Deemed Insane by Jace Young
Deemed Insane by Jace Young
Deemed Insane
A short-story, by Jace Young
Published in the nationally acclaimed, award winning literary magazine “Labyrinth” as well as in the collaborative novel “Anthology” composed by author Mike Kearby.
April 10, 1961, Forest Hill, Ohio
Dr. Andie Lovelis glared through the barred window of Forest Hill Mental Institute. All
that stood before her in the distance was an empty field and a bare hill. She turned to the
locked door of her cell, and her rage boiled.
“Its all your fault that Im in here. If you hadnt come along, this never would have
happened,” Andie fumed at the boy sitting in the corner of the cold, concrete cell. The child
pulled his knees closer to his chest, returning Andies gaze with his sharp green eyes.
Sighing, she sank to the floor, staring blankly. Memories of the past few months
flooded back. Everything that had occurred since she arrived had led to this nightmare.
January 20, 1961
“And over here is the West Wing, where we keep the more stable patients. These
patients show only early signs of paranoia and schizophrenia,” Dr. Gonzalez droned on as he
gestured down the corridor. “Well post you here for the first few weeks while you settle in.”
A shriek jarred Andie. Whipping her head around, she asked, concerned, “Did you hear
that noise?”
“Hear what?”
“It came from that hallway. It sounded like a child.”
“There are no children here, Dr. Lovelis. You know we are an adults-only facility.”
She nodded, unconvinced.
“That hallway leads to the East Wing, where we keep our more dangerous patients. You
dont have to worry: thats a restricted area, and you wont be assigned there. Now, follow
me to the doctors lounge.”
Andie had to jog to keep up with Dr. Gonzalez as he sped away, moving down the hall
in the opposite direction from the scream.
February 24, 1961
Clutching a clipboard, Andie walked the familiar path of her nightly rounds. She peered
through the window of Room W23, confirming that the patient was present.
Looking into W21, Andie gasped at a boys reflection in the doors window. She
dropped her clipboard, and as she bent to pick it up, Andie felt a cold chill. She looked up to
see the pale-faced boy standing over her. She jumped to her feet. The mysterious child
stared into Andies eyes. The boys piercing green eyes made him look other-worldly, yet
somehow benevolent and almost angelic.
The longer she peered into his empty eyes, the less frightened she grew and the more
she wanted to help him. She reached out and asked softly, “Who are you? Why are you
here?”
Unexpectedly, he moved to avoid her grasp, ignored her question and started to walk
toward the East Wing. Andie ran after him, then stopped abruptly, remembering where she
was—almost at the restricted area.
“Wait! Dont leave!” she cried, but he quickened his pace, and his grayish-blue skin
soon made him all but invisible in the hallways bright lighting and against its white walls.
Just before he disappeared around a corner, she thought she heard a faint voice saying,
“Just