chapter 3
"So, it's just those two taking care of us?" Naomi asks the official.
"Yes, they're able to handle it, I'm sure of it. However, we do have other staff who will help with certain things, just not watching over you four," the official answers. Azreal, Iris, Lucas, and Naomi Look over towards Marcus and Evelyn.
"However, this isn't where you will stay, so I ask for you six to follow me," the official says.
"Didn't you say this is where it's going to take place?" Evelyn asks.
"Yes, but that was a lie, we need to go down one more level. But don't worry about your stuff, you can either move it yourself or we can have people pack it and move it for you," the official smiles.
"If people could move it, that would be great," Marcus joins in. The official nodded and then said something to a faculty member who was standing next to him. The official leads the six to the elevator and goes down a floor. The '-2' button wasn't even visible. It blended in with the elevator pad.
"This is where you'll stay," the official says as the elevator doors open again. It seems like the same as the floor above them, but it's a cooler temperature, the perfect temperature for everyone. The small group walks out of the elevator, stopping at the front desk.
"You guys will be on your own now, but you already know what needs to be done. Let's start the schedule with breakfast, shall we?" the official commands. He returns to the elevator and pushes a button. He wears a smile as the elevator doors shut. Marcus and Evelyn begin to lead the four patients towards the dining room.
"So, what do they have for breakfast here?" Naomi asks. She has fluffy white hair that reaches her neckbone, her bangs cover her eyes. She's wearing a black sweatshirt and black pants. Her skin is smooth and as pale as snow.
"They may just have terrible food here," Iris answers. She looks like Naomi, except her hair stops at the tip of her spine and her hair bangs are cut so they only cover some of her eyes. Her hair is also red, matching her scarlet lips. She also wears a black hoodie and pants just like Naomi.
"Ask Azreal, he was the first one here, I think. I'm sure he loves the food," Lucas jokes. His jaw is strong but not stronger than his Australian accent. His hair is curly and black. It covers his eyes and reaches the bottom of his nose in length but splits in the middle, just like a curtain split. It stops at the tip of his spine in the back. His skin is light, and so are his lips.
"Oh, it's not that bad, just, mediocre," Azreal says, trying to save the food's reputation.
"Mediocre means not very good," Lucas jokingly points out. The four of them laugh. They enter the dining room and are met with a few wooden tables on each side. In the middle, there is a big table. It looks like it just came from the days of kings and queens. The walls are decorated with colorful paintings given to the hospital as a gift.
The group sits together at the table in the middle of the room. They're shocked when they see something other than mushy gray-looking soup given to them. There's chicken, turkey, macaroni, ham, mashed potatoes, and other Thanksgiving-like foods.
"Are we on death row or what?" Azreal jokes. Usually, the food matches the tone of the hospital, but not this time. They begin to eat the food given to them, savoring each bite as if it were their last meal.
"Being honest, that might've been the best food I've had," Evelyn says. She's walking next to Marcus and in front of the four patients. They're heading to an activity room. Today is gardening, which is strange as they're underground.
They make it to the garden, but it looks like they just exited the hospital. Plants line each wall, slowly outgrowing the pots they've been planted in. It's one large garden, a field with
rows of plants. Tiled paths surround the plants; they're light brown. In the middle of the garden is a large water fountain with two statues of women pouring water into the mouths of men.
"What a beautiful garden," Naomi says, admiring every inch of the garden. There are four ways to enter this garden, yet all of them are spread far apart from each other.
"So, we're farmers now. Amazing," Lucas jokes.
"I love gardening; it's like an art form in itself," Iris says as she picks up fallen rose petals.
"It's calming, for sure; it just makes me feel like I'm 70," Azreal adds.
"Well, here are the flower seeds, watering cans, and gloves," Marcus informs the four. They each grab a pair of gloves, and they start gardening, planting all sorts of pretty flowers.
Just ten minutes later, someone who works with the official comes into the gardening room. Their hair is short and black. The room goes quiet as they wait for them to ask something.
"Can we have Iris?" The assistant asks, his face blank.
"For?" Iris questions.
"We wanted to give you something, take it as a welcoming gift," The assistant answers. Iris looks at the assistant confused. She talks to the assistant and follows him outside the room.
"Lucky. When do we get our gifts?" Lucas complains. He pouts for a moment, returning to his seeds afterward.
Iris is showing off her gifts to Naomi while Lucas and Azreal are exploring the hospital. Each of the patients gets a room decorated to their title and skill. Marcus and Evelyn are taking a small break together. They're talking about how they love each patient here and how it's amazing that they were accepted and able to get into this program.
"They gave me a ton of art supplies!" Iris says excitedly. Naomi is jealous that she is the only one to get any gift, but she also loves to draw and paint occasionally.
"You must be a prodigy in art or something. If that's a thing," Naomi jokes. The two girls laugh.
"Well, what are you into?" Iris asks as she sets her painting and drawing materials aside.
"I'm into games, mostly chess. But I can beat anyone in any board game or videogame," Naomi says boldly.
"We'll see about that," Iris says, full of competitiveness. "By the way, I heard them mention that everyone would be getting a gift, just on different days. It has something to do with their title, but they didn't tell me any of them."
"I wonder what they are. If I just knew everyone's interest, I could try and guess them," Naomi scratches her chin. She wants to think about it, but she figures that it would be a waste of time. Out of nowhere, the intercom turns on.
"All patients head towards the dining room."
"Well, we're already here, just have to wait for Lucas and Azriel I guess," Iris says before resting her head on her elbows on the table.
"I guess so," Naomi says, following Iris' actions.
"Where were you two?" The assistant questions Lucas and Azreal. They just finished eating dinner and were about to explore again.
"We were just exploring, that's all," Azreal says, trying to keep them out of trouble. The assistant takes a deep breath and sighs.
"Next time, just let me explore with you or show you around. It's boring as hell around here anyways." The assistant smirks.
"Deal," Lucas says as he high-fives the assistant. The assistant leads them to their rooms, leaving once the door shuts.
"He seems nice, definitely chill for someone working in a mental hospital," Lucas says. Sighs of relief come from both boys' mouths.
"Goodnight," Azreal says as he grabs the handle of his bedroom door.
"Goodnight," Lucas responds. They both enter their bedrooms and close the door behind themselves.
"I heard tests are starting soon, I wonder what they mean by that," Evelyn thinks aloud. Marcus is lying down in their bed already.
"Beats me, as long as we can help them or people in the future, that's what matters," Marcus says.
"You're right, they seem like good people anyway. It's a shame they must deal with whatever they have," Evelyn adds. She lies in bed next to Marcus. They think about all the opportunities their future holds for them before falling asleep.