Well, technically no… but it still feels funny and I don’t think I’d enjoy it. I’d be like a stress ball; you could keep doing it, but nothing would happen. Stress balls are funny.
No, you’re psychotic. A good psychotic though. Um, I have an abundance of Snickers and a few Hershey’s, and one lonely Crunch bar. I steal them from the nurses, so I can always get more.
Oh my god, you'd be like one of those little stress toys where you like squeeze them and their eyes pop out then they go right back to normal and you can do it all over again.
We're all a little psychotic in here, aren't we? I'm not fond of snickers, but I'd put all thoughts of strangling people aside for a Hershey's bar.
Mason’s anger grew with each passing moment. The caring man that had been present when Zach was in the room was now gone with no sight of coming back soon. Honestly, it took every ounce of strength he could muster to not break his value’s and hit Scar when she threw out more accusations to him. “Maybe if you wouldn’t treat him like a fucking child, he would be able to handle more stuff. The more you shelter him the less likely he is to be able to handle it. You obviously know nothing of that, but I do. I’ve had to do stuff like this longer than you’ve even existed. Every time I do it, it honestly pains me because I know how hard people take things. However, with time, people are able to manage and handle things better than other’s expect,” he shouted back, slamming his fist down into his desk with authority.
Walking away from the desk, Mason took a few deep breath’s before looking back at Scar. “You say that you have a heart unlike me, well, you would be right. On Halloween of 1910, a group of local men led by the father of the girl Connor was supposed to marry, attacked me on the grounds of Pennhurst. They didn’t stop after beating me, they didn’t even wait to hear what I tried to explain to his mother, no, they decided they were going to cut my heart out and hide it. You want to know why I care so much about Zach? He reminds me so fucking much of Connor when he first came here around the same time as me. Who do you think tried to keep him safe? We were more friends than we were Doctor and Patient. You have the audacity to come in here, throw shit up in my face, act like you know why people are scared of me, well sit down, Scarlett, I have a story to tell you that even Connor doesn’t know,” he said, an eerie coolness to his tone. Normally, this is what people would call the calm before the storm, and damn were they right.
"You want to know why I am the monster I am today? Connor’s mother accused me of being the reason he killed himself! All because I told her he didn’t want to have an arranged marriage. She threatened me every day and instead of doing something about it, I took my anger out in my work. I have brought that anger with me to the afterlife and I really don’t give a rat’s ass what a ghost wants. Zachary had a right to know now instead of when you all felt he was ‘ready.’ You will never get anywhere if you don’t take chances," he stated, an anger starting to rise in his voice again.
Scar did her best to let Mason talk, but she honestly didn't care to hear the sob story. Her interest was dwindling by the moment. At Mason's question asking if she wanted to know, she shook her head, scoffing and letting out a "Not really." But of course she was told anyway. She waited, let him have his peace, then she sat down. That was something Scar didn't normally do, but it didn't mean by any stretch of the imagination that she was finished.
"You listen to me, and you listen to me good." She started in a calm tone, doing her best to keep her composure, since apparently yelling wasn't getting anywhere. "I don't give a shit about your little story. So save that for someone that cares, maybe you should fucking tell Connor one day instead of tormenting him, because newsflash - the kid is terrified of you." She stated honestly. She could care less about all of that though. "You're a doctor. Read your patients charts," She started in on her point of what she had to say. "All I am is a patient that wants to be a nurse, and I've clearly paid more attention than you have. Zach has stress induced seizures. His mind has shut out that part of the story. That's what's called a repressed memory.
"The year right now, is 2014. Not 1910. We've learned a lot about medicine and how to cope with mental illness since you were a physical doctor here. And what you just did, could kill a patient if they were worse off than Zach. You could have triggered a full grand mal stress induced seizure by pulling out memories that his mind was protecting him from. He was being protected from them, for a reason. Because his mind knew he couldn't cope. So stop worrying about false accusations, and start worrying about what could genuinely happen." She paused to wipe at her eyes, that was the point in her spewing that tears would have bubbled up, if she were capable of tears, so it was more out of habit than anything. "You're so wrapped up in the past, that you don't understand what you just did. Look, I know you think you were doing something good. But that was the worst choice you could have possibly made. Do you even know where he's gone? Because at the speed he left your office, I sure as hell hope a nurse caught him." By that point, the venom started to return, "If he dies because of you, I'll make sure the remainder of your afterlife is miserable. Don't doubt me."
The fact of how Zach reacted had not been what he really expected. Sitting down at his desk, the doctor placed his hands in his head before starting to remember what life was like in the early days of 1910, when he was easily the favorite of the staff. Used to, he was the person people came to with issues in the personal life, but now he was perceived as a monster due to his final days alive. Unfortunately, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hands being slammed onto his desk.
After the words entered his ears, the doctor looked up to find one his own patients, Scar, one of few who knew the truth about Emily. As soon as she was done, Mason snapped, no longer hesitant on what to say or what to do and quickly stood up, the expression on his face turning so hateful that it if flowers could see, they’d likely close their bud out of fear. This was the face of the monster people had come to call him. “What have I done? I told him the damned truth that you with held from him! You claim to care so much for him and Connor, then why not act like the fucking mother you try to be and tell them the truth about stuff? Zach needed to know the truth instead of living with this delusion that his sister, his baby sister, was still alive!” The male retorted in a bit of anger.
Scar let Mason respond, but she didn't back down. She wasn't one to show fear even when faced with the most terrifying of opponents. Her rage filled expression didn't waver. If anything her fury only grew. "Did you ever take a minute to think about what this could do to him?" The volume of her voice was rising as she responded, "His mind has clearly hidden this from him for a reason. He can't handle this yet!" She shook her head, straightening up and crossing her arms over her chest to allow herself to take a moment to try and calm herself down. "I've done everything I can to look ever the ghosts that are trapped in these halls. The ghosts that are scared to death of you." Then, as if that mention had triggered a memory, she was lunging towards him again, bracing herself on the desk once more. "You are supposed to be the head doctor. You're supposed to know what's going on here. You should have known that Emily didn't want him to know. She was the one that asked us to hide the truth from him. She was the one that wanted to reveal things to him in her own time. So don't you DARE accuse me of not doing my best to look out for him, or for anyone. Because at least I have the fucking heart to honor their wishes, unlike you, you god damned heartless bastard!"
Scar had let Zach go, glad that he was going to go talk to Connor. If there was one thing that could warm that dead girl's heart it was young love. And she was pretty sure that those two were the cutest things she had seen in her entire life. Or, afterlife, as it was. She was pretty content to retreat to her attic room, when she heard Mason's voice. That was never one that came with a pleasant aftertaste, and the fact that he was talking to Zach made her even more on edge.
She waited in the hall as Zach disappeared into the room, her eyes widening as she heard the yelling. It didn't take much for her to figure out what was said. "What have you done...?" She whispered, talking to Mason even though there was no way that he could hear her. When Zach disappeared down the hallway, Scar was closing in on the office, letting herself in without a question as to whether it was allowed. "What have you done?" She repeated, this time in a tone that was nothing but venom. "You fucking told him, didn't you?" She slammed her hands down on his desk, leaning over to talk to him, her eyes shining with sheer anger.
He was perfectly alright with being pulled back in for another hug, that was always welcomed given his highly affectionate nature. Loosening an arm around his bear to move it around Scar to hold to her with a rather good grip, wanting that comfort, and taking it. He nodded without hesitation to Scar referring to Connor as a good boyfriend, “He is, I love him very much. He’s my absolute favorite,” he couldn’t help gushing in a quiet voice. If in a better state of mind, he could probably go on about the other boy forever. “I’m not, I promise. It just sucks he turned out to be like that,” he commented quietly. He knew there was never a chance at him remaining Jackson’s friend, but he never thought he would be turned on like he had. “Yeah,” he nodded once more there was a hint of smile when she answered him, “I have more ghosts that help me than actual people,” he stated, realizing that in an ironic way.
Scar gave him another squeeze, nudging her nose against his head gently. "Love's a big word, little man." She responded, but smiled bright, looking at him with a smile, "See, all the more reason to not let those jerks get to you. They would just be jealous if they knew what kind of cool friends you had here." She loosened up her grip a little, "He's not the kind of person that you want to have around anyway." She added on. She let go when she caught that smile, sure that he was okay enough that she could do so by that point. She gave a shrug, "Movies make us look like terrible creatures. We're still people. Just don't have a pulse. Or need to eat.. Or breathe... Or sleep..." She trailed off, "I'll shut up. You good though? You need anything? I can hook you up with snacks or a drink? If you know those jerks names I can sneak into the nurses station and put their names on your chart so they can't come back?"
Zach was still visibly shaken even when the threat was out of sight and gone. Holding teddy tight in his arms as he willingly stepped into Scar’s embrace. He had never been given any reason to not trust her. She had been nothing but nice to him on the couple times they had talked, she was also a friend of Connor. That last bit was of course a big deciding factor in him knowing he could trust her. He nodded weakly to her question, “I will be,” he replied bearly above a whisper. He peeked up over her shoulder in the direction the boys had ran when the second question came. “Henry was one of my old teammates for soccer. Jackson….,” his voice fell, showing clearly his following words still stung quite a bit, “Was my exboyfriend.” He sniffled, it only made him want Connor that much more. He bit his lip and lowered his eyes, tears brimming at the memory, “They wanted to see how afraid of the dark I was. Shoved me in a locker…. when I woke up, I was here.” He quickly wiped his face against teddy’s head with another sniffle. Going quiet for a moment before being the one to ask a question now, “Scar, are you like Connor?” he asked carefully, not wanting to upset her.
Scar was sure that she felt her heart break with Zach's words. She couldn't imagine how someone could go from being one's boyfriend to treating him like that. "Oh my god, Zach baby...." She said, barely above a whisper, listening to the rest of his story and deciding that he definitely needed more hugs as she drew him back in yet again. "You've got a good boyfriend now, remember? Don't let that jerk get you down. That's the past. Just keep him there. Okay?" She said in a gentle tone, giving him a squeeze. His question took her by surprise and she looked towards him curiously, "Are you asking if I'm... Not all here in more than just the mental sense?" She asked, choosing her own words carefully. "That would be correct. Don't worry, I'm a nice ghost. More interested in helping than scaring."
Zach didn’t think for a moment Scar was there to mean any harm to him. He knew for sure she was there because of him. He would make sure to show his gratitude according, once was all said, and done. He found her touch to be a comfort, letting out a small sigh of relief to know they weren’t about to get to him with her there. He really believed that. “Thanks, Scar,” he voice timid, not towards her, just the situation in general.
"What the fuck!" came Jackson as Henry stumbled back out of reach of Scar’s arm as it passed through him. The two boys collided into each other in a scramble to split. There was some yelling between the two about "freaks" and "crazies" as they circled around in confusion on where the exit was. Once they regained their bearings they were gone, they had probably never ran faster in their lives to get out of there.
Scar laughed at their reaction, watching them scramble as she crossed her arms over her chest. "That was fun." She stated, trying to stifle her laughter as they vanished out of sight, waving and yelling out after them "Bye boys! Don't come back, ya hear!" That was nothing but playful, considering that she genuinely didn't think they would be back.
She whirled around to face Zach, reaching out to place her hands on his shoulders, looking him over worriedly, "Are you okay, Zach?" She was sure that she hadn't given them a chance to hurt him at all, but that didn't stop her from worrying. She stepped in to wrap her arms around him in a tight, comforting hug, sure that he could use one of those right about then. "Who were those jerks? They sure seemed to know you. Not that they need to, apparently." She loosened her hold, opting to him decide if he wanted to step away.
Just those few short moments between the boys beginning to harass Zach and Scar appearing, they were already making provoking little jabs at him. Zach had begun to shut down, because it was unpleasant memories taking him to a bad place. He sniffled back his teas as hard as he could for the other boys’ not to see, but it was futile. Just when they were about to start in on him about that, they were blocked. Zach lifted his head to see Scar there, not exactly questioning at the moment how that had happened. He only sought refuge behind her, pulling teddy out from his back pack.
"What the hell!" Jackson was the first one to jump back, "Wh.. where’d she come from?" he was showing he only held the position of being Henry’s little henchman. Backing up even further than Jackson had.
"Man, just a parlor trick. Crazies have nothing better to do," Henry spat back at his weaker willed friend.
"Move, bitch. This got nothing to do with you!" he took a step forward challenging her. "Have to get your little girlfriend to protect you, Zachie?" he threw the insult over Scar, directing it to Zach like she wasn’t there.
Scar released an offended huff at their comments, only stepping closer to them. "Parlor trick?" She echoed, her tone one of absolute agitation. "Will it be a parlor trick when I rip your guts out and wear them for a scarf?" Anyone who knew Scar knew that she was all talk when it came to comments like that. So she was grateful that these two didn't know her.
She reached back to seek out Zach, giving him a consoling pat at what she figured was either his side or his arm - either one worked. "I got you, Z." She said softly, glancing over her shoulder to throw him a comforting smile, not wanting to scare him with the way she was acting towards the other boys.
Once that was done, her attention was back to the two before her. "You want to see a crazy bitch? I'll show you one. I'll rip you to shreds if you so much as look at Zach again. He hasn't done anything to you, I'm sure. You're just a couple of lowlife scum with nothing better to do than harass someone who's down on his luck." Then, adding onto that train of thought, Scar shot her hand forward, making it go right through Henry's stomach. "Is that a parlor trick too?" She asked in a hiss, stepping closer and grabbing his collar with her free hand. "Get lost."
Zach hadn’t had any visitors aside from his mom who would make an appearance on the rare occasion every so often. When Margy informed Zach that day he had visitors waiting, he was of coursed overjoyed at the prospect of who it could be. He didn’t have a clue in the world. Granted, he had a couple friends at school, but none had made any initiative to keep in contact. He informed her quickly he would be out in a minute. First, as always, he had to leave Connor a note letting him know where he’d be. “
Connor! I got visitors! I don’t know who they are, but I’m excited! If I’m not back, come find me? Hope your days gone just as well! Love, Zachie
He moved Elsa, their kitten, from his lap onto his pillow giving her an affectionate little scratch. “I’ll be back in a bit,” he kissed her head before hoping off the bed. Grabbing his backpack from the floor before he was out the of the room and down the hall. Margy yelling at him to slow down, knowing him for the clumsy boy he was.
He really wished he had slowed down, because he was able to skid himself to a stop in time to retreat. His visitors weren’t welcomed ones and they had already caught sight of him. The pair of them, Jackson and Henry
"Look! There he is. He’s really here!" Henry was the first to pipe up in a tone that Zach was unsure of it. Was it welcoming or mocking? The voice definitely confirmed to him he had been his second assailant that day in the locker room.
"Wh… what do you guys want?" Zach didn’t approach any further then the door way, but they did.
"We just wanted to see our ol’ buddy," Jackson was the one to speak now, that was definitely mocking.
"You guys don’t seem like my buddies," Zach tried to speak with confidence, but his voice faltered.
"Aw, c’mon now. Are you really going to hold that against us?" Henry cocked his head to the side. "Just a joke, a little messing around," the boy pushed the boundaries by reaching out a hand to shove Zach in the shoulder. Although not with as much force as the day in the locket.
Zach was cornered against the wall, this scenario was all too familiar. “Leave me alone!” he shouted from seemingly nowhere. He lifted his head enough to look about frantically, “Connor! Connor! Where are you? Please, come get me!”
As a general rule of thumb, Scar didn't do anything. She had decided the moment that she came back to Pennhurst against her will that she wasn't going to conform to anything until she could see her brother again. For that reason, while most of the patients and students in the hospital actually had things to be doing, Scar was wandering aimlessly. She had recently taken up lurking on visiting hours. It was amazing how much patients tried harder to look normal when they were confronted by family and loved ones. Like that would make a difference in their diagnosis. Like they thought that would let them go home quicker.
She was laughing at one in particular, who she knew every diagnosis and knew he was bullshitting so hard, when she heard a familiar cry. She hadn't heard that voice too many times, but she knew it all too well.She didn't know where Connor was, and she knew that he would be the preferred rescuer, but since he didn't seem to be anywhere to be seen, Scar would have to do. Still invisible, she patted the patient on the shoulder that she had been watching before she willed herself over to Zach. Appearing between him and his attackers, Scar's eyes narrowed as she reached out to push them both back. "What the hell did you have for breakfast this morning? A heaping bowl of Carnation Instant Jackass?" She asked, positioning herself directly in front of Zach protectively once they were back a little ways, "The kid said leave him alone. So fuck off before I have to make you."
Original Gif credit to Janey. Please do not save, re-use, re-post, etc...
It ain't fair: you died too young,
Like the story that had just begun,
But death tore the pages all away.
God knows how I miss you,
All the hell that I've been through,
Just knowin' no-one could take your place.
Laughter resounded through the little cul-de-sac; the sound should have been welcoming, but the only reaction that it received from the raven haired girl was bringing tear to her eyes. It was summer time, and there was nothing that should have sounded sweeter in the world. Children were screaming and shouting, laughing and yelling, there wasn't a negative sound to be heard... And still Scarlett cried.
Daniel should have been out there. He should have been among those children laughing and playing. And although he couldn't gauge pain and limits the way that most children could, Scar would have been there with him. Sure, she was old enough that she shouldn't have been among children their age, but she would have tagged along to look after Daniel, to make sure that he was okay. She could have been out there cracking jokes that would make him and the other children shriek with laughter richer than those sounds that came with the games they played.
The room that Scar called home had become her prison. It was self imprisonment though. She chose to hole herself up. She had only left the room to eat since Daniel died. And that was only late at night when she knew that she didn't have to deal with the judging eyes of her parents. They tried to tell her that it wasn't her fault. With their fake soothing voices and their consoling words. But it didn't take much for Scarlett to know that they were lying. They blamed her. She was a murderer and everyone knew it. It was an accident, but it was murder nonetheless. She had watched him go from happy and laughing to cold and lifeless right before her. And there was nothing that she could do to stop it. She did it. She killed him.
The crash was the only thing that let Scar know she was bleeding. She looked down, and the sight made her tears flow faster. She had shattered the small glass toy she was holding in her grip. The shards dug into her palm, and Scar couldn't tell. She felt pressure but no pain. this was the fifth time in the past week, she was sure. Maybe the number was higher. Scar had stopped paying attention. She didn't care if things hurt her. She couldn't feel anything anyway. Emotional pain was the only sort she had ever known, and now she would trade anything for a chance to feel physical pain. At least it would be a distraction.
She picked the shards of glass out of her hand, wincing at the discomfort and the pressure, but once again wondering what it would be like to know the pain most people felt. One by one the clear shards fell into the trashcan by her desk until Scar was pretty sure that they were all cleaned out. Only then did she allow herself to wrap her wounds.
--------
"Scarlett?" Her mother's voice pierced her thoughts, causing the dark haired girl to jump in her seat. It was Scar's first dinner with the family since Daniel had died. It was the first time that she had willingly left her room to interact with them. And she was still sure that they were judging her with their every glance. He was their child. She was adopted. She should have been the one to die, he was their flesh and blood.
She looked over once she had gained her composure, "Yes?"
"Have you hurt yourself lately? Your arm looks horrible." The woman's tone was sympathetic, but Scar was sure that it was only because she felt like she had to be.
Scar shrugged, "I'm fine." That was the worst lie she had told in a long time. She didn't want them to know how much she had hurt herself lately. They didn't need another reason to hate her. That was the last thing she wanted to do. She turned her attention back to her plate, fork nudging the vegetables like a small child who didn't want to eat them would.
-----------
The blood flowed freely down Scar's arm, her eyes widened as she watched it. It was a crimson river of the most beautiful kind. If she slit her wrists in the right spot that could turn into a sea. She would never feel it. She would never know how close to death's edge she was. Her body wouldn't be able to tell her. There would be nothing stopping her. She glanced away from the cut to the shard of glass that she held in her opposite had. That was sharp enough to do the job. She had learned already that it could cut through skin effortlessly.
She moved the glass in a fluid movement to press it to her wrist. One swift motion and it would all be over. One slice and nothing would be the same. She could get away from the guilt. She could be free of the depression. She could stop hating herself...
She could see Daniel.
One swift movement and it would all be over.
And she did it. The blood pooled to the surface instantly and Scar let out a sigh of genuine happiness. She was going to go see Daniel. She would be free. She was going to leave this world.
The door clicked and Scar mentally cursed herself for not locking it. A shrill voice of the purest form of panic interrupted her thoughts, and Scar was being scooped up into the familiar arms of her father as she heard her mother crying. She knew it wasn't over yet. But she wouldn't open her eyes. She wanted to die. She wanted to see Daniel.
"You're gonna be okay Scar. We're gonna get you help. We're calling 911 and then we know a place that can help you."
The words her dad spoke were meant to be comforting, but they were the worst thing Scar had heard in her entire life.
I … uhm, yeah. I just don’t need more of them. So please no stories about … people turning into vampires or werewolves in here or I might freak out completely.
Vampires? Werewolves? Nah, Never heard of any of that in here. I think we have a shapeshifter, but I've been told he's cool.
Ding ding ding! I'm like... Morticia, the friendly ghost. I'd say Casper, but he's not dark enough for my liking. And I think that title's being fought over by some other bros.
I think that’s because we’re at a madhouse. You should hear creepy stuff here, right? Otherwise it wouldn’t be normal. My family background is perfectly normal.
