Town Chapter Seven The Asylum

 Enter The Asylum 

It was morning when they came for Alice. It was the next day after she was detained. They would have done it right away but they could not chance Malice coming out. She had finished tidying the cell that she was in. They opened the door. She looked at them feeling afraid and lost and these feelings were only intensified when she looked down at the guns and batons. 

“Urm…” Was all that she could say.

“Malice. No, you’re Alice. Come with us.”

“Yes sir!” She squeaked.

She soon followed them without question or even a word. She understood where she was and how she got there.

Where’s Jaden? Where’s Matilda? Why am I here? What did I do? Oh, mummy, daddy, I wish that you were here. Why isn’t anyone saying anything? Why are they looking at me as if I am some monster? I’m not a monster! It’s Malice that is the monster, not me!

I just want to go home! Why can’t I go home? I want to see Jaden. I want to see Matilda. Why can’t I see them?

They soon arrived in front of a car. She saw more policemen and police women. They all rested their hands upon their weapons as they looked at her. She could tell that they were getting ready to shoot her even if she stepped an inch out of line. They even looked at her as if she was a monster too. 

She, fearing for her life, did what she was told. She could feel herself trembling all over as she got into the car. She was immediately placed in handcuffs and a police woman sat next to her with her hand in her gun. She could feel a lump in her nauseous throat as she felt tears welling up and soon falling.

“Urm…”

She then looked at her in shock. She flinched.

“Sorry! Please may you tell me where we are going?”

The police woman let out a sigh of relief as it came over her. She relaxed her posture and smiled at her, like she was approaching a child younger than her.

“To a place that will make you better as you are a very sick young lady.”

“Oh. Thank you, miss.’

I don’t feel ill. But if she thinks that I am ill, it must mean that I am.

She soon arrived at a set of gates in between a high wall with barbed wire at the top. She shifted further back, feeling the oppressive atmosphere. Now she felt more frightened than ever! She was driven in. They came to a large Victorian building the size of a football field and had three floors. All had bars on their windows.

“I-is this wh-where, where I-I-will, I will-”

“This is the town’s asylum. You will be here for a while, until you’re better again.”

“Is-is that when they will go away?” She asked, still not even wanting to speak if Alex or Malice. She did not even want to know of or acknowledge their existence. She was too scared to. In fact, she was the most terrified of Malice. When she found out about her, it all made sense yet she knew that Malice had the best intentions in mind. She was still scared of her nevertheless.

“If that is the way that you wish to put it.”

“Thank you.”

“Why?”

“Because if she is gone I won’t hurt anyone ever again. Although-” She said, tensing up. “I still have a side of me that will still hurt others.”

The police woman opened the door and Alice left the car. She followed, sniffing. She brushed the tears away as she approached the doors. She looked up at the clock. Alex would wake up in an hour. Alice hoped that all of this would be over by then. Then she would be able to go home and have a normal life.

She walked in and was given a short sleeved shirt and trousers without any lase or belt. Which was held up by an elastic waist. At the back was Starliarb Asylum written in white.

She then was brought in front of a man in a white coat.

“Are you Alive, Alex and Malice?”

“Alice, sir.”

“‘Alice’, you are here because you have three separate personalities, including you. Do you know this?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, over your stay here we hope to bring your mind together as one. So I hope that your time is short, that is if you’re good and patient.”

“Okay. I will be a good girl.”

He sighed.

“Good, but Alice, don’t blame yourself for what Alex and Malice have done and will do.”

Suddenly, she was flooded with relief.

“I will try not to. Thank you, sir.”

They then walked her to a white padded room. 

The Psychologist 

Alice woke the following day from a nightmare. She was seeing everyone at her school happy that she was gone. Yet they were bullying Matilda which made her upset. She saw herself running to her in a corner where she was crying. She wanted to help her, however there was nothing that she could do about it. She wished that there was something that she could do. However, as long as she was ill, she could never do anything about it. She had to stay here, where she could do no harm. No, where Malice could do no harm.

The doors opened and the warden walked in with a plastic cup. In it were several different tablets. She gave them to her. She put them in her mouth and drank the water. Which helped her swallow them.

“You will be coming with me. There is someone I want you to meet.”

She looked up, feeling slightly intimidating.

“Alright. Thank you miss!” She said as she followed her to see a handsome young man with jet black hair with a white shine. With unreadable cold grey eyes. He wore a suit as black as his hair. With a red tie.

“Hello, my name is Doctor McKenzie. You must be the Alice personality.”

“Yes sir.”

“Tell me, what is your favourite colour?”

“Pink.”

“Why?”

Her eyes lit up.

“Because it’s pretty. Also it’s what princesses all wear!”

“And you like princesses, do you?”

“Yes. I love them! I wish I was a princess, then get a handsome prince and get married! And then have lots and lots of children and live happily ever after!”

He smiled as she wrote something down with a chuckle.

“And what do you think of Jaden Narcissa?”

“I love her! Although, she has only just met me. I know that she has tried to protect me from all the bad guys of this town. But she couldn’t! Yet I know it hurts her. I just hope that after all of this is over she will be alright and doesn’t blame herself.”

He wrote another thing down.

“And Matilda?”

“I feel sorry for her. After all, she had it worse. She was born here and was hurt and split like me and worse, she was split into two people. Yet she does frighten me. I know that she’s different now that she’s whole again. But I do love her. She’s the only friend that I’ve ever had! But I can’t get it out of my head what she did.”

“And Danté?”

She looked aside.

“Scary too.”

"Right. Now what do you think about Alex?”

“She’s scary but she acts too much like a guy. Why does she do that? Doesn’t she know that she's a girl? Girls don’t do what she does like wearing trousers and getting into fights.”

“And Malice?”

“She’s the most scary.” She admitted as she started to shake.

“And why is that?”

“She kills and she seems to like it and it frightens me! Doesn’t she know that it's bad? That it’s wrong? Doesn’t she know that it hurts people? If so, why doesn’t she care? Even worse, she uses my hands to kill. She uses my voice to pick on them and I’m scared! I don’t want to kill! I don’t want to kill! I don’t want to kill! I don’t want to hurt others! I don’t want to hurt others! I don’t want to hurt others! I DON’T WANT THAT!”

She just broke down sobbing.

“What if she does care but chooses to hurt others to protect the ones that she cares about?”

“Well if that’s the case, then I don’t want her protection!”

He then scribbled something down.

“What’s your favourite mythological creature?”

“A unicorn.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s pretty!”

“What’s your favourite animal?”

“A bunny.”

“Why?”

“Because they’re cute!”

“Alright. You can go now.”

“Thank you Sir.”

She left and was led to the cafeteria, where she had breakfast. She then was returned to her cell, where she slept the rest of the morning.

Alex woke up. She felt hungry and well rested. She looked around and quickly realised where she was. She thought about what she should do. She knew that she should not escape, yet she could not shake the feeling that she should. She could almost sense that the people here would try to create a new personality. One that was completely obedient to whatever it was that they wanted her to do. Yet she knew that lying would not be a good idea either. 

So she waited to be collected and she soon was. She was taken to see Doctor McKenzie. She drank a glass of water before he opened his mouth to speak.

“Hello. I’m Doctor McKenzie. You must be the Alex personality.”

“Yeah, what of it?”

“Tell me, what’s your favourite colour?”

“Why would you want to know that?”

“It will tell me a bit about you.”

She rolled her eyes and nodded.

“Purple.”

“Why?”

“Why does it matter?”

“Just satisfy my curiosity.”

“Because it represents power. Not just power in general, but a mysterious and almost unknown power.”

Did I give too much away?

“Interesting. And do you like mysterious power?” He asked as he scribbled something down.

“Yes. It’s more interesting and alluring.”

“What do you think of Jaden?”

“She’s weak and needs to get strong. Yet, I can tell that she also needs to get some hope in her. So that she can do more and encourage her to get strong. After all, all of them started in a bid to get strong.”

“And Matilda?”

“I like her but she too is weak. This is probably over the guilt she feels because of what she did as the twins. Honestly, she needs to forgive herself and learn to get over it. It was not her fault, after all.”

“And Danté?”

“I think that he’s doing his best, though he knows that it’s not good enough. I can tell that he needs to train more. Although, he has been a good help. Got me out of situations when I needed rescuing. Yet, I guess I hated it too. After all, it would always remind me of my own weakness every time he rescued me. But that is not his fault. I’m weak and I hate it!”

He nodded as he scribbled down some notes. 

“What do you think about Alice?”

She sighed.

“She’s far too pure and innocent for this world. Just the type of person to be eaten up by this world and spat out like strawberry gum. Honestly, she’s weak and annoying.”

“And Malice?”

“I hate her. She is strong but she’s far too evil for me to like her or want to have anything to do with her. As much as I loathe to admit it, she also scares me. She reminds me of all those that have tried to harm and manipulate me since I entered this damn town!” She shouted, bashing her fist into the table causing a dent. 

He let out a deep breath as he gestured to her to sit back down. 

“Honestly if she was allowed to go free it would spell doom on this entire town. She is just too dangerous.” She said, clutching her chains in her hand cuffs.

He nodded and wrote everything down. 

“What is your favourite mythological creature?”

“A dragon.”

“Why?”

“They’re cool, I guess.”

“What’s your favourite animal?”

“Lion.”

“Why?”

“Because they’re powerful. Yet the power they have only they can control. They can go anywhere and still be the one on top.”

“Alright. You can go now.”

“Good. ’Cause I’m hungry!”

She soon ate at the cafeteria and was taken to get some exercise that left her feeling tired. So when she returned to her cell she slept it all off.

Malice woke up. She was soon taken to the room. To her delight everyone seemed to fear her. It gave her a strange pleasure that she could not quite describe.

Then Doctor McKenzie walked in. Her first thought upon seeing him was.

He’s quite handsome.

She looked at his hand and spotted that there was no ring.

Not married, that’s good. I would very much like to kiss that face of his. No, I would like to do more than just kiss it. Yes, l would like to do a great many things to him. Then after I’m done I would very much like to make him cry and taste his salty tears.

“Hello my name is-”

“Doctor McKenzie. I know.” She admitted as she let her eyes drop a little.

Upon looking back she liked his look of discomfort. Yet she wanted him to look even more uncomfortable. No, she wanted him to show her what fear looked like in his handsome face. She wanted to hear that soft, comforting voice beg him to stop while she makes him cry.

“You must be the Malice personality?”

“Yes I am and might I just say, Alice sees you as a pure hearted handsome prince. Alex sees you as a good man to talk to. Although none of them nor their memories do their face any justice.” She said, licking her lip.

He guarded his emotions upon seeing this.

“What is your favourite colour?”

“Red.”

“Why?”

“It’s the colour of both fire and blood.”

You know, I would very much like to paint that face red.

He nodded scribbling something down. 

“And you like that?”

“No.” She sighed whimsically. “I love it. Maybe I will show you later.”

“Not appropriate.”

“Who said I cared about that?”

He started to become pale. 

“What do you think about Jaden?”

“She's weak and that weakness will get her killed one day. After all, if she can’t protect me, then how is she capable of saving herself?”

“And Matilda?”

“Too good for her own good. Yet the thought just occurred to me. Wonder if I could end up like her? After all, Melinda did fall into the same traps that the girl fell into which led her to become the twins!”

“And Danté!” He said deadpan.

The corners of her mouth moved up. 

“Strong. He did the most to protect Melinda but unfortunately, even he had his limits. After all, I wouldn’t be here if he was successful.”

“Good point.”

“What do you think about Alice?” He said as he started to feel the temperature of the room slightly.

Her eyebrows met as she gave a frightful smile, almost like she was looking at a cute animal.

“She’s adorable, innocent and sweet. I must keep her protected. No other person can. Then keep her isolated then turn her into one of my play things. I might turn you into one too.” She joked.

He raised his eyebrow as he let out a laugh.

“And Alex?”

“She can take care of herself. She is strong, but not as strong as me.”

“And what is your favourite mythological creature?”

“A werewolf!” She sang.

“Why?”

“Because they are vicious and terrifying. Yet their human form fears them so much that it is amusing.” She sighed.

She then let out a chuckle as he started to sweat.

“And your favourite animal?”

“A wolf.”

“Because it is unapologetically vicious when they are either hunting for or protecting their pack.”

As he scribbled something down Doctor McKenzie felt the room was still getting hotter and hotter. He could feel that he had a coat of sweat. He looked at her again. She smirked knowingly as it continued getting hotter and hotter and hotter. It soon reached boiling point.

“They sure could cool it down.” He said out loud as he pulled at his shirt and flapped back and forward to cool himself down.

“They are.”

“What?”

“They are cooling it down.” She said, getting to her feet. “It’s just useless to do so.”

“Why?”

She chuckled as she walked over to him.

“Because my power is stronger. Much stronger.”

He frowned. He had no time for games. Yet it became hotter and hotter. His face became red and he started to pant to cool himself down. Then, as he looked back at her, he noticed that she was completely unaffected by the heat.

“What?”

Then he looked at the table to see that the chains and handcuffs had completely melted!

How? How?

He drew back and then raced to the door. His hand threw out and gripped the metal door handle. He let out a scream as he felt pain flared up and he looked down to her that his hand was burnt! He looked at her in horror.

“Cry for me.”

“What?”

“Cry for me.”

“No.”

She let out a whimsical sigh. Soon the heat and stress got to him. He then made out. Then Malice frowned.

“Oh! You were weak too! Such a shame. I really, really wanted to taste those tears.” She moaned childishly.

Then his body succumbed to the heat. Soon the fire was lit and he became a pile of ash. 

She turned to the paper that he was writing on. She was about to reach out and grab it before she felt something in her neck. She pulled it out to see that it was a needle. Then she fell and all went black. 

The Therapist

Doctor Stephiene looked at the file Doctor McKenzie had before he died. She had a short silver bob. Her face was pale and her grey eyes were filled with anger and determination. She wore a silver suit with a modest skirt and a silver and coral red chequered tie. She had a silver hair pin with three blue dahlias in the centre pulling back the right side of her hair.

She then read the file that her cousins wrote in the hospital before their deaths at the hands of Danté. She then put the files down. She had come here with one clear plan. After all, when she heard that the girl was in the asylum, she had to be the one to counsel her. She also found the part about her developing a power very interesting and suspected that her cousins were to blame for that one.

“Can you do this and not get killed?” Doctor Ossin asked.

He had blacky brown hair and green eyes and a healthy shade of peach skin. 

“Yes, I should do. Just make sure that you sedate her before she burns me to death.”

“We will try. Although, we were caught off guard last time. So no promises.”

She let out a chuckle.

“Liar.”

“What?”

She raised her eyebrow.

“You were not caught off guard. You sacrificed him to get a better idea of what I am dealing with. Nice thought!”

“Well, we do look after you!”

“Yes, you do.” She said as she opened the door.

She walked in and the moment Alice saw her she screamed. She pulled herself away only to be stopped by the new set of handcuffs. Yet she pulled and pulled. Her eyes were wild with fear and panic. Upon being incapable of getting free she broke down in tears. 

“P-p-please! D-d-don’t hurt me! Please don’t hurt me!” She begged.

Doctor Stephiene smiled out of pity. It seemed that her cousins made a good impact on the girl. Yet she steadied herself and turned the smile into that of a kind and comforting one. She then walked to the girl, trying not to show just how much she was enjoying this display. She then walked up to her and reached out to her. She then flinched as she placed a hand on the girl’s head. She could feel the girl shaking as she wept. She then stroked her.

“Why would I hurt you?”

“Because y-you l-look like the doctor and nurse that hurt me. Y-you’re going to hurt-”

“I know. They’re my cousins. I’m sorry about what they did. I heard and read all about that and it was not alright. Why don’t you tell me?”

“Wh-why?”

“They liked to hurt people, yet I like to fix them all and put them all back together.” She said, raising her eyebrows. “I think it’s only fair that I’m the one that does that.”

She looked up, her eyes in disbelief.

“You-you mean you’re not going to hurt me?”

“No. I’m not and I want to know, what did they do to you?”

“They-they drugged m-me and injected s-something into Mr. I-i-it hurt me. I-i-it was to kill someone but I don’t know who. Then when it didn’t work they-they wanted me to kill him instead but I don’t wanna kill. Please don’t make me kill!”

“Don’t worry. I will never do that to you. Just tell me more.”

“O-okay. Well that was when I ended up with a strange power but I don’t wanna use it. Please don’t make me use it!”

She frowned as she bit her lip to suppress a laugh. 

‘It is perfectly fine. You don’t have to use it. Although I have to ask, why don’t you? I mean you could make it beautiful!”

She looked up at her completely stumped.

“How can fire be beautiful?”

She took out a lighter. Then flicked, bringing out a flame. She looked at it as she trembled slightly.

“There. Isn’t that beautiful?”

The girl looked at it and all the fear seemed to leave her as she looked at it, mesmerised. 

“Yes, it is.”

“Do you want to tell me more?” She asked, sitting beside her and putting her arm around her. 

“N-no!”

“Shhh. Tell me about what happened after you escaped that nasty place.”

“The vampires came to drink my blood!”

She continued to stroke her to keep her calm.

“Tell me more.”

“The first one, Vyteuatas, worked with your cousins. He hypnotised me so I won’t remember most of what happened to me. Yet I was able to. Then he drank from me but he let me go so that I would tell Danté about him being here. Then Danté was able to rescue me from that place. He rescued me from the twins too before that! But after that he rescued me from the vampires too.”

She hugged her.

“Oh, you poor thing! You have had such a terrible ordeal.”

“I know!” She cried as she cried again. “I couldn’t stop it! I couldn’t stop Mohan from taking Jaden! I couldn’t stop the twins from killing that woman! I couldn’t stop that doctor and nurse from putting that stuff in me that hurt me! I couldn’t stop the vampires from hurting Jaden or-or me!” She sobbed.

“Shhh, shhh, let it out. Just let it out.”

Soon Alice cried herself to sleep. Doctor Stephiene carried her to her cell and then returned to her office, where she wrote everything down. She then looked at the writing as she started to think of how she had Alice dancing in the palm of her hand, weeping the entire time. She let out a slight smile. Then she remembered how she begged her hot to be hurt. She let out a chuckle. Then she thought about how she begged her not to make her kill. This made her laugh and laugh.

That girl is far too easy to manipulate. Yet the harder ones will come.

She rose to her feet and got herself an egg and cress sandwich for lunch. After she reread the file on Alex. She knew that this was found to be tougher than she would like to think. So she calmed herself down after she walked to the room where Alex was and sat down.

“Hello. I’m-”

“Oh hell no!”

“What?”

“I hope you’re not like the other two.” She said, completely guarded.

“No. I’m nothing like my cousins. I’m Doctor Stephiene. The other two must have done something really bad to you didn’t they?”

She looked aside as her lip curled.

“Look. Please don’t judge me for what they did. I just want you to know, what they did was wrong. Could you at least say that?”

She rolled her eyes. She felt a slight tug of annoyance that she had to suppress. She reached out her hands.

“Please, you’re not doing yourself any favours. Just tell me your name.”

“Alex.”

“Right, Alex. Now, tell me about yourself.”

“What’s there to say?”

“Well, you can tell me how and why did you come here?”

“Simple, I’m here ’cause I’ve got more than one personality and the last one is basically evil.”

“No. I mean how and why did you come to this town?”

“Parents died and all parental rights fell to my sister, Jaden.”

“And what did they die of?”

“Who knows?”

She frowned.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, they were healthy in the morning that I left for school. Yet, when I returned, the police picked me up and told me that they were both dead. Although they tried to sugarcoat it but that just ticked me off! Yet that wasn’t the strangest part.”

“And what was that?”

“There was a man that was tailing me for an entire year. He looked just like me ’n’ Mat, but he was taller and honestly, he gave me the creeps.”

“Oh. And what did the police say?”

“Didn’t tell ’em. Wasn’t their business, yet they told me that even though my mom ’n’ dad had a drinking problem sometime abouts the time before and during the time mom was pregnant with me and shortly after I was born they stopped. Whatever damage that there was, had nothing to do with how they died. In fact even they couldn’t make heads or tails of it!”

“And are you alright after that?”

“In a way but after what happened with Mohan took my mind off that a bit.”

“And what happened?”

“Well, shortly after I arrived in this town he approached me, well he controlled the headmaster of the town’s school to ‘invite’ me to his next performance. Where he took Jaden and told me to meet up with him at a specific time. When I left Danté took me in. Although he did feed upon me he helped me. Then I played the Magician's game and I won.”

Her eyes widened and she fell off her chair.

“You-you did?”

“Yeah.”

She smiled as she returned to her seat.

So, that is what I have to work with. Fascinating. 

“Good job!”

“Urm… Thank you? I guess.”

“Quick, you have to tell me more, this is utterly fascinating.’

“Why?”

“Because you beat Mohan the Magician, which is no small feat!”

She let out a sigh.

“Not really. Feel more like I opened Pandora’s box.”

“Maybe you should do it again?”

“Why? All that came of it was anything but good.”

“But you forget one thing, the lady thing that happened when Pandora opened the box again. Do you?”

“Hope.”

“Exactly! So I encourage you to open it and get that hope out!”

She rolled her eyes.

“So could you go on? You must tell me more!”

“No!”

“Please, don’t tease me like that.”

“Fine.” She moaned like a parent giving in to their child’s demands. “I then got involved with the twins. As sad as it is to admit it, they were my first friends. Then they locked me up and tortured me and killed people. Some of which I saw using the Magician’s power.”

Her pupils dilated.

So she has the Magician’s power? Does she really know what that means? Or how to truly control it?

“Although, I don’t fully get it, and I don’t like it either. In fact I hate it. Seeing through other people’s eyes! It makes me feel like I’m spying on them!”

“And what happened to them, the twins? And how did you escape?”

“Got out by leaving a bit of my blood outside so that Danté would come and rescue me. Yet he did use my hands to do it. He was able to kill the twins. Which caused them to become one again. But the damage that they did led me to go to the hospital. Where I became nothing but a lab rat of your cousins. Then I had to be rescued by Danté, again! ’Though I got a sick power, it wasn't worth the pain. You know they wanted to kill me at first?”

“What?”

“Yeah. So he killed them before they moved on to their other plan, which was turning me into a weapon to kill my dad even though he is already dead.”

“Then?”

“I got home and shortly after I became the prisoner of Danté's brother Vyteuatas. Which fed upon me. Then after he rescued me I soon became the prisoner of their mother, Valli. I felt so helpless that it frustrated me. So I turned to the clown to give me the power to defend myself, but that led me to this place.”

“Right. Well I can’t say I blame you! Alright I will be off now. I hope that we will have a better chat tomorrow. Where you will get the help that you need.” She said as she left.

She then drove home and when she got there, she could not hold it on any longer and let out a laugh. She could not believe it, she just could not believe it! The girl had beaten the Magician and now held his power. She actually had his power!

Just imagine what I could do once I gain control of both the girl and her powers. Oh, this is marvellous! This is just utterly marvellous! And all I need to do is get the Alice personality so I can have her to do my will, then I will have access to that power.

But I kind of like the Alex personality. She's so rebellious and cool!

But hold your horses! You still need to survive tonight. After all, I don’t want to end up like McKenzie, do I? 

So I will have to be careful.

I think I will have to take a nap. I will need my mind clear for tonight.

She woke up at twelve in the morning. Now was the time to talk to Malice. She got her clothes on and has to force all her fears out of her mind. She had to abandon all thoughts of her going to her death. Yet she knew that she could not ignore it either. She had to be careful tonight. 

She had to keep in mind as she locked her home that if things did not go well, this would be the last time that she would do this. She climbed in her car and drove back to the asylum. She put on her deodorant and rose perfume. She did her makeup and got out of her car and locked it. She quickly ate her ham and tomato sandwich. She walked in and once she was in the room she put the box in the bin.

She sat down and looked up at Malice in the eyes. She saw the evil potential in the girl’s features. She instantly knew what she was dealing with. A wolf, ready and waiting to kill at any moment's notice and the right excuse. She liked the look in her eyes.

“I guess that you’re Malice?”

“Yes. You’re Doctor Stephiene. I saw you. I heard what you said to Alice and Alex. Good girl!” 

“Well, it is part of my job to help people.”

“So, we’re just another paycheck?”

“Although I do get paid to do this, that's not the reason why I do it.”

She smirked.

“No. You do it because you like it.” She sang. 

“Well it’s enjoyable helping people.”

“No!” She sang.

She frowned.

“What?”

“No. That’s not what I am on about. It’s not the help but the ‘helping’ that you like.”

She raised her eyebrow.

“Oh? And what do I like about it?”

She leaned in, almost like a wolf looking up at her prey.

“You like hearing people’s deepest and darkest secrets. You like to see how they break down in front of you and you like it even more when they do it in your arms. I like that. You’ll do!”

How did this little brat know?

“What do you mean by ‘you’ll do’?”

“You will help me to get out of here.”

She let out a sigh, yet she felt a strange excitement as Malice started to remind her of a younger version of herself.

“Could you tell me more about yourself?”

“I am the darkness that has been growing within Melinda incarnate. All her evil, all her anger, all that she fears about herself. That is all that I am.”

“So, you’re Melinda’s shadow?”

She smiled wickedly.

“Yeah… I like the sound of that. You can call me that!”

A flicker of a smile was let slip on her face.

She gets me.

“So, is there anything else that you wish to tell me about yourself?”

“Can I get a coffee? Also cookies, or biscuits, as you British would say.” She said with a mock British accent.

“Alright.”

She left the room and brought in a coffee with chocolate creams. She placed them in front of the girl.

“Sugar. One.”

She put it in.

“Get a coffee for yourself.”

She did.

“Alright.” She said as she took a sip.

“I can tell you I am protective of my other sides. However, I know Alex can take care of herself, however Alice can’t. I like defending and tormenting her so keep her happy. Tell me, who do you hate the most?”

“A man called Tal Len.”

She stopped herself.

Why did I just say that?

“Do you want me to kill him?”

“Yes.”

Why am I saying all of this? Sally Stephiene shut up!

“Then get me out of here.”

She took a sip and drank the coffee deeply.

“I can’t. I want to make you whole again.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“In what way?”

“I want all parts of you, Alice, Alex and even you Malice to become one person.”

“And how is that possible?”

“Well, you need to have a breakdown. Up here.”

She smirked as she raised her cup and tapped the other cup. They both soon downed the coffee and both ate the biscuits.

“Good night Doctor Stephiene. I believe that the session is over.”

Knowing that the girl was right, she left the asylum glad to be alive. 

Breakdown 

Alice woke and she looked down. She looked around, feeling disheartened as she realised she had spent three days here and she had not gotten better. Yet she knew that this illness will take time to recover from. She just hoped that it would not take too long. She remembered her argument from the day before. She remembered talking to Doctor McKenzie. She liked talking to him. She wondered what happened to him. She remembered talking to Doctor Stephiene. She liked talking to her too. She showed her that her power could be used for good.

She looked at her hand and opened it and summoned her flame. She was right, it was beautiful and whimsical! She loved how beautiful it looked, almost like a fairy lily. She imagined that a fairy would look beautiful in the centre. Soon the fire took the shape of a fairy. She gasped in a pleasant shock.

What a lovely fairy!

She then looked at the door. Doctor Stephiene walked in. She had a man with her with jet black hair and blacky brown eyes and pale but eastern European beauty.

“Hello Alice, this is Doctor Rensack. He will put you into a deep sleep.”

“Why?”

“So that you can talk to Alex and Malice.”

She looked at her terrified and she started shaking.

“W-why? They scare me!”

She smiled as she placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at her with a comforting look.

“Because you are broken and in order for you to be whole again you must come together.”

“But-”

“It’s alright. You’ll do great. So come on, time to meet your other sides.”

She shrunk as she felt afraid. The only thing that gave her courage was the look on Doctor Stephiene’s face. This caused her to relax and she nodded. 

“We will be here the whole time.”

“Yes.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

She smiled, feelings relieved.

“Look over here.” Said Doctor Rensack.

He crouched in front of her and then made her look at a fob watch as it swung side to side. She passed out.

She was soon in a white room. She saw the two mirror images of her in front of her. One frowned and looked angry. The other smiled wildly and looked at her like a predator did their prey. She felt scared and started to shake.

“Urm…”

Alex looked at her. She jumped and wished that she could hide but knew that she could not. No, she knew that she should not hide. She had to do what Doctor Stephanie told her to do. She had to talk to them.

“Hello.” She squeaked.

“Urm hi to you too?”

“Yes?”

“I-I’m Alice.”

“Alex.”

“Malice, as you should know.”

She felt her heart in her ears. She started to shake.

“Y-yes. I do! And-and I don’t want you to kill anyone anymore!” She cried. “P-p-please may you stop killing Malice?”

“No.” She said, crushing her heart.

“What? Why?”

“Who will kill the bad guys?”

“Urm… the police?” She said in a smaller voice.

She raised her eyebrow almost like she was looking at an adorable animal.

“You think?” She asked, taking a step closer to her.

She took a step back. Even though she realised that it was useless.

“Did they help Melinda when Mohan kidnapped Jaden? Did they help, when the twins killed those people and kidnapped her? Did they do anything in stopping that doctor and that nurse from putting those strange liquids into her veine? Or when the vampires that came and captured her and drank her blood?”

“No.” She said as she looked down as Malice reached her. She felt her lift her head by the chin.

“Is that isn’t why she went to the clown? To get stronger? To get the power to fight those guys?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes opened into reality.

“So, how was it?”

She just broke down crying. Doctor Stephiene cradled her in her arms until she cried herself to sleep. She rested her gently on the bed.

“One down, two to go.”

“Good.”

Soon it was time Alex woke up. She ate her lunch and waited for the two to walk in. She remembered hearing the conversation that Alice had with someone, although she could not for the life of her, remember who. Yet her gut told her that it must have been Malice. Even though she could not see or hear her.

Just remembering how scared Alice was just made her angry. She hated the weakness that she was clearly showing off. However, she was impressed at the courage that she started to show. Then whatever Malice told her, clearly broke her. Which made her lose all respect that she had.

She saw Doctor Stephiene walk in with another Doctor. He had jet black hair and blacky brown eyes and pale but eastern European beauty.

“Hello Alex. This is Doctor Ransack.”

“Hi.” She said, cautiously.

“We will help you communicate with your other sides.”

“So that's how Alice did it!”

“Yes and now it is your turn.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I have nothing to eat to that weakling Alice nor that evil Malice.”

“Well, tell me, what do you think about the prospect of telling them that?”

“Why would I want that?”

“So that you can address all those issues that you have. I know that you don't like her but even Alice has enough courage to talk to the two of you.”

“So?”

“So, what we want is for you all to become one with yourself. However the only way to do that is for you to become whole.”

“And all the more reason not to. After all, didn’t I want to rid myself of weakness?’

“Well maybe you need to accept your weaknesses as part of you in order for you to truly become strong. So just do this. Maybe just to humour me.”

She rolled her eyes.

"Fine!" She moaned.

She was soon looking at the swinging fob watch. She was soon looking at Alice crying and Malice smiling.

She sighed wanting to get this over and done with. She walked up to the two.

“Hi. I’m Alex.”

“Yes we know.” Sang Malice.

“Well obviously. And will you stop crying!” She snapped.

Alice jumped.

"I'm sorry!" She squeaked.

She let out a huff. She then looked at Malice as Alice, as silently as she could, whimpered. 

“Now. I want to have a chat with you, Malice. You’re way out of line! And you, Alice, are way too weak!”

“I know!”

“Yeah, which means that someone has to be strong for you. After all, you’re just as weak as she is, aren’t you?”

“What?” She asked slightly annoyed.

“Oh, you too are still at the mercy of this town, just as muyas she is. After all, you’re not willing to do what you know that you need to do in order to get out of this town or stop the next one that decides to target us. After all, we both know that you are not willing to kill even out of survival.”

“Well obviously, I don’t want to become a murderer like you!”

“Oh? Then how will you deal with the next one? You might not be able to just beat them up.”

She looked aside. She knew that Malice was right. As much as it disgusted her to admit it, she was just as weak as Alice. She knew that deep down that she might just have to kill in order to get out of this town. She might have to kill to survive this town and she knew who she would have to in order to get out of this town or die from it.

Soon she returned to reality. She had a subdued look in her eyes.

“How was that?”

No response. She asked again. No response. Knowing that there was no more to be done, they left the room.

“Richy, now that the easy two are over, the hard one is next.”

“Right. I heard about her.”

Doctor Stephiene smiled.

“What? Scared you won’t survive the night?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright time to see if you do!”

Once midnight came Malice wanted for the other two to arrive. It did not take long. Upon their pale faces and their fear in their eyes, she could tell that they wanted to get this all over and done with.

“So, this is Malice. Malice, this is Doctor Rensack.”

“Is he how Alice and Alex have been speaking to me?”

“Yes. I would like for him to show you how."”

She smiled and shrugged.

“Alright! I’m game.”

She soon looked at the swinging watch and soon she was in a black void with red falling down all around like rain the colour of blood. She soon was looking at the other two. None of them wanted to talk to her. None of them wanted to have anything to do with her. They did not want her protection nor did they understand the necessity of her killing. None wanted her.

Yet she had to admit that she knew this deep down. She knew that this had nothing to do with protection or self preservation. The truth was, she did it because she liked it. She liked inflicting pain onto others. She liked to torment and kill them. Upon realising this she looked down.

“You’re right. I am out of line.”

She soon saw Doctor Stephiene and Doctor Rensack.

“What do I do now?"

M.A.A Melinda 

“Get back to your mind palace. Then I want you all to try to come together.” She explained.

Malice nodded. She was soon in the mind palace, seeing the other two.

“We have to come together.”

Alice looked at her completely frightened.

“What?” She asked, baffled and upset.

“We have to stop being separate personalities and become one. One mind, one will, one set of emotions, one soul. Or we are never going to get out of here.”

“What?”

“How will we do that?”

‘Well, we fight of course. Winner takes all. Agreed?”

“‘Agreed’!”

“What? No! I don’t want to fight! I don’t want to become one with either of you! I wanna be me, I wanna always be me!”

“Then I am sorry.” Alex said. “But you’re weak and it ticks me off!”

Alex punched her in the face. She flew back and Malice then hit her in the gut. Alex then hit her down. Alice screamed.

“Fight back! Don't be a softy or you’ll never be you!”

She then looked up and slapped Malice and Alex.

“Better.” They both said. “But not better enough!”

They kicked her in the gut as hard as they could. She went flying and Alex jumped and Malice ran under her. Both hit her in, one from behind and the other in front. She flipped accidentally hitting Malice with her feet as she spun and hit the ground. She looked up, seeing Alex punch down, she rolled out of the way. She punched down again and again, she rolled in and on and on, dodging each attack. Then she felt Malice’s foot in her hip. She kicked her back into Alex's punch. This she was able to block and got to her feet.

Alice saw Malice aim to punch her. She dodged and hit Alex instead. She turned to see another punch from Alex. She quickly dodged out of the way and Alex hit Malice. She was punched in the gut again. She buckled over and Malice hit her down. Alex finished the job, quick and as painless as she could.

Then the body of Alice glowed and broke apart and scattered like stars. They separated into two groups and they floated in the air. Then they were absorbed into Alex and Malice. When they woke, they were Alex A and Malice A.

“So, she wasn’t strong after all.” Said Alex A.

“Good now the real battle can begin.”

“Alright, bring it on.”

They soon rushed towards each other. Malice A threw a punch at her. She dodged. She threw another. She dodged. She threw another. She dodged. She went to hit her then, as she dodged she threw the next to where she was going and hit her in the jaw. She went for another punch then flicked it up. She punched. She flicked to the side and thrust it into her gut. She drove her left dust into her cheek. She then punched the other cheek. She did this again and again and again.

Malice A drove her arms in and pushed up and out like window wipers. She then hit her again and again and again. Then Alex A copied the action. She caught Malice A by the wrists and pulled her in and head butted her. She drove her palms into her gut, driving her back. She hit her gut again and again. She stopped and kicked her. Malice A caught her and she hopped up and kicked her in the face. She dropped. She jumped. She spun and went to hit her but her fist was caught.

She was drawn in. Malice A thrust her hand around her throat. She let her hang there as she choked. She kicked her in the chest. She gripped her ankle leaving an opportunity in the right. She took it. She thrust her foot into her side holding nothing back. 

She let go. Alex A dropped. Malice A pounced upon her. She hit her in the face again and again and again. Then Alex A waited and she felt punch after punch. Then once she had gotten into Malice A's  rhythm she was able to dodge one after the other. Then she hit her in the gut again.

She felt a lump. She hit her again and again. She then moved up. She hit her again and moved up. She hit her again and she moved up. Soon she was free.

Malice A scratched her. She flicked down. She felt a kick in her side. She was back on top of her. She scratched her again and again. She drove in. Alex A pulled her arm up and she bit into it. She pulled out a chunk. She scratched her again and again and again. She pushed her arms back to her throat, digging her nails in as she squeezed. Then drove them back and then drove in and bit into her throat and swallowed.

Alex A then glowed red and became like little tiny stars and the stars went into Malice A. She was one again. The girl woke up, no longer Alice, no longer Alex, no longer Malice, yet not quite Melinda either. No, MAA Melinda had woken and soon the whole town would never be the same again… 

A Mind Of A Conqueror

Doctor Stephiene and Doctor Rensack looked at her as she opened her eyes. They did not know how to respond or approach this girl. She looked calm but neither would know if she was Alice, Alex or Malice.  Then her eyes dropped to the pair. She looked at them with determination and clarity in her eyes. Almost like she had been reborn as who she always was supposed to be.

“I would like to go home.” She said, her voice thick with an assertive authority of a leader.

“No.” Said Doctor Rensack.

She looked at him and raised her eyebrow. There was something new in her eye. It was almost as if the girl was challenging them. Yet it was the only kind of challenge that could only come from someone who knew her place in the world and she was determined to keep it.

“I-I mean, you need to make sure that you’re truly alright.” He said, almost as if part of him was back peddling. Yet he suddenly became pale, yet his eyes remained prideful.

“Liar.” She said, calmly and coldly.

He frowned deeply almost like she had stepped on a snake.

“What?”

“Liar.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You lied. You have no intention of making sure that I’m alright. In fact, you want the exact opposite. You want to break my mind in order to make me your puppet.” She said, looking directly into his eyes.

He started to feel a drop of sweat falling, looking at her. It was as if her eyes were cutting through all pretence and seeing the truth for what it was. Yet, still not willing to give in and wishing to keep his pride intact. He pretended to be confused.

“And why would we want to do that?”

“You want me to kill someone. Just like her cousins did. I think last year by now. It is the first of January isn't it?”

“Yes. But I still need to see if you’re subconsciously alright.”

“Let me guess, in order for you to do that you’re gonna have to hypnotise me? Well that requires that I give my mind over to you and I will never give that to you. I can also see that talking to you is meaningless.”

“Now see here!”

“Why should I, Zazoo?”

He could have killed the girl right here and now. 

“Because that’s the only way that you’re leaving here, girl! There’s no way I will let you leave here without-”

Suddenly he felt heat engulf him and he let out a scream as he was eclipsed by flames. He went to lunge at her. If he was going to die, then he would bring her down with him. Yet he hardly was able to get anywhere near her as his body turned to ash.

Then her eyes slid to Doctor Stephiene.

“Needless to say that you will be more cooperative?”

“Yes.”

Then she looked into the girl's eyes. Even though she felt scared, she felt her heart be put at rest. She could see that this girl was better than anything they had planned. She could tell that she was not looking at Alice, Alex nor Malice. No, her eyes were looking at something, a new creature. One that would tolerate injustice no longer. She found herself kneeling as she felt a tear fall from her eye. 

“Yes, I will.”

“Good. Do you want to leave this town?”

“Yes.”

“Then take me home.”

She rose to her feet.

“I will.”

“Oh and I would like to ask, that person that you wanted me to kill, should he return,” She said, writing down a number and giving it to her. “tell me, along with the reason why he should die. Should it satisfy me, then you will not need to worry.”

She nodded as she took it. Then the girl pulled her in.

“But try to make me into a weapon or you may end up like Zazoo over there.”

“Rash Ransack.”

“His name.”

She nodded.

“Did he have a family?”

“No. They were all killed by his brother who accidentally crashed the bus that they were riding. He got all the compensation money, even though he went to the funerals he did not shed a tear.”

“Chances are he hypnotised him into doing it.”

She nodded as they started to walk out of the door. They then walked down the corridor. Doctor Stephiene looked at her now out and of mere curiosity as all malice fell away. Now she wanted to get to know this new girl. Not out of anything but that. All desire to manipulate the girl had long since been driven from her heart. All that she had was the desire to get to know this girl, just for the sake of getting to know her.

“What should I call you?”

“My official name should be MAA Melinda, but Melinda or Mel will do.”

“Are you alright?”

“Only time will answer that.”

“Here, these are your clothes.”

“Is there anything that stops me from keeping these ones?”

“No.”

“Then I shall be keeping them. Those I don’t.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want the clothes of a murderer. I am no murderer. She died in that room.”

She nodded as she put them away.

She signed the dotted line. Then they walked out. Melinda sniffed in the cold fresh air.

Time to go home.

Home 

As they drove home she looked at the empty castle.

“Is that where he lives?”

“Not at the moment. Although, when he comes to stay, he does.”

“Where is he now?”

“Trying to get someone.”

“Who?”

“A girl. I hardly know why, but I do fear for her.” She admitted as they turned a corner.

“Liar.” She commented as her eyes rested upon the place where the twins held her. However, despite wanting to look at it more, she looked on. She pushed the thoughts off it out of her mind as Doctor Stephiene drove away. She knew that she didn’t need to think about that place or those people the twins had killed over the years.

“I hope that you do well. I also wish that you do well once you are able to leave this town.”

“You do?” She asked flabbergasted at this rare moment of genuine expression.

“I do.”

Then they passed the hospital. She remembered the events that happened there. She stroked her scars on her arms. Part of her seized up slightly. Yet she forced herself to calm down. She almost had to tear her eyes away. Suddenly there was determination in her eyes that was adamant of becoming unwavering.

They passed the mansion road. She became pale. As she remembered that happened in those mansions there. She heard the ghost of Vytautas, whispering in her ears telling her that she looked like a vampire. She remembered what Valli and Vytautas did. Anger flared up inside her. She then looked on with her lip curling as a vampire punched another vampire starting a fight.

I can’t believe how weak I was. Nor can I believe how easy it was for all those vampires to get me and make me do all of those things. Yet I have to accept that I was weak back then and, back then, I didn’t know I had this power. 

She looked at herself in the mirror.

“You actually look like us!” She heard Vytautas in her head.

“You know you would do well as a vampire.” She heard Valli say.

She felt a chill run down her spine as she had to admit something that made her angry. Something that she would have never been able to say out loud. Something that made her blood run cold yet made it boil at the same time. Something that none of her separate personalities would have admitted to. Something that not even her old personality would have admitted.

Oh how right they are. I do look like a vampire, but I don’t know about actually becoming one. But would you? Would you actually become one? Do you want to become one? Only if I have to. Only if it made me stronger. Only if it was the best thing that I could do at that time.

Finally they passed the circus. There, Pandora's box when she won against Mohan. There, the old Melinda died and where Alice, Alex and Malice were born and the clown was killed.

Then they finally arrived at her home. She walked out and Damté was the first to greet her. 

“Mr Dracula, are you alright.”

“Are you?”

“Yes. Is Jaden and Mel still awake?”

“Yes.”

She smiled.

“Good, because I have something important to tell them.”

He did not move.

“You don’t need to worry, I’m me again. Although I have to say, if you’re worried about Jaden and you can knock me out. Then Doctor Stephiene will be able to take me back to the asylum. I mean her car’s just there.”

He looked up and raised his eyebrow. He then moved aside. They walked into the house. When they were all gathered the other three looked at her, almost debating internally on how to react. The next one that passed through their thoughts was how best to react.

“Urm…Mel?” Asked Matilda.

Melinda then slapped her and pointed to her.

“Now we’re even.”

“W-what?”

“You’ll know what I mean. Now I have to ask you, could you stop yourself from going to the clown?”

“N-no.” She stuttered, caught off guard.

“Could you stop yourself from doing what you did when you had split personalities?”

“No!” She said, starting to tear up.

“Could you stop yourself from doing what you did as the twins?”

“Wait she-”

“Shush!” Melinda snapped sharply.

She returned to Matilda.

“Answer the question.”

“No.” She whined.

“So nothing that happened was your fault?”

“No.”

“I want you to say it. I want you to say ‘it’s not my fault’.”

“‘It’s not my fault’!” She cried, then a ripple of shock ran throughout her body. She looked at her and she let the tears go and cried. Melinda hugged her. She started to cry too. 

“It wasn’t my fault either.” She admitted. “I was powerless to stop Mohan from taking Jaden. I was powerless to stop the twins from doing what they did. I was powerless to stop the doctor and nurse from turning me into this freak! I was powerless to stop the vampires from getting me and if it had not been for Danté I would be dead by now. I went to the clown just to find the power to defend myself.”

“I went to him for the same thing too.”

Together they cried for a long time before they calmed down. Melinda and Matilda held each other's hands as they stopped and just let out a giggle.

“Now we should call ourselves even.”

“Now what?”

She then looked her older sister in the eye. She soon saw the determination in her eyes. She felt her leg shake, almost like she was in the presence of a queen and not yet younger sister.

“Now, we get out of here.”

“What!” They all said in unison.

“We are getting out of this town! Whatever it takes, we will get out of here.”

“But in order to do that you need to destroy Wendy Wonderlust’s book of names!”

“Then that is exactly what we will do!”