She pressed the edge of the metal against her finger tip and felt a slight prickly sensation. Holding the hooked surgical implement up against the torch light, she felt it glint and glimmer brightly. She placed it down neatly onto the tray before taking a moment to quickly recheck the contents of her tray. Yes, it was all there.

She then proceeded to put both her hands on the tray to lift it up before leaned over the table, pausing a moment to collect her thoughts. There was no question - she had a pretty face with finely defined features and her eyes were a deep blue. Not an icy blue but a mellow ocean blue, serene and tranquil. Her eyes matched her uniform, which was also mostly blue mixed with dashes of white here and there. She took pride in her appearance and as always, it was crisp and precisely in place.

With a nod, she found the information she was looking for and began humming a tune to herself. It was a child’s lullaby and it sounded mesmerising as she sang it - the sweet sounds rolling off her tongue. She lifted the tray and seemed to slightly buckle under its weight; this was not due to the weight of its contents but of the heavy material from which the tray was made, something she had become used to it over time. It was opening the door leading down into the cells that was always a headache. She glanced over at the door in frustration.

The door was worn and had seen better days - it had serious cracks and unusual marks along it, almost as if it had been clawed at. Ann smiled to herself.

Walking over to the door and clumsily fumbled with the doorknob, she finally managed to twist it. She pulled the door open with her leg while trying not to upset the tray before stumbling into the corridor. The door shut behind her a quiet click. Her composure regained, she gracefully began to walk along the stone floor, her shoes making a resounding sound along the corridor. The lullaby continued to be hummed and she eventually arrived at the cell she was looking for.

She sighed to herself once more before balancing the tray clumsily on her knee and fished out a key from her breast pocket, unlocked the heavy door and with all her strength pushed it forward with her back before entering the room. The door closed behind her with a massive clang.

It was dark in there, completely pitch black. Her entrance was greeted with a little whimper from the far corner of the room. Continuing her song, Ann walked over to the bed opposite and laid her tray down upon it before turning her gaze upon the individual that had scurried into the far corner. With one deft movement she lit the lantern lying on her tray basking the room in its soft glow.

The figure raised in hands trying to protect his eyes - it had been so long since he had seen any illumination of his surroundings. The glimmering rays filtered into the back of his eye sockets and the pain was tremendous. However he did not want to take his eyes off the new inhabitant of the room and squinting hard, he looked through the cracks of his eyes at her.

She was standing there with her hands crossed looking down at him from next to the tray with a smile on her face. It was a comforting smile - the sort of smile a nurse would give to you to make you feel that little bit better. The ‘I know you are in pain honey but it will be better soon’ smile and usually coming from an attractive face, most patients welcome it with open arms. However this cellmate would have happily gnawed off his own arm to not receive it. He knew exactly what was in store for him.


She continued to look at him and bringing her lullaby to a close, she mouthed the words ‘don’t worry’ to him. She gave him a little wink, her gaze still upon him as her hands went upon the same implement that she had been glancing over earlier. In her hands, it was now emitting a strange red glow and the end was contorted into a wicked looking pointed spike.

‘You will be fine’ she whispered to him as she stepped forward, her eyes still looking deep into his. Suddenly he saw deep blue oceans stretching as far as he could see into the distance, so tranquil and calm. The sunshine bouncing lazily off the waves and the warm summer breeze surrounding him, he sighed in relief feeling the air around him and the water beneath him. He felt himself flying across the ocean and soon he was at a golden beach, and there she was. Sitting at the waters edge waiting for him

So beautiful, his heart pounded as he floated in front of her. Long brown hair flowing down her shoulders; she had her arms raised to welcome him. He moved towards her and she embraced him. So soft. So warm. He could feel her body next to his and as she pressed her head next to his, he could feel the warm sensation washng over his face.

And then he screamed. The sound echoed through the asylum reverberating through the heavy doors and walls. It was his blood that he was feeling - it was oozing from his head all over his face and he began to choke as some slipped into his open mouth. He could not see a thing, the liquid dripping into his eyes but he could feel the pain. He had never seen a mirror and he would never know what exactly she had done but he would later feel it with his fingertips. That is, when the ordeal would be over which would be an eternity away.

She realised his discomfort and leaned over to his ear, and he felt her warm breath on his neck. ‘Hush hush, it’s not so bad’ she said sweetly before resuming her lullaby. And he screamed once more as she started to turn the handle on the new implement she had carefully attached to his head.
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