Isaiah

And with that, she left me there.

The metal doors slammed behind her and I was alone.

I faced the open doorway by the front desk again.

The shadows had almost entered the room and the piercing laughter was filling the lobby with sound.

I ran for the front doors.

I pounded and yanked and pushed and screamed.

Screamed for help.

Screamed for my caseworker.

Screamed for... ANYONE!

PLEASE GOD!

I turned to see the nurse behind the glass smiling at me again.

Then they entered.

A whole group of laughing nurses with clown faces and red hair.

Some were male, some female, but all had the same terrifying Ronald McDonald makeup.

And in the dim light of the lobby, I could see the glint of metal tools in their hands.

Bringing up the rear was a pair of clown nurses rolling a metal table, complete with restraints.

Get the fuck away from me!

I screamed.

I pounded at the metal doors again.

They surrounded me, grabbed me as I thrashed and screamed and tried to tear myself away, laughed as I kicked and squirmed.