Delusions of the Mind

Day 6- WIC Company Rules

The conversation replaying in my mind from the prior night, running through every possible scenario. What was this company Gabriel had informed me about? The bigger question being why they wanted me alive, and how they knew the ringmasters found me expendable. They obviously weren’t working together, or Antonio and Ariella wouldn’t be trying to blame me for Ali’s death.

Looking at my surroundings attempting to spot any small difference around me. You would figure after being in one place for almost a week, I would easily be able to spot something abnormal. This wasn’t the case though. Everything around our haven at this point looked the same.

Picking up a strand of grass tearing it in half. The sounds of my peers enjoying the setup, instead of practicing they found pleasure in getting time to relax.

“You, ok?” Ben asked, as I looked over my shoulder at him.

“No, I don’t understand why I am the only one being blamed. Simply, because of my mental illness, everyone now walks on eggshells around me.” I reply dryly, tossing the thin green strand into the wind.

“You’re not the only one with a mental illness here.” Ben reminded me.

“True, but because none of you have hallucinations without your medication, no one treats you guys like you could snap at any time.” I reply, shaking my head.

“Speaking of which, how is your medication on supply?” Ben asked, even though I knew he was asking out of concern for me, it still upset me.

“I have another three days left. As for now the hallucinations haven’t started if you want to know about those as well. I should be ok until this lock down is over.” I reply, not giving away that I knew we still had another ninety-four days left.

“Are you sure you will be fine?” Ben inquired.

“I’m sure!” I shout, standing up heading back into the warehouse.

The one time I wanted to clear my head, and someone comes along to ruin it. I had more questions than what I had begun with, with extraordinarily little answers to fill in the gaps.

“Over thinking on the things, you can’t change won’t help your current situation.” Gabriel stated.

“You again, would you just tell me what I want to know?” I inquire.

“No, that then takes all of the fun out of the game.” Gabriel states, “I will, however, give you the rest of the rules needed.”

“Fine, if that’s all I get, I’ll take it seeing as I am obviously the only one you are willing to torment with your presence.” I retort.

“Very well, you seem to enjoy the torment, as you continue the conversation with me.” Gabriel replied.

“Get on with it.” I remark, interrupting him.

“Rule one as you already know is to survive or escape to keep your life. Rule two: No use of any circus objects or tools that can be used to help you escape. Rule three: If you kill any of your peers you, yourself, become my next target, even if the company wants you alive. Rule four: You must escape before day fifty, each failed attempt to escape will lead to an extra death. Rule five: No one is to know of our interactions. You are already being suspected as the killer, we can’t have that now, can we?” Gabriel stated.

“I can play by those rules. Now are you going to tell me what this company is?” I ask, trying to piece the information together still.

“The company? It’s not just a company, it’s an entire organization that controls all the medications, being distributed to those in our population who have a mental health disorder. This company, Worldwide Intercontinental Cures, plays the vital role of studying those with mental illness in controlled environments. They are interested in you, because you are their first case of schizophrenia in a controlled environment.” Gabriel revealed.

“So those of us who suffer from mental illness are being used as lab rats?” I ask incredulously, this man couldn’t be serious. Using living humans as lab rats to further their research for profit?

“That’s exactly right. All of you are nothing more than lab rats. The performers without mental illness are simple casualties to see how far it pushes each of you to snap, while being blamed for their deaths. Good luck playing.” Gabriel remarked, stalking off.

Glancing around my items, still no sign of the blue juggling pins I had lost. Where could I have lost them? These juggling pins being lost irritated me, because if what Gabriel just told me is true, I would need my medication in their hidden compartment. Preparing myself for the possibility that he is right, I would need to be able to manage my hallucinations without my extra medication.

Living with a mental illness wasn’t something that was for the faint of heart. Constantly worrying about the fact, you could run out of medication at the worst possible time. However, this really seemed to be my worst fear playing out. An attempted escape would have to be perfect, or we run the risk of losing another life.

The sudden earth shattering, bloody shrill alerted me to the fact that Gabriel had just struck again. Rushing out of the warehouse trying to find the scene of the commotion. Silently praying that I wouldn’t find Ben or Emilia’s body this time. If both were still alive, I could withstand the string of accusations thrown my way by Ariella.

Reaching the crowd forming around the body in the center of the big top, around the small, round, blue and purple pedestal. Searching the numerous faces around me, spotting Ben at a distance, followed by Emilia. They were both safe, but who was the one we were gathered around? Was anyone a witness this time to the murder that took place?

Inching my way forward, pushing through the crowd as angry shouts ruptured my ear drums yet again. Looking down at my feet as I pushed through the last wall of people hearing my own hoarse voice shout, “No!”