We were gathered in the recreation room at 7:30pm. The concert, for it had grown beyond a mere talent show, was due to start in ten minutes, with the only person taking to the stage being Gem. I was worried. After her last outburst, I had no idea how they'd convinced her to take part. I didn't think Percy would have made such arrangements if there was a chance the other day might be repeated, so he much have made her change her mind. Once everyone had taken their seats, though the bolts on the legs connecting them to the floor made it difficult to take them anywhere, the lights dimmed.

The murmur of voices ceased immediately, and all eyes were on the single chair, not bolted down, placed under the pseudo spotlight. It was empty but wouldn't be for long. I wondered how many of the others were expecting trouble. It was doubtful the increased number of orderlies was due to Gem's singing ability, so someone was.

Her head was down as Gem was led out. Percy held onto the short chain between the handcuffs wrapping her wrists and took her to the chair. When she didn't sit, he pushed her down with his free hand. She didn't fight him, but I could see she wasn't simply going to comply. How far would that go? Her handcuffs were removed and Bronte, an orderly shorter but wider than Jeremy, brought out a microphone stand. He placed it in front of Gem and fitted a microphone to the top. With an expectant glance at Gem, he moved to the side.

Gem didn't move or look up. Her attention was on the floor still. She had to know the microphone was there and what was expected of her. Why didn't she just do it and get it over with?

She can't, I thought. Even with threats or promises from Percy, she just can't get up and sing.

"Move," Percy ordered. "Get up and do what I told you."

There was a pause, then Gem shook her head. It was only slight and could have been a twitch to remove hair from her eyes if it hadn't been all swept back to reveal her full face. Under the light, she was pallid. Ghostly. If she had the power, I was sure she'd haunt Percy for eternity when she really was a spirit.

"I said move!"

He shoved her shoulder, pushing her forward, but she kept her place. She sat back up straight, her posture defiant. Don't, Gem, I mentally called to her. He's not worth it! Her talents couldn't have extended to telepathy as she didn't listen. Instead, her defiant stance extended to her stare. I'll do what I want, it said. Dare to try and make me.

Percy was far from empathic and further from caring. He grabbed the shoulder he'd just pushed and squeezed. He tried to pull Gem up – and succeeded at first – but she twisted out of his grip and stood on her own.

"OK!" she said angrily. "I'll do it!"

Percy relaxed and stepped back, his usual smug grin wider. He folded his arms and pushed out his chest, gloating and basking in the glory of getting his own way. He ignored the sneer of hatred from Gem. It wasn't the first to be aimed at him.

Gem stepped in front of the stand and held it with both hands. She leaned forward, her mouth next to the microphone, ready to sing. Music started. Even though the speakers it came from were old and more accustomed to distorting commands from the orderlies, the tune filled the room with impressive clarity.

Gem opened her mouth and began.

At first, it was difficult to make out her words. She was singing softly, and her voice was so perfectly balanced with the melody they sounded as if they were intertwined. One thing coming from one source rather than individual entities. Gradually, she became louder, though it seemed to be less of an increase in volume and more an increase of power. Of emotion.

I couldn't tell you what song she sung. I couldn't tell you if I recognised it or not. All I knew was it was beautiful. A perfect symbiosis of spirit and song. The entire room was captivated. All eyes were on Gem and all ears were devouring her creation.

All except Percy.

He looked impatient. Bored. He was folding his arms. Unfolding them and putting his hands in his pockets. Scratching his head. He was watching Gem, but his attitude was a complete contrast to everyone else.

Gem was building to an incredible crescendo when he stepped forward and snatched the microphone from the stand.

"What's this shit?" he asked, a grimace tearing his face. "That's not what I told you to sing!"

"But, I just..."

"But nothing. You will learn to do as you're told!"

Bender Benny booed and the spell Gem had woven was broken. The entire audience was standing. Like Benny, they were booing. There were whistles and jeers and shouting. Stamping feet. Clapping hands. Chants of "Gem! Gem! GEM!"

Percy spun around and shouted something, but the din drowned him out. He tried again, but his diminutive stature was matched by a voice that failed to carry. He realised he was holding the means to stop the ruckus in his hand. The orderly climbed onto the chair and faced the agitated crowd. He lifted the microphone up and:

"SHUT THE HELL UP!"

The silence was abrupt and swept away the clamour with a swipe of Percy's fury. The stunned residents, along with the equally shocked staff stared. Percy seemed surprised himself and paused, not knowing how to respond. He quickly recovered and pointed at Gem.

"I don't know why you keep thinking you can cross me," he said, "but it stops now. You will sing what you're meant to be singing, and nothing else."

Gem shook her head again and moved forward.

"I will not!" she shouted. "You don't control me!"

Percy lifted his left and rammed his foot into her chest. She fell backwards, landing at my feet.

"Percy!" Jeremy shouted. "You can't...!"

"I can and I will, so back off!"

Jeremy responded, but I didn't hear what was said. I was helping Gem up when she whispered to me.

"I'm good at everything, Sin, except at what I'm not."

I frowned, not understanding. She smiled.

"But I'm good at this."

She pushed herself away from me, turning as she moved. Her hands gripped the microphone stand and lifted it. She was still turning. With a smooth arc, the stand slid through her hands, its weighted base curving away from her.

Up and round.

It connected with the side of Percy's face. Blood and teeth spewed to the side. He fell back, with the chair falling with him. Not fast enough, though. His legs tangled in the metal tubes that made up its back. The other orderlies tried to catch him, but couldn't. He slammed against the hard, tiled floor and I heard something break. Perhaps, if there was any justice, it would be somethings.

Gem released the stand and it clattered harmlessly to the floor. She stood swaying for a moment before disappearing beneath a pile of angered orderlies. They looked to be restraining her but, if that were the case, she wouldn't have been crying out or grunting. There wouldn't have been the sound of punches connecting and Paul, an orderly who was usually nice but had a mean streak and was still standing, wouldn't have been swinging his foot hard against her stomach.

Jeremy was crouched over Percy, trying to revive him, but it was no use. I ran, along with Wey and Mucous Mickey, to Gem's aid, but we were pulled back by other staff who were late to the party. They held us in place, but did nothing to stop the attack on Gem.

Jeremy saw, finally, what was going on and waded in, wrenching his colleagues away. When Gem was uncovered, it was his turn to cry out. And mine. We weren't the only ones.

There was a widening pool of blood spreading around her head, creating a halo for the girl who had sung so angelically. I could see the fingers of her left hand were crushed and bent in all the wrong directions. Her nose, similarly, was misshapen. One eye was closed, the other bloodshot.

I watched her chest, desperately, willing for it to rise. To fall. To move at all.

It didn't.

Jeremy made a sobbing gasping sound and his hand went to his mouth. I made no sound. None were suitable.

We didn't see Percy for a while afterwards but he recovered. He came back a new man. One with a limp. One with a vividly vile streak. One whose every word was spoken with spite.

Gem didn't recover. Coming back from the dead, it seemed, was one of those things she wasn't good at. 

I hope you enjoyed this visit to the asylum. Thanks again to my lovely girlfriend Gemma (yep!) and Squid Game for the inspiration!

Don't forget, if you would like to meet Sin in the asylum or have a starter sentence, let me know! You'll feature and have the chapter dedication!