“GOOD MORNING ALL, LET US BEGIN THE DAY! RISE AND SHINE MY FRIENDS!”

I groaned as that cock Rafael screamed. It felt like I had just fallen asleep. It was getting easier to sleep on this bed, though‍, which was good because I thought I might go crazy myself if I didn’t get some soon. I laid there for a little while longer until Ashley came in told me to get up now or I’d be in trouble. I didn’t say anything, but I sat up and rubbed my face. She left me to it, since the next thing I had to do was change my clothes. I stood up, grabbed them from outside and put them on. I realized my shirt was on backwards so I flipped it around. Heading toward the common room, I slowed down as I passed Mac’s room. He wasn’t in there as far as I could see, so I kept walking. I found him sitting in a bean bag staring into space. That made me a little worried, but not too much. He was safe here, surrounded by doctors, and he most likely wouldn’t cause any problems if he was having an episode, which was unlikely; I watched him take his medicine every day and every night, and so did Rafael. It could have just been that he was tired. Still, I pulled another bean bag up next to him.

“Hey man, you there?”

Mac looked over and nodded.

“For now at least. I need your help.”

He was whispering, so I whispered back.

“Why? What’s going on?”

Mac started to blink more,

“I had a nightmare last night about Them. When I woke up I heard a deafening angry cry that gave me a panic attack; you didn’t hear it did you?” He rushed his words like he was still having one.

I frowned,

“No, sorry. I slept pretty good last night, I didn’t wake up until this morning when Rafael forced me to. Do you think it was a hallucination?”

He rubbed his eyes, trying to stop his tic. He stopped because it was very uncomfortable to do that.

“I don’t know. I’m taking my all my meds, I can’t see how I could be getting sick. It could have been real.” he murmured.

“So what if it is?” I asked, genuinely wanting to know why it bothered him so much.

“... I feel unsafe,” he started, “People here can say whatever they want you to think about how they got here. At least one person here has killed someone— I mean, possibly. The people that hunt me, they hunt everyone. I want to be normal, Howie. I just want to live a normal life.”

I sighed. If only I could give him a hug.

“Listen to yourself, Mac. You should talk to Rafael about this, you seem to be heading down a bad path. They don’t exist, I promise you. And no one can hurt you here. There are guards and doctors everywhere, so you’re safe.”

Mac was right. Everyone could say anything they wanted. It was possible that there was a murderer in here. But that train of thought points to paranoia, especially with the other things he said.

“But I don’t know if I can trust him. What if I’m correct and I just tell him, and then he knows I’m on to him? He could change my meds, convince me that I’m wrong, make up lies to cover it up. Are you sure I'm losing it again? How could I be? I’m on meds still.”

The fear in his voice and in his eyes hadn’t left. He didn’t believe me yet.

“I’m pretty sure that stressful situations can cause episodes. Or maybe your body is building an immunity to zyprexa. I’m not sure why, but I do think we should take this seriously. I’ll talk to him for you if you want.” I offered.

Everyone else was sitting at the tables.

“Mac, Howie. Come sit over here.” directed Ashley.

I guessed we were done that conversation now. Mac shook his head as he walked over and sat down there were only two separate seats: one next to Daren and one next to Tyler. I took the one by Tyler since I didn’t want him and Mac being buddy-buddy anymore than they already were. Besides, Sam was right when he called Daren an asshole.

There was a strange tension in the air. It had been building for days, and it was getting unbearable. The cart of food was rolled out, and as our names were called we got up grabbed our trays of food. Mac’s last name was Harding, so he got his tray before me (my last name was Newcomb). As he passed me, I could see the panic still in his eyes. I wished I could comfort him. I felt guilty for taking the seat next to his only other friend. I got my food and started eating. Mac was doing his best to act normal, but tears were building in his eyes. I frowned but didn’t say anything so I didn’t draw attention to him.

“Mac, what’s wrong?” Ali cooed.

Several others turned their attention toward mac. Mac gave Ali a fierce glare.

“Just mind your business,” he mumbled.

Ali looked down, “Fine.”

Ashely offered Mac some extra napkins, but he ignored them, his dignity obviously hurt.

Breakfast continued in virtual silence. Tyler started breathing heavily. I noticed he was sweating.

“Can… Can I have your breakfast?” he asked me, “Please, I’m… so hungry.”

I stared at him, “You sure you can hold it down?”

He nodded quickly. Rafael strolled over,

“Tyler, you had better come with me.”

He nodded again and whimpered when he stood. Rafael helped him to the check-up room. I wondered what the hell was wrong with him. Could it have been some sort of fever? How did he get sick in a place like this?

I watched Mac give away most of his food to Sam, who seemed a lot less enthusiastic than usual. He seemed sick too. I hoped Mac wouldn’t catch it. He had enough on his plate, although not literally. As for me, it didn’t matter. I probably deserved to be sick.

Breakfast ended and everyone went about their business. Vincent went into the check-up room. Tyler never came out. Sam was sitting very still and quiet, staring at me. Sam never sat still.

“Hey Sam what the hell? Why are you staring at me?” I called out.

Sam blinked and shook his head violently. He looked away for a moment but looked back at me. He mumbled something I could barely make out.

“You look so tasty.”

A chill ran down my spine.

What?

He started twitching and rubbing his face and arms. The rubbing got violent. I stood up,

“Uhhh, guys?”

Mac was watching, wide-eyed and blinking. Ashley and Dayo both rushed over and started pulling sam away to the checkup room. His legs didn’t bend well and he could barely walk. Then his knees buckled, and he let out a cry of pain. His bones started snapping and changing. At this point I was backed against the wall with my jaw dropped and the hairs on the back of my neck raised. I didn’t know what was happening but it reminded me of a horror movie. Dayo and Ashley were now less focused on the possessed man in front of them and more concerned about Mac and I. They kept glancing between us with panic in their eyes. I looked at the entrance/exit door. It was of course locked. Mac needed to get out of here before the thing hurt him. When I looked back at him I realized he was already running for the door. He started banging on the metal.

“SOMEONE HELP US! OPEN THE DOOR! PLEASE!”

Sam let out a cry that cracked into a roar and my attention was brought back to him. There were bloody claw marks all over his arms with wet fur underneath the skin. His face was reconstructing itself into a dog-like face.

Could it really be… a werewolf? Sam grew in size and shape until he looked like a giant mutated wolf. Its fur was brown like Sam’s hair and its eyes glowed green. It shook out its pelt, splattering the white walls with blood.

“HELP!!” screamed Mac at the top of his lungs.

The wolf growled and turned toward mac, but before it could move, Rafael burst through the door to the checkup room and shot the monster. It yelped and moved away from Rafael and toward me. I didn’t know what a werewolf would do to me, but I was open to anything, especially death.

Unfortunately, it collapsed before it got much closer, though it was still breathing. I saw a dart in the beast; it must have been a tranquilizer.

I looked up at Rafael. Mac fell silent minus his heavy breathing. The rest of the room was looking at Mac and I in anticipation. They must have known Sam was a werewolf.

Rafael cleared his throat. Dayo and Ashely picked up the huge monster and began dragging him to his room. Blood streaked the floor as they pulled him.

“Mac, Howie, come with me right now.”

Mac gulped.

“N-No…”

I looked at Mac, watching him blink so fast that I wondered if he could even see. What was Mac doing? He was going to get in trouble!

“Mac, don’t. Let’s just go, what’s the big deal?”

Mac shook his head and stayed silent. He was looking past Rafael, horrified. I wasn’t sure what was going on.

Rafael grimaced and muttered something I couldn’t understand, then he moved toward Mac so fast I could barely see him move. There was a blur and then he was holding Mac tightly by his upper arms. He whispered something and stared Mac straight in the face, but Mac squeezed his eyes shut and fought the doctor’s grip.

“No! No! Not again!” Mac cried. This continued for several moments until Rafael finally let go. Mac panted and kept his eyes shut and whimpered. He pressed himself into the corner. Rafael sighed.

“Dammit. Dammit!” Shouted Rafael. Mac and I watched as he rubbed his face in frustration. I got concerned; the last time someone rubbed their face, they turned into a werewolf. who would put him to sleep if he turned? But when he removed his hands, nothing happened. He took a deep breath and glanced around the room, a look of concern forming on his face.

Come to my office, both of you please.”

I headed for the door and waited for rafael to unlock it. Mac opened his eyes. He hesitated.

Rafael didn’t bother to look at him, he seemed to already know Mac was afraid to do as he was told.

“Don’t worry, Mac, I am not going to do anything to you. Although, others may if you do not take my suggestion.”

“Wh...Why should I trust you?”

“You can trust me or not, I suppose that is up to you. However if you do not, you are putting your life on the line.”

I looked around. Several of the other patients weren’t just looking at us. There was a dangerous, hungry look in their eyes.

Mac rubbed his eyes, blinking rapidly. He moved to stand next to me. Once we were safely in his office with solid metal door locked, Rafael began to speak.

“Neither of you were supposed to know that Sam is a werewolf, but it seems he failed to keep that from you. Nevertheless, you two are not leaving. I suppose you would have found out eventually.”

I felt like that much was fairly obvious.

“No one here is human except for you two. You are not here for the reasons I told you. Part of your memory was wiped. You are here as tools to help other patients learn self control and give them a sense of humanity.”

I could feel how hot mac was getting as he sat next to me. I could hear how hard he was trying to control his breathing. He was on the verge of a panic attack. I wanted to give him a hug so badly.

“Now, Questions?”