Imprisoned

A small panel on the door slid open and a pair of eyes stared down at Charles through the barred opening. The light from the naked bulb seemed dimmer compared to the harsh light of the other side of the door. The panel swooshed closed just a few seconds later.

“Hey, Gary.”

“Yes, Charles?”

“I can’t sleep. Did I wake you? I’m so sorry.”

“No, no. Don’t worry about it. I couldn’t sleep either.”

“For the same reason?”

“You know it.”

“Do you think he knows that staring at us like that creeps us out?”

“I’m not sure anymore. A few weeks ago I would have definitely said yes. He has that look about him.”

“I think it’s those thick glasses. They make him look like a giant insect or something especially with the light reflecting off of them like that.”

“His terrible comb-over isn’t helping either,” Gary chuckled and saw that Charles was stifling a laugh. “But really it’s the entire get up. That scowl and that semi-smile that still looks a lot like a scowl, that coffee stain colored necktie and that equally ugly striped shirt; I mean, seriously, does this guy have any other clothes?”

“That coat.”

“What’s that, Charles?”

“I said, ‘That coat.’ That long coat with those glasses really gets the goose bumps going.”

“Yeah. It really does. It’s just so sterile-looking. But I guess that’s the point.”

“There used to be six of us, Gary. Now we’re down to two. What did he do with the others?”

“Five.”

“What do you mean?”

“Only five of us, total, were in here from the start.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Charles, we’ve been through this.”

“Oh, that’s right. I keep thinking of my wife. God, I miss her so much. Why do I keep thinking she was here with us?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because she was here with us that first day?”

“She was?”

“Geez, man! Don’t you remember that your wife was here on that first day? You were inconsolable when she left. But I have to admit. That goodbye you two had was pretty heartbreaking. I nearly cried.”

“You cried, Gary?”

“I said I NEARLY cried. I can’t believe you don’t remember that.”

“That’s peculiar. You know, I barely remember that day. Isn’t that totally strange? You’d think something like that would stick with me. I mean, we’ve only been here for what? Three, four months?”

“At least. Hey, Charles, what about the others? Do you remember them?”

“Just barely; I remember Rex. Do you remember Rex? I hated him. You know what? I don’t know if it was more that I hated him or was scared of him.”

“He was definitely a scary guy.”

“Did he scare you, Gary?”

“The guy was completely nuts. I mean, you could see it in his eyes. He was put on this earth for one purpose, and one purpose only: to kill things. If they ever bottle up the destructive force of a tornado, the label should have his face on it. I still can’t believe they locked him up with other people around.”

“They took him away though.”

“Eventually! I mean he killed Bob! You remember Bob, don’t you? Nice guy, kind of a momma’s boy. He was quieter than you! And let’s not forget that Rex nearly killed you too; digging his fingernails into your wrists like that.”

“I know. These scars make it difficult to forget that day,” Charles looked at his scars and they felt tender as he remembered Rex.

“I don’t know why they waited so long to take that guy away. You’d think they wanted to get rid of Bob the way they acted when he was killed. Who am I kidding? The guys that have us locked up were probably more scared of Rex than we ever were. Damn, I miss Bob all of a sudden.”

“Bob… I knew Bob.”

“We all did. It’s kind of hard to not know a guy you’re sharing a cell with let alone one who was killed in front of you.”

“No, I mean I knew him before I even knew my wife.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, I mean I barely remember him but it was brief. We were kids in grade school and he always kept to himself in the corner.”

“That sounds like Bob all right.”

“No one in the class really noticed him but I did. It’s weird. I remember him but I can’t really remember much else around that time. I don’t even remember what happened to my dad.”

“I thought you didn’t know your dad. Isn’t that what you said a while back?”

“I didn’t but I do know he was around when I was in pre-school and all that and that one day he wasn’t there anymore. I don’t remember him leaving or dying or anything, really. He was there one day and gone the next. I do remember that my mother smiled less but I think that’s because of whatever happened in the hospital.”

“Charles…”

“It’s the strangest thing. I can remember being happy with my mom and dad. And I can remember waiting for my mom to come out of the hospital and never seeing my dad after that. But nothing in between. I mean, not really.”

“Was she in the hospital giving birth to a brother or something?”

“No she was hurt. She fell down the stairs. I don’t remember that but I do remember that’s what she kept telling the police. Just so odd. My dad was there and then he was gone and in between all I can remember was strange Bob sitting in the corner of the playground during recess.”

Gary just looked at Charles not sure how to respond.

“I think I knew Kieran too,” Charles said as he leaned his head against the cold concrete wall.

“Jesus! That must have been one messed up daycare for all three of you to end up here!”

“No, I knew Kieran in college. He helped me pass a lot of classes but wasn’t very personable. I think he creeped a lot of people out. He would do really well in his classes but you really didn’t see him anywhere else on or off campus.”

“Yeah, he wasn’t exactly the most sociable. Second to Rex, he was the one I was most worried about.”

“You had nothing to worry about with Kieran. He was distant, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Are you sure about that? I mean how much of him did you really know?”

“I guess now that you mention it I really didn’t know much about him other than he helped me pass a few classes. That, and he ended up in here with us.”

“And what did he do to end up here?”

“I really don’t know. But then again I never really bothered to ask him. Did you?”

“No. Whatever he did can’t be as bad as why we’re here otherwise they wouldn’t have taken him away from this hell hole.”

“Didn’t they just put him somewhere else?”

“I thought they took him away; let him go.”

“That’s just the type of person he was, I suppose. Here one minute and gone the next. Maybe even he didn’t know why he was here.”

The two sat in silence, their eyes closed but neither of them falling asleep.

“Gary?”

“Yes, Charles?”

“Can you still see him?”

“Who?”

“You know who.”

Gary opened one eye and saw those thick glasses staring at the two of them. No one heard the panel slide open this time. There was no condescension or patronizing undertones in the way Dr. Matheson looked at them. It was equal parts mechanic and sympathetic but neither Gary nor Charles thought the sympathy was genuine. Dr. Matheson looked to his side and nodded.

“He’s always watching. One way or another.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure. I think they’re coming in.”

With a loud metallic click the door swung open and Charles cowered in the corner as Dr. Matheson approached him.

“I’m scared!” Charles said, his voice quivering.

“I know, Charles,” Gary answered

“Charles, I need you to come with me,” Dr. Matheson said, “These nice gentleman are orderlies. They’re going to escort you just like last time. Now don’t put up a fuss I would hate to have to sedate you again.”

“They’re taking me away Gary! I know it! They’ll take me away like they did Rex and Kieran!”

“No they’re not, Charles. They’re not,” Gary whispered.

“What are you talking about?” Charles asked.

“So Gary is still with us, Charles? “ Dr. Matheson asked. “Tell me which one Gary is again.”

“He’s right there, Dr! I don’t want to go anywhere. Can’t I just stay here with Gary?”

“I’m afraid that isn’t what’s best for you, Charles.”

“They’re not taking you away Charles.”

“What? What are you talking about? Of course they are! These orderlies with no necks are going to drag me kicking and screaming. I just want to stay here with you. You’ve always been nice to me Gary.”

“I know, Charles,” Gary said.

“I know, Charles,” Dr. Matheson said.  He turned to the orderlies who grabbed Charles by the arms, “According to my notes, Gary is the newest one. Charles has grown quite fond of him so there might be some fight to be had.”

“Don’t let them take me away, Gary! I’m scared!”

“I know you are, Charles. But they’re not taking you away. They’re taking me away.”

“What?”

“They’re taking me away, not you. They’re going to do some medical stuff to you to make you all better. But I can’t be here if you’re going to be all better. And I want you to get better”

“Why not, Gary? Why can’t you be here?”

The orderlies lifted Charles off the floor and carried him to a sterile, cold room down the hall and laid him on the mattress. They tightened the leather straps on his hands and feet and each held down his shoulder. Dr. Matheson took out the thick rubber mouthpiece and shoved it into Charles’ mouth and flicked a switch on a small metal box. The doctor then took out a folder and searched through the notes within.

“Ah, yes. Gary. This is a risky one, gentlemen. He may fight the treatment more violently than before. If you remember he was traumatized when we eliminated the personality known as Bob and he even dug into his own wrists, possibly as a suicide attempt though his Rex person may have taken over. Gary seems to be the voice of Charles’ reason personified. He’s everything Charles wanted to be. He might be closer to Gary than he was the hallucination of his own wife.”

“Doc?” The larger orderly asked, “Why are we taking that away from him? If Gary is such a good guy, can’t we give him that much?”

“While his other persona might be helpful, it’s not healthy for him to see his reason and confidence as something outside of himself. He has to learn that there is no Gary, that he can be totally confident and reasonable on his own. Now hold him down.”

Back in the cell, it was empty except the naked bulb high on the ceiling. Gary would not be there when Charles returned just as Gary told him. It would just be an empty room with barred windows and padded walls and maybe a straightjacket to keep Charles warm, his hands literally tied to avoid any more “Rex incidents.” The orderlies let Charles sit on the floor in his favorite corner once the treatment was done. A part of him wondered if that naked bulb flickered at all during the treatment. It seems like it would, thought Charles. Then he looked to the opposite corner, Gary’s corner, and found nothing but shadows.

“All alone,” Charles whispered to himself, “I wonder where they took Gary off to.”