Escape-The-Psych-Ward

"You need to go back to bed," the woman says, coldly. They lead you back to your room, and sit you on your bed. Then they turn and leave you there, alone, without a word. The click of the lock reverberates into your bones. You curl up, praying for this nightmare to be over. Half a minute later, a silhouette appears at your door. A key sounds in the keyhole, and the lock flips open. The man and woman enter your room. They hit a switch on the wall, and the room is engulfed in a blinding white light. You shelter your eyes. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. "We can't have you disturbing the other patients." The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Argue against them]]

The alternative to taking these pills will inevitably be far worse. You toss the pills into your mouth, and swallow them down with water. The woman checks your mouth. She nods, smiles, then leaves without another word. [[Curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]] OR [[Go and explore before the medication kicks in]]

The alternative to taking these pills will inevitably be far worse. You toss the pills into your mouth, and swallow them down with water. The woman checks your mouth. She nods, smiles, then leaves you without another word. [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]] OR [[Go and explore before the meds kick in]]

You slowly reach forward and accept the pottle. Six pills. Two tiny white ones, two larger white ones, and two tiny pink ones. You've had them before. They make you sleepy. And compliant. They make you into a good little psych patient. But the alternative to taking these pills will inevitably be worse. You toss the pills into your mouth, and swallow them down with water. The woman checks your mouth. She nods at the man, and they leave without another word. The lock clicks behind them. [[Curl up into bed and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]] OR [[Give it a few minutes, then try to escape again]]

You go limp, besides trying to keep your feet under you as they drag you back to your room. Now is not the time to try to steal their keycard. The staff are too alerted to your escape attempts. They'll be extra cautious around you now. They push you inside your room and slam the door shut quick enough that if you'd had your fingers in the way, they surely would've been broken. [[Try to get out of the room]] OR [[Curl up on your bed]]

"Um," you say hesitantly. "I guess so?" She leaps up with a huge grin. "Great! Come with me!" She rushes up to you, grabs your arm, and pulls you down the corridor past your room. You stumble along behind her, passing the closed and open bedroom doors. Another girl rounds the corner, arms crossed, and looks at you and the girl in disgust. Then a woman steps out from behind another door in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. "Helen," she scowls at the girl dragging you. "What are you doing?" "I'm going to get their blood," the girl dragging you - Helen - says excitedly. The staff member presses their lips together. "No, you're not. Let go." Helen pauses, then throws your arm away dramatically with a big sigh. "Fine!" she screams, and heads back toward her room. The staff member looks at you. "Wait here," she says. "I'll go and get your morning meds." [[Wait there]] OR [[Go back and hide in your room]] OR [[Keep exploring]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]]

"Um," you say hesitantly. "I guess so?" She leaps up with a huge grin. "Great! Come with me!" She rushes up to you, grabs your arm, and pulls you down the corridor past your room. You stumble along behind her, passing the closed and open bedroom doors. Another girl rounds the corner, arms crossed, and looks at you and the girl in disgust. Then a woman steps out from behind another door in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. "Helen," she scowls at the girl dragging you. "What are you doing?" "I'm going to get their blood," the girl dragging you - Helen - says excitedly. The staff member presses their lips together. "No, you're not. Let go." Helen pauses, then throws your arm away dramatically with a big sigh. "Fine!" she screams, and heads back toward her room. The staff member looks at you and smiles falsely, then walks past. //Right. Great welcome to the psych ward. // [[Explore more]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came from]]

"I'm sorry," you squeak, realising you have just made things so much worse for yourself. You hold the keycard out in front of you, hoping she will take pity. She scowls and marches over to you. She snatches the keycard from you. "Wait here," she commands, then goes back into the room she was trying to get into before. You don't dare move. A few minutes later, she's back. And she's carrying a needle. Your eyes widen at the sight of it. She wasn't bluffing. She's really going to inject you, just like that. //I take it back, //you think.// I want the pills!// "I'll take the pills!" you cry out. "Too late," the woman mutters. She pushes past you and speaks through the nursing station door. There are people inside. You couldn't have made it out anyway. She steps back, and a man steps out with her. [[RUN]] OR [[Stand frozen]]

"I'm sorry," you squeak, realising you have just made things so much worse for yourself. You hold the keycard out in front of you, hoping they will take pity. They both scowl and march over to you. The woman comes from behind and snatches the keycard from you. "Wait here," she commands, then goes back into the room she was trying to get into before. One of the men push you back outside the nursing station. You don't dare move. A few minutes later, she's back. And she's carrying a needle. Your eyes widen at the sight of it. She wasn't bluffing. She's really going to inject you. "I'll take the pills!" you cry out. "Too late," the woman mutters. [[RUN]] OR [[Stand frozen]]

"I... I wasn't disturbing anyone," you say, meekly. The woman sighs. "Look, we know you were just across the hall. Everyone is trying to sleep. You should be, too. Take these and go back to sleep." She offers the medication again. You hesitate. She sighs again. "If you don't take the pills, we'll have to get an injection." A chill rushes through you. //No, no. Not an injection. // You consider this. Take the pills like a good little psych patient. Or... or you could try to push past them and escape. To get out before they can force either pills or injection on you. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Push past them]]

You back away slowly. It's all well and good to try to make friends, but this woman doesn't seem like the best start for that. You head back down the corridor, passing by the various rooms. You're about to round a corner, when a woman steps out from behind the door right in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. "Good morning," she says. It is anything but good. You smile and nod politely. "Oh, wait here," she says. "I'll go and get your morning meds." [[Wait there]] OR [[Go back and hide in your room]] OR [[Keep exploring]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]]

You back away slowly. It's all well and good to try to make friends, but this woman doesn't seem like the best start for that. You head back down the corridor, passing by the various rooms. You're about to round a corner, when a woman steps out from behind the door right in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. She smiles at you, then walks past. [[Explore more]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came from]]

You back away slowly. Maybe if you just stay very quiet, she won't follow you. You turn and then quicken your pace back down the corridor, passing by the various rooms. You're about to round a corner, when a woman steps out from behind the door right in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. She smiles at you, then walks past. [[Explore more]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came from]]

You back away slowly. Maybe if you just stay very quiet, she won't follow you. You turn and then quicken your pace back down the corridor, passing by the various rooms. You're about to round a corner, when a woman steps out from behind the door right in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. "Good morning," she says. It is anything but good. You smile and nod politely. "Oh, wait here," she says. "I'll go and get your morning meds." [[Wait there]] OR [[Go back and hide in your room]] OR [[Keep exploring]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]]

You bang against the door, desperately calling and pleading for them to let you out. They ignore you. Half a minute goes by, and the woman is back. The man steps away from the door, and they open it. You almost fall out. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Push past them]]

You bang your fist against the door. The glass rattles at each impact. "Hey!" you yell. "Hey, let me out! Anyone! Help!" You pause to listen. The corridor is still empty, the only sound the wailing from another room. You bang once more against the door, then hear the footsteps. //They// are coming. Staff. Was that a good idea to bang on the door? What will they do to you? [[Stand and wait for the staff to come]] OR [[Hide in bed before they see you]]

The footsteps grow louder, and faster. The staff round the corner. They say nothing, just barrel toward you. You turn and brace for whatever they're going to do to you. It is a man and a woman. They pull you from the door. "Quiet," the woman hisses. "You'll wake everyone up." "I wasn't –" you try to explain, but there's no point. They won't listen. "You need to go back to bed," the woman says, coldly. They lead you back to your room, and sit you on your bed. Then they turn and leave you there, alone, without a word. The click of the lock reverberates into your bones. You curl up, praying for this nightmare to be over. Half a minute later, a silhouette appears at your door. A key sounds in the keyhole, and the lock flips open. The man and woman enter your room. They hit a switch on the wall, and the room is engulfed in a blinding white light. You shelter your eyes. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. "We can't have you disturbing the other patients." The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Argue against them]]

"Hello?" you call, desperation evident in your voice. "Are you okay in there?" The wailing continues, ignoring you. The footsteps grow louder, and faster. The staff round the corner. They say nothing, just barrel toward you. You bang at the door. There's no hiding you were here. The best you can hope for is that the person inside this room will open the door, and you can either run together, or try to protect each other. "Hey!" you call. "Open up!" Still no movement inside. Then the staff are upon you. Two of them, one woman and one man. They pull you from the door. "Quiet," the woman hisses. "You'll wake everyone up." "She's crying in there!" you yell, trying to make them understand. But of course they won't. They don't care. They don't care about her, or you. And their hands are still on you. [[Try to shake off their grip]] OR [[Accept the hold they have on you]]

"Actually," you say quickly. "Sure, why not." She leaps up with a huge grin. "Great! Come with me!" She rushes up to you, grabs your arm, and pulls you down the corridor past your room. You stumble along behind her, passing the closed and open bedroom doors. Another girl rounds the corner, arms crossed, and looks at you and the girl in disgust. Then a female staff member steps out from behind another door in front of you. "Helen," she scowls at the girl dragging you. "What are you doing?" "I'm going to get their blood," the girl dragging you - Helen - says excitedly. The staff member presses their lips together. "No, you're not. Let go." Helen pauses, then throws your arm away dramatically with a big sigh. "Fine!" she screams, and heads back toward her room. The staff member looks at you. "Wait here," she says. "I'll go and get your morning meds." [[Wait there]] OR [[Go back and hide in your room]] OR [[Keep exploring]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]]

"Actually," you say quickly. "Sure, why not." She leaps up with a huge grin. "Great! Come with me!" She rushes up to you, grabs your arm, and pulls you down the corridor past your room. You stumble along behind her, passing the closed and open bedroom doors. Another girl rounds the corner, arms crossed, and looks at you and the girl in disgust. Then a female staff member steps out from behind another door in front of you. "Helen," she scowls at the girl dragging you. "What are you doing?" "I'm going to get their blood," the girl dragging you - Helen - says excitedly. The staff member presses their lips together. "No, you're not. Let go." Helen pauses, then throws your arm away dramatically with a big sigh. "Fine!" she screams, and heads back toward her room. The staff member looks at you and smiles falsely, then walks past. //Right. Great welcome to the psych ward. // [[Explore more]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came from]]

"I... sorry," you stammer. "I just wanted to check if you're okay?" She sits up, staring at you. Her fixed eyes are burning into you. You try to glance away but you can't. "No, I'm not okay," she says. "I need the blood of Christ." You try to speak, but don't know what to say. "I need the blood of Christ to exorcise this demon from inside me," she continues. "But I don't have the blood of Christ. And I can't get the blood of Christ because I'm stuck in here!" She yells the last word, and you flinch. [[Offer her help]] OR [[Back away from the room]]

You walk over to the odd door that doesn't have a window beside it. Doesn't seem to have //any// room attached to it, based on where the sides of the room next to it ends. You pull on the small cutout where a door handle should be. The door doesn't budge. You step back and look around it. There, on the wall next to it, is a small black pad with a red light on it. A small black pad, just waiting for a keycard to press against it, so it can unlock. A keycard like the one hanging off the woman's pants. "Here you go," a woman says from behind you. You jump and whirl around. It's the same woman as before, with her keycard hanging off her pants. She hands a cup and small pottle to you. You look into the pottle. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Take the meds]] OR [[Give the meds back to her]]

You look over the door that the staff member came out of. It has a doorhandle, unlike any other door. It must be the nursing station. This could be your way out. [[Try open the door]] OR [[Inspect the door some more]] OR [[Go to the television room]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You race ahead. You can't give up now. //Who knows what they will do if they catch you?// Natural light ahead catches your eye. Up ahead, at the end of the corridor, is a glass door leading to The Outside. You sprint down the long corridor, passing room after room, some with patients in, some with doors closed, some open and empty. You reach the end of the corridor and grab the door handle. You thrust your whole body weight against it, turn the handle, and push. It doesn't budge. //No, no, no. This can't be it. // You try it again. You push down the handle, and push the door. It doesn't open. You pull, shake, and kick the door. Nothing works. Then, hands are upon you. They grab your arms, and prise your hands from the handle. You're screaming. The hands lift you up, right off your feet. They carry you back down the corridor, back through the doorways, all the way to your room. They hold you down on the bed, pressing their body weight into you. Someone pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what could be happening dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then a needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. They're holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme">). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You shake your head. "I don't want them. I don't need them." She sighs and rolls her eyes before taking the cups back from you. "Fine, have it your way." She turns to leave you. //Is that it? Was it that easy to get out of taking the meds? Maybe the injection was a bluff. // [[Try to grab her keycard]] OR [[Distract her and try to get her keycard]] OR [[Don't try to grab her keycard]]

You shake your head. "I don't want them. I don't need them." She sighs and rolls her eyes before taking the cups back from you. "Fine, have it your way." She turns and leaves. //Is that it? Was it that easy to get out of taking the meds? Maybe the injection was a bluff. // But a few minutes later, she's back. There is a man with her. And she's carrying a needle. Your eyes widen at the sight of it. They weren't bluffing. They're really going to inject you, just like that. //I take it back, //you think.// I want the pills!// "I'll take the pills!" you cry out. "Too late," the woman mutters. They come at you. You cower into the bed. The man grabs your arms and twists you, pushing you into the bed, pressing his body weight into you. The woman pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what's happening fully dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then the needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. The man is holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You shake your head. "I don't want them. I don't need them." She sighs and rolls her eyes before taking the cups back from you. "Fine, have it your way." She turns and leaves you. //Is that it? Was it that easy to get out of taking the meds? Maybe the injection was a bluff. // But a few minutes later, she's back. And she's carrying a needle. Your eyes widen at the sight of it. She wasn't bluffing. She's really going to inject you, just like that. //I take it back, //you think.// I want the pills!// "I'll take the pills!" you cry out. "Too late," the woman mutters. She pushes past you and speaks into the door she originally came out of. A man follows her. [[RUN]] OR [[Stand frozen]]

You shake your head. "I don't want them. I don't need them." She sighs and rolls her eyes before taking the cups back from you. "Fine, have it your way." She turns to leave you. //Is that it? Was it that easy to get out of taking the meds? Maybe the injection was a bluff. // [[Try to grab her keycard]] OR [[Try to take her keycard subtly]] OR [[Don't try to grab her keycard]]

You curl up on the scratchy sheets. A tear slips down over the bridge of your nose. //Why do you keep ending up back in here?// Soon, you won't have to think about that. Soon the medication will take effect, and everything will be dulled. Everything will be numbed. Soon, you'll be a good little psych patient. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You curl up on the scratchy sheets. Your feet are cold. Your head hurts. Your arms hurt. But soon it won't hurt as much. Soon the medication will take effect, and everything will be dulled. Everything will be numbed. Soon, you'll be a good little psych patient.

You go over to the bed and curl up, praying for this nightmare to be over. The man's silhouette stands across the window in the door, blocking your escape. Half a minute goes by, and the woman is back. The man steps away from the door, and they enter. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Push past them]]

"Umm," you hesitate. "No, sorry, I don't think I can do that." "Oh," she says, and breaks eye contact with you, looking down at the floor. "That's too bad." She lays back down and continues her muttering, slapping her hand to her head. [[Change your mind]] OR [[Leave and go back the other direction down the hallway]]

"Umm," you hesitate. "No, sorry, I don't think I can do that." "Oh," she says, and breaks eye contact with you, looking down at the floor. "That's too bad." She lays back down and continues her muttering, slapping her hand to her head. [[Change your mind and agree to donate your life blood]] OR [[Back away from the room]]

Trying to grab the keycard will be too obvious. You need to have a way to get the card subtly. And fast. //Think, think.// "Wait," you say, trying to give yourself more time to think before she walks away. She turns, and you try the only thing that has come to mind. "I feel a bit... sick," you say, drawing close to her, trying to seem vulnerable. "Like... tummy sick." You get even closer. So close you can almost touch the keycard. "Is there anything that can help with that? With... you know," you look at the wall beside her, hoping she will be a little embarrassed and look away from you as well. She doesn't seem embarrassed, but she does look away. "I'll see what there is," she says, and as she turns you lift the key card off her pants pocket. You slip it into your palm and press it against your side. [[Run and try to open the door-to-somewhere]] OR [[Run and try to open the nursing station door]] OR [[Wait until she leaves]]

It's not worth getting into a struggle for the keycard. There has to be another way out. But a few minutes later, the staff member comes back. And she's carrying a needle. Your eyes widen at the sight of it. She wasn't bluffing. She's really going to inject you, just like that. //I take it back, //you think.// I want the pills!// "I'll take the pills!" you cry out. "Too late," the woman mutters. She pushes past you and speaks into the door she originally came out of. A man follows her. [[RUN]] OR [[Stand frozen]]

You head further into the unit, away from your room, away from the door that the woman originally came out of. Around the corner, there's a large open space, with several rooms coming off it, all with large windows in the walls so you can see directly into them. One has a dining table and small sink. Another has a television and couches. The other two have chairs and couches, nothing else. Besides that, there is another door in the wall that doesn't lead to a visible room. The only room with people in it is the one with the television. [[Go to the television room]] OR [[Check out the door the staff member came out of]] OR [[Check out the door that you don't know where it leads]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You lunge forward, ready to strike her. To push her away, to protect yourself and this defenseless person in the room behind you. She flinches back and the man grabs you before you can land a blow. His grip is iron, his fingers press into your flesh. There is no care there. He doesn't think of you as human, just an animal to control. You twist and writhe, kicking out at him and the woman standing in front of you, sneering at you. You try your hardest, but he's bigger than you, and you can't twist free. He pushes you into your room and slams the door shut quick enough that if you'd had your fingers in the way, they surely would've been broken. [[Try to get out of the room]] OR [[Curl up on your bed]]

Straight ahead is the fastest direction. You pray that this will lead to an exit. Shouting starts from behind you. They're coming after you. Did they see you run in this direction? //Who knows what they will do if they catch you?// Natural light ahead catches your eye. Up ahead, at the end of the corridor, is a glass door leading to The Outside. You sprint down the long corridor, passing room after room, some with patients in, some with doors closed, some open and empty. You reach the end of the corridor and grab the door handle. You thrust your whole body weight against it, turn the handle, and push. It doesn't budge. //No, no, no. This can't be it. // You try it again. You push down the handle, and push the door. It doesn't open. You pull, shake, and kick the door. Nothing works. Then, hands are upon you. They grab your arms, and prise your hands from the handle. You're screaming. The hands lift you up, right off your feet. They carry you back down the corridor, back through the doorways, all the way to your room. They hold you down on the bed, pressing their body weight into you. Someone pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what could be happening dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then a needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. They're holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You strip the blankets off and swing one leg out of the bed. Tentatively, you place one foot on the floor, as if it may send electric currents right up through you. The floor is cold, just like the room, just like the bed. Cold, but not painful. You swing your other leg off the bed and tip-toe over to the door, not wanting your feet to make any noise against the linoleum. Knowing that any noise could make //them// come. And they will come. Of course they will. But not yet. You need to get your wits about you. You reach the door. [[Try to open the door]] OR [[Look out the window]]

You slide out of the bed and head over to the door. There is a circular recess with a latch built into it on the square metal plate on the door. You turn the latch, and the lock clicks open. You push on the door and it opens easily enough. Outside your room is a long corridor. You push the door open a little more, just enough to take your first step outside your room. You bring the other foot out behind you and squash your back against the wall next to the door. You look down the corridor in both directions. There are other doors with windows in them lining the corridor. You know that means there are other people trapped in here, just like you. Some of them need to be here, but many don't. Many are caught up in this awful plot of control and drugs and power, through no fault of their own. Just like you. Some of the doors are open. Others are closed. There is muttering coming from one of them, further down the hall. [[Go and investigate the muttering]] OR [[Head in the other direction]] OR [[Go back and hide in bed]]

You wait a few minutes for them to go back where they came from, then you slip back out of the room. You haven't made it more than a few meters before the footsteps return, thundering down the corridor. They round the corner - it's the same two people as before. "You need to go back to bed," the woman says, coldly. They lead you back to your room, and sit you on your bed. "Stay there," she commands. They turn and leave you again. The click of the lock reverberates into your bones. A silhouette remains outside the peephole in your door. The man is staying there, making sure you don't leave again. You are stuck in this room. There is no way out. You curl up, praying for this nightmare to be over. Soon the medication will take effect, and everything will be dulled. Everything will be numbed. Nothing will matter. Soon, you'll be a good little psych patient. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You offer the cups back to her. "I don't want to take these," you say. She raises her eyebrows, and doesn't take the cups from you. "You have to. If you don't, we have to inject you." Your eyes widen. You knew it would be bad, but to go straight to an injection like that? [[Take the meds]] OR [[Continue to decline the meds]]

You huddle back into the scratchy sheets and wait. Sleep does not come. The wailing continues. Light begins to stream into the room through the window by your bed. The blinds are behind the glass, to make sure you can't touch them. Sounds of life start to rise from outside the door. People are waking. //What time is it? It must still be early.// But you have been here for hours. All night, at least. You have a growing need to use the bathroom. You hope someone will come soon and let you out. More people wake, and there is a mixture of crying, screaming, singing and yelling from outside the room. Then, a key scratches in the door, and the lock pops. The door creaks open. A woman stands there, holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "Morning!" she says, too cheerily. "I have your medication." She walks over and hands the cups to you. You look into the cup. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Accept the medication]] OR [[Say no]]

You slide out of the bed and head over to the door. There is a circular recess with a latch built into it on the square metal plate on the door. You turn the latch, and the lock clicks open. You push on the door and it opens easily enough. You step outside your room, and look down the corridor in both directions. There are other doors with windows in them lining the corridor. You know that means there are other people trapped in here, just like you. Some of them need to be here, but many don't. Many are caught up in this awful plot of control and drugs and power, through no fault of their own. Just like you. Some of the doors are open. Others are closed. There is muttering coming from one of them, further down the hall. [[Investigate the muttering]] OR [[Go in the other direction]] OR [[Curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You slip down the hallway and pause at the door where the muttering is coming from. You look inside. There is a woman laying on her bed, slapping her forehead with her hand and muttering. You cannot make out the words, but she looks distressed. Annoyed, perhaps. [[Speak to her]] OR [[Back away]]

You rush back to your bed, closing and locking the door behind you. You're still not ready to explore. Need to gather your wits some more. Pretend that you're safe here, alone in this room. Try to ignore the crying and yelling and singing and people outside this room. Then, a key scratches in the door, and the lock pops. The door creaks open. A woman stands there, holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "Morning!" she says, too cheerily. "I have your medication." She walks over and hands the cups to you. You look into the cup. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Accept the medication]] OR [[Say no]]

You rush back to your bed, closing and locking the door behind you. There's too much going on out there. It's better to pretend that you're safe here, alone in this room. Then, a key scratches in the door, and the lock pops. The door creaks open. The woman stands there, holding a paper cup and a small pottle. She walks over and hands them to you. You look into the pottle. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Accept the medication]] OR [[Say no]]

You go back to the spot you were told to wait, like a good little psych patient. The meds are going to come regardless. No point fighting it. A few minutes pass before the woman returns and hands a cup and small pottle to you. You look into the pottle. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Accept the meds]] OR [[Refuse the meds]]

You scowl, but do as they say. Fighting them is pointless. It'll just make things worse. They follow you back to your room and make sure you enter, then close the door behind you. The click of the lock reverberates into your bones. You go to your bed and curl up, praying for this nightmare to be over. Half a minute later, a silhouette appears at your door. A key sounds in the keyhole, and the lock flips open. The man and woman enter your room. They hit a switch on the wall, and the room is engulfed in a blinding white light. You shelter your eyes, then roll over, still trying the guise that you have always been in bed. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. "We can't have you disturbing the other patients." The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Argue against them]]

You head back to your room and curl up on the scratchy sheets. Soon the medication will take effect, and everything will be dulled. Everything will be numbed. Soon, you'll be a good little psych patient. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You head in the opposite direction to the muttering. No sense in getting yourself more involved in whatever is going on in here. You just need to get out. You pass by the various rooms and are about to round a corner, when a woman steps out from behind the door right in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. She smiles at you, then walks past. [[Explore more]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came from]]

A window to the outside might mean a //door// to the outside. You dash into the room, and your hopes instantly drop. Inside the room is a mini kitchen, and plenty of windows. But no doors. You're trapped. And shouting starts behind you. They're coming. And there's no way out. [[Sink down and give up, hoping they will be easier on you]] OR [[Try to fight]]

You head toward the television room, and see that there are several couches with people just sitting and watching television, or staring blankly, or caught up in their own world, muttering or picking at their clothes or skin. On the other side of the room is another door, leading outside. You gasp. //Could this be the way out?// [[Go outside]] OR [[Go back and wait for the staff member to come back]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]] OR [[Inspect the door that you don't know where it leads]]

You glide over to the door leading outside, ignoring everyone in the room, trying to seem cool, calm and collected, while your heart hammers in your chest. //Surely this isn't an exit. Surely it can't be that easy. You're locked in here. You're all locked in here. // You glance around, and your hopes fall flat. A high fence surrounds the courtyard branching off from this doorway. The fence is made of solid metal. The fence even stretches over, like a roof, so people can't climb out. There's no way you can escape from here. [[Try to find a way out through the fence anyway]] OR [[Inspect the door that you don't know where it leads]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]] OR [[Go back and wait for the staff member to come back]]

You glide over to the door leading outside, ignoring everyone in the room, trying to seem cool, calm and collected, while your heart hammers in your chest. //Surely this isn't an exit. Surely it can't be that easy. You're locked in here. You're all locked in here. // You glance around, and your hopes fall flat. A high fence surrounds the courtyard branching off from this doorway. The fence is made of solid metal. The fence even stretches over, like a roof, so people can't climb out. There's no way you can escape from here. [[Search for a way out through the fence anyway]] OR [[Check out the door that you don't know where it leads]] OR [[Check out the door the staff member came out of]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You head toward the television room, and see that there are several couches with people just sitting and watching television, or staring blankly, or caught up in their own world, muttering or picking at their clothes or skin. On the other side of the room is another door, leading outside. You gasp. //Could this be the way out?// [[Go outside!]] OR [[Check out the door the staff member came out of]] OR [[Check out the door that you don't know where it leads]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You head in the opposite direction to the muttering. No sense in getting yourself more involved in whatever is going on in here. You just need to get out. You pass by the various rooms and are about to round a corner, when a woman steps out from behind the door right in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. "Good morning," she says. It is anything but good. You smile and nod politely. "Oh, wait here," she says. "I'll go and get your morning meds." [[Wait there]] OR [[Go back and hide in your room]] OR [[Keep exploring]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]]

You dart back to your bed. You pull the sheets up and over you, and pretend to be asleep. Voices murmur and footsteps sound from outside, then recede. You breathe a sigh of relief. You made it back to bed in time. Half a minute later, a silhouette appears at your door. A key sounds in the keyhole, and the lock flips open. A man and a woman enter your room. They hit a switch on the wall, and the room is engulfed in a blinding white light. You shelter your eyes, then roll over, still trying the guise that you have always been in bed. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. "We can't have you disturbing the other patients." The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Argue against them]]

You huddle deeper into the scratchy sheets and wait. Sleep does not come. The wailing continues. Light begins to stream into the room through the window by your bed. The blinds are behind the glass, to make sure you can't touch them. Sounds of life start to rise from outside the door. People are waking. //What time is it? It must still be early.// But you have been here for hours. All night, at least. You have a growing need to use the bathroom. [[Stay curled up in bed]] OR [[Get up and go explore]]

Just next to the handle sits a small black pad with a red light. It needs a keycard to unlock. Like the one hanging off the woman's pants. This really //could// be your way out. But the meds are kicking in. You need to lay down for a minute. You head back to your room and curl up on the scratchy sheets. Soon the medication will take effect, and everything will be dulled. Everything will be numbed. Nothing will matter. Soon, you'll be a good little psych patient. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You step back from the door and look at it again in the low light. You trace your fingers around the edges, noting that the door extends past the frame. It's definitely a push door. You touch the square metal plate and groan. There's a circular recess built into it, with a horizontal metal latch. You grab the latch and flip it ninety degrees. The lock pops open. [[Step out into the corridor]] OR [[Huddle back into bed and wait]]

Just next to the handle sits a small black pad with a red light. It needs a keycard to unlock. Like the one hanging off the woman's pants. [[Wait for the staff member to come back]] OR [[Go into the television room]] OR [[Inspect the door that you don't know where it leads]]

Just next to the handle sits a small black pad with a red light. It needs a keycard to unlock. Like the one hanging off the woman's pants. Maybe this is your way out? But the meds are kicking in. You need to lay down for a minute. You head back to your room and curl up on the scratchy sheets. Soon the medication will take effect, and everything will be dulled. Everything will be numbed. Nothing will matter. Soon, you'll be a good little psych patient. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You look over the door that the staff member came out of. It has a doorhandle, unlike any other door. It must be the nursing station. This could be your way out. [[Try and open the door]] OR [[Inspect the door a bit more]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You look over the door that the staff member came out of. It has a doorhandle, unlike any other door. It must be the nursing station. This could be your way out. [[Try the doorhandle]] OR [[Inspect the door more]] OR [[Go into the television room]] OR [[Wait for the staff member to come back]]

You head further into the unit, away from your room, away from the door that the woman originally came out of. Around the corner, there's a large open space, with several rooms coming off it, all with large windows in the walls so you can see directly into them. One has a dining table and small sink. Another has a television and couches. The other two have chairs and couches, nothing else. Besides that, there is another door in the wall that doesn't lead to a visible room. The only room with people in it is the one with the television. [[Go into the television room]] OR [[Go back and wait for the staff member to come back]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]] OR [[Inspect the door that you don't know where it leads]]

You dash past the room, searching, searching for an exit. The corridor ahead splits, leading you forward toward what looks like more patient rooms, or left, to another corridor that then stretches around to the right. [[Forge ahead]] OR [[Turn left again]]

You push against the man, but your struggles are futile. He pushes you back toward the bed. He forces you to sit, and together, you wait. You, crying. Him, looking away toward the door, as if you weren't a human being sitting here with him. The woman returns with the injection. They don't give you a choice. The man holds you down on the bed, pressing his body weight into you. The woman pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what's happening fully dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then the needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. The man is holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You take a deep breath, knowing that knocking louder might alert the staff. You give three quick, louder knocks, hoping against hope that the person inside will hear you and unlock the door, so you can try to escape together. //Knock-knock-knock.// You hold your breath, and listen for movement. The wailing pauses for half a second, then continues. And now you hear footsteps coming down the corridor. They are coming. [[Run back to bed to hide]] OR [[Brace for the staff to come]] OR [[Call out to the person in the room]]

You knock gently on the door, not wanting to alert the staff, then listen for movement, both inside the room, and out. The wailing continues, but there's no indication they're coming to the door. Maybe they didn't hear your knock over their cries. [[Knock louder on their door]] OR [[Leave them alone and try to find a way out]]

You turn and head back down the corridor, hoping she won't follow you. You pass by the various rooms and are about to round a corner, when a woman steps out from behind the door right in front of you. An ID keycard hangs from her pants pocket, indicating she's a staff member. "Good morning," she says. It is anything but good. You smile and nod politely. "Oh, wait here," she says. "I'll go and get your morning meds." [[Wait there]] OR [[Go back and hide in your room]] OR [[Keep exploring]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]]

You turn around and wait like you were told to. Like a good little psych patient. A few minutes pass before the woman returns and hands a cup and small pottle to you. You look into the pottle. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Accept the meds]] OR [[Refuse the meds and hand the cups back]]

Whoever is in there, you know you can't help them. You may not even be able to help yourself. You skulk along the corridor, tiptoeing, hoping the staff won't come. Up ahead is a door unlike the others. A light illuminates it on this side of the hallway, and the room behind it is lit up. A doorhandle glints in the light. It must be the nursing station. You rush to it, desperate. This might be your way out. You grab the doorhandle and force it down. It doesn't go far. It's locked. Of course it's locked. You try again, rattling the door handle, pushing and pulling against it, desperate for the door to open. It opens. But not from your hand. Someone has opened it from the other side. "Quiet," a woman hisses. "You'll wake everyone up. You need to go back to bed," the woman says, coldly. She exits the room, and a man follows her. They lead you back to your room, and sit you on your bed. Then they turn and leave you there, alone, without a word. The click of the lock reverberates into your bones. You curl up, praying for this nightmare to be over. Half a minute later, a silhouette appears at your door. A key sounds in the keyhole, and the lock flips open. The man and woman enter your room. They hit a switch on the wall, and the room is engulfed in a blinding white light. You shelter your eyes. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. "We can't have you disturbing other patients." The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Argue against them]]

You curse, and take a step back, looking for a card reader. There's none on the left. None on the right. You dash to the left, desperate to find it. The doors roll to life. //It was a sensor!// But you're too late. Hands wrap around your arms, pressing into you like daggers. The hands lift you up, right off your feet. You twist and writhe, kicking out at their legs and feet. You try your hardest, but they're bigger than you, and you can't twist free. Two men carry you away from the now-open doors. Away from your freedom. Away from any chance of living a normal life. They carry you down the corridor, back through the doorways, all the way to your room. Then they hold you down on the bed, pressing their body weight into you. Someone pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what could be happening dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. A needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. They're holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you had to escape. You were so close. So close. But there's no escaping now. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You step up onto your toes to reach the window in the door - the peephole. Meant for looking in, but now you're changing the story. Now you're looking out. If only it were that simple to flip the script, and to have //them// be the ones caged instead. You press your forehead against the glass. Outside your room is a long corridor, stretching further than you can see, without opening the door. The corridor is empty. [[Try to open the door]] OR [[Huddle back into bed and wait]]

You sneak over to the door opposite yours, and stretch up to peer into the window. There is a slight light out here in the corridor, but none in the room. You can't see anything, it's too dark in there. Whoever is in there is in complete darkness, trapped and alone. [[Try to get them out]] OR [[Leave them alone and try to find a way out]]

You bolt for the other side of the room, desperate to make it across before they fully register what's happening. You didn't stand a chance. The first man grabs you before you've even taken three steps. The woman comes from behind and snatches the keycard from you. "Wait here," she commands, then goes back into the room she was trying to get into before. One of the men push you back outside the nursing station. You don't dare move. A few minutes later, she's back. And she's carrying a needle. Your eyes widen at the sight of it. She wasn't bluffing. She's really going to inject you. "I'll take the pills!" you cry out. "Too late," the woman mutters. [[RUN]] OR [[Stand frozen]]

"Oh," you say carefully, her eyes still locked with yours. "I'm... sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?" "No!" she wails. Then pauses. "Unless... maybe you can help. If I could have your blood instead." [[Agree to give her your blood]] OR [[Decline the mutilation offer]] OR [[Back away from the room slowly]]

You look at her innocently. She scowls and marches over to you. She grabs at your hands and pries the keycard from you. "Wait here," she commands, then goes back into the room she was trying to get into before. You don't dare move. A few minutes later, she's back. And she's carrying a needle. Your eyes widen at the sight of it. She wasn't bluffing. She's really going to inject you, just like that. //I take it back, //you think.// I want the pills!// "I'll take the pills!" you cry out. "Too late," the woman mutters. She pushes past you and speaks through the nursing station door. There are people inside. You couldn't have made it out anyway. She steps back, and a man steps out with her. [[RUN]] OR [[Stand frozen]]

You hook your finger into the slot in the door and pull. The door makes a //thunk// as the lock hits against it's enclosure in the door frame. //Of course it's locked.// Just like yours was. The person inside would have to unlock it, after all. And thinking about it some more: you don't know who is in there. Maybe they are trapped, just like you. Or maybe, they're someone who needs to be in here. Maybe, they won't like you trying to help them escape. [[Knock on the door to try to get their attention]] OR [[Leave them alone and try to find a way out]]

You lean your body weight against the door. It still doesn't budge. You brace yourself, then slam your body against the door, hoping that the burst of pressure will shift it. It still doesn't budge. [[Bang on the door]] OR [[Give up and go back to bed]] OR [[Inspect the door and try to work out why it's not opening]]

//I have to leave the room eventually, //you think. A step outside this room was a step toward freedom. You push at the door. It doesn't budge. You frown, and reconsider. [[Push harder]] OR [[Bang on the door]] OR [[Give up and go back to bed]] OR [[Inspect the door and try to work out why it's not opening]]

You try to push past. To escape. The man grabs you before you can get anywhere. The woman sighs and rolls her eyes. "I'll get the injection." //Injection? No, no!// You struggle against the man. "No!" you call out. [[Say "I'll take the pills!"]] OR [[Keep trying to escape]]

You turn to run, but the man grabs you before you can get away. He twists you, turning you around the way you came. He marches you down the corridor. You scream "no" repeatedly as he drags you back into your room. The woman follows him in. He pushes you down onto your bed, then leans onto you, pressing his body weight into you. The woman pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what's happening fully dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then the needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. The man is holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You offer the cups back to her. "I don't want to take these," you say. She raises her eyebrows, and doesn't take the cups from you. "You have to. If you don't, we have to inject you." Your eyes widen. You knew it would be bad, but to go straight to an injection like that? [[Accept the meds]] OR [[Continue to refuse the meds]]

You offer the cups back to her. "I don't want to take these," you say. She raises her eyebrows, and doesn't take the cups from you. "You have to. If you don't, we have to inject you." Your eyes widen. You knew it would be bad, but to go straight to an injection like that? [[Accept the meds]] OR [[Continue to refuse to take the meds]]

You whip around and slam the keycard onto the reader next to the isolated door, not knowing where it leads. The card reader beeps, and the door unlocks. You rip it open and step through, as her steps thunder toward you from behind. It's a short corridor, dark, with no lights on. A faint glow marks the window of a door up ahead. A small red light glows next to it. Another card reader. You dash forward. The door you've just come through clicks shut. You slam the keycard on the next reader as the woman bangs on the door behind you, shouting. The card reader beeps, and the door in front of you unlocks. You force it open, bursting out into... Another long corridor. There is no clear exit to the left or the right. //Which way? Which way is out?!// [[Turn left]] OR [[Turn right]]

You turn and run for the nursing station door, desperate for your freedom. You make it to the door before she calls out. You slam the keycard against the card reader as her footsteps thunder toward you. The card reader beeps, and the door unlocks. //You're free.// You press down on the handle and force the door open. You go to rush inside, ready to slam it in her face before she gets to you. Only, when you open the door, the room is not empty. There are two men inside. And they are not happy. [[Apologise and give them the keycard]] OR [[Make a run for the exit]]

You run back to your room, close and lock the door, then dart to your bed. You pull the sheets up and over you, and pretend to be asleep. Voices murmur and footsteps sound from outside, then recede. You breathe a sigh of relief. You made it back to bed in time. Half a minute later, a silhouette appears at your door. A key sounds in the keyhole, and the lock flips open. A man and a woman enter your room. They hit a switch on the wall, and the room is engulfed in a blinding white light. You shelter your eyes, then roll over, still trying the guise that you have always been in bed. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. "We can't have you disturbing the other patients." The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Argue against them]]

"I'll take the pills!" you cry out. "Too late," the woman mutters, and walks back the way she came. The man pushes you back toward the bed. Your struggles are futile. He forces you to sit, and together, you wait. You, crying. Him, looking away toward the door, as if you weren't a human being sitting here with him. The woman returns with the injection. They don't give you a choice. The man holds you down on the bed, pressing his body weight into you. The woman pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what's happening fully dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then the needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. The man is holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

"Hi," you say cautiously. She stops muttering and drops her hand from her forehead. She looks at you, but says nothing. [[Check if she's okay]] OR [[Back away from the room]]

You step into the courtyard, trying to hold onto hope that you may be able to escape through the fence. There are people wandering around the courtyard. Another sits on the ground. Another is laying on the ground. The person sitting on the ground eyes you dubiously. You walk the perimeter of the fence, checking at the bottom, the top, and the mid. You pull on bars to see if they're loose. There is no weakness. No way out. Not from the courtyard, at least. [[Check out the door that you don't know where it leads]] OR [[Check out the door the staff member came out of]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You crouch down, moving aside to stop from casting a shadow onto the door, trying to use the low light to see where the handle is. There, in the metal plate, is a small cutout, just enough to get a few fingers in to pull open the door. [[Pull open their door]] OR [[Leave them alone and try to find a way out]]

You sink to the floor, defeated. Footsteps rush up behind you. Then, hands are upon you. They lift you up, up, right up and off your feet. You go limp. They carry you back down the corridor, back through the doorways, all the way to your room. You don't resist. They hold you down on the bed, pressing their body weight into you. Someone pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what could be happening dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then a needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. They're holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

"Hi," you say cautiously. She stops muttering and drops her hand from her forehead. She looks at you, but says nothing. [[Continue trying to talk to her]] OR [[Back away]]

The footsteps grow louder. A silhouette appears in front of the door. A key sounds in the keyhole, and the lock flips open. //It was locked. Of course. // It is a man and a woman. "Quiet," the woman hisses. "You'll wake everyone up." "I wasn't –" you try to explain, but there's no point. They won't listen. "You need to go back to bed," the woman says, coldly. She leads you back to your bed and sits you down. Then she turns and leaves you there, alone, without a word. The click of the lock reverberates into your bones. You curl up, praying for this nightmare to be over. Half a minute later, a silhouette appears at your door. The man and woman enter your room. They hit a switch on the wall, and the room is engulfed in a blinding white light. You shelter your eyes. The woman is holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "You need to take these," she commands, and pushes them toward you. "We can't have you disturbing the other patients." The cup has water in it. The pottle has pills. [[Accept the pills]] OR [[Argue against them]]

They come at you. You stand there, frozen to the spot. The man grabs your arms and twists you, turning you around the way you came. He marches you down the corridor and back into your room. The woman follows him. He pushes you down onto your bed, then leans onto you, pressing his body weight into you. The woman pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what's happening fully dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then the needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. The man is holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape.

You tuck yourself further in, despite a growing need for the bathroom. You're not ready to explore. In this room, at least you can try to pretend you're safe, even though the peephole in the door proves otherwise. More people wake, and there is a mixture of crying, screaming, singing and yelling from outside the room. Then, a key scratches in the door, and the lock pops. The door creaks open. A woman stands there, holding a paper cup and a small pottle. "Morning!" she says, too cheerily. "I have your medication." She walks over and hands the cups to you. You look into the cup. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Accept the medication]] OR [[Say no]]

You push the door open a little more, just enough to step out into the corridor. You take your first step outside your room, then bring the other foot out behind you and squash your back against the wall next to the door. //One threat at a time. // You look down the corridor again in both directions. It is still empty. No one is coming. There are other doors with windows in them lining the corridor. You know that means there are other people trapped in here, just like you. Some of them need to be here, but many don't. Many are caught up in this awful plot of control and drugs and power, through no fault of their own. Just like you. The person is still wailing. They sound so distraught. And I know how they feel. They don't deserve to be stuck in here. The crying is coming from the room across from yours. [[Look through the window where the wailing is coming from]] OR [[Leave them alone and try to find a way out]] OR [[Huddle back into bed and wait]]

The alternative to taking these pills will inevitably be far worse. You toss the pills into your mouth, and swallow them down with water. The woman checks your mouth. She nods, smiles, then turns to leave you. [[Try to grab her keycard]] OR [[Distract her and try to get her keycard]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You grab the doorhandle and force it down. It doesn't go far. It's locked. Of course it's locked. [[Inspect the door a bit more]] OR [[Explore more]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You try again, rattling the door handle, pushing and pulling against it, desperate for the door to open. "Hey!" someone shouts. Then, hands are upon you. They dig their fingers into your shoulders and arms, dragging you away from the door. You scream "no" repeatedly as they drag you from your escape. As they pull you away from the door, you see a small black pad with a red light next to the door handle. Of course, the door needs a keycard. [[Try to fight your captors and steal their keycard]] OR [[Accept their hold on you and wait for a better opportunity]]

You grab the doorhandle and force it down. It doesn't go far. It's locked. Of course it's locked. [[Inspect the door some more]] OR [[Go to the television room]] OR [[Go back to bed to curl up and wait for the medication to make you sleepy]]

You grab the doorhandle and force it down. It doesn't go far. It's locked. Of course it's locked. [[Try to inspect how to unlock it]] OR [[Try harder to open it]] OR [[Leave it alone and wait for the staff member to come back]]

You lean forward and push past them, dropping into a run to make it past before they have time to think and grab you. They came from this direction, so that must be where the exit is. They call out "hey" in alarm, then drop into pursuit. Your cold feet press against the colder linoleum, each step now burning. You round the corner they appeared from, with them in hot pursuit. You have to get to the exit before they catch you. Up ahead is a door unlike the others. A light illuminates it on this side of the hallway, and the room behind it is lit up. A doorhandle glints in the light. It must be the nursing station. You run to it, desperate. This is your way out. You grab the doorhandle and force it down. It doesn't go far. It's locked. Of course it's locked. You try again, rattling the door handle, pushing and pulling against it, desperate for the door to open. Then, hands are upon you again. They're even rougher than before, digging their fingers into your shoulders and arms, dragging you away. You scream "no" repeatedly as they drag you from your escape. As they pull you away from the door, you see a small black pad with a red light next to the door. Of course, the door needs a keycard. [[Try to fight your captors and steal their keycard]] OR [[Accept their hold on you and wait for a better opportunity]]

You spin around, bracing to fight whoever comes for you. Two men and the woman rush up the same corridor you came from. The men loom above you. There's no way you can fight. They come at you. You lunge forward anyway, doing whatever you can to keep them away. One of the men grabs you before you can land a blow. His grip is iron, his fingers press into your flesh. There is no care there. He doesn't think of you as human, just an animal to control. The other man grabs you as well. You twist and writhe, kicking out at them and the woman standing in front of you, sneering at you. You try your hardest, but they're bigger than you, and you can't twist free. They carry you back down the corridor, back through the doorways, all the way to your room. They hold you down on the bed, pressing their body weight into you. You can't move. Can barely even breathe. Someone pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what could be happening dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then a needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. They're holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape.

You twist and writhe, kicking out at their legs and feet as they drag you down the corridor. You try your hardest, but they're bigger than you, and you can't twist free. They drag you to your room and push you inside. They slam the door shut quick enough that if you'd had your fingers in the way, they surely would've been broken. [[Try to get out of the room]] OR [[Curl up on your bed]]

You step into the courtyard, trying to hold onto hope that you may be able to escape through the fence. There are people wandering around the courtyard. Another sits on the ground. Another is laying on the ground. The person sitting on the ground eyes you dubiously. You walk the perimeter of the fence, checking at the bottom, the top, and the mid. You pull on bars to see if they're loose. There is no weakness. No way out. Not from the courtyard, at least. [[Inspect the door that you don't know where it leads]] OR [[Inspect the door the staff member came out of]] OR [[Go back and wait for the staff member to come back]]

You turn and sprint down the corridor, passing room after room. You turn what you think is a corner, but it's a dead end. It's just the entrance to a bathroom. You're trapped. Then, hands are upon you again. They're even rougher than before, digging their fingers into your shoulders and arms, dragging you away. You scream "no" repeatedly as they drag you back into hell. You twist and writhe, kicking out at their legs and feet as they drag you down the corridor. You try your hardest, but they're bigger than you, and you can't twist free. They drag you to your room and push you inside. They slam the door shut quick enough that if you'd had your fingers in the way, they surely would've been broken. [[Try to get out of the room]] OR [[Curl up on your bed]]

The man stands with his back to the door, blocking you from being able to open it. [[Bang against the door]] OR [[Curl up on your bed]]

Your hand flails over where the door handle should be, but there is none. Just a small, circular lock, and another metal plate. It can't be a push door in both directions. Maybe the only way in is with a key? Unless the person opens the door from the other side, just like you did. [[Knock on the door to try to get their attention]] OR [[Search harder for a handle]]

Surprise is the best tactic - you lunge at the woman's keycard. You manage to grab hold of it! Then the woman falls on top of you, yelling for help. She traps you under her. You can't wriggle free. Footsteps rush around you. More bodies, more hands. They grab you and lift you right up, right off your feet. The keycard is pried from your hands. They carry you back to your room. They hold you down on the bed, pressing their body weight into you. Someone pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what could be happening dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. Then a needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. They're holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you needed to escape. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You look for a door handle, then realise that the small, square metal plate is the only form of "handle" that there is in the room. //Can't have anything sticking out that could be used to hang a blanket, or person,// you reason. //Can't have any sense of normalcy here in the psych ward. // Besides that, it's a push door. //Again, can't make it possible for us to barricade ourselves in our rooms. Even our rooms weren't safe from them. // //Them.// The staff that were responsible for locking us in here. Who ignored us at the best of times, and held us down and forcibly injected medication into us at the worst of times. If you open the door, they'll surely hear it. They'll know you are awake. And then they'll come for you. But how long are you meant to stay in this room? If you don't push forward, you'll never get out again. You pause at the door, staring at the handle, trying to decide... [[Push open the door]] OR [[Huddle back into bed and wait]]

You twist and shake, and their hands fall away. The woman points to your room. "You need to go back to bed," she says, coldly. You glare at her. She wants you to ignore this person who is clearly in pain. To just go back to bed, shut up, and wait for the inevitable meds. The drugging that will suck all your personality away. To just be a good little psych patient. [[Go back to bed]] OR [[Try to escape by running back the way they came]] OR [[Try to find an exit behind you]] OR [[Fight her]]

Trying to grab the keycard will be too obvious. You need to have a way to get the card subtly. And fast. //Think, think.// "Wait," you say, trying to give yourself more time to think before she walks away. She turns, and you try the only thing that has come to mind. "I feel a bit... sick," you say, drawing close to her, trying to seem vulnerable. "Like... tummy sick." You get even closer. So close you can almost touch the keycard. "Is there anything that can help with that? With... you know," you look at the wall beside her, hoping she will be a little embarrassed and look away from you as well. She doesn't seem embarrassed, but she does look away. "I'll see what there is," she says, and as she turns you lift the key card off her pants pocket. You slip it into your palm and press it against your side. [[Run and try to open the nursing station door]] OR [[Wait until she leaves]]

You dash to your left, running as fast as your shaking legs can manage. You reach a room on your right, the wall between you made of glass. The room is filled with artwork, stretching out across a window on the opposite side of the room. A window showing The Outside. [[Keep going left]] OR [[Go into the room]]

You race to the left, hoping that this will lead you to an exit. Shouting starts from behind you. They're coming after you, but they won't have seen you run in this direction. You reach the corner and follow it to the right. Your heart sinks. It looks like more patient rooms up ahead. [[Sink down and give up, hoping they will be easier on you]] OR [[Continue forward, trying to find a way out]]

You dash to your right, running as fast as your shaking legs can manage. You round a corner and almost run into a closed double door, blocking off the remaining corridor. You push at them, but they don't budge. On the wall is //another// card reader. Shouts sound from behind you. You smack the keycard against the reader, and push open the doors less than a second after they unlock. You race down the remaining corridor and there, just ahead, //freedom//. Large, automatic glass doors frame the entryway to the unit. The entryway that is also the //exit//. Your adrenaline surges as you approach the doors. You're ready to run straight through, but even when you get right up close, //they don't open//. Footsteps pound on the floor back by the double doors in the corridor. The staff are almost here. [[Wave your arms in case there's a sensor]] OR [[Look for a card reader]]

You wait like you were told to. Like a good little psych patient. A few minutes pass before the woman returns and hands a cup and small pottle to you. You look into the pottle. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Accept the meds]] OR [[Refuse the meds and hand the cups back]]

You wait right where you are told, like a good little psych patient. The meds are going to come regardless. No point fighting it. A few minutes pass before the woman returns and hands a cup and small pottle to you. You look into the pottle. There are five pills. Some, you recognise. They make you sleepy. The others, you haven't seen before. "What are these?" you ask. "Your medication," she repeats, as if that answers your question. You stare at the medication. If you take them, you're sure to get sleepy, dulled, //compliant//. They'll turn you into a good little psych patient. If you don't... it'll be worse. [[Accept the meds]] OR [[Refuse the meds]]

You stand there, trying to play it cool, until she goes where she needs to go. She heads down the corridor slightly to another door. Then reaches for the keycard at her side. Only, it's not there. It's in your hand. She searches at her side. In her pocket. Then she looks at you. [[Run and try to open the nursing station door]] OR [[Pretend like nothing is wrong]] OR [[Apologise and give the keycard back]]

You curse, and take a step back, waving your arms, thinking the sensor hasn't registered your presence. //Success!// The doors roll to life. Slowly, so slowly. The staff are almost on you. You squeeze out the doors and burst into a sprint, the cool, fresh air burning in your lungs, fueling your flight. //You're free! You made it!// Then a pressure in your back, and you're going down. You can't regain your footing. You smack onto the ground, and a body lands on top of you. You scream. "Don't fight," a gruff voice says. More hands wrap around your arms, pressing into you like daggers. The hands lift you up, right off your feet. You twist and writhe, kicking out at their legs and feet. You try your hardest, but they're bigger than you, and you can't twist free. Two men carry you back inside. Away from your freedom. Away from any chance of living a normal life. They carry you down the corridor, back through the doorways, all the way to your room. Then they hold you down on the bed, pressing their body weight into you. Someone pulls down your pyjama bottoms. The air hits this private space of skin at the same time the horror of what could be happening dawns on you. You cry, and it comes out as a tiny squeak. A needle pierces your flesh like a branding iron, and you scream. But you can't fight. They're holding you too tightly. This is your living nightmare. This is why you had to escape. But escape is futile. You know that now. There's no escaping the psych ward. ''THE END'' If you enjoyed this interactive story, I'm sure you'll love my debut novel Follow Me (books2read.com/followme). Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, it's sure to have you questioning what's real. After all, there's a fine line between reality and delusion. Noelle W. Ihli (author of GRAY AFTER DARK and ASK FOR ANDREA) says "Buckle up... FOLLOW ME is as gripping and twisted as it is heartbreaking." //Be a good psych patient, till they’ll let you out.// Haunted by voices and delusions her entire life, Lena longs to be free of controlling doctors and indifferent nurses. When a woman from a religious group claims Lena’s psychosis is not illness, but divine gifts, Lena thinks this could be the answer to her prayers. But if all is not what it seems, will the woman’s claims really free Lena, or instead send her further into the labyrinth of her own delusional mind? Grab your copy now in your preferred format! books2read.com/followme Or [[Reawaken]]

You wake up, cold, in an unfamiliar bed. Everything is dark. You're being swallowed by blackness. //Where am I?// you think, searching for a memory of what brought you to this place. Then your eyes begin to adjust. Dull, grey walls loom around you, reaching to a stark white ceiling that threatens to lower onto you at any moment. There are cries from outside the walls. No, not cries – wails. You glance at the door and shrink back further into the scratchy bedsheets. The door has a window in it. A window for looking in. A window for watching you. Then it all comes flooding back – the screaming, the kicking, the fighting for your life – fighting against the strong, rugged hands of men so much larger than you. Against hands that you had no chance of escaping. Just like you have no chance of escaping this place. Escaping this life. Because you’re back where you always end up. You’re back in the psych ward. You can't stay here. Terrible things happen here. You have to get out. Get out before they medicate you, draining every piece of your personality and hope. You have to escape. [[Get up and explore]] OR [[Huddle into bed and wait]]