Chapter Text
And there she was, back to a lone frivolous wandering to pass time. This form of pastime activity was quick to grow boring and irksome, as it was really just Grace's thoughts entertaining her while her physical body sauntered throughout deserted hospital hallways.
Though, this session of 'aimless' wandering was different. Grace was actually looking for something, or someone, to entertain her instead of just walking around like a zombie sunken in a sea of pondering.
Circle, her stuffy bunny, was being crushed against Grace's chest as she walked down another random hallway. It was kind of strange to Grace that even though she ventured throughout the hospital like a maze, she always somehow made her way back to her room no problem, without even having to glance at a map.
At least the hallways had interesting posters advertising both inappropriate and regular stuff, like drugs that would help with your emotions called Thalasin, an ad hiring hookers and strippers... oh, wait that's a little too explicit for a hospital.
The hallway Grace was currently exploring was different from the others. It had empty hospital beds outside of the rooms. Albeit, the rooms were not empty. Chattering and a mix of hearty and maniacal laughter pierced through the walls.
This mental hospital sorted patients by how out of it they were, with the most being on the higher levels and the least on the lower levels. This was a hospital with 15 floors, and Grace was on the 11th.
A shiver ran down her spine. But, thank god that these patients were locked up behind heavy iron security doors. She walked down an ominous hallway that was darker than usual, completely missing the sign that had an arrow pointing down into it. "SOLITARY CONFINEMENT".
A cacophony of barks and laughter prodded Grace's brain. She continued to cautiously step down the hallway and turned the corner, her eyes met with a group of male patients, some of them in straight jackets while others were in the same hospital gown as Grace. They were all different ages, with one being as young as 15.
"Aw, are you lost?"
One of them in a straight jacket mocked, his tone dry. They all howled with laughter and nudged the guy who spoke playfully.
"Y'know, little girls who like bunny rabbits shouldn't be in a place like this."
They turned their attention to her stuffed toy, ready to poke fun at her for having such a childish asset attached to her. Grace let out a growl when they continued to laugh, a look of scorn painted on all of their faces.
Grace could feel her blood boiling, but she knew an outburst would only lead to the worst. She turned back and began to briskly make her way back to the main hall.
"Hey,"
Suddenly, she felt someone pull her onto the floor by her shoulder and drag her back down into the dark hallway. A hand covered her mouth before she could scream, the person's grip bruising, ensuring that not even a peep could get out.
She was pulled into a corner and surrounded by the men from earlier.
"Pretty girl, do you know who you're dealing with right now?"
A younger man with long, messy white hair and short, blunt black horns that looked like they had been filed down bent down to Grace's level, meeting her eyes. His hand extended to grip her chin, his grip harsh and unforgiving.