The Deserted Asylum Diaries.

[Pyper]

C L I C K

"Date: Tuesday. January Sixth , Two Thousand and Fifteen."

We all have little monsters.

"Calix, visited. We met, in a building. Emptied, mostly. Quiet, no other, noises. I could, just see, him. No movements, no other talking. His, holiday, was nice. He, got me a, present. I have, to put his name. On the list. Of gifts, to give back. They have to, be right. For each person. It was, a fang. Carved. A necklace. I have, a lot. I am, hanging them. Up in the, apartment. I'll wear this one. For, a while. Calix says, it means. He is always with, me. Phoenix says, he thinks of, me as his. Child. Not with, the e. I don't, know why the letter. Makes a, difference. Means biological. Like Phoenix, and Charles.

Roman came, to my home. He slept, in my bed. I said, he could. I don't, sleep in, it a lot. I, had been, working. Prepping, for next, lesson. I said, projects, to Roman. I went, home. I showered. He asked to cuddle. In my bed, with me. Eli, never did. Said people, who are together. Pairs. Do that. Ethy, some times, will sleep. Next to me. I I, sleep there. Roman said, that single people. Friends. They can. That it's okay. So I did. He left. Shortly after. I don't know, what that means. I wanted, to see his power. His monster.

Phoenix, is calling, Charles. Dad. I haven't, thought about it. Not much. Not to obsess. Like Charles, has, said. I will, take more time. She is, happy. I have, to be happy, for her. I also, need to think.

Calix gave, me a room. My room. Said, it'll be mine. I'm glad, to have more, space. Stretch room. Hideaways. I am, making keys. For him, also for, Charles. Ethy, said he doesn't, like men. In the apartment.

Maybe he, would like a woman, instead."

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[Pyper]

C L I C K

"Date: Wednesday. January Eleventh, Two Thousand and Fifteen."

Reboot.

"My skills, with speaking to guards. Vastly succeeds. More than it, does not. I take, things. I give them, to Ethan. It is, a bond. Our bond. The exchange is. Hacking, with Phoenix's, help. Is also, beginning to have more, structure. Predictable. I like, knowing. I'm starting to.

The emails stopped. I tried, not to worry. To think about, the potentials. He says, we are not family. He misses, his mother. He is, to me. My family. He does not, have to agree. Not with me. It is, only opinions. Mine, is my own. I made him, something. A person. A woman, to see if, he would enjoy her. Inside the apartment. He doesn't, like men being around. I can't, find her. Calix tried. She, is not, within reach. I'll wait.

Aubrey, is nice. I met her. A few times, those times she was, sleeping. We have, plans. I think, she's pretty. She went to school, too. I am, interested to see, what a school, is. The foundations. What the buildings, have in them. I'll, ask Aubrey, more about where, she went. Ethy, too. I could visit, one. A new place, with new things."

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[Pyper]

C L I C K

"Date: Saturday. January Seventeenth, Two Thousand and Fifteen."

It is deafening.

Pyper's voice is strained for this journal entry. Speaking aloud pulled the wiring of her stitches that weave along the center of her throat to keep it closed. The grating rasp reminds her of Paige's voice. Updating the journal entries is important to her, they have to be continued. Clearing, and readying her voice, she goes on as if the knife never bit into her skin with an unblemished blade.

"I have, a date. I asked, for one. Charles. I trust him, he's nice. We tried, to dance. At the Christmas party. We didn't, dance for long. He did, not appear certain. Of going on, one. With me. He did, say yes. I told, him he could say no. I, would have waited. Asked someone, else. It is a, date. With friends. I don't, want him to, go away. And disappear. I only, wanted to know, the expectations. Of dates. He could, think of it, as a lesson. I should, tell him. That tonight. When I ask, about details. Meeting. Activity.

The new, childe is, still missing. Not around. She is, hiding. Maybe, she is like, how Ethy was. Mad, at me. For taking, her away. Putting her into a new, place. If I, see her, I should apologize. Ethy says, he doesn't, need her. Or women. I don't, know what he needs. I'll see, him at home. I have, his items. He told, me which ones, to keep. For him. Of what I harvested.

This, recording. I had to do, in the underground. I left, Calix's house. I am, staying there. For a while. My apartment, is too empty. I don't, like to be there when, Ethy is out. Satine is, going to stay too. With me. Calix asked, I think I should, spend time with her. I say, I will. I forget, some times. I'll tell, him yes. Later. He will, be worried. The hunters, we're quicker. Tonight. Three bullets. Two, in my leg. One, on my shoulder. My throat, has, tearing. I stitched that, first. With the, stuff I carry. All the time. In case. If, I dress, them. They won't, bleed through. My clothes. Less noticeable. I'll find cloth, here. Take some. To use for, the wounds.

Then I'll go, back."

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