So sorry, Sprinkles. I've been really busy lately and I just could not find the time to post. But here is the next installment of the Asylum Letters. Enjoy
J. S.
Asylum Letter III from May-May Macabre at the Bastille Asylum for Misfits and Miscreants
The Second Arrival
As I sat down in my chair, shackled with two gorilla-like men hovering over me, I couldn’t help but notice that I might be in bigger trouble than what I once thought. A man with a black patch over his left eye sat behind his desk and starred at me. He was clean shaven and his hair was an inky black. There was a golden monocle over his good eye. This man, this doctor, was my judge, jury, and if things went wrong, my executioner.
“I’ve looked over your file, my boy.” The man said. “To be perfectly honest, I’m surprised that you’re not swinging from the gallows.” That made two of us. “Let’s just get through this a quickly as possible. It seems that the church were you were baptized was also set on fire and most of the records were destroyed. I’m going to need your name.”
“May-May Macabre, sir.” He looked up from his paper.
“Excuse me?”
“May-May Macabre.” He removed his monocle.
“I am in no joking mood. It says here that there was a couple, a Julian and Margret Fawn. He was a merchant and she was a seamstress. It says that they had a son matching your description, however his records and yours records were destroyed in the church fire.”
“That wasn’t my fault.” I added. “I was at sea when that happened.” I felt a one of the men’s hand strike my head.
“There will be no need for that, Horace.” The doctor said. “Why don’t you tell me about your parents?”
“I don’t remember them at all, sir.” The doctor shook his head. “I’m very sorry but I never heard these Fawns. I believe my parents were Irish, if that helps?”
“Somewhat. You were found on the beach, where did you live before you coming here?” I shrugged. “You have no recollection whatsoever?” I shook my head. “Do you at least know how old you are?”
“I believe sixteen, sir.”
The doctor nodded.“Let’s just move this along. You are an arson?” I nodded. “In your time over the past few months you have burned down a scarecrow, a barn, several abandoned houses, a wooden statue of a local governor, and a few miles of crop fields.”
“That is true, sir.” I forced myself not to smile.
“And surprisingly enough no one was injured. Why do you insist on setting things aflame?” I shrugged.
“It makes me happy, sir.” I looked out to the glorious sun. “The flames and the embers speak to me. They whisper sweet songs. I like to watch how something as big as house or a barn, or something as small as a doll, is easily reduced to ashes by something as insignificant as a match. It’s mind boggling. Not only that but the smell of a fresh struck match or ashes just makes me shudder with joy.” I sighed happily.
“I think that will be enough for today.” The doctor said. “Gentlemen please escort, Mister Macabre to the Block C, Cell three.” I was grabbed the elbows and hoisted up. The men took me out of the office and down the long hallway. We took several twists and turns down. One of the men was laughing. When I asked him why he told me this:
“Because you’re going to be with Scarlet. How long do you think this little on’ will last, ‘orace?”
“About three minutes, Jasper, if even that.” The man saw my terrified expression. “You noticed the patch Dr. Smyth wears? Scarlet did that to him on his first day here. He should be in Block A with the other hostile little buggers here but the doc won’t send him away just yet. The doctor finds his condition interesting.”
They both continued to laugh at my fate. I was taken to a very white, very bright, room and told to strip. All my belongings that were on my person (my torches, a needle, and thread, and three matchbooks) were now in a small box. I was given dirty looking rags as clothes and worn down slippers. They forced my down another hallway and through another door with a C over it. We pressed through the door. Cries echoed throughout the prison.
“SHUD UP YOU GITS!” Horace shouted. Most of them quieted.
We finally stopped at Cell number three. I couldn’t see anyone inside the cell. Jasper said that maybe this Scarlet person was in something called Solitary. They unlocked the door and my shackles before tossing me the cell. I struck my chin and the hard stone ground. I could already taste the blood in my mouth. My eyes began to tear up for a second until I heard something move around the cell. Some light poured into the cell and something moved in front of me. I could barely make out the silhouette that stood before me.
“How shall it be handsome?” I heard the person say to me. I could see it was a young man. He kneeled to me.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Depends on what time of day you’re asking me.” He said. “Currently? Well, you can call me Naughty.” He lifted my chin. “Aww, sweetheart, are you hurt? Do you want me to make it all better?” Slowly he leaned in when suddenly Naughty jerked away from me knocking me backwards.
“Naughty, stop it.” He said to the wall. “He’s just a child. He’s probably frightened and confused.” Naughty turned right around.
“I wasn’t going to do anything to him.” He scoffed. “I was just welcoming the boy to his new home.”
“He doesn’t need that from you.” He said to the wall.
“Trying to have him all to yourself?” Naughty asked. He rolled his eyes and offered his hand to help me up.
“Sorry about that. Naughty usually isn’t this bad.” He brushed off the dust on my shoulder. “Jay Scarlet, please to meet you.” He shook my hand.
“May-May Macabre.” I replied. “Begging your pardon but I thought you were Naughty?”
“No, that’s my alternate personality.” He winked at me. “Sorry, that was him too. What are you in for May?” He asked walking to the barred window.
“Arson.” I was somewhat nervous in asking him my next question. “What about you?”
“For the murder of my cheating wife and my late employer, her fuck buddy, and for harming the Chief of Medicine. Along with that my burlesque dancing is deemed ‘immoral’ and therefore insane. Oh and having another person living inside my head.” He stepped on the tips of his toes.
I don’t know what the guards were talking about. Jay didn’t seem as horrible as they had made him. A bit eccentric, and blunt, but not horrible. And even Naughty, if he was real, just made me slightly uncomfortable. Jay gave a heavy sigh and began to tap his feet on the ground. What was looking for?
“Hey, kid.” I looked up. “Want to play Straight Jacket?”
“Naughty…” Jay sighed but Naughty skipped over to the bars of our cell.
“Hey, Emmet!” He called. “Emmie!” Soon a young guard walked by the bar. “You missed me? I’ve been missing you.” The guard started to walk away but Naughty grabbed his arm. “No goodbye kiss? How rude.” The guard looked around the hall. “I won’t say anything.”
“Naughty…” Jay mumbled under his breath.
The guard nodded. “You see, May-May, this is how you play.” He put one arm around the guard’s neck. “Straight.” He put his other arm around. “Jack.” The guard slowly began to lean in. “Et!” Naughty slammed the guard’s head against the bars. The halls echoed with a bang. The guard slumped to the ground.
“Stupid, Emmet. He never learns.” He looked at me. “You want to play now?” Maybe I was mistaken.
“Cat!” Jay cried. He rushed to the window. “There you are.” A skeletal black and white striped cat slunk through the barred window with a small sack in it’s teeth.
I walked over and petted the cat. “What’s his name?”
“I’ve never gotten around to naming him.” Jay said. “But he’s been very good to me. He brings me things from the outside. What is it you have today, kitty?” Jay opened the bag. “What is this?”
“Those are my torches!” I exclaimed. “Oh thank you…Phelicks. That’s what we’ll call you from now on.” I took my torches in my hands and hugged them to my chest. I had missed them so much.
“That’s a very fitting name, May.” Jay smiled. “I think we’re going to be very good friends.”
“ALRIGHT, BOYS, FEEDING TIME!” we heard a voice screech.
“Oh no, it’s Lizzie Lobotomy.” Jay gasped. “Quick give me your torches.” Jay placed Phelicks on the barred window. “Thank you Phelicks. I’ll make sure to save you biscuit from dinner. Now, scat.” The cat scampered off. “Now your torches.”
I hesitated but I gave them up to Jay. He moved swiftly to the far side of our cell and removed a block from the wall. I could see something red next to a stack of what looked like cards. Jay placed my torches in the alcove before placing the block back in place. He leaned against the wall, blocking the alcove, just when a young woman stopped in front of our cell.
“It’s ok, everyone, Mommy’s here with your pills.”
Sincerely
May-May Macabre
