*Sprints out of the room wearing a torn, beer stained hospital gown with hacked off rusty handcuff around his ankle*

What the heck is it with this place? I can't go anywhere without him and his pisshead goons pulling this crap.

"They are jealous of you" she says, her cold raspy tone echoing around my head, "we need to move.".

*Runs around a corner and dives into a shadowed doorway as he hears the quickening sound of footsteps behind him.*

"Quietly does it, "control your breathing" the old man tells me, "Let them pass, stay calm."

"No shit", I reply.

"Shhh", she interjects, "do as he says.

Closing my eyes the pursuing figures run furiously past me, their breathing heavy and quick.

*Waits 30 seconds, afraid to move.*

"Now. Go. Run.", he demands.

I obey. After all, he has never steered me wrong before.

*Takes one last look at his surroundings before walking, jogging, running, tearing through the misty air in front of him.*

"Keep going. Faster" the rasping voice commands.

"Look out. Up ahead" he warns.

I see nothing... until...

 Too late. He has me. I'm done for. Shit.

 His long light coat is what I remember. Danger.

"Run! RUN!" the Old Man yells at me with extreme anger building in his voice, "What the fuck are you waiting for?".

I look about for my escape route. Left. Right. Damn, I'm cut off.

"I can't. There is no way", I reply with defeat written all over my face.

Confusion builds on the light coated man's face, but he doesn't ask.

"Come with me, Bob. I mean you no harm. Do you remember me?"

Danger. He is dangerous. Alarm bells ring in my head.

*I hear shuffling behind me.*

"Move".

Too slow. The lights go out.

----------------------------------

*Light streams in through the 'V' shape left at the top of the curtains, hitting me on the face. I try to move. Stuck. My hands are strapped to the bed which holds me like a cell*

The room is long with the far end in shadow where the light doesn't quite reach.

Movement. I saw movement. In the shadows.

*Footsteps begin to move towards me before out of the shadows emerge three people*

Danger. The light coat.

*Struggles violently with his restraints to no avail*

Relief. The old man and lady are there too. They'll help me.

"Get him", I scream. "Kill that fucker. Help me"

They stop and wait. And wait.

The light coat approaches.

*Tenses up*

"Bob, do you know where you are?" the light coated man asks.

His face is familliar I decide.

*Looks back to where the others stood*

Nothing. "What the...?" I think, "Where...?"

"They have been back again, haven't they Bob?" he asks.

I don't answer. His face is so familiar.

"Who are you?"

"Where have my friends gone?"

"What are you doing to me?"

I have more questions, surely, but the words don't come.

"Bob, do you remember what happened last night?"

His face. I know him...

Suddenly it all became clear. "Sweetums?" I ask.

"Yes, Bob. Do you remember?"

"I only remember being in danger, being chased."

"...Bob, you flipped last night. You have been a "patient" here for the last three years, the last 6 months without incident."

*Looks at the tag attached to Sweetums' coat. The crest displays something which makes his heart sink.*

- ASYLUM FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE -

Panic. I'm not crazy. I can't be. It's a bad dream. A Nightmare.

Danger. He is lying to me. The light coat is going to kill me.

*The shadows close in around him as the panic sets in*

A surge of strength courses through his body and the restraints suddely snap.

*Sweetums takes a step back, the look of horror on his face*

"Get him. This is your chance." The sound of two familiar and comforting voices, one raspy and one wise with age, in chorus, was all the encouragement he needed.

One minute later he stood over a lifeless mass, the coat which was once white was slowly turning a dark shade of red.

Danger was gone.

Escape was so much easier from the room this time.

Walking the streets for hours afterwards with his two companions he tried to get the lie of the land.

I need someone that I can trust; a place to stay.

..and that's just what I found, and much more.

A home. A place where everyone is as I am.

Only in Fort Izzel could I be deemed sane, and it is there that I will remain.

We are home, they all agree.