Michael
Chapter 9: recovery and escape
During the following weeks Michael recovered slowly. He was fed trough the tubes
that had been inserted into his body until the wound in his throat had healed.
As the orderlies finally removed them from him, he had to get used to eating
again since the scar tissue that had formed around his trachea was pushing
against his gullet painfully. Although he had regained his ability to speak, it
was still terrible difficult for him to form more than 2 or 3 words at once.
However, nurse Angelica who had watched over him during his recovery, insisted
that he kept practicing half an hour a day. She had brought him books so he
could train his voice by reading aloud, she also hoped that they would reduce
his boredom and keep his mind of his problems.
"Here." And she handed him a copy of 1984 by George Orwell. "It is one of my
favorites. If you promise to read al least one page a day aloud, I promise you
that your voice will be completely recovered by the time you finish the book."
Michael was sitting in his bed with his restrains removed. He had been put back
into a straitjacket but his health was good and he had somehow managed to
recover some of his confidence. He was very thankful for everything Angelica had
done for him, she had been there to encourage him when he learning to eat solid
food again and without her, he would probably had lost all hope of ever be able
to recover his voice.
He gave her a friendly smile. "What is it about?" His voice was hoarse and
almost inaudible, but still she knew what he wanted to say. She had spent so
much time with him by now, that she almost knew what every little gesture or
expression on his face meant. She had in fact fell in love with every aspect of
him secretly.
"It¡¯s about the suppression of individual freedom. I think you would like it.
Give it a try, even if you are not going to read it aloud."
"I like to read it but..." Anglica laughed as Michael pulled a serious face and
nodded towards his arms, which were packed into his sleeves firmly. "Maybe I
can flip the pages with my nose." He joked and he was rewarded with another
sweet smile on her face. God, he loved it when she smiled. She got that twinkle
in her eyes when she laughed and the corners of her beautiful lips will curl up
like rose paddles.
"That ¡®s no excuse not to read it. But if you want I can flip open the pages
for you. Or, I can read it to you." Michael looked up at her and smiled. "I
would like that."
Angelica sat down at the side of his bed and she wetted her fingertips. She
turned the first page and began to read to him.
After a while, the visits that Angelica paid to Michael grew more frequent.
Except for reading to him and following his progress in speaking, she also
started to talk about all different kind of things that occupied her daily life.
Michael enjoyed her visits since she was the only person in the institute that
he regarded as a friend. Angelica lived alone in a little cottage just outside
town. She had a garden with a 19th century greenhouse that was fallen into decay
when she moved in but she had it carefully restored to its original state. She
loved gardening, roses were her favorite and she grew different types of them in
her garden. Except for her cat Theodore she had nobody to look after her here in
Blackstone. Her family lived in Baltimore and she visited them every holiday. It
seemed to Michael that Angelica was a bit lost and lonely, someone who wanted to
be strong and independent but on the inside was still afraid to be alone.
Michael on his turn told her about what his life was like before he was
committed. He had a job as a head research scientist at a major pharmaceutical
company in Chicago, where he lived in a what he called highly overpaid
apartment. Michael was an outgoing type of guy, witty, charming and good
looking, respected and liked by his colleagues at work and he had many good
friends. He liked his job and after work he used to hang out with his pales in
bars, having a drink and talking about the games. If the weather was good, he
took a day off and went fishing on his boat on Michigan Lake. He enjoyed taking
friends out for dinner, attended parties and flirted with the women who were
attracted to him like bees to flowers. Frankly, he was quite happy with his life
as it was. Then he met Leasa. He was introduced to her at a private dinner party
of one of his married pales. At the night that they first met she wore a tight
flaming red dress that had a high split on the side, revealing her long silky
legs. She also had her hair down and as she approached Michael, walking
elegantly on here high heeled shoes, waving her drink in one hand and looking o
so temptingly into his eyes, he fell in love with her instantly. They got
engaged after only dating for 3 weeks and Michael would have married her
immediately if she was not telling him that she was not sure about it yet. So
they established a long distance relationship. Leasa, who was in town for
visiting her brother, went back to Windsor where she lived and worked and
Michael went to see her every weekend. In the beginning it was difficult for him
to focus on his normal life in Chicago during the week since he was so addicted
her, but eventually he accepted the fact that she wanted more time for their
relationship to evolve and he used to make the time that they spent together as
special as possible. However, he wandered if all women were as careful as Leasa
when it came to choosing the right man. He wondered if Angelica was also
involved with somebody that she kept on a distance because she wasn¡¯t sure that
she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
"Are you seeing somebody?" He asked when she was visiting him again on a late
afternoon. Michael had noticed for a while that Angelica was wearing a silver
ring that she never took off, even when she was bathing him. Angelica looked at
Michael with a surprised expression on her face.
"It¡¯s because of the ring that you are wearing all the time."
Angelica smiled and pink blushes appear on her transparent white cheeks as she
said; "It¡¯s an engagement ring, and yes I am engaged."
Michael realized to his surprise that he was somehow feeling disappointed
hearing her already being involved with someone, although he didn¡¯t understood
why. Angelica had been a real angel for him but he was not falling in love with
her, or was he? Was there not a strong longing for her deep down that had been
fed trough the days that she had cared for him? Was it only gratitude that he
felt toward her? As soon as these thoughts rose inside his mind he brushed them
aside immediately. What good will it do to have feelings for her, he was an
inmate, a lunatic, stripped from all his rights and freedom. She wouldn¡¯t be
interested in him. They can never be together in this lifetime. Loving her would
only make his life more miserable than it already was.
"Who is the lucky guy?" He asked as indifferently as possible to hide his true
feelings.
"It¡¯s someone you know, it¡¯s Dane Marshall, and we are engaged since
September last year."
As he heard the name of her fianc¨¦, his disappointment made way for relief.
"Congratulations!" He said sincerely. "I am sure that he will make you very
happy, he is a good man."
Angelica looked at him with her sky-blue eyes in which he sometimes seemed to
drown. "I know that he is a good man, he is the only good person in this whole
dammed institute."
She sat down by his bedside and bended over towards him. Michael¡¯s heart
started to bump in his chest, she was so close now, he could smell her sweet
perfume that mingled with her sweat. He tried to remind himself that he was not
in love with her, but his heart seemed to have a mind of his own. Angelica swept
a lock of hair away that was dangling in front of her eyes, it brushed aside her
long delicate neck.
"But still...I am not sure if I want to marry him. Sometimes I think that what
we have is not love, but merely friendship, soul mates that share the same moral
principles in a place that has none." She reached out and with her soft hand
she touches his cheek.
"Or maybe I am just too afraid to be alone."
Slowly, she bended her head towards him and kissed his forehead, she gently
stroke his two day old beard and then guided with her other hand his chin
towards her. Michael was overwhelmed by her, his pulse was racing and he started
to sweat. How he longed to kiss her on her moist lips and tough her soft hair.
If he could just free his hands from his restrains. Suddenly, she forced her
warm lips against his passionately. Michael was surprised, but returned her
kisses eagerly. She put her arms around his neck and he lost himself in her
embrace. He closed his eyes as she forced her tongue inside his mouth, he
breathed in her warmth and swallowed her fluids. She sat on top of him now with
her legs spread on each side. Her crotch was pressed against his lid and he
could feel the warmth of her vagina through her nickers, making him mad with
longing for her. For a moment, he felt that she was the center of the universe,
she burned as hot and bright as the sun.
She finally detached herself from his lips and pushed him aside. Her breasts
that were captured in her blouse were dancing up and down as she tried to catch
her breath again. Michael looked at her as she tidied up her uniform and her
hair. She looked so beautiful and he realized that he felt so much for her that
it was impossible to lie to himself any longer, he was in love with her and he
had it bad.
Angelica stood up silently and kissed him one more time on his lips while she
ran her hands through his dark hair. Softly she whispered; "I am not afraid to
be alone anymore... I have found you."
Michael was happy but also confused as she spoke out these words, she had also
feelings for him, that¡¯s for sure, but how was she supposed to deal with Dane?
Dane was a good man, he had helped Michael on many occasions when he was
tortured by Jake. He didn¡¯t want to repay his gratitude by cheating on his
fianc¨¦. But still, his feelings for her were so strong, he didn¡¯t thought that
he was able to control it.
"What about Dane?" He asked, regretting the question as soon as he had spoken
out the words.
Angelica raised her eyebrows and reacted as she was suddenly awoken from a
dream, she moved away from him and walked silently to the door. As she reached
it, she turned around and said softly; "I am not a heartless woman, you have to
believe me...But Dane and I..."
She fell into a silence as she looked down to her hands and fumbled her ring.
Her face was pale and it seemed as if she was struggling with the emotions
inside her. Finally she raised her head and said; "You are right Michael, maybe
this was a mistake." She turned away with and sad expression on her face and
left.
Michael was left pondering with his own thoughts when early in the evening Jake
and his pale Fly came by. Michael had not dealt with them for almost a month now
and was of course not eager to see them, their sudden appearance placed a cold
knot in his stomach. This meant trouble, he thought.
"So little white shit, are you getting better? I sure hope so cause the Doc
ordered us to bring you back to your cell, no more soft beds and nice hot meals
for you anymore pale! And no more nice nurse Angelica¡¯s cunt for you either!"
Michael flushed with anger as he heard this; "Don¡¯t talk like that about nurse
Angelica, we didn¡¯t do anything! Stop badmouthing her or I will.."
"Or you will do what? You little fuck!!"
Jake hit him three to four times hard in the face with his knuckles, causing him
to fling to one side of the bed. He then pulled his head up by his hair to face
his own. Michael could smell his bad cigarette breath as Jake spoke; "You think
that we will be more gentle with you now, cause you have screwed the nurse? I
don¡¯t think so brother. The doc has ordered us to take care of you, he saw you
two getting a little bit too close for his comfort and decided to switch the
staff. You will get nowhere near nurse Angelica from now on."
Michael heart felt cold and heavy like stone, the words that Jake had spoken
were more painful to him than the beating on his swollen face. This was a cruel
joke, he thought, just as he started to care for someone they were going to make
it impossible for him to see her. Jake laughed as he saw that his message had a
demoralizing effect on his victim and he spat in Michael¡¯s face as he said;
"You should have fucked her while you still could, white boy, now you¡¯re never
gonna know how her cunt feels like."
Michael was filled with anger and jerked his head lose from his grip, flung
himself forwards and rammed his head in Jake¡¯s stomach, causing him to lose his
balance and fall down on the floor. "Shut up you sick bastard, you wanna have a
piece of me? Come and get it!" He shouted. Jake was lying there gasping for air
as Fly jumped on Michael and pushed him to the backside of the bed. "You white
trash! You wanna play rough? I can play rough with you." And he reached out to
strike Michael in the face, but Michael was faster and avoided the blow, he
turned around while he freed his legs from under his blanket and kicked Fly¡¯s
face with his heel causing a creaking noise. "Fly cried out as he reached for
his nose. "Arghhhhh! You little shit, you broke my nose! I¡¯m going to kill you
for that you mother fucker!" Fly flung himself on him like a mad animal and
started to beat Michael up, Michael took a couple of blows on his chest, but
managed to kick Fly in the testicles with his other foot. Fly cried out as he
writhed and grabbed his balls in pain. Michael rolled out of bed and stood
shakily beside Jake, who was still lying on the floor writhing with pain. "This
is for raping me you shit head!" And Michael rammed his foot into Jake¡¯s balls
as hard as he could. Jake yelled out in agony and started to shout; "You little
white fuck, wait till I get my hands on you!! Guards!! An inmate is escaping!!
Catch ¡®m!! Catch the mother fucker!!" Michael looked bewildered as he heard
him, he had no plans of escaping but he may now have no choice left. He ran
towards the door that the two men had left unlocked and rushed out of the room.
Bright unnatural TL light fell on his face and blinded him partly. Michael
squinted into the corridor, he couldn¡¯t recognize anything and he had no idea
which way to go. He started to run in sheer panic, passing closed doors behind
which he heard the screaming and yelling of madmen. Finally he reached a
bifurcation. Ok, which way to go now? He panicked. Behind him, Jake was yelling
for help and he would probably be able to see him if he turned around, he had to
no time to lose. He turned left, rushed down the second corridor, which was also
lined up with countless doors, then he reached a second bifurcation, which way
now? Right, he turned right this time. As he ran down the third corridor, he saw
that the end was closed with a gate. No, no, no, please don¡¯t let it be locked
he pried silently. He pushed himself against the gate, he kicked against it as
hard as he could but it was no use, it was locked on the outside. Just as
Michael wanted to give up and turn around to try the other corridor, he heard
footsteps rushing into his direction.
"There he is! Get him! Give me the keys, give me the keys!" Orderlies were
rushing towards the gate, one of them was searching in his pockets for the keys.
Michael started to run into the opposite direction, his heart bumping fast and
his pulse racing. As he reached the last bifurcation, he turned the corner and
almost knocked down Dane. Michael looked frightened and backed up as Dane
approached him slowly. "Ok old pale, calm down now, nobody wants to hurt you,
let me bring you back to your room. Easy now, easy..." Dane reached out and
grabbed Michael¡¯s shoulder, he then grabbed him from behind and held his arms
around his waist. "No! No! No!!! Let me go! Let me go!!" Shouted Michael and
flung himself backwards against the wall. Dane hurt his back and loosened his
grip, Michael then banged his back into Dane¡¯s midriff, forcing him to release
him. As Dane collapsed on the floor, Michael wriggled himself free. "I am
sorry, I am sorry!!" He started to run again, he turned left, then right, he
ran till he was almost out of breath, the corridors seemed endless, then he
heard voices approaching him. He turned another corner and there were Fly and a
group of white-coated orderlies, running towards him. "Here he is, get him! I
will teach you to break my nose you dick!" Michael turned around in panic and
ran back into the corridor from which he came, the men were following him
closely and he was getting tired, he might not be able to lose them anymore. In
a last desperate attempt to escape, he pushed against every door that he past,
hoping that one of them will be unlocked, he got lucky, a gray door with no door
handle opened to the inside and Michael found himself in some kind of laundry
room, piles of clothes and linens of the inmates where spread around the floor
and in a corner of the room was a laundry shaft which was left open. Michael
hesitated, but there was no other way out, the orderlies were catching up on him
and there was no door or window he could escape trough. He swung his legs over
the shaft, he was hanging with his feet above the tunnel as he realized that he
didn¡¯t know how deep it was, he could be on the second store or on the 14th, if
he fell unfortunately on something hard he would probably break his neck. As he
hesitated, the door to the laundry room swung open and Fly stormed in with the
other men. "What the fuck are you doing? Get out of there!" Shouted Fly and he
rushed towards Michael to drag him out of the shaft. Michael dropped himself
down the shaft tunnel. The first part of the tunnel was sloping and he was able
to slide down on his back, then the tunnel made a sudden drop and he fell.
Michael was screaming, his heart was racing in his throat as he reached the end
of the tunnel and landed in a pile of dirty laundry. He groaned as he pulled
himself from under the clothes and started heading to the door. He heard Fly
swear on the other side of the shaft "Fuck! He is getting away! Get downstairs,
quick!" Michael rushed into the corridor, he was at the ground floor and the
inmates here were walking around freely, they stared at Michael as if they
seeing a ghost. Michael started to ran, he knocked down an inmate as he turned
the corner, he ran till he his lungs were burning and he felt light in his head.
Finally he reached a gate that separated the clinic from the secluded part of
the institute. The gate was locked but he could see people walking on the other
side, family of the patients who were visiting, doctors and nurses who were
attending the psychiatric patients. Michael rattled the gate furiously and
started to shout; "Help! Please somebody help me! Let me out of here! Please
open the gate. Open the gate! Open the fucking gate!!"
