A brick manor squats amid rolling fields and meandering woods. In years gone by it housed a grand family and their social aspirations. Now it houses a family of another type, strangers bound by difference and the professional parents who seek to understand them.
The occupant of room 23 is one such stranger. She knows little beyond her four walls, aside from the shower room with startling white tiles, and the small office where she is asked questions for one hour every week. She has forgotten the world outside just as it has forgotten her. She cannot even remember why she is here – she only knows that no one believed what she said.
Darkness falls, and the shadows slide through the bars over her window, creeping across the linoleum floor. Lights flicker to life all over the institution, banishing the growing night in accommodation rooms and corridors alike, but not this room. She likes the dark; she finds it friendly, and comfortable. She greets it as a master might greet his loyal dog.
She curls up on the bed, and cups her hands before her. She stares at the space between her palms, and minutes turn to hours as she concentrates. At half past the hour, two nurses peer through the observation slot in her door, and mutter to each other. Same as always, they say. Right on cue.
They close the hatch and continue on their rounds. A moment later, a spark flares into life between her palms. A smile spreads across her face as the spark becomes a flame. A warm glow reflects in her black eyes as the tongues of fire lick upwards, tickling her arms.
She was right.
She seems a little like the girl in “Firestarter”, and is probably just as dangerous too. Is there a Part 2 in the pipeline for this one Icy?
Not at the moment but you never know!
I really liked the way you kept me off balance as to the precise nature of the institution for as long as you did.
Thank you 🙂
Amazing imagery in this Icy! I felt I was right there with her, watching “the shadows slide through the bars over her window, creeping across the linoleum floor.” Bravo!
I’m glad you liked it!
One would need to be patient to witness her spark. Even if they think her mad, at least she can smile.
Well now she’s done it properly, I wonder how long it’ll be before she does it again.
Deep and creepy environment! Hopefully things turn out better later for her.
Well I don’t think she’ll be staying there long!
With a power like that, I imagine “they” will believe her… eventually. By then, however, it’ll be too late. A twisted tale, Icy. I can see this one developing into something far bigger.
I’m writing part two as we speak!
I wasn’t sure what she was or why she was there until I got to the end. Nice story. She sounds like they need to listen to her or they may be sorry.
I wanted to keep people guessing.
Oooh. I like the way this one caught me by surprise a bit. I guess I underestimated her as well. 🙂
I think everyone does!
Ohh someone with a gift for fire. Bet she escapes soon.
A great description of the hospital/asylum. If she ever perfects that skill so it can be called on at whim she will be very dangerous lol.
What stuck with me about this is the “not believing” part. Yes, scepticism is an important part of the acquisition of truth, but sometimes the bar is set so high knowledge remains unaccepted for years, and those years have consequences. This story illustrates that so well.
Getting to a place like that and then being right doesn’t bode well for the people around her.