The weather was somewhat bitter as winter drew nearer with each passing day. Making my way down the streets I didn't pause to buy a paper from Mr. Thomas but simply nodded and continued on my way. I caught the slight expression on his face that clearly meant he was perplexed by this behavior.

I could hardly keep my nerves at bay as I waded through people who were clogging the sidewalk also on their way to their respective jobs. I wondered desperately how different things would be. Eyes trained on the stone beneath my feet I walked the familiar path. I was almost certain that if things came to it I could make it all the way there even blindfolded.

Stopping at the front gate I steeled my nerves to finally look up at the formidable building. Grasping the cool bars I peered through their gap. Nothing of the exterior seemed to have changed much except for the large plaque looming over the doorway that read:

ALEXANDER'S ASYLUM FOR THE DISTURBED

Of course he would stamp his name where everyone could see. Sighing I pulled open the gate and made my way down the small walkway to the two large doors that waited to be opened.

With a firm tug I slipped inside only to be immediately overwhelmed with change. People milled about in their thin clothes that were given to all patients. No one seemed to be paying them the slightest attention even the front desk was empty. Everyone looked like lost animals, wide eyed, scared, confused, some were even crying.

A teenage boy sat in the corner where chairs had been replaced with benches nailed into the walls. He held his hands over his ears and rocked back and forth mumbling to himself. It was familiar simply because my brother used to do that when he was younger and the noise was unbearable.

An older woman looked either dead or comatose laying down on one of the benches too thin for comfort. Her wrists looked like toothpicks that could be snapped at any moment. The hallways were a bustle of activity as well. Nurses wheeled patients around in wheelchairs some had straps running all over their bodies.

It was all so shocking I stood there rooted to the spot unable to process everything that was going on. How had so much been altered in such a short period of time? Swallowing hard I walked past all of the patients milling absently about and made my way towards Alexander's office.

Knocking on the doorframe to signal my arrival I walked in to see him having a heated discussion on the telephone.

"I don't care you find me the best doctor you have John or I will see to it that your little institution has some reforms." The name John rang a bell in my head and I recalled the party Henry had taken me to. John the Italian man who'd been the only other polite one besides Henry. Why was he being threatened by Alexander? "You know exactly who I am talking about. Find him. Bring him to America. Understood? Good."

Alexander placed the phone down hanging up and letting out a huff of air. He turned and seemed mildly surprised to find me standing there. "You. Sit."

He pointed to a chair on the opposite side of his desk and without hesitation I took my seat. His desk was pristine and the walls of the office were blank, hardly any indication that a human actually used the space, other than the name placard.

"Are you aware sir that there are patients just...wandering?" I questioned.

"Of course I'm aware this is my asylum after all." He clasped his hands together and leaned forward. "I'm trying to find them a place to stay. That's none of your concern however. I want to make a few things clear to you before I send you off again. There have been changes."

"I can tell." I laughed trying to lighten the mood and distract myself from his threat like tone.

"Everything you do must be run by me. Anything I tell you to do you do without protest. You're one of the best Anna. Don't screw it up, it'd be a shame to replace you. Your old patients are no longer your concern. They've been placed in the care of someone else. You will aid me often in specific matters. You will be in charge of the more difficult cases." Alexander glanced at a gleaming watch on his wrist. "Lastly, if you are given trouble by any patient do what you must to get them to cooperate. Any means necessary. Understood?"

"Uh...yes. Yes I understand." I nodded biting my lip to keep from saying anything else. It was a lot to take in but this all seemed so absurd, so different from what I was used to.

"Good. Here's your list of patients. Get going. If you have questions ask someone else I don't want to be bothered by them." With that Alexander turned back to his telephone making it clear that our conversation was over.

Picking up the list I looked for any familiar names or instructions on what to do. I spotted one name that I hoped belonged to the right person. Katherine. Leaving his office behind I went towards the first room number. On my way however I noticed that some of the rooms had been taken out to create larger chambers.

In one instance I was surprised to see rows of rather large bath tubs with coverings over them. At first I didn't think anything of it until I realized the heads sticking out of a small opening at the top. The eyes that belonged to the heads were covered by a cloth while a nurse or two kept watch.

It didn't seem all that bad I assumed it was just for relaxation but I couldn't figure out why they needed such a change, change was bad for patients. Patients needed routine.

Shaking my head I went on about my business at last reaching the first room. I was only a tad surprised when the guards opened the door to see three people inside. It was a bit intimidating walking all by yourself into a room of three people.

The sound of the door shutting nearly caused me to flinch. All I was given was a name and could not connect it to a face. "Which one of you is Isabelle Flores?"

The three all being women in the women's wing looked somewhat similar. Rumpled clothes, messy hair, and they looked dirty. I noticed that all of their nails were particularly short and had dirt crusted beneath them. I wondered how long it had been since they had even bathed.

"Me." The youngest of the three raised their hand. The room was so small I could picture the three of them cramped together at night struggling to rest at all.

"Hi. I haven't met you before, so I hope you'll be patient with me." I tried to keep my voice soft and nonthreatening. Something told me it had been a while since any of them had experienced any real kindness.

"S-sure." Isabelle nodded her eyes glancing about nervously.

"Do you know why you were admitted here?" This was always a touchy subject. Sometimes the person was in such strong denial of any problems they had that they could lash out.

"Ye-es. See I h-have a stut-t-ter." Isabelle glanced nervously at the other two women.

"Go on now you can tell that one. I got good feelings about her." One of the women, of a darker skin color, spoke loudly and boisterously. It was different from the more timid demeanors of older patients. I had a feeling she was newer to all of this than the other two. But there was beauty in her power, she clearly had a sense of independence, it suited her.

"My husband d-ied. You se-ee they s-said I did i-i-t." She stared down at the ground ashamed of herself.

"I understand." The next question I was scared to ask but I did anyways. "Did you?"

"No. B-but that judg-udge says so. I walk at n-night while I-I'm sleeping." The woman's voice broke and the woman with the loud voice spoke up.

"She don't remember what she does when she's sleepin'. She was the only suspect. Wrong conviction I say. Mmm -mmm" The woman shook her head clearly unhappy with the way it had all gone down.

"I see." In reality I didn't believe she should be here but I knew I couldn't question it. It had most likely been a court order to bring her here. It was a shame but now a days, those the court took pity on, and those they couldn't send to jail or execute were sent to institutions. They believed they could be helped.

It was a good idea except for those who were wrongly convicted. Like the young woman before me. "Well I'm going to do everything I can to help you. For now I just need to ask some basic health questions. You won't mind answering those for me would you? You can take your time I don't mind."

Isabelle nodded seeming to relax slightly which resulted in her stutter lessening in severity. I would later go on from room to room in both the male and female sections. In some cases things seemed to be relatively fine like they had for Isabelle and her roommates but in other instances I had serious concerns.

Some clearly had been harassed or beaten by their roommates. Others had five people in a room making it extremely uncomfortable. In some cases males and females were forced to share a room and in one particular case it was clear that the poor woman forced to room with them due to lack of space had suffered greatly at their hands.

Children were also crammed into quarters with large scary men forced to handle themselves in order to survive. The more time passed and the more I saw the more I realized just how horrible things were starting to become in less than two days time. Still that was forty eight hours, clearly enough time to alter things.

At last I reached the name on the list that I had been dying to reach. Katherine. As the door was being unlocked I prayed it was who I wanted it to be. Sure enough I walked inside to see the blonde hair and blue eyes belonging to Kat. Recognition flashed in her eyes.

I could tell she was about to say something but glanced down on the floor and then the mattress in the corner where the other two roommates were sleeping. She didn't want to wake them.

Pressing a finger to my lips I crept over to her keeping my voice nearly as soft as a breath of air. "Are you alright?"

"Water." Kat whimpered.

"What?" I asked glancing to see clear fear in her crystal blue eyes, that ironically enough resembled oceans.

"The tubs." She whispered wringing her hands together. I recalled her fear of larger bodies of water. Being strapped down in a tub with her eyes covered must have been horrific. She'd seen her sister drown, I could only imagine what she pictured during that time.

"Oh Kat. I saw them on the way here. Did they put you in one?" I asked scanning the room to make sure the others were asleep and unable to hear our conversation. Kat bit her lip and simply nodded.

"Hours." She whimpered. "The water is so cold."

"I'm so sorry. Listen I-I don't know what I can do to help. Things are so different now. I want to help you Kat I do. I want to help all of you." She nodded seeming to understand that right now there was no way I could. I might as well have been trapped in a room along with her. "Are the others safe?"

"I don't know we have no yard time anymore. Edward said he was lucky enough to have a room by Linnea's. Otherwise I don't know. Henry he tries to help. He's kind to everyone. He comes by with the food cart sometimes." Kat's eyes flicked down to the stirring form of one of the other women.

"I'll do my best to aid you. Stay strong okay? If you have to, fight back." Kat nodded her once intelligent eyes holding an intense fear in them. Giving her the quickest of hugs I whispered a brief message in her ear. "Don't let them change you."

Pulling back I kept my chin up as I left the room behind glancing over my shoulder to see Kat's form disappear. The day wore on and by the end I was thoroughly exhausted.

As I made my way back towards the main entrance to leave, I noted the same people were left to their own devices. The boy however who had been rocking in the corner earlier had blood trickling out of one of his ears. I was about to wonder why when I figured it was best if I didn't figure it out.

Stepping outside I was surprised at how utterly cold it was. My breath puffed out in front of me and I was forced to tuck my shaking hands beneath my armpits for some sort of warmth.

Shivering I made my way down the path ready to leave when an idea occurred to me. Henry had taken care of me last night the least I could do was wait and walk him home. Leaning on the wall adjoining the gate, despite the icy plants growing over the surface I, waited for him.

Those who worked in the kitchen and dish room always left last of all. So I stood there for a long time shivering until my fingers went numb and my teeth had chattered so much my jaw ached. At last the door opened and a group of people walked out all not saying a word but were eager to get home.

"See you tomorrow H.!" One of them waved at the silhouette who I recognized as Henry by his walk. Henry waved back being the last to leave through the gate.

"Hey." I breathed my teeth clacking together despite myself.

"Anna?" Henry asked surprised. He paused his eyes widening.

"Th-thought I'd wait f-for you." I smiled despite shivering.

"Well I don't want you freezing your tail off, come on." Henry wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled the gate open. His breath clouded in front of him as did mine the two misty clouds mingling together. "You'll be lucky if you don't get a cold."

"Figured I'd walk you home." I chattered.

"That's a gentleman's job." Henry chuckled his hands cold and his fingers tinted a light blue.

"Well then I'm a gentle woman." I countered.

"Agreed." Henry mused.

"I didn't realize how much everything had changed." I mumbled. Henry nodded rubbing his hand up and down my arm trying to restore some warmth to my body.

"I told you things were worse." Henry said keeping his voice low like he always did, like he was afraid someone was constantly listening.

"I managed to talk to Kat. The poor girl. Have you seen those tubs?" I asked to which Henry replied he hadn't and doing my best I explained to him what they were. "She was in there for hours, eyes covered, in water."

"God. I can only imagine what that was like." Henry shook his head turning a corner that I recognized. Another block or two and we'd be at his place.

"Yeah, me too." We walked the rest of the way in silence. Arriving at the familiar house, Henry unlatched his small front gate and the two of us hurried up the steps to his front door.

"Hey, why don't you come in. Warm up a bit? Besides there's something I wanted to show you." Henry said unlocking the door.

"I don't know it's pretty late." I laughed tucking a strand of loose hair behind my ear.

"Please? I think you'll appreciate it." Henry said his eyes taking on the look of a puppy dog's.

"Oh alright." I sighed but I didn't mind that much. As soon as Henry stepped inside he was greeted by Rusty who sat in front of him expectantly his reddish body quivering with excitement.

Henry reached down and gave him a good scratch behind the ears before waving for me to follow him. Henry flicked on the light in the hall and then in his bedroom.

I'd never seen his room before. It was rather simple, white sheets, a picture or two, but for the most part rather plain. Like mine. He knelt on the ground and pulled out a box from beneath his bed. He reached inside and pulled out a dusty old typewriter. "I don't recall you saying you had one in your household."

"Well I don't so you'd be correct. What is it for?" I asked. "Other than typing."

"You said you wanted to write like your brother. Expose Alexander. With this you can. I contacted my friend John. His cousin works in the media industry. He has contacts in all of the major papers." Henry smiled. "All you have to do is write. Also, I believe I might know where one of your brother's papers is. Yesterday, one of my workmen Michel a Dutch man, said he thought one of the wall boards was creaky and loose. It's in this back corner the perfect hiding spot."

"That's wonderful Henry but how would my brother even get to the kitchen?" I asked. Henry just shrugged.

"I don't know but he may have managed it somehow. The both of you are the clever type." Henry set the typewriter aside smiling largely.

"Thank you Henry." Rusty barked standing in the doorway.

"Oh, he needs to be fed I'll be back." Henry followed Rusty out of the room. Sighing I sat on the edge of the bed. Things despite somehow getting worse were also somehow getting better.

"Alright he's happily eating." Henry said having returned a moment later. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Just thinking is all." Henry nodded and bit his bottom lip.

"You sure you're gonna walk home all by yourself at this time of night?" I took a moment to think.

"It probably isn't a good idea is it?" I asked.

"Not considering the things that keep happening to you." Henry agreed. "You can stay here. I'll take the couch and you can stay in here. I'm going to be outside with Rusty. Feel free to clean up."

"Thank you. I appreciate it." I really did. It was so relieving to have an ally in all of this. Henry smiled in reply and left me to my own devices. I took the opportunity to wash up. I felt incredibly dirty after being in the institution that somehow seemed to be even less sanitized than before.

The water was warm and soothing and I carefully scrubbed every inch of my body just to make sure that I had no trace of that place left on my skin. The steam from the heated water collected on the mirror making my image blurry as I stepped out from the shower.

A clean towel was draped over the towel rack. Grabbing it I did my best to dry my hair before wrapping it around myself. Sighing I left the bathroom behind before realizing I didn't have any clothes other than work clothes to wear.

Sighing I made my way through the house where I found Henry sitting on the couch most likely having come back in from outside.

"Do you...have something I can wear?" I asked feeling exposed despite the towel.

Henry looked up and there was a brief pause before his eyes flicked away and he stood up. "Yes of course. Follow me."

I did as told and followed him. He found a large shirt for me to wear and I grudgingly realized I'd have to wear the same underwear as before.

"Thank you." I smiled taking the shirt he offered me.

"No problem." Henry left once more and allowed me to change. Once clothed I crawled into the bed feeling bad about messing up the wrinkle free sheets. It was comfortable but different from mine. Much bigger allowing me to sprawl out.

Closing my eyes I didn't care that I had left the light on I was too tired to really notice. I was nearly asleep when the light flicked off and I heard the quiet shuffling of someone moving around. Opening my eyes I could make out the vague form of Henry.

He was somehow paler in the thin rays of moonlight that caught his skin. Frowning I watched him peel off his shirt replacing it with a fresh one. I closed my eyes as he finished changing not wanting to seem creepy let alone getting caught staring at him in the dark.

"Goodnight Anna." Henry spoke softly and I hesitantly opened one eye the slightest amount wondering if he'd noticed that I was awake but he was facing the other. Somehow that made the words sweeter. He wasn't even sure if I was awake or not.

Closing my eyes once more I tried to keep from smiling as I mumbled. "Goodnight Henry."

There was a pause before I heard the door shut and I imagined him heading back to the couch where he would most likely be accompanied by Rusty.

Sighing I began to plot in my head the first thing it was that I would write. For the first time in a while I had hope. Maybe I could really change things but not only that there was a chance I could learn more about my brother. That was enough to fill my head with thoughts until I fell asleep.