Page 11 of Lolli-Gag
“They like you better like this,”Jethro hums, and I glance at them. All three.
“They should,” I whisper. “I do too.”
“Sit down, Lolli,” Dr. Petrova scolds, and I turn to him and, for the first time, he looks afraid.Good.My smile softens just a little and I give him a curtsy.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be quiet again,” I tell him, and Jethro laughs, but this time everyone hears it. The lights flicker and the room tilts. Something cracks. Not the walls, not the floor, something deeper, and suddenly—no one in the circle is pretending to be sane anymore.
“Lolli, I need you to cut it out and sit down,” Dr. Petrova reprimands, and I roll my eyes then sit.
“Since we have no control today, let’s move on to something else,” he says, looking around the room.
“Mr. Cyprus. Care to introduce yourself this session?” he asks as Axel slowly meets his gaze and folds his arms over his chest, sitting back in his chair, not saying a word.
“He may not say anything but he’s extremely uncomfortable,”Jethro states.“Protect him. He will do the same for you later.”And I hum.
“He doesn’t speak. Haven't you gotten the memo, Doc?” I giggle.
“I wasn’t speaking to you, Logan. How many times have I told you to not speak out of turn?” he asks, and I narrow my eyes.
“And how many times have I told you not to call me Logan. It’s Lolli,” I fire back, clenching my jaw.
“Your birth name is Logan, that is your name while you are here, which, my dear, is for a very long time,” he reminds me, and I growl.
“Logan died in that oven. We’ve been through this!” I spit as I stand, circling him. Malcolm starts to rock in his chair, and Celeste hums as her fingers draw stars in the air.
“We should just kill him. I’m so sick of his shit!”Jethro growls as I circle the asshole, staring at his bald head.
“He’s a shit doctor. Ever notice how anyone he tries to help dies,”he reminds me, and I smile.
“I’ve got to say, Doc. Jethro is really getting sick and tired of your attitude. He thinks you suck as a doctor. With all the crazies that have come and gone through the years, you’ve never rehabilitated any of them. It seems all you do is send them to their death bed,” I accuse as he looks at me with his head tilted like I’m the one who is nuts.
“So Jethro is still hanging around I see. Do I need to up your meds again,” he asks, and my eyes widen as I shake my head.
“Don’t let him do it!”Jethro shouts.
“Very well. Now, if you are done interrupting me, you all have homework tonight. I want the six of you—”
“Seven, Dr. Petrova,” I interrupt, and he clears his throat then drones on about what he wants that he’s never going to get. I’m not doing shit.
“Nope, we aren’t, it's bullshit. Even mute boy knows it's all a ruse,”Jethro says, and I giggle.
“You are all dismissed for lunch and midday meds,” he says, and I giggle.
“You are not taking the meds,”Jethro reminds me, and I nod, humming as we leave the room. I skip along and catch up to Axel, elbowing his arm gently. He looks at me then down at his arm then back to me. I frown, and he shakes his head slightly.
“He doesn't like to be touched,”Jethro states, and I nod. Axel stops walking and just stares at me like he can see through me. I don’t like it.
“He can see the scared little girl trapped inside. Damn, he’s good,”Jethro tells me, but my fists tighten at my sides.
“Stop staring, mute boy! I know my scars are hideous, but I’m not a fucking sideshow act,” I spit, then walk away.
“That was really mean, Honeycomb. He’s not the enemy,”Jethro says, and I roll my eyes, walking back to my room. I just need a fucking minute.
Blood & Torture
Lolli-Gag
Night doesn’t fall here. It leaks. The lights turn off but it’s all pretend. I lay in this bed staring at the ceiling. Cracks spread across it like veins. I’ve counted them before. Lost count then started over. I know something is coming, I just don’t know what exactly. Cynthia, the night nurse, didn’t strap me down, which is odd because usually if I show aggressive behavior towards the staff that’s what happens at night. I get strapped and taken advantage of. But tonight… it’s different.
