They put their caps, then their masks in their pockets. The curiosity in her eyes radiates as he speaks with a calming voice. I watch as she inspects the small room before giving me a side-eye when she notices me staring. I instinctively look away and my stomach begins to tingle as the embarrassment sets in.

"How old are you, because you look like a child?" Bobby patronizes George.

Before he can respond, Miranda makes a witty remark. "He must be pretty clever for a child, because he was called, begged even, by Mr. Matthews to do this job. I take it that it's you who's been displaying unprofessionalism."

She folds her arms and watches victoriously as he falters. I look over my left shoulder with a dramatic, shocked expression. "It took a teenage girl to shut you up?"

He glares at me, then rolls his eyes like an annoyed teenager himself. I watch as David quickly steps forward to shake her hand, startling her a little. He's as jittery as a jumping bean and she simply stares at him with furrowed eyebrows.

George places his hand on her lower back while training his also confused eyes on David. "Back up or I'll gladly throw you through that glass window."

"It's impregnable," he says with a chuckle, clearly unabashed by his threat.

"Well, I reckon it'd hurt a lot. Probably worse if done repeatedly." As he speaks, Miranda tucks her lengthy hair behind her ears, her eyes squint as if she's going to smile, but is sustaining it.

"I'm sorry," Jenny finally speaks. "But it's late and my husband is probably expecting me. I have to go."

She ankles towards the door, Miranda says a few final words just as she exits. "Mr. Matthews expects us bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morn'."

Jenny simply nods in response, then shuts the door behind her. I look them up and down before also leaving out with Bobby trailing behind me.

I look over my left shoulder at him to see what he's up to. He's determined that he's going to avoid my eyes, so I turn back around and I let out a sigh, the grey cloud of gloominess creeping up on me.

***

Miranda

The ticking clock reads 5:55 AM. The sluggish patients have taken their showers and are now crowded in the dining hall where George is assisting them.

I'm a little upset that I don't get to see the orange sky as the sun rises to twilight, but I try to be as understanding as I can.

Leaning in the middle seat of the security room with my legs high and rested on the tabletop, I finish the last pages of The Great Gatsby. Disappointed by how swiftly I finished the book, I let out a weary sigh as I shut it completely.

George left it for me, so he could gather intel from his cousins, Cody and Mary-Sue, in the dining hall. He knows that I love reading to pass the time as well as entertain myself.

Setting the book on the table, I take my legs off of the desk so I can stand to my feet. I adjust my trousers as I make my way out of the security room, then down the hall to the right.

The halls are well lit which I find useful for my quest. I smile as two female, orderlies ankle towards me with a short number of kids in two lines behind them. One has scars on her light brown face, but a smile as beautiful as her eyes.

I stop the pale red-haired orderly, then almost instantly the other and the kids stop as well. They give me looks of confusion and irritability, so I make it quick.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but where's your water closet?"

She points down the hall behind her, "Down there, turn left, of course, then it's the double door to your left. Go to the right for the dining hall and Recreation room."

I bring my eyes to hers with a grateful smile on my face, "Thank you. Um, where are you taking them?"

"These children have autismic schizophrenia. By Bobby and Austin's orders, we're to take them outside for a talk session. We do this every day. Is it a problem?"

I quickly shake my head in response, my smile fading to nothing as I look at them. "No, ma'am. I was just curious is all. Well, I must be going. Thanks so much."

"Anytime, dear." she simply says before walking away with the kids and the other orderly.

I continue walking and follow the directions that were given to me.

Turn left, double door to the left.

I'm greeted by two whitewashed doors that only open when pushed with force. I step into the clammy, musky shower room. The marble tiles are grey, causing an overwhelming gloomy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I hear sniffling coming from one of the stalls, but I brush it off as another patient in distress about their stay here.

I make my way to an open stall while also trying not to step in anything wet and further damage my black boots.

I successfully make it in without stepping in anything and I close the door behind me. I slide my trousers, then my undergarments down, so I can properly sit and relieve myself.

This stall is cleaner than I'd expected, which gives me a sounder mind; free of worries about contracting diseases.

When I finish urinating, I open the empty tissue compartment. I frown and my eyes widen at the sight of an empty roll in its place.

"Bloody hell!" I panic for a second, but then I relax when I realize that I'm next to the sniffling person. "Excuse me, um, could you please pass me a bit of tissue?"

She lets out a slight chuckle, "Okay."

I can hear the clicking of the compartment as she opens hers, then I hear the rumbling of the roll as she tugs on the tissue, next is the sweet sound of it tearing.

"Thank you so much," I say as she reaches her pale hand, with the wad of tissue inside, underneath the stall.

I politely take it, then I stand up a little in a squatting position to swiftly wipe away any excess. I drop it into the toilet, lift my clothes back on me, then I pull the black lever above to flush it.

I step out with a cheery grin on my face as I head for the white, porcelain sink which rests under the barred windows.

As I wash my hands, I look over my right shoulder in the direction of the occupied stall. Reluctantly, I speak. "Are you alright in there?"

"No, ma'am. I- there's so much blood." she begins weeping loudly before she can finish her last sentence.

"Blood?" I repeat inquisitively, "Blood where?"

"On my panties." she says through hiccoughs, "It won't stop coming out."

I try not to laugh at her innocence. "I'll be right back."

I carefully walk to the door, but when she speaks, I stop moving. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find you a Kotex." I simply say in response before quickly leaving the water closet.

I run down the hall to my right, then I open the beige door which reads, Storage. I swing the door open, then I step in and rummage through boxes on shelves.

"Are you alright?" I hear a familiar, male voice.

I grab a wrapped pad before turning to face the person speaking to me. It's David.

His face turns red when he sees what's in my hand and he stammers when speaking, "I- wow. I'm sorry."

"Back away from the door," I speak sternly, but just as he's about to walk away, I call out for him. "Wait, where's the patients' clothes?"

"I can show you." he insists.

"I'd rather you didn't." I step out after tucking it in my left pocket and shut the door behind me.

He points down the hall leading to the security room. "Go down there and take a right. The first door you see is the place where we keep spare clothes. They're all designated, so please check the labels."

Without another word, I follow the directions that were given to me, and sure enough, I see that door.

I run to it and swing it open. More boxes line the shelves, but these have the names of patients on this floor.

"Fuck!" I mumble while gently tugging my hair, "I didn't get her name."

I rummage through a random box labeled, Jessica, and I grab her panties. I tuck them in my left pocket before stepping out, shutting the door, then running back to the bathroom.

I step in quickly, then I rush to the girl's stall. "I'm here."

She unlatches the door and I open it. A girl with dark brown hair and matching colored, watery eyes stares up at me. Her lips are trembling and her cheeks are flushed from crying.

I dig through my left pocket, pulling out the panties and pad.

"What's your name?" I ask her while extending my arm to give them to her.

"M-Melody," she responds after slowly taking them from me.