Excerpt: Bloodstone

White. A color that is recognized for its purity. In a candle, it brings hope as the flame burns bright. Being surrounded by the color day in and day out, can also drive someone to insanity. To someone who lived with such luminosity being surrounded by white walls, white beds, and white wardrobe was devastating. But it was her choice. She decided she needed to be somewhere she couldn’t hurt anyone, or perhaps somewhere she wouldn’t be found. For two years she had only seen the colorless rooms of this sad institution and the inviting scenery of view from her window. The window had been nailed shut and bars were on the outside. Not even the bars could hold her in if she chose to make an escape. Though she looked like any other patient on the outside, with her vacant stare, she was more in tune with her surroundings than anyone detected. She was so aware that she could hear the footsteps of two nurses preceding down hallway towards her room. She could hear the more experienced nurse beginning to tell her Own story to the nurse that had just began to work there and that very morning.
“… She was only sixteen when she first arrived. No one came with her, and she looked so terrified. Normally, in the middle of the night we are not allowed to answer the main door unless it was called in but her voice shook me to the core. A brought her directly to the doctor…” The graying brunette said with a wearying voice.
The younger blonde nurse shifted uncomfortably, “What did she say happen to her?” Her voice was soft as if she would disturb someone as she spoke too loud.
“I’m really not sure… The doctor wanted to be alone with her. I heard once that her parents had been killed in some sort of accident… They were found in their beds mauled as if some animal attack them in their sleep… I think she was the one that found them.” She whispered as they came to the opened the door of the girl who sat staring out her window.
The older nurse, whose name was Bettie, picked up the file from it’s shelf on the outside the door. “Room to 419, Miss Eliana Adams.” She announced to the new comer, handing her the chart. She strode into the room with a purpose. As she did every day, she went around her chair and crouched in front of the pale girl. Smiling sweetly, she patted the girl’s hand. “Do you know what today is, Eliana? It’s an eighteenth birthday! Happy birthday! I’ve brought someone to meet you.” Bettie motioned for the other nurse to come forward and stand beside her. “Eliana, this is Rebecca. She will be the new night nurse on your floor. If you need her at all, call for her.” Straightening up, she moaned as her joints protested. She had worked at Jackson Institution for forty years she was in the process of retiring. “Rebecca, let me stay here and introduce yourself Eliana.”
Rebecca nodded and sat in the chair opposite the girl as the older woman hurried out of the room. This was the first time she was actually able to get a good look at the girl. Her hair was a dark chocolate brown color and had a wave to it. With the right conditioning, the damaged frizzy hair would have old forties curls to it, complete with finger weaves. The ends of her hair were split and with it cascading down her back, nearly to her butt, she could tell it was most likely before she arrived there that she had had a proper haircut. She had dark circles under her grey eyes. The irises were a definite unique color, changing with the light along with the change in her emotions. Rebecca’s grandmother had always said eyes were the gateway to a person’s soul and Eliana’s eyes looked like a sea right before a storm, tormented. She had a pale olive complexion with a button nose and plump wine-colored lips. Her hands were small and delicate, clutching something she couldn’t see. Her frame was curvy but slender, sickly. If she had a few good meals and got outside, she knew Eliana would be beautiful.
“Hi…” Rebecca said a little timidly. “You have a beautiful name. Eliana… do you know where it comes from?” She asked and waited for any recognition from the girl. When she didn’t respond, she continued, “I wish I had a name like that… Mine’s so plain.” She laughed and shrugged. Feeling more than a little uneasy in the silence, she looked around the room. The walls were blank and the bed was made. The only real sign that anyone actually stayed in the room was the papers and utensils on the small wooden desk along with a lavender plant that sat in the window in front of them. “I bet you would have a lot more fun outside of this room on your eighteenth birthday, huh? I remember mine, I had a group of friends take me to a karaoke bar. We had a blast… I’m twenty four.” She informed the girl who seemed as if she was in her own little world.
Looking away around the room once more, she saw something on the ground. It was powder that looked white but possibly had a little green in it as well. She stood and made her way over to the wall and crouched down. She followed the trail with her eyes and found that it in circled the whole room including the door way and bathroom and there was even some on the window seal. “What in the world…” She drifted off, beginning to reach down. She was just about to touch it when something grabbed her arm. She quickly looked up at the person who grabbed her and found she was looking into an animated version of the emotionless girl in the chair.
Her heartbeat bounced against her chest as if it was trying to get away from those haunting eyes. “Don’t touch it.” Eliana whispered frankly. The hold she had on the nurse tightened till it was almost painful. “If you do, they’ll find me.” She said urgently. “They’re so close I can feel them…”
Rebecca tried to pry the girl’s hand off of her arm, but found it unbreakable. “I won’t I promise. But you have to let go of me… You’re hurting me.” She broke off with a whimper.