A Scripta

Darkness, but a blanket, a soft woolly blanket of blackness, comforting, quiet, dark, in a cocoon, safe, tight, nothing can hurt me

A pinprick a small stab in my head, just nothing, safe, away from them, from those who hurt me, those who will hurt me and betray me -

Longer pinprick, stays longer, stabbing through the fog, a bar of red light crosses my vision and disappears. Nothing can hurt me here in the woolly blanket, nothing, safe at home, curled up against the storms...black darkness...I want to stay here forever

Slowly the blanket is pulled back, someone teases me as the crest of light and air works its way around me, I smile and remember mom waking me up like that - throwing open the curtain, the initial gentle light through the blanket, then slowly pulling it from my head and there, the light and chill air of a New England winter strikes my forehead, caressing it with cold air. The blanket winds its way down...

"Hello."

He blinked awake. A blond woman, her hair pulled back in a bun, looked down on him and smiled. "How do you feel?"

"About what?" He tried to sit up but was attached to the bed. "Why am I tied down?"

"So that you don't hurt yourself. Let me undo them." She started to undo the buckles. "Do you know your name?"

"Nathan Greene. Masonry."

"Where do you live?"

"At the Vanguard barracks via Atlas Park."

"What do you do for a living?"

"Not much."

She chuckled and he felt the last of the straps release from his arms. "Are you hungry or thirsty?"

"I could use some water."

The restraints were removed, they talked some more, and Hannah was satisfied that he wasn't damaged. She couldn't believe that this gentle man could have murdered so many. He got dressed and she waited at the nurse's station for him. He was pulling on his jacket and asked, "So what time tomorrow am I coming in?"

Hannah looked at him curiously. "You're not coming in tomorrow." She tapped in to the computer to check appointments for Friday. Luminescence stated, Lodestar wishes to wait until after the weekend. Can it be done on Monday?

The effects may wear off by then.

Masonry continued, "But Dr. Beckham said he wanted me to do this daily."

Consider today a trial run and not part of the treatment regimen.

Hannah raised an eyebrow - hardly anyone had daily ECT treatments anymore. "He did, did he. Having this treatment done daily is for severe cases of major depression or schizophrenia. I don't think you're that severe, Mr. Greene."

"You've read my file, though--"

"I've done more than read your file, Mr. Greene. You came in here of your own free will. Severe cases are usually brought in wearing straitjackets. Do you see the difference?"

He looked down. "I do."

"Good. Go see Nancy and make an appointment for Monday."

"That long?"

"We're booked solid."

He looked at her for a minute, as if wanting to argue, then went to the other station where someone took his information and scheduled him for Monday morning.