No Escape

Shania’s eyes fluttered open. Her eyelids felt heavy, and her eyes felt grainy. A steel door with a small square window came into focus, though the edges were fuzzy. She tried to raise her head, but it felt like invisible bricks were weighing it down. The next thing she was aware of was how thirsty she was. She tried to call out, but her scratchy voice wouldn’t carry. She struggled to blink her eyes into focus, and although her vision was still blurred, she could see that she was in an isolation room. Realizing that she’d been doped up, she tried to sit up and begin clearing the cobwebs from her head. However, something quickly tugged her back down. Leather restraints! Voices were now audible just outside the door. “No, I’d like to see Shania alone if that’s okay,” said a familiar voice. Her heartbeat jumped in anticipation at the recognition of Lauren’s voice. Keys were inserted into the lock, and the heavy door swung open. A woman she’d never seen before came into view. “You’re awake. That’s good because you’ve got company.” The woman then turned to Lauren, who came into view behind her. “Are you sure you want to be left alone with this little tiger? She tried to tell the staff last night that she couldn’t beat anyone bigger than her, but obviously she can.” Lauren chuckled. “I’ve got a brown belt in karate and a few years of kickboxing. Ole Shania here won't hurt me, right? I think she respects me enough not to anyway.” She winked down at her. “Besides, she seems rather foggy still.” “Yeah, it’ll be a while before she’s up to par again, so you’ve at least got that much in your favor,” said the woman. “I’m not worried about it,” said Lauren. Then, turning to Shania, she asked, “How are you feeling?” “Thirsty,” Shania said in a raspy voice. “Could you please fetch a drink for her before you go?” Lauren asked the woman. “Sure.” A moment later, she returned with a Styrofoam cup. “What drugs are in it?” Shania asked the woman. “There are no drugs in it,” she said, handing the cup to Lauren. “It’s just plain old water.” “Thanks,” said Lauren, taking the cup. The woman turned to leave, leaving the door open as she went. “Just holler if you need anything.” Lauren set the cup down beside the bed and undid Shania’s restraints. “Think you’ve got enough strength to sit up and drink your water?” Shania nodded. Once she was freed, she pulled herself upright. Heavy-headed, she began to sway towards the floor. Lauren caught her before she could fall. “Just sit still a minute and let yourself get used to sitting upright,” she told her. Shania rubbed her eyes. “My God, what the hell did they give me?” When she was stable enough to sit on her own, she drank greedily from the cup Lauren handed her. Shania gazed at her. It was obvious that she was just as upset with her as she was concerned. “Why, Shania?” she asked. “You know why,” came the answer. “But beating on people is no way to help yourself. Keeping your cool is.” “Hasn’t worked yet.” Lauren gazed at Shania for a moment, apparently thinking. Then she said, “You’ve been denying that you attacked the doctor to everyone else, but you didn’t exactly do that with me.” “Maybe I should,” said Shania. “I mean, maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to trust you and be so open with you. After all, you could be just as fucked in the head as he is.” “Yeah, I could be,” Lauren agreed with a nod, “or maybe I’m not. Maybe I really do care, and maybe what you see is really what you get.” Shania studied Lauren’s attractive face. “Is it?” “Yeah, it is,” Lauren answered matter-of-factly. “I understand your reluctance when it comes to trust, especially with authority figures and those connected to the hospital, but you’re never going to help yourself by attacking people.” “Lauren, get real and put yourself in my shoes. You’ve been thrown in a funny farm out of pure childish spite. You’re roaming the halls looking for a way out. Suddenly, you’re alone, face to face with your enemy, the one who put you in the mess you’re in. You see a golden opportunity in front of you to vent your rage since nothing else has worked. So when cooperation and reason don’t work, what do you do? What if it were you, Lauren? What would you have done? Simply stood there? Turned and walked away?” Understanding and sympathy took over Lauren’s features. “Touché,” she said, “but that doesn’t make it right. From here on out, I want you to promise me you’ll keep it together, okay?” Shania gazed at Lauren for a moment, then nodded. “In the meantime, I’ll try to see you as often as I can.” Shania nodded again, eyes welling with tears. “You’re the only good thing I have to look forward to in this damn place.” The dam burst, and Shania could no longer control the tears that spilled forth. Lauren moved closer, her own eyes watering, and took hold of her hand. She squeezed it reassuringly, periodically looking towards the door to be sure no one was watching. A therapist holding the hand of a patient was obviously against proper ethics. “It’s going to be okay, sweetie,” Lauren cooed, brushing a tear off Shania’s face with her other hand. At least she certainly hoped it would be. Shania’s attack on the doctor had sparked a few tendrils of doubt within her. Should a sane, rational person really have reacted that way? Or would anyone under the kind of pressure she’d been under react the same way, just as she had pointed out? Footsteps sounded in the hall, and Lauren stepped back. It was the same woman. “Everything okay?” “Yes, fine. I’ll be on my way in just a minute or two.” Seeing that the woman wasn’t going to leave, Lauren was reluctant to say much more. “Promise you’ll behave?” “I promise,” said Shania. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow night at 8:00.” “That late?” Lauren nodded. “They switched me to second shift.” “Okay, I’ll see you then.” Lauren winked, gave her a thumbs-up, then left, assuring the woman that she would behave. The woman looked doubtful. Lauren headed towards her office. But instead of going to it, she turned and walked up the long part of the corridor. She knew the doctor would be in his office at this time. She also knew she wasn’t a mind reader, but maybe, just maybe, she could get a sense of whether or not he really did have a grudge against Shania and had it in for her in any serious way. Not that she doubted Shania’s story. If anything, the little cutie had seemed quite credible. Yet despite her friend’s reminder as to the kinds of people she worked with, she wanted to see Hoffritz face-to-face and hear what he had to say about the matter, especially after Shania had attacked him so viciously. She approached his door and knocked. It opened right away. “Yes, Miss Cohen?” Trying not to focus on the doctor’s swollen, bruised lip, Lauren said, “Sorry to disturb you, Doctor. Do you have a minute you could spare me?” “Why, sure I do. Come on in and have a seat.” Lauren stepped into the neatly organized office. She noticed a picture of a young redheaded girl atop his desk with one of the most conceited expressions she’d ever seen. There was also a picture of an auburn-haired child sitting next to a woman with the same hair color. The woman looked elegant and sophisticated in a stunning black gown with silver accents, pearl-drop earrings, and a diamond pendant around her slender neck. Hoffritz motioned her to a chair by his desk before he took a seat behind it, then took hold of his computer mouse, activating a screensaver. To cover something he didn’t want her to see? “What can I do for you?” he asked, trying to sound jovial despite his recent ordeal. “Well,” Lauren began, “to put it bluntly, I’m rather curious about the McCarthy girl.” “Ah, Miss McCarthy,” said Hoffritz, momentarily turning away as if he was disappointed to learn she’d come to ask him about her, of all people. “What about her?” “Is she really a threat to you and your niece?” Hoffritz laughed as if he found Lauren’s question absurdly amusing. “Well, when you consider how she attacked me, I’d say that yes, she clearly is a threat.” Maintaining eye contact and trying to read Hoffritz as best she could, she said, “Shania – Miss McCarthy – has told me you’ve had her committed out of spite due to a promotion she received that your niece desperately wanted.” “Yes, I know. That’s the story she’s been telling everyone.” He was unreadable, yet Lauren continued to gaze intently at him. She decided to try a different tactic, though she didn’t expect to trick the chief of psychiatrists of all people. “Are you saying she’s making it up and that she never really did work with your niece?” Hoffritz hesitated, then said, “Well…” “Why would she threaten a family she doesn’t even know?” A flicker of annoyance and caution crossed Hoffritz’s features. “Miss Cohen, why are you asking these questions?” Lauren shrugged. “Just curious. She is a patient of mine after all, yet I’ve only heard her side of the story. I guess I just wanted to hear your side too, so I could get a better idea of what I’m dealing with here.” Hoffritz stared hard at Lauren, then said, “What you’re dealing with is a very disturbed individual. Does that clarify things for you?” Lauren said nothing. “If it were up to me, I’d keep her confined here for a very long time. She’s extremely lucky that I and the other staff members she’s attacked aren’t going to press charges against her, since she’s in enough trouble as it is, though that will certainly be the case if she attacks anyone else.” Lauren rose from her chair. She’d heard enough. “Okay, Doctor. Thanks for seeing me.” “You’re quite welcome, Miss Cohen.” Lauren turned and left the office. She now knew without a doubt that Shania had been telling the truth. She was a hundred percent sure of it. Behind her, Hoffritz watched her turn the corner and wondered why she had seemed to gaze so defiantly at him, especially when he talked about keeping the McCarthy girl here at length if he could. And he most certainly could, at least for a while, anyway. Still, he wondered about the mysterious Miss Cohen. Had she simply been concerned about her patient? Or did her concern run deeper than that of a professional one? Still holed up in isolation, Shania was glad when Lauren came to see her the following evening. She brought her to her office, where they spoke of a variety of things for over the usual hour a therapist spends with her patient. It had been a long day for Shania as she waited in delightful anticipation for Lauren’s shift to begin, mixed in with the usual depression and feelings of helplessness. Anytime the doctor and Maureen would pop into her mind to send her heart racing with anger and anxiety, she would force herself to focus on Lauren. She knew she could never have her, considering the circumstances, but she could at least dream, couldn’t she? Shania admired the way Lauren looked as she followed her across the bottom of the I – face done up beautifully, body looking great in a pair of snug jeans and a purple short-sleeved shirt. “Don’t you look cute today,” Lauren told her, eyeing her in her pink tank top and blue denim skirt, which fell to a few inches above her knees. “Thanks,” said Shania, trying not to blush. “My friend brought some of my clothes in yesterday.” Lauren smiled as she motioned for her to sit. Shania sat in the same chair she had sat in the last time, as did Lauren. She noted that Lauren seemed happy to see her. It’s her job, Shania told herself. She’s supposed to be friendly to all her patients. Yet she still hoped it was something that was directed especially towards her. “How ya feelin’ today?” Lauren asked. “I guess I’m okay, considering the circumstances. It took a while for whatever the shit was they gave me to wear off completely.” “Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. No more violent outbursts towards the staff,” Lauren warned, although it was with a smile that drew another one from Shania. “After all, they’re just doing their jobs.” “Yes, I know. I apologized to them.” “Did you?” Lauren asked, seemingly pleased to hear this. Shania nodded. “I know I shouldn’t have taken it out on them, but if you expect me to have even a tiny shred of guilt over decking Hoffritz, you’re going to be very disappointed.” “It’s okay, Shania. I understand.” Shania’s eyes focused on Lauren’s. Did she know something she didn’t? “Let me ask you something, Shania.” “Okay.” “It’s been said that you threatened the doctor and his family if he didn’t discharge you. Is this true?” Shania hesitated, then said, “Yes, that one I’m guilty of. My friend offered to have her brother sic some people on them if I wanted them to. Not to kill them, of course, but I guess they’d rough them up a bit or at least scare the shit out of them.” Lauren leaned forward and said, “Don’t do it, Shania, don’t do it. It won’t get you out of here. As it is, you just narrowly escaped being prosecuted for assault.” Shania gazed at Lauren, then said, “Okay, if only for you, I won’t let them do it.” “For you, Shania, for you.” “Okay.” “Promise me?” Shania nodded. “Opportunity, Shania, opportunity.” Shania’s brows furrowed. “Huh?” “You’ve got your golden opportunities, as you put it, mixed up.” “I don’t understand.” “Opportunity lies within escape, not assault.” Shania took a moment to absorb Lauren’s words. “But how?” “Time,” Lauren said softly yet seriously, still leaning forward, face just inches from hers. “Time?” Lauren nodded. “If you keep your cool and don’t give the staff any shit, no matter what they make you do, you will earn their trust. With that trust will come opportunity.” “But everything’s always locked up around here.” “They have outings.” “Outings?” Lauren nodded again. “Most long-term facilities do.” “What kinds of outings?” “Patients are sometimes taken to movies, roller-skating, clothes shopping, things like that. But the only way to get invited to go on one of these little outings is to keep yourself together. Meanwhile, you can do all your venting with me.” Shania smiled warmly and said, “You know, I think I’d have completely cracked up if it weren’t for you.” Lauren chuckled. “Well, I don’t know about that, but I do know this.” Her expression became serious again. “Whatever we discuss here pertaining to you escaping must be kept confidential, okay?” “Absolutely,” Shania agreed. “Not even your friend can know we had this discussion. If anyone here finds out, you’ll never get the opportunity.” A new fear rose in Shania’s mind. “What is it?” asked Lauren, sensing the change in her. “What if he makes sure I never attend one of these outings, no matter what?” Lauren looked thoughtful, then said, “Then we’ll think of something else, but no violence, okay? You mustn’t resort to that.” Shania shook her head. “No violence.” “Good. Now that we got that out of the way, there’s one more thing I’m going to tell you, and again, I’m trusting you to keep this strictly between us.” “Okay, what is it?” “My last name is Cohen. C-O-H-E-N. When you finally do manage to get out, I’d like you to look me up.” Shania smiled broadly. “Just keep in mind that life as you once knew it will probably never be the same again. Meaning, he’s probably going to drag this on for as long as he can. So, when you get out, you can’t go to old places you’ve been to and old people you know, like your friend. They’ll find you in a heartbeat and drag you right back in here, and believe me, if this happens, you’ll never get a second chance, and you could be locked up for years.” “I can believe that one,” said Shania with understanding. “What made you decide to tell me all this?” “Well,” said Lauren, sitting back in her chair and crossing her legs, “I spoke with him.” Shania’s eyes widened. “You spoke with Hoffritz?” Lauren nodded. “At first he seemed unreadable when I went to question him. After a while, though, it became rather obvious that he was hiding something that wasn’t good.” Shania nodded. “Let’s just say that despite the many tall tales one hears in my profession, I have every reason to believe your story, and my gut instinct has always been pretty reliable.” Shania smiled. “Why can’t they let me go home with you tonight? I’d be more than good. I’d do the dishes, I’d dust, I’d vacuum – anything.” Lauren chuckled merrily. “I’d never say this to any other patient, but if I could take you, I would.” Shania’s eyes misted with gratitude. “Just keep telling yourself you’re not going to be here forever and that one day soon enough, you will break free.” “I hope you’re right,” said Shania. “I’m right. It just may not be as soon as you’d like it to be.” “What about contacting other lawyers?” “Well, you can certainly try that if you’d like,” Lauren said, “but you’re probably going to be faced with the same response you got from the last one you saw.” “True,” Shania agreed with a sigh. “No proof, no case, as they say. I guess from here on out it’s just a waiting game.” Lauren nodded. “Meanwhile, I’ll try to discreetly learn all I can about Hoffritz, though I doubt it’ll do us much good.” “How’s it feel to go from therapist to detective?” Shania asked with a smile. Lauren grinned and jotted down some notes. “How old are you, Lauren?” “Twenty-seven.” “What kind of music do you like?” “Oh, a variety of kinds, but mainly soft rock. And you?” “Seventies.” “Seventies?” Lauren asked with surprise. “Really? You’re not much younger than me.” “It reminds me of my parents. It’s what they used to play at home when they were alive. Do you have any family?” Lauren nodded. “There are my parents and my sister Christie. She’s a few years younger than me. Then there’s Courtney. She and I have been friends since high school.” “That’s good,” said Shania, getting up to stretch her legs. She strode over to the window. The courtyard’s lights penetrated the darkness, and she could see that the yard was empty. “You know,” she began, “my head tells me not to trust you, but my heart says it’s okay to do so.” Lauren smiled. “I’m glad that at least a part of you feels you can trust me.” The two chatted a little while longer, mostly about the hospital itself, then Cathy came to fetch Shania and lock her up. Entombed in what felt like a prison cell, all she could do was wait—wait until an opportunity came knocking. And when it did, hope to pull off a successful escape.