Chapter 1: A Chance Meeting

Present Day

The clang of the cell door shutting echoed into the frozen concrete gray chamber. A figure sat alone in the center of the cell, his face blank and expressionless, staring at the peeling paint flaking off from the walls. The cacophony of shouts, rattling chains, and thud-thudding footsteps of the prison yard drowned into unmoving hums in the distance.

It had been seven long months of emotional torture that had exiled whatever little of humanity was left inside him. A once so vibrant and vivid mind, so full of rich thought and colorful imagination, had dwindled to a tattered rag, soiled and torn by despair. The world around him was indistinct, painted in shades of gray, as if meaningless.

Through his tortured mind, a mournful melody ran in harmony with the vacuum that was devouring him from within. The haunting words of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.”

“There is no pain ... You are receding...”

He was numb, utterly and completely numb. Numb to this world outside his cell, which seemed like a dream too far off, a phantom dancing on the outskirts of his shattered consciousness.

The events of the last seven months ran through his mind like a continuous film. He questioned his sanity and his life choices as he saw how he had landed here.

Seven Months Ago

Anna Miller stormed into the emergency room, her stilettos clicking on the linoleum floor. She was a familiar face in this hospital, but not as a patient. She spent her days more often as a board member, holding a lot of influence over the very staff that shambled in and out of her territory every day. This morning had brought her to the hospital for something completely unrelated, but now she kneeled on the floor, crying, anxious, and in pain, which was increased by the stress and horror of Halloween.

Someone had played an intentional Halloween prank on her, harmless fun to spook unsuspecting visitors for fun. However, her unstable mental state and paranoia could not bear the simple shock. She had a panic attack and her muscles started to twitch and spasm erratically, a symptom not so uncommon in her case.

“I need help immediately!” Anna demanded, glaring at the nurses behind the desk. “I’m a board member here and I expect to be seen right away.”

The nurses exchanged anxious glances but then had one of them step forward. “Of course, Mrs. Miller. We will do our best to have you helped right away. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“I need help right now before I call the board and have all of you fired!” Anna snapped.

The nurse tried to calm her, but Anna was past being reasoned with now. She shouted obscenities and threats until a frantic head nurse hurried over.

“Please, let me help, Ms. Miller,” the head nurse implored. “I am calling Dr. Brian right away.”

Anna scoffed. “Finally! You better believe I’ll be reporting all of you for incompetence today.”

Within moments, a tall, handsome, and muscular Dr. Brian appeared. With his dark, tousled hair and warm, friendly smile, he exuded confidence and competence. Despite the late hour and the long shift, he was energetic and attentive. His dark, piercing eyes assessed Anna’s distress as he approached.