Author Joyce Isaacson

Story basis: Todd Anderson wakes up in a mental institution not knowing how or why he is there. The doctors tell him if he doesn’t get help, he will suffer a complete split with reality.

PARALELL JOURNEY

Chapter 1

Looking at the leather restraints on his wrists, fear and anger swelled up inside him.

What have you done to my arms?” he asked. “Where the hell am I?”

“We had to restrain you,” Dr. Lambert calmly assured him. “It’s only as a precaution I assure you.””

Restrain me from what?” he questioned. Dr. Lambert sat down on a chair next to the bed.

"Do you remember where you are?" Dr. Lambert asked.

Closing his eyes and concentrating, he played back the events from the last moments before he blacked out. Flinging his eyelids open he shouted, "I've been set up. I've been taken." All his thoughts leading up to this event rushed into one. Finally the words burst out; "I've been taken to Filmore!"

"First of all I only gave you a mild sedative to calm you down, secondly you're at Wellington Hospital. Are you starting to remember now?"

Trying to get loose from the restraints, the attendant ran forward putting his strong hands on Todd’s chest and held him down.

"Easy," Dr. Lambert intoned. "You were having another delusion."

His head began to spin.

"Delusion?" he questioned feeling a condensed vapor expand in his head.

"I see the sedative is starting to take effect. We'll talk later. You get some rest, and you'll hopefully see Dr. Oppenheimer later." He got up from the chair and walked toward the door.

"If you're going to leave your agent here to interrogate me, you won't get anything out of me!" he yelled in a groggy voice, lifting his head off the pillow.

Dr. Lambert gestured with his head for the attendant to leave the room.

"It's okay you can have your privacy. Steve will sit outside the door." They both left.

He threw his head back in frustration. He could barely keep his eyes open. Although he struggled to stay awake, sleep won out.

I’m flying! he dreamed with a rush of excitement. He opened his eyes and glanced down at a brown horse galloping through a field.

“Whoa, girl!” he shouted pulling on the reins.” The horse slowed down. He leaned forward and gave the horse's head a gentle pat. Smelling the scent of hay mixed with flowers and feeling a warm gentle breeze blow through his hair he smiled.

Perfect riding weather.

"Todd, are you listening?"

“I was just soaking in the atmosphere, he said gazing at Katie coming up from behind. “I mean, the countryside, the landscape is out of a storybook. The sky is crystal blue,” he added touching the collar of his jacket. “Plus we are wearing blue riding outfits. I mean where can you go, and what can you do that involves discipline yet enjoyment?"

"Boarding school if we don't head back soon."

"You mean dad’s still on that kick?" he asked gripping the reins tighter.

"Todd I may be seven, but, because we took off on our own last week to Westminster Abbey I know a threat when I hear it."

“Okay. We'll head back."

Making a clicking sound with his teeth while pulling on the left rein, he turned his horse around.

Katie did the same, but then Katie turned to him.

"See that tree over there in the open field. I bet I can beat you to it," she challenged.

"You're on, little sister," he said with a grin.

"Okay! On your marks get set go!"

Katie kicked the horse, and it took off in a gallop. He also kicked his horse but, he paced himself. Watching as Katie rode eight feet ahead of him, her body leaning forward, he knew he could beat her. He saw the determination on Katie’s face which stopped him from pulling into high gear with the intention of making her horse work harder and tire quicker. He let Katie ride ahead, and she reached the tree with ease. Katie triumphally turned around twice on her horse.

"I won! I won!" she shouted with glee.

"I'll get you next time," he feigned with a hurt _expression in his eyes. He could hear her laughter.

Her laughter began to fade.

Again, he sensed warmth but the feeling of flesh against flesh soft hand's on his back, sensuous lips pressed to his. Opening his eyes and studying Terra's face, bathed in soft light, he smiled.

I feel like a rushing stream ready to break forth from its perimeters. Overcome by desire, he kissed Terra passionately and caressed her hair with his hands moving with slow circular strokes down toward her chest. While Terra embraced him stroking his back with her long fingers, his lips tenderly made their way down her body. Terra threw her head back in ecstasy. With each enthusiastic murmur, he wanted to hold on to this minute forever.

"Oh Todd, take me now," Terra purred breathing hot and heavy.

“Terra!” he yelled feeling a surge course through his body.

His eyelids flew open, and he let out a gasp. He glanced around the room.

Bummer it was just a dream, and I'm still jailed to this bed. How long have I been out? He lifted his head.

What would Indiana Jones do? First he would survey his surroundings. Okay, a small florescent light behind me another florescent light blaring down on me, he calculated scanning the room.

There’s a four-drawer dresser a foot from the bed. And the only drawer that has a lock is the bottom one. In order for me to reach the bottom drawer is if I could undo this buckle. Now wait. I see two cushion chairs. In front of the chairs, there is a rollable tray with a plastic cup and straw on top.

Hmm now we are getting somewhere. If I can move the table with my feet at the right angle, flip the tray onto the mattress the straw will drop on my legs, and then with a couple of swift movements, I'll be able to manipulate that straw up my body, hopefully into my mouth, where I can flatten the end of it with my teeth, and then slide the end through the buckle. The only problem is I still feel somewhat groggy and..

Damn I can hardly move my foot, he cursed to himself lifting his foot up. Only if my foot was just a half an inch longer, I'd reach the bottom of the ledge of the table. He dropped his foot back down on the bed.

Instead of asking for speed and agility as a kid, I should have asked for longer feet. What am I saying, I already had big feet as a kid so that would have looked even weirder. Who cares, I’m desperate.

The door to his room opened, and Dr. Lambert walked in. "Ah, I see you're awake and hopefully feeling better," Dr. Lambert said in a cheerful tone.

"I'd feel better if I wasn't cooped up like this," he said in an honest voice staring down at the restraints binding his wrists.

"Yes, the restraints," Dr. Lambert nodded. "As I said before, it was only a precautionary measure. Do you think you're ready to be in control? If you're not ready yet, it's okay."

"Yes I'm ready," he said in a calm voice.

"All right," Dr. Lambert said, moving to the side of the bed.

He felt the pressure beginning to release, as Dr. Lambert undid each buckle. With his hands free, he rubbed at his arms to get the circulation back.

How can I escape without any clothes?

He scrutinized his light green hospital gown. For the moment, he felt satisfied to have his hands free and put them out in front of him to exercise them. He noticed his fingers.

"What did you do with my ring?" he asked alarmed.

"Todd, when you were brought here we had to remove your wedding ring and your watch and put it in a safety box. It's part of the hospital's procedure for all jewelry."

He didn't recall wearing a wedding ring or being married for that fact.

"No I had my ring from Africa," he stated pointing to his fourth finger.

Without warning, he saw himself in a struggle with an attendant to keep his gold wedding ring.

"No!" he yelled, as they slid it off his finger.

He shook his head.

Why would I remember that?

The door opened.

“May I have a word with you Dr. Lambert," a lady asked.

"Mom?" he asked seeing the woman.

"That's Dr. Oppenheimer, our Chief of Psychiatry,” Dr. Lambert corrected him. "You remember? Listen, I'll be right back. I'm going to leave you in capable hands with Mike. You guys are buddies." He called the attendant into the room.

Mike with a smile on his face entered the room and took a seat backward on one of the cushion chairs.

I'm not sure if it's the imbilclic smile on his face or the twinkle in his eyes, he reasoned glancing at Mike, but compared to the other lackey with the ruddy face and thin lips he seems less threatening. Actually the more that I contemplate things this husky fellow looks like a dark brown teddy bear. But unfortunately, even the cutest animals have been known to attack.

He gave a halfhearted smile.

"Hey, Todd would you like to get up and stretch your legs? You have been in that bed a while."

"More like cooped up. But yeah," he said putting his legs over the side of the bed. “I'd like to do that."

Mike offered his hand.

"Here, let me help you."

He hesitated at first, but then gave Mike his hand. At first, he stood up unsteady his legs trembling a bit feeling the cold floor under his feet then he experienced a slight tingle and some pain in his left foot.

"Easy," Mike said holding on to his hand. "You had a rough time for a while."

"That's what I keep hearing," he said, slightly annoyed. He studied the whole room from his vantagepoint.

Now, that I'm standing the room appears smaller which means the dresser is only a couple of steps, if I need additional support, plus this guy has one hell of a grip.

"Mike."

"Yes."

"Could you please let go? I think I can take it from here."

"You sure?" Mike asked.

"Yeah," he said grasping the rail.

Mike let go. He tried to take a couple of steps but still felt dizzy, although the pain in his foot eased up. Seeing the chair, he gave his hand to Mike.

"I think I better sit this one out a while," he remarked. Mike helped him over to the chair, and he sat down.

Mike leaned up against the dresser.

"Maybe later on today you'll be in better shape to go to dinner in the day room with the other patients,” Mike said. “I bet I can get you your favorite, an extra rice pudding for dessert."

Although he loved rice pudding, his mind wouldn’t let him dwell on food.

"I'll think about it," he replied. Yet then, he stared at Mike.

He seems a little hurt as, if he enjoys doing the negations for the rice pudding. Maybe there are other compromises that can be made. "Look, Mike, maybe I will feel better and have it later tonight."

"Good, that's the start of a positive goal."

If he considers me spending my evening eating dinner in a room full of zombies a cocksure objective, what does he believe is a negative plan? he contemplated rubbing his chin. "You said before I had a rough time," he said in a more serious tone. "Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

"As far as I know."

Dr. Lambert came back in.

"I see you are getting along with the attendants today, Todd."

Mike cut in good naturally, "Todd and I? We're good buddies." He gave his shoulders a light pat.

"I think everything's under control now, Mike. I think I can handle it from here."

No, No, No! his brain screamed out, but Mike started to walk toward the door and before closing it, he turned to him with a friendly smile.