Where Spirits Roam

Chapter Two Release

Eviee opened her eyes as the clack of heels made their way closer. The memory had ended and she knew she had not imagined the scene that had unfolded.

The new nurse dressed in her sleek white skirt and button-down shirt walked toward Eviee with a brilliant red-stained smile curling her lips. She should have been a model with her perfect blond hair and slender appearance, instead, she was working in an asylum for the mentally ill. “Good Morning Eviee,” she greets stopping in front of the teenage girl who was to be released today.

Eviee doesn't respond having learned the hard way that her responses only ended with more torment. The doctor reveled in each show of emotion he would use it as more fuel to run his tests on her.

“You're being released today hun.” The nurse says as she again steps closer and places her hand on Eviee’s shoulder. She had been nice during the last few weeks of Eviee’s stay always offering a comforting smile. She didn't belong in a place ridden with evil like this.

How long will this release be? Eviee wondered. She only had another year and a few months before she would be eighteen. Then she could leave the orphanage and this town.

One of the meaner orderlies makes his way closer a grimace marring his already unattractive features. “She giving you any trouble Sunshine?” He asks the nurse.

“None at all, Marvin.” She replies brushing off his flirty advance and helping Eviee to stand. “Come on Eviee, your guardian has already signed you out.

Keeping her hand on Eviee’s elbow they make their way across the small gathering area the nurse's heels clacking on the pristine white floors. She flashes her ID card when they make it to the doors and they open of their own accord allowing the two to step through. Once outside the view of their onlookers, the nurse releases her stepping forward with a motion for Eviee to follow. The long hallways twist and turn and their blank white walls make them nearly indistinguishable. The silence is filled only by the clack of heels and soon they come upon the lone elevator. The nurse reaches out to press the down arrow and they stand waiting. Eviee takes the opportunity to examine the young nurse more closely. Her eyes follow the nurse's legs up to her slim waist and then to the ID badge that identifies her as nurse Lily. Her eyes are a brilliant blue and they flicker to meet Eviee’s as if she could feel her gaze lingering on her. As if to break the silence the elevator dings drawing both their attention. They both step inside and Lily presses the button for the lobby. The elevator ride seems to last longer than it should and Eviee doesn't dare look at the nurse again afraid of the consequences. When the elevator stops the doors slide open revealing the main entrance which houses one set of doors and a security guard standing next to them. The metal detector in front of the doors was meant to keep weapons out. Another security guard sits behind the desk with a nurse neither of who looks up to see which patient might be exiting. Lily proceeds to place her hand back on Eviee’s elbow leading her out of the elevator and across the short expanse of the lobby.

“Sign out,” the security guard behind the desk grunts sliding a clipboard across the table and under the plexiglass screen.

“Yes, Carl,” Lily says stepping forward and lifting the connected pen into her delicate hand. She signs her signature with the same flare of a movie star before sliding the clipboard back to Carl.

Eviee stood silently hands dangling at her side throughout the exchange. Any sudden movement could put her back upstairs.

“Come, Eviee.”

They finally reach the doors, Lily walks through the metal detector without incident, and then the guard motions for Eviee to follow. Once through he signals Carl to buzz them out. The door clicks and Lily is able to push it open with ease.

The bright lights of the asylum don't compare to the natural sunlight streaming through the morning skies when Eviee sets foot outside and she squints waiting for her eyes to adjust. Everything looks much more vibrant after not seeing colors for so long and her eyes flutter about taking in the trees, signs, and lights, and then the noises reach her ears.

“Deep breathes Eviee,” she reminds herself controlling her emotions and casting her eyes down as she pushes the sounds away.

They descend the flight of stairs and Lily opens the back door of the old blue station wagon used by the orphanage. Eviee climbs into the backseat of the old car driven by the aging nun who had raised her. When the door shuts she lets out an imperceivable sigh clasping her seatbelt across her and placing her hands into her lap. The nurse taps twice on the passenger window drawing the nun's attention and leans over to crank the window down.

“You’re all set to go. Please don't hesitate to call if there are any issues,” Lily tells her as every nurse before has. She slips a small business card to the nun and backs away.

The car pulls away from the curb and Eviee leans back. The orphanage is only a few blocks away and they quickly pull up to the large aging building. When she was a child Eviee thought this place was a castle entranced by all its rooms and passages and how they always offered a new hiding place. Now it was simply the lesser of two evils. Another prison she had to endure. Compared to the one she had left she didn't know how much better it was. At least here she could avoid the “treatments.”

“Welcome home, Eviee,” the nun says addressing her for the first time since she picked her up. This woman had brought her in, cared for her, and been the only mother she had known yet she had left her to be experimented on.

Eviee manages an awkward smile the action causing her dry lips to crack and burn then mutters a thank you. She steps out of the car the fresh air and smell of the rose bushes lining the walkway making their way into her nose. The small walkway makes it so only one person can walk up it at a time and she follows behind the older woman waiting patiently as she grabs the handrail pulling herself up each of the stairs leading to the covered porch. A vision dances before her eyes the sight of a young woman placing a babe on the ground her black cloak blocks her from view and the older woman walks through the mirage wiping it away. Eviee takes a deep breath releasing it slowly while she counts backward from ten. She would not allow anyone a reason to send her back.

The front door opens into the foyer and they step inside. Nothing has changed. The old-fashioned wallpaper still peels in places and the wood floors still creak. The only comes from the antique wall sconces which line the perimeter every five feet or so, the space is not very wide and the left-hand side has a large staircase leading to the upper floors.

“Your room is still the same child,” the older woman says walking toward her office and leaving Eviee alone.

Eviee’s room was far from the other orphans when her mental health had been brought into question the staff had decided to move her to the old servant quarters in the west wing. Her chamber was on the top floor and Eviee began climbing the three flights of stairs to reach it. Once upon a time, Eviee had loved the idea of having a room to herself but it grew lonely after a while now she was glad to have privacy again, she would be able to avoid trouble.

Eviee turned the knob to her room expecting to see the blank walls, ashy brown floors, and brassy metal rails of the twin-sized bed she had left behind, instead what she saw made tears brim in her eyes. The other teens had written psycho, witch, and w***e all over the walls, left open condoms on her bed, and poured fake blood over satanic symbols on the floor. At first, she wanted to storm out and confront them but she thought better of it. Eviee closed the door and walked to the bathroom grabbing all the things she would need to clean the mess. It took the rest of her evening to eliminate all takes of their hate.

The dinner bell dinged and Eviee made her way downstairs to the dining hall. The orphanage couldn't supply the best food though the cooks always made it taste good and anything was better than the hospital's bland meals. She could hear the other children snicker as she entered making her skin heat under their gazes and abrasive words. Sitting at the chair furthest from the others she downcasted her eyes allowing her chestnut-colored locks to fall around her face, Eviee had natural caramel highlights which blended perfectly into her curls. Aside from her eyes, it was her favorite feature. The vibrant violet hue was something to be proud of as it was rare, less than one percent of the population had purple eyes and she was obsessed with Elizabeth Taylor as a child because she too had them.

The cook set a plate in front of Eviee bringing her back to the moment. The delicious smell invaded her nostrils and she took in the vegetable beef soup with hungry eyes, her stomach rumbling loudly.

“Who would like to say grace tonight?” The nun asked.

“I will,” Charlotte offered her blond head getting higher as she straightened her shoulders. “Dear Lord, thank you for this wonderful meal and the ladies who prepared it, thank you for our warm beds, and thank you for keeping us safe another day, Amen.”

“Amen,” everyone agreed as they reached for their spoons.

Eviee wasn't sure what she believed in but she too uttered the word. It was part of her life in the orphanage. After dinner, she made her way back to her room. Tomorrow she would go back to school and that in itself was another battlefield.