tugs the girls beside him, asking each of them to join him.

A sad smile forms on my face as a realization hits me.

He is kind of nervous and afraid.

The classes are for all the four of us, there wasn't any need to be told to come over by Eric. He is smart enough to know that on his own.

He just wants to spend the last few days with us. The thought made my heart beat faster as I watch the kid talk to the girls in the room.

Eric I hope you enjoy your birthday and have a great future ahead.

I get up and walk over to the laughing group and join them to have some fun with Eric before it is time for dinner.

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Aww Eric ;-;