Deemed Insane by Jace Young

Deemed Insane by Jace Young

Deemed Insane

A short-story, by Jace Young

Published in the nationally acclaimed, award winning literary magazine "Labyrinth" as well as in the collaborative novel "Anthology" composed by author Mike Kearby.

1

April 10, 1961, Forest Hill, Ohio

Dr. Andie Lovelis glared through the barred window of Forest Hill Mental Institute. All

that stood before her in the distance was an empty field and a bare hill. She turned to the

locked door of her cell, and her rage boiled.

"It's all your fault that I'm in here. If you hadn't come along, this never would have

happened," Andie fumed at the boy sitting in the corner of the cold, concrete cell. The child

pulled his knees closer to his chest, returning Andie's gaze with his sharp green eyes.

Sighing, she sank to the floor, staring blankly. Memories of the past few months

flooded back. Everything that had occurred since she arrived had led to this nightmare.

2

January 20, 1961

"And over here is the West Wing, where we keep the more stable patients. These

patients show only early signs of paranoia and schizophrenia," Dr. Gonzalez droned on as he

gestured down the corridor. "We'll post you here for the first few weeks while you settle in."

A shriek jarred Andie. Whipping her head around, she asked, concerned, "Did you hear

that noise?"

"Hear what?"

"It came from that hallway. It sounded like a child."

"There are no children here, Dr. Lovelis. You know we are an adults-only facility."

She nodded, unconvinced.

"That hallway leads to the East Wing, where we keep our more dangerous patients. You

don't have to worry: that's a restricted area, and you won't be assigned there. Now, follow

me to the doctors' lounge."

Andie had to jog to keep up with Dr. Gonzalez as he sped away, moving down the hall

in the opposite direction from the scream.

3

February 24, 1961

Clutching a clipboard, Andie walked the familiar path of her nightly rounds. She peered

through the window of Room W23, confirming that the patient was present.

Looking into W21, Andie gasped at a boy's reflection in the door's window. She

dropped her clipboard, and as she bent to pick it up, Andie felt a cold chill. She looked up to

see the pale-faced boy standing over her. She jumped to her feet. The mysterious child

stared into Andie's eyes. The boy's piercing green eyes made him look other-worldly, yet

somehow benevolent and almost angelic.

The longer she peered into his empty eyes, the less frightened she grew and the more

she wanted to help him. She reached out and asked softly, "Who are you? Why are you

here?"

Unexpectedly, he moved to avoid her grasp, ignored her question and started to walk

toward the East Wing. Andie ran after him, then stopped abruptly, remembering where she

was—almost at the restricted area.

"Wait! Don't leave!" she cried, but he quickened his pace, and his grayish-blue skin

soon made him all but invisible in the hallway's bright lighting and against its white walls.

Just before he disappeared around a corner, she thought she heard a faint voice saying,

"Just