Episode 18: Voices- Escape!

Episode 18- Voices

Welcome to where time stands still
No one leaves and no one will
Moon is full never seems to change
Just labeled mentally deranged

Jenkins softly sang appropriate Metallica as he stumbled down the stairs. Grant padded boldly behind him; there were no cameras, and things seemed far too easy thus far. Jenkins didn’t have Grant’s overt confidence, but he couldn’t feel the surety in the voices’ tone; they were resolute.

Open the stairwell door in six seconds. Send Jenkins out first. Act normal. Wave to the security guard. He’s reading a book; he’s not looking for you. Normal pace. Breathe.

I wanna hold your haaaaaand.
I wanna hold your hand.

Jenkins whispered with deeply wrinkled forehead and needy doe eyes. He required comfort. His childish jam hands stunk of fear; he rubbed them quickly together as his feet performed the potty dance.

“No Jenk. I can’t hold your hand. We have to look normal. Guys don’t hold hands around here. We’re going to be fine. The Voices are always right.” A reassuring pat on the shoulder, a familiar elbow to the ribs, a clever masking of scathing inner doubt and a lame attempt at a genuine smile would suffice for now. Grant didn’t know how he could control Jenkins in the long haul. Eight hours on the outside was a long time, but forever? Grant was not a trained mental professional, and he learned the lessons of Lenny long ago. Steinbeck was clear on large, mentally unstable half-wits, and Jenkins fit the mold. Grant didn’t want to see him hunted down for accidentally killing the neighbor’s dog or cat or hamster or worse.

I just gotta have faith, faith, faith.

“That’s right, faith. Trust me. Go.”

He pushed Jenkins through the door and followed closely. They walked calmly through the lobby, waved at the security guard, opened the double glass doors and breathed intoxicating freedom. Sweet gulps of real air without bars or wire or fence or drugs flowed into their open mouths as they searched the parking lot for Dr. Jill’s car.

Dream the same thing every night
I see our freedom in my sight
No locked doors, no windows barred
No things to make my brain seem scarred

Grant was surprised at Jenkins recall of metal. He hadn’t been listening to the hard stuff in months, but his lyrical library was always appropriate for the occasion, and the words fit the moment precisely. He promised to buy him vocal coaching to teach pitch and key so he wouldn’t scare Sally. Grant was sure they would get along and play the same games. It would be like having two children, and this time, he wouldn’t fuck it up; the voices wouldn’t let him.

Grey Lexus, third row, hit the button at the top of the key.

Lights flashed in the darkness of dusk as the car magically opened. Escape was too easy.

“Nothing this easy is ever worth it, Jenk.”

We’ve had it planned for months. A good plan is always easy, Asshole. Faith. Listen to us. You’ve got six hours and seventeen minutes to save your daughter without discovery. You’ll slide right back in, no repercussions. Think of it as a short vacation.

Grant tried to ignore the voices. He wanted to pick and choose from what they said. He wanted to stay out. Only three minutes outside the hospital doors, and he was addicted to the freedom.

No Grant. You’re saving Sally and going back.

Grant ignored; they yelled louder.

You’re saving Sally and going back.

“Hey Jenkins? I might need to stop by the bar and get a quick drink. You OK to stay inside the car?”

Jenkins bounced into the back seat and played with the window as they exited the parking lot. Rolling his body up and down with the toggle button would entertain him for at least an hour while Grant took care of some numbing silence. He remembered how to muffle the voices, and he would quiet them now.

Grant we need to save Sally. You need us. You can’t do this alone.

“We’ll stop by Danger Abbey on the way to my house to see Carol and Sally. I need a fine Belgian or seven to quiet things upstairs. If I’m lucky, Dennis will have hidden whiskey under the bar.”

His favorite beer bar was walking blocks from Carol’s house with the fishbowl windows and the new man and the old memories. His house. Their house.

Our house, is a very, very, very fine house.
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy cause of you.

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la……

“You don’t get to meet the cats. That’s my one rule: no cats. You got that?”

Jenkins continued to sing as they sped down the freeway into freedom.