Redemption

eight

Anne couldn't help but watch the mentally ill prisoners at work. Her assumption of those who were given something to obey without doing anything else seemed... plausible.

Is it some kind of medicine? Or something else? She didn't know. But, it must be something strong; that can affect a person's mind.

Anne continued to dig the ground with her shovel and occasionally looked around. The prisoners are still working non-stop in their respective sections. The guards were still watching outside the construction area. Cindy was there too. Watching her every move with a sharp gaze. It was as if Anne would disappear if she looked away for even a second.

The sun was almost overhead. Anne was thirsty, hungry, and tired. Sweat flooded her body. The hospital clothes she was wearing were dirty, covered in mud everywhere. She regretted having taken a clean shower in the early morning. After returning to her room, she had to scrub her body again.

When Anne went back to digging, her shovel hit a boulder. She then crouched down to remove the stone. Her gaze unintentionally focused on the woman who was squatting not far from her position. She was pulling a long white thread from the ground she had dug.

Anne frowned in surprise to see the woman smiling indistinctly as she tucked the thread into her uniform pocket. What is she doing?

The woman apparently noticed Anne's gaze and looked up. Her smile immediately disappeared. She raised an eyebrow at Anne. Anne gave her a strange look.

"What?" asked the woman sarcastically. Her gaze turned challenging. "Why do you keep looking at me?"

"I just wanted to know why you kept the thread." Anne pointed to her hospital uniform pocket.

The woman's eyes narrowed, her expression suspicious. Her eyes scanned Anne from head to toe. Then, she cleared her throat. "Just to avoid danger," she said, shrugging. 

Anne didn't understand. Is this woman joking?

"Danger? What do you mean?"

"Don't you know? Even a thread can hurt you, honey."

Huh?

Anne's brow furrowed deeply. She looked at the woman in her 40s in confusion. She really didn't understand what she meant. She tried to think hard, but then stopped.

Wait a minute. Why should she even think about it? Maybe this woman is just talking nonsense.

Anne was curious about which floor this woman was placed on. If Anne asked, would she answer honestly?

She looked at the woman who was busy removing a small stone from the ground. Anne came a little closer. "Hey, can I ask you something?" She whispered.

The woman looked up again. "What?"

Anne cleared her throat. "If I may ask, what floor is Auntie placed on?"

Suddenly the woman's face turned into annoyance. "Auntie? Auntie you said? You—think—how—how—old—am—I?" She suppressed every word furiously. Her eyes bulged.

Again, Anne was confused by this woman's attitude. What's wrong with calling her 'Auntie'? Isn't that appropriate for her age?

The woman inched closer. For a moment, Anne thought she was going to give her a slap. Turns out, she just meant to tuck her hair behind her ear. Suddenly her face changed to that of a teenager in love.

Her mood swings quickly, Anne thought.

"I'm still 18 years old. Don't be careless," the woman said confidently.

Anne sighed in frustration. Seriously?

But Anne didn't want to argue, because she still needed some information. It's up to this woman what she wants to say.

"So what should I call you?" asked Anne.

"Lady."

"Lady? But it's a call for grown women."

"Hush!" The woman waved a hand in Anne's face. "Do you want me to answer your question or not?"

"All right. Okay. " Anne tried to suppress her emotions. She glanced around, making sure no guards were watching their interactions. So did Cindy. Her back was with the girl, her hands continuing to stir the soil beneath her. So Cindy must think she's still working.

"Lady. All right," said Anne. "Mmm... what's your name?"

"Lady Marie," she answered quickly with a big smile.

"Lady Marie?"

"Yes. Marie Antoinette."

Anne's mouth dropped open. What kind of hallucination was this?

"They said I looked like Marie Antoinette. The beautiful Queen of France." The woman said, smiling to herself.

Anne held back the curses that wanted to escape her mouth. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Well, what do you want to ask?"

Anne glanced at the guard and pretended to get rid of the stone that was on the ground. It would be best if she asked something else first, to see how good an answer this fake Marie Antoinette could give.

"Lady Marie," she called softly. "If I may ask, what floor are you on?"

"I'm a third floor patient." The woman answered without hesitation.

It seems the answer is honest. Third floor, yes, thought Anne. That means the crime is quite high. In addition, the hallucinations are also of the same height. No wonder. 

"What crime did you commit?" Anne continued to ask.

"I just tied up and burned the whole house."

Anne's eyes widened.

The woman continued casually, "But they said I was mentally ill. Even though I was only doing what my boyfriend told me to do. He said, my family is a bad person who must be removed," she said, her voice sounded sad, while her face turned gloomy.

Anne just stared at her, not knowing what to say. She wouldn't ask who her boyfriend was, because it might have something to do with her Marie Antoinette again.

After a while, Anne tried to ask again. This time it was not a trivial question. She couldn't stop thinking about it. "Okay, may I ask another question?"

The woman nodded. Her face turned bright again. Looks like she has two personalities or something.

"I need information about a game. You know? Game for new prisoners. Have you done that too?"

The woman was silent for a moment, seemingly in thought. "A game for the new prisoners, huh?"

Anne nodded quickly.

"If I remember correctly, I've been in that game before. They will take you to the forest. All the new prisoners had to come along. The wilderness outside the hospital gates is the place to be."

Anne frowned. "They? Who are they?"

"The guards and the doctors," she answered.

The doctors came too, it turns out. No wonder Doctor Diana looked very excited. Apparently she saw the game every year. Anne knew she was a violent person, but Fake Marie Antoinette's statement made it all the more important.

"Then what happened after the new prisoners were brought into the forest?" Anne couldn't help but ask. She was very curious about what happened because soon, she was obliged to join the game.

"Mmm... if I remember correctly, they would—"

A loud alarm sound from nowhere, cut off the fake Marie Antoinette's words.

"What's next? Please tell me." Anne asked quickly.

But Anne didn't have time to hear anything else because Cindy was already walking closer. With one tug, she carried Anne out of the construction area. Anne turned her head, but one of the guards had already taken the woman in the opposite direction.