"What happened? My head is pounding and my stomach is sore.
Who are you and where the hell am I?"

"You are in the hospital Jenny My name is Doctor Mabon. You were brought here by ambulance late last night. You have a pretty intense gash across your right wrist. The ambulance driver gave us an empty bottle of Diazepam with your name on it.
You may have some tenderness in your abdomen. That's because we had to pump your stomach. You are one lucky girl. By all counts you should be dead; I guess your guardian angel worked over time last night? Do you feel like talking about it?"

I could not help but to laugh at this Doctor's insinuation.

"There has been some kind of mistake here. I love my life and would never attempt suicide.
Why just last night I, uh that's odd I can't remember last night."

I looked up at the Doctor who was jotting something down on a clipboard.

"Is this a prank? I don't have time for this, I'm going home."

As I start to get up out of the hospital bed I glance down in disbelief at the blood stained bandages which are tightly wrapped around my wrist.

"Jenny, you must stay in bed, you are still pretty weak from the ordeal.
I don't want to use restraints, but I will if I have to!"

"Please you must believe me; I don't know what is going on here but I didn't do this to myself. I want to go home."

"Well Jenny, I'm afraid it is not that easy. I don't think that we can safely chalk this up to an accident now can we?
I have already placed a call for Doctor Van. He is a psychiatrist, talk to him Jenny maybe he can help you."

This Doctor was beginning to piss me off.

"Help me with what? I think you are the one who should talk to a head Doctor. or Maybe an ear Doctor, because you definitely aren't hearing me. I have already heard enough from one quack, now you want me to talk to a shrink?"

Doctor Mabon, still speaking in his Pseudo-comforting way tried to calm me down.

"Jenny, since everything in your life is fine. Then what have you got to lose by speaking with Doctor Van? I promise if Doctor Van says you are alright, he will release you."

I knew at this point, trying to talk my way out of here with Doctor Mabon was useless. Maybe I would have better luck with the shrink.

"Alright, if it will get me out of here I will talk with this Doctor Van.
What time will he get here?"

"Jenny you don't understand you have been placed on a 72 hour hold for your own protection. Doctor Van is not coming here, you are going there? The ambulance is waiting to transport you."

My heart pounds and my thoughts are racing. What is going on here?

"Oh, there is no way I am going anywhere! I have things to do, where is my family, and why can't I remember last night?"

I scream out for help! That is when two burly male nurses come in the room and gives me a shot of who knows what? Doctor Mabon begins speaking again but I am already panicked and way beyond talking to.

"Jenny, calm down, we are just trying to help. You asked about your family, what you think will happen to them if you succeed in killing yourself?"

I glare at him through half conscious eyes.

"Stop saying that! I didn't try to kill myself! If I go quietly can I at least call my mother so she knows where I am?"

Doctor Mabon glanced over at a nurse who was bringing in a wheelchair for me, as if my legs were broken.

"Do not worry Jen that has already been taken care of. Your sister Nina has called your mother. Now if you don't have any more questions let's get you into the wheelchair before the sedative kicks in."

"I do mind, and I do have more questions, like why would you give me a sedative if I overdosed on pills last night? Isn't that a little on the wrong side? I don't need a stupid wheelchair. My legs are fine."

The doctor didn't answer me but it wouldn't have mattered to me at this point, for I didn't care about anything.
I guess the shot must have kicked in.

"Come on Jen, into the chair it is hospital regulations. We wouldn't want you to fall now would we?"

"My name is Jenny not Jen. I replied sourly, as I stumble into the wheelchair.

And who in the hell is this we person you keep referring to?"

My mind is growing fuzzier by the minute but I can still make out the ambulance which is parked just outside of the two sliding glass doors at the end of a long narrow hallway.

"This can't be happening."

The nurse and an incredibly handsome E.M.T lift me into the back of an ambulance.
Under any other circumstance this would be a great guy to meet. He had dark brown hair, and deep brown eyes. I was hoping that he wouldn't talk to me. I was already feeling a bit out of my comfort zone. No such luck.

"Hi my name is Mark. I will be taking care of you until we get to Ronen hospital it is
about a forty minute drive, so you can relax for awhile. Try to get some sleep."

I watched as Mark reached over, grabbed a wet piece of gauze and began to gently
wipe my face. I could see the once white strips of gauze turn black.

"How did my face get so dirty?"

Mark must have realized what I was thinking because he reacted quickly.

"Don't worry Jen. It's just the charcoal the hospital used when they pumped your stomach. It gets a little messy. It is all gone, now I can see your beautiful face."

Mark kept talking, but his voice grew faint as I succumbed to the sedative.
I was losing consciousness. Soon his voice was gone all together. It was replaced by a disturbing dream. I am surrounded by strangers who are speaking, but I can't understand their words. I make my way past them unnoticed and stop at the foot of a bed. As I look down, I notice a familiar site.

"Oh my God it's me!"

I scream.

"Wake Up! This isn't real, it is only a dream!"

I am jerked back to consciousness by the sound of Marks voice.

"Jenny wake up, you are having a nightmare!"

I sit up and look around, for a second or two.

"Wow Jenny that must have been some nightmare, you are still sweating. I am glad to see you awake though, we are here. You slept the whole way."

Just then the back doors of the ambulance swung open. Standing just on the other side was a tall slender man wearing a long white Doctors coat. His name tag read Doctor Van. He spoke with a slight accent which I couldn't identify.

"Hello I am Doctor Vanewenhauser, but everyone calls me Doctor Van. You must be Jenny."

I just nodded at him. I was feeling a bit awkward and wasn't up for pleasantries. Doctor Van smiled as he held out his hand and reassured me that no one was going to hurt me here. I took his hand, and climbed down the back of the ambulance right into another wheelchair.

I was wheeled into a building and down a long corridor to what looked like a lobby. An elderly nurse with silver hair was waiting behind a counter.

"Hello Jenny, I am Nurse Babcock, I need to get a little information before we get you off to your room. Alright then we have your name as Jenny Saunders, and your date of birth is January 12th 1970 correct?"

"Yes, that is correct but I am in kind of a hurry, so can we please hurry this along; I really need to speak with the Doctor so I can clear this all up and get home."

Nurse Babcock paid no attention to my request. She continued to ask these stupid questions.

"Jenny, do you know what year this is?"

"What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I do. It's March or May. Wait a minute. I think the medication is messing with my thoughts, what did the hospital give me?"

Nurse Babcock glanced over at the clipboard which came with me in the ambulance.

"Jenny, the hospital did not give you medication, now can you tell me what year this is?"

"I was given an injection before I was transferred to this nut house! I demand to know what was in the shot."

"Jenny, I need for you to calm down honey, don't worry, we will skip this question. We can always come back to it. I don't see any meds given to you, but you can ask the Doctor when you see him okay?"

"Do I have a choice?"

Nurse Babcock ignored me once again. She pushed her reading glasses up the bridge of her nose and continued with her questions.

"Alright then are you currently taking any prescription medication?"

"No, according to the half assed hospital, I took them all in one sitting. Maybe I just didn't have time to spread them out during the day huh?"

The nurse did not find me funny. She read through the notes in my chart.

"Oh I see. Do you know why you were prescribed Diazepam in the first place?"

I kept my answer short.

"I don't remember."

"Alright Jenn, we are almost done here, I just need to get your vitals, then you need to change into this outfit."

I was handed a pair of awful blue and white striped pants with a draw string tie and a matching hospital gown, both had Ronen Hospital printed in big block letters across them. I was then taken to my sea-foam green colored room.

"If you need me, I am just down the hall."

Just like that Nurse Babcock was gone. As I lay on the single bed in this dreary room, I wondered what was happening. Was I really insane? Why couldn't I remember certain things? After awhile, I drifted off to sleep.

"Oh no not this dream again! Who are these people? What are they saying? That can not be me in the bed, I am standing right here."

I can hear a voice, it is a familiar voice.

"Jenny wake up. Please, wake up."

"Am I crazy? Who are you, and why do you keep telling me to wake up? Please stop! Leave me alone!"

"Jenny. Jenny are you okay?"

"What, I, I'm fine. It was just a nightmare.

"OOOH sounds like bad one. My name is Julie, I am your nurse. It looks like I woke you up just in time. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No not really, it was just a dream, that's all."

"Alright if you change your mind, I will be here."

Julie was closer to my age, she had long auburn hair neatly pulled away from her face and tucked into a bun at the base of her neck.

"I brought you a sandwich. You haven't eaten all day you must be starved."

"Yeah I am pretty hungry." As I ate, I listened to Julie talk about all the routines here at Ronen.

"We have counseling three times a day, one with the Doctor one with Head Nurse Babcock and one for fun, this is with me. We do arts and crafts. Here is you medication. Doctor Van has prescribed you something for your nightmares. The ambulance driver told him about the doozy you had on the way here. From the looks of things when I came in the room, you need this. Your counseling sessions will start tomorrow. Try to get a good night sleep."

Julie turned off my light and closed the door behind her.

I lay awake for what seemed like an eternity. The next thing I remember is opening my eyes to the sunrise.

"Whoa, that was weird; I dreamt that I was awake all night."

I heard scuffling outside my room, and decided to see what was going on.

I stepped out into the hallway. This is when I noticed several people wearing the same fashionable outfit as I was, and they were being herded by orderlies down a long corridor into another room.

"Alright people keep moving. Common you can't just stand here in the hall, its breakfast time, aren't you hungry lady?"

Before I had a chance to answer, I was caught up in the stampede with the rest of the psycho cattle, and herded into what looked like a cafeteria.

Once inside, the comforting scent of coffee filled my nostrils. I headed straight for it.

"Excuse me ma'am, these containers all say decaf where is the caffeinated coffee?"

A portly woman responded in quite a matter of fact way; as if I should have known better than to ask her an absurd thing like that.

"We don't have caffeine here. It is not permitted. It has never been permitted. We can't have a hospital full of jittery patients now can we?"

She popped her chewing gum and waddled away.

I grabbed a cup of decaf, and a ready made plate of scrambled eggs with wilted bacon. I found an empty table to sit at, and quietly sipped my Luke warm coffee. A rather fragile looking girl sat down right across from me. Her tray was holding one strawberry and a bowl of plain oatmeal.

"Hi, I'm Gina. I am here cuz these crazy ass people think I have an eating disorder. I can't help it if I am just a picky eater. So what's your name, what are you in for?"

"Um, my name is Jenny, and I am not sure what happened yet?"

Gina looked at my blood stained bandages and clicked her tongue.

"Tsk, looks like you're here cuz you cut yourself."

I quickly thrust my arms beneath the table.

"I didn't do this to myself. I don't remember what happened, but I do know that I didn't do this!"

"I hear you girlfriend, I don't have an eating disorder either, but here I am."

It was obvious to me that Gina had something wrong, she was extremely thin. I didn't say a word about it. I mean who was I to judge her? I didn't even know her, besides I was more worried about getting out of here than making friends.

I finished eating, while Gina sat there quietly playing with her food.

"It was nice meeting you Gina, I think I am gonna head back to my room. I am supposed to meet with Doctor Van today so I can go home."

Gina began laughing.

"Jenny, they aren't gonna let you go home. No one ever gets to go home from here. There is only one way out, and it is in a body bag."

I starred at her in terror for a second, then quickly turned on my heels and ran back to the safety of my room.

"That girl is definitely disturbed."

As I stepped into my room, I noticed Doctor Van was waiting for me.

"Good morning Jenny how was breakfast?"

"I am glad you are here Doctor I am ready to go home."

"Jenny, we need to talk first. Tell me, did you have any more nightmares last night?"

"No, I slept fine."

Something in his face scarred me, I tried to read his expressions but he had none. He just had a blank stare, as he wrote in my chart. I grew frustrated and snapped at him.

"Why won't anyone tell me when I can leave, and why does everything I say get logged in to that chart?"

"Now calm down Jenny, I am writing about your progress, that's all."

"Can I see what you have written?"

"Well that is against hospital policy. It is confidential, but don't worry we know what is best for you."

"If that chart is about me, then why can't I read it, and why won't you answer me? When am I going home?"

"Alright Jenny, I will answer you. If you complete your therapy and if you take your medication with no problems, you might be able to leave in a week."

"A week! No way, I need to leave now!"

I stood up and ran for the door. Just as I opened the door, two orderlies came in with restraints.

"Jenny, please don't make us restrain you."

I sighed as I sat back down, and sneered at him.

"Alright then, tell me about these nightmares."

"I don't remember them."

I remembered every detail of my nightmares, but I didn't trust this place. Something was definitely wrong here. I wasn't going to give up any more information until I knew what was going on.

"Are you sure you don't remember Jenny, the E.M.T told us you had a pretty bad one on the way here, and Julie told me you had another last night. Were they the same nightmare?"

"Doctor Van I really don't remember, but if I do, you will be the first one I tell ok?"

"Alright Jenny, I think we have had enough for today. Our next visit will be according to the schedule. I have some pressing issues to take care of, so this is why I came to visit you early today."

Doctor Van patted me on the shoulder on his way out.

The next sound that I heard was from a loud speaker.

"Time for medication, please assemble at the nurses station."

I followed the herd once again. I saw a short dark haired nurse handing out little white plastic cups of pills to each patient.

Soon it was my turn. I read the nurses name tag.

"Hello Nellie, What are these pills, and why do I need to take them?

The nurse replied with a smile.

"These are happy pills. They will help you to get better. You do want to get better don't you Jenny?"

"What if I don't want to take them? I mean do I have the choice to say no?"

Why of course you can say no to the pills Jenny. We will just hold you down and give the medication to you by injection. Would that work better for you?"

Nurse Babcock came up behind her.

"Jenny, just take your medicine. You are holding up the line. You wouldn't want us to report this problem to Doctor Van would you?"

I did what I was instructed, and swallowed the stupid little pills.

"Good girl, now scram."

I stormed back to my room mumbling nicknames under my breath for these nurses. I didn't need to have Nurse Battle Axe and Nurse Helly breathing down my neck. I would just wait until Julie's shift before I asked any more questions.

I left my room only for lunch and dinner, each time Gina came to sit across from me.

"That Nurse Babcock is a tough one huh Jenny?"

I laughed, and replied with my dry humor.

"Yeah, Nurse Battle axe is bad, but so is Helly."

Gina smiled.

"Jenny, don't give them any trouble. I mean don't give them a reason to strap you down, most of all, don't take the meds."

"I saw you take them, so they can't be that bad."

Gina smiled again.

"Jenny, I puke them up, as soon as I get in my room. You should do the same."

"Gina, what's your deal? Are you really crazy or what? Maybe you should take the medication. I mean they might actually help."

"Jenny, the pills are what keep us here?"

"No Gina, the Doctor and the staff they are what keep us here."

Gina had a worried look befall her face, and her voice became very serious.

"Jenny I know what this sounds like. I didn't believe it either, when mike first told me."

"Mike, who is Mike?"

"Jenny, please listen, Mike was a patient here when I first arrived. He tried to tell me about this place, and the meds, but I wouldn't listen to him. I wouldn't listen, and now he is gone."

"Gina, calm down, how can simple little pills keeps us here in the hospital. I will call for Nurse Babcock, she will help."

Gina grabbed my arm.

"No Jenny, you have to listen to me. The pills don't keep us in the hospital,

They keep us," Just then, Nurse Babcock came up behind Gina.

"Everything alright here ladies?"

Gina's face became ghostly white, as she locked eyes with Nurse Babcock.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, so I kept my mouth shut about her ramblings.

"Everything is fine. Gina and I were just making fun of this disgusting slop you guys call food."

"That's enough Jenny."

Nurse Babcock turned toward Gina.

"Doctor Van would like to see you now."

"But It's not time for my session. I want to finish eating."

Gina's frail body began trembling and her eyes remained fixed with mine as she walked out of the cafeteria with Nurse Babcock. Gina seemed nice enough but she definitely needed an increase of meds. I couldn't help but think of what she had said about the pills. Even though it was nonsense, I couldn't wait for her therapy to be over so I could hear the rest of her theory.

I waited for Gina's therapy session to end so I could ask what the hell she was rambling about. Hours went by and still Gina didn't come back. Soon it was craft time. I was bored so I ventured through the hall to find the game room. I found Gina sitting by herself in the far corner of the room. She was starring off into space.

"Hey Gina, where'd you go?"

She didn't answer me. I was intrigued by her previous warning about the meds. I wanted to find out more about this place.

"What were you talking about earlier? You said the pills keep us somewhere but not here. What did you mean by that? What do they do? Why do you want me to up-chuck the pills? Gina, are you listening to me?"

"Who are you?"

"What do you mean who am I? It's me Jenny. What the hell did they do to you?"

Gina was a little weird before her therapy session, but not like this. It was as if she was someone else completely. She stood up and started walking in circles. I grabbed a hold of her shoulders and shook her violently.

"Snap out of it! What's happening here? Who is Mike?"

I was startled by a familiar voice.

"We don't put our hands on other patients here Jenny!"

"Oh am I glad to see you Julie. Something has happened to Gina. She is acting strange, she doesn't remember me."

"It is alright just calm down."

"I will not calm down! Please Julie, you gotta help me. I don't belong here. I want to leave this place."

"My name is Christine, not Julie. I need you to calm down. It's almost time for your medication. Then everything will be alright."

"You told me last night that your name was Julie."

"That's impossible Jenny, I didn't work last night. I think you need your meds now."

Nurse what's her name picked up the blue courtesy phone and called for the orderlies. I was then dragged to the nurse's station, and forced to swallow the plastic cup of pills once again.

"The medication will make you sleepy, so I think it's best if you stay in bed for the rest of the night. Don't worry sweetheart the pills will make sure your bad dreams stay away."

Once I was alone, I hurried into my bathroom, shoved a finger down my throat and puked up the meds. I wasn't taking any more pills. I certainly wasn't going to trust the staff until I knew what the hell was going on.

Later that night, I heard footsteps in the corridor, heading toward my room.

The door opened, and a flashlight shown quickly over my face.

"She is asleep Doctor."

"I expect there will be no more problems with the patients."

"No Doctor. Gina has been altered and she is back on her meds. It won't happen again."

"Are you sure she didn't tell the new patient anything."

"She didn't have a chance to. Nurse Babcock got to her in time."

"Good, we can't have any more incidents. Michael caused enough problems. we better increase Jenny's dosage for awhile just incase. I don't want another episode like today."

"Yes Doctor."

I waited until they left, then I crept into Gina's room to check on her. She was sound asleep, so I went back to my room to try and figure this out. I took some comfort knowing that it was not just my imagination as I had thought earlier. Something strange really was going on here. I stayed awake until I was sure that no one else was coming back to my room. Only then did I allow myself to fall asleep. My dream started the same way as before, only this time I could see faces. I saw my sister Nina crying.

"Jenny can you hear me? If you can hear me please give me a sign. Move your finger. Jenny wake up, we need you."

"I am right here, why can't you hear me?"

Everything around me begins to spin, the room grows dim. There is a dark figure in the room now, and it is moving toward me. I freak out and begin yelling.

"Wake up damn it! This is just a dream, wake up, wake up, wake up!"

I am back in my room, and it is morning time. My body is dripping with sweat. As I bolt toward the bathroom, I hear Nurse Battle Axe come into the room.

"Are you alright in there?"

I panic to think of something to say.

"Yes, I am brushing my hair. I'll be out in a minute."

"Well make it quick, you need to take your medication, Doctor. Van is waiting to see you in his office."

"Oh no, the last time Gina went to Doctor. Vans office, she came back zombie-like. Okay Jenny, just keep a game face on, everything will be alright."

I opened the door, and swallowed the meds.

"Oh I forgot to brush my teeth. Can I have five more minutes?"

Nurse Babcock smiled, and then glanced at her wrist watch.

"I guess so. I have to finish my rounds, I will be back in five minutes so be quick about it. Oh by the way, how did you sleep last night?"

"How would I know? I was asleep."

"It is nice to see you have a sense of humor. This is a good sign Jenny. So you didn't have a nightmare last night?"

"Nope, I slept like a brick."

Nurse Battle axe smiled. She then urged me to hurry up with my teeth.

"We mustn't keep the Doctor. Waiting. He's a very busy man."

As soon as she left, I ran back into the bathroom and puked up the meds. I bet Gina didn't have an eating disorder, I bet she lost so much weight because of all the puking.

Nurse Battle Axe came back exactly five minutes later. She led me down the sea foam colored hall. As I passed by the other patients in line waiting for meds, I locked eyes with Gina. She smiled, and then winked. Was she alright now? I wanted to run over to her, I wanted to ask her so many questions. I knew I had to keep my game face on, so I made small talk with Nurse Battle axe instead.

"So Nurse Babcock, how long have you been in the nursing field?"

She smiled at me.

"Woo for as long as I can remember. I love it. I would never do anything else. Ronen is my home away from home, so-to-speak. Okay then here we are. Relax and let the Doctor help you Jenny. Maybe one day you will be able to leave here, if you just open up and let us in, we can make your life easier."

Nurse Battle Axe knocked on the door that read Doctor Keith Vannewenhausen.

Then she opened the door and announced my arrival.

"Ahh, good morning Jenny, how did you sleep?"

"I slept well Doctor. How about yourself?"

If these people insist on asking me how I slept, I was going to do the same.

"Have a seat Jenny, let's get acquainted."

"The only thing that I want to be acquainted with is the exit door, so if you will be so kind as to sign my release papers, I will be on my merry way, Doc."

The Doctor chuckled then went right past my request on to the next question.

"So how are you feeling this morning?"

"I am fine, the only problem I am having at the moment is being held against my will."

"Calm down Jenny, we are doing everything we can top get you better, and then you can leave. Now if you will just cooperate, we can move this along."

I grunted as I slouched deeper into the brown leather chair. I knew at this moment there was no way these people were going to let me out of here. I had to figure out their game, so I could make them trust me. Maybe then I could find a way out of here.

"So you said you haven't had any nightmares since taking the meds, is that right?"

"Nope, no nightmares, what about you? You have any nightmares lately doc?"

"Jenny, your combativeness will only slow your progress, and stall your chance of leaving here."

Doctor Van smiled. I rolled my eyes then answered again.

"No Doctor, I haven't had a nightmare since being on the medication, thank you for asking."

"That's better Jen."

I hated being called Jen but I wasn't about to play his baiting game. I just smiled right back at him.

"Well, I think we will up your dose and see if we can get you to stop having these panic attacks."

Panic attacks, what panic attacks? I thought you said I was here because of a suicide attempt."

"No, you are here to get your panic attacks under control."

"I think you have the wrong patient Doctor, see for yourself."

I stood up, and thrust my wrist toward him. As I did this, I noticed that my wound was now completely gone. My body quivered in fear, as I fell back into the chair in disbelief. "I don't understand. It was there, I know it was. I felt the pain, I saw the bloody bandages. What the hell is this place?"

"Are you feeling alright Jenny?"

"Doctor the wound was there. I saw it? I'm not crazy. Or am I?"

"We don't like to use the word crazy here. You are just having a panic attack. That is why you are here. Take deep breaths and try to calm yourself Jenny. Sometimes they can be pretty overwhelming. Don't worry, we will get through this together alright?"

I nodded. It was all that I could do at that moment. For the first time since being here I doubted my sanity. My heart was pounding and my thoughts were racing. I felt completely out of control. Doctor Van called for Nurse Babcock to come take me back to my room.

"Increase her dosage."

"Doctor are you sure this is a wise decision?"

"Are you questioning my order nurse?"

"No of course not, I apologize; I will give her another dose before I take her to her room."

I starred down at my wrist the whole way back to the nurse's station shaking my head in disbelief.

"I don't understand it. I saw the bloody bandages. I felt the pain."

Nurse Nellie handed me another small plastic cup of pills and this time I obediently swallowed them. Then I followed Nurse Babcock to my room.

"If you need anything, I am just down the hall."

As she closed the door, I heard my name being whispered from the bathroom.

"Psst Jenny, it's me Gina. Come here, I want to show you something.

I followed her voice into the bathroom.

"Listen to me Jenny. They are playing with your head. You need to throw the pills up quickly."

"My wrist, Gina look at my wrist."

Gina slapped me across the face.

"Damn it Jenny, listen to me! Puke up those pills!"

Gina grabbed me and began shaking me violently.

"This is for your own good, it worked on me, when you did it, please let it work on you."

I responded immediately.

"Gina, what the hell is going on here?"

"Puke now, talk later."

I forced my finger past my gag reflex and hurled up the foul little pills.

"Whew, I thought you were gone for sure this time, welcome back."

"So now will you explain things to me? How do these people bend reality like this? What is happening, where are we, and who is Mike?"

"Slow down Jenny. Listen carefully. I am only going to say this once. You must never repeat this. Mike was a patient. He befriended me when I was first brought to Ronen. I used to think he really was crazy and he deserved to be here. He would talk about insane unrealistic things such as dream dimensions. At first I was amused by mikes unusual tales and thought nothing more about them. I continued with the medication against Mike's warning. The staff began to pay more attention to Mike. He was taken to unscheduled sessions with Doctor Van. Mike would come back a little different each time. The last time I saw Mike he didn't recognize me. This is when I stopped taking the meds. I had to see for myself if Mike was telling the truth. The effect was immediate. My mind was clearer with each skipped dose. I learned to puke after swallowing the pills so I didn't get caught. I talked Mike into skipping one dose and he was back to himself. The staff noticed Mike and I were changing. That's when my unscheduled sessions with Doctor Van began. Each time I had a visit with him, my diagnosis changed. I started to think I was insane. I was told I had an eating disorder when I came here. The diagnosis mysteriously changed to suicide attempt when I woke up one morning with bloodied bandages across my wrists. I have had so many different diagnoses here. It is hard to keep track of them all. I now know these so called diagnosis are a ploy to keep us in a state of mental confusion. The last time I saw Mike was two days before you were brought here. He came to my room during the night. He begged me to come with him but I was too scared. He said that he'd found a way out and he was leaving right away. I couldn't bring myself to go. This place has so much power. I was afraid of what might happen if I attempted to escape. The only thing Mike said before leaving was.

"Look to your dreams. They will bring you home." The sound of keys jangling and soft squeak of shoes alerted us to Nurse Babcock's nightly round. As she opened my door, Mike disappeared into thin air. I never saw him again. I don't know if Mike really was in my room that night, or if I dreamt it. I do know one thing for sure. Mike was right. Somehow we have drifted over to an alternate dimension and are trapped here. Doctor Van and the staff are trying to keep us from drifting back. They alter our perception of reality to make us believe we are crazy. The meds keep our mind from focusing on what's real. It's like this, when we sleep in our real dimension we tap into our subconscious mind. Here in this dimension, we tap into our conscious mind when we dream. Do you understand?"

"So you are saying this isn't real?"

Gina reached over and pinched me.

"Ouch what the hell did you do that for?"

"Was that real enough for you Jenny?"

I rubbed my arm as she explained some more to me.

"This place is real. It just isn't the reality we are supposed to be in. Mike never had the chance to tell me how to cross back over. After he disappeared, I began asking questions. The staff told me he was released, but I hear them talk at night. He wasn't released, he escaped."

"Well if Mike escaped maybe we can too."

"Now your thinking Jenny. We need to figure out where the connection is between the two dimensions. Then maybe we can go home. We'll talk more later. Be careful Jenny. Don't let them get into your mind. If they do, you'll be trapped here forever."

Gina snuck back to her room.

I was left with this information to digest in my mind. This place was getting really weird.

"At least I know that I am not crazy. Or am I?"

As I fell asleep, Mikes warning to Gina's replayed in my head.

"Look to your dreams, they will bring you home."

It wasn't long before I was back in the same dream as before. I could hear the people dressed in white mumbling as my sister sobbed by my side.

"Jenny honey if you can hear me please give a sign. Please show them a sign that you are still with us so they'll give you more time." The same dark figure appeared in the room. He moved toward me. I was stricken with fear as the dark figure pointed toward my dream body lying unresponsive on the bed before me.

"Stay away from me!"

I am suddenly awakened by the loud speaker announcing breakfast and meds once again.

At the cafeteria, Gina and I sat silent. We both know we are in danger by the way the staff was watching us. Nurse Christine walked over to our table.

"Gina the Doctor would like to see you."

Gina and I locked eyes. She was panicked. I tried to think of something to say that might stall the inevitable session with the Doctor.

"Christine, before you go can I call my family please?"

"I'm sorry dear I am not Christine. My name is Julie. I'm not familiar with your chart. If you give me your name I will check if you have phone privileges yet. If you do I will take you to the phone right after I take Gina to the Doctor's office."

I would've been upset about nurse what's her name if it weren't for Gina's unscheduled session with Doctor Van. Gina and I kept eyes locked on each other until she was out of the cafeteria.

I stood up and headed out after them when Nurse Babcock intervened.

"Oh there you are Jenny. It's time for your medication."

"I already took it this morning Nurse Babcock. I really want to have arts and crafts time."

"Oh that's a wonderful sign. Don't worry honey it's just one extra pill, then I will personally escort you to the arts and crafts room. How's that?"

I didn't dare argue with her. Since it was only one pill I easily hid it in my cheek instead of swallowing it and puking later. I placed the single blue pill into the side of my cheek and headed to the arts and crafts room with Nurse Babcock by my side. She sat down with me for a few minutes. I needed to get rid of the pill sitting stagnant in my cheek.

"Nurse Babcock will you please excuse me? I need to use the rest room."
"I have been instructed to stay by your side today Jenny. I stay with all the suicide patients."

I glanced down at my wrist and saw that the bloody bandages were back.
The pill began to soften releasing a terrible metallic taste in my mouth. My thoughts were focused on one thing as we headed toward the rest room.

"The meds must be altering my thoughts. I have to get rid of this pill before it completely dissolves."

As I entered the bathroom stall, I turned to close the door. Nurse Battle Axe pushed the door open and stood guard right in front of it.

"Are you really going to stand there and watch me pee?"

"If I have to. Don't give me any trouble. Just leave the stall door open Jenny."

Another nurse walked in and Nurse Battle Axe turned away just long enough that I could push the blue pill out of my cheek. As the two nurses talked I dropped the pill into the toilet and flushed quickly.

"I'm all finished nurse. Would you like to help get me dressed? Or do you think I can handle that all by myself?"

"Jenny the sooner you get with the program, the sooner you will get better."

"Well If I didn't have to take so many damn pills maybe I would get with the program."

I couldn't help myself. This place was driving me crazy. I knew Nurse Babcock was going to tell Doctor Van about my little episode but I didn't care at the moment.

The other nurse spoke as she wiped lipstick off her teeth and then tightened her pony tail.

"It won't be long now Jenny. The Doctor is ordering you to take tomorrow's dose by injection. Gina started hers today. Everything will be fine after tomorrow."

Nurse Babcock stayed by my side until after dinner.

"Jenny I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I have a feeling you are going to be a new person in the morning."

"Oh, so you aren't going to watch me sleep then. What if I try to smother myself with a pillow or something?"

"No my shift is over. I will just have to take my chances that you will be here in the morning. I'm going home right after you take your night medication. Bottom's up."

I swallowed the pills, and lay down on the bed. I waited to hear the soft squeak from Nurse Babcock's shoes as they headed down the corridor but heard nothing. I climbed out of bed to peek outside my room but she was gone. After I puked the pills up, I snuck into Gina's room. She was sound asleep. It was as if she were dead except she was still breathing. I shook her but she wouldn't wake up.

"What have they done to you Gina?"

I crept back to my room and lay on the bed thinking about tomorrow. I was scared. I knew Gina wasn't coming out of this one. I feared that I was going to be the same way as her after tomorrow's shots begin.

I lay awake thinking for as long as I could. The next thing I knew I was back in my recurring dream.

"Jenny they are signing the papers tomorrow. Please wake up."

"What papers?"

The dark figure is here once again. This time I decide to stay.

"Who are you?"

He says nothing. He moves closer to me and points to my dream body just as he had done before.

I am terrified but I have to know.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

He is now standing right in front of me. I can't see his face but he speaks to me.

"My name is Mike. I am here to help."

"Are you the Mike from Ronen?"

"Yes."

I could see Mike's face now. He was light skinned with brown eyes. He had a very friendly face.

"Please tell me how do I get home?"

"You must join the two dimensions."

"What the hell does that mean?"

Mike didn't answer, he moved back into the darkness all the while pointing at my dream body.

I found myself awake again only it was still night. I paced the floor for a while thinking of what Mike said.

How do I join the two dimensions? That doesn't make sense. Why was Mike pointing at my dream self? Wait a minute. That's it! I have to join my two selves. I have to let Gina know somehow.

I grabbed two pieces of paper and began writing down what had taken place at Ronen and what had happened with Mike in my dream. I tucked one piece of paper under my mattress just incase I was wrong. I would have a reminder of what this place really was after the shots erased my mind tomorrow. The other piece of paper I slipped under Gina's pillow. If I was right I wouldn't be coming back. I hoped this would remind her of the truth, and maybe she could find her way home.

I headed back to my room and fell asleep.
The dream began once again. This time was a bit scarier. Nina screaming and was being held down by my uncles. Several people in white coats were standing around my dream body mumbling once again.

'Please give her more time! I know she can hear me. Jenny please come home.'�

Mike was there in the shadows. Pointing toward my dream body once again.

'Jenny, this is your only chance. You must act now or you will be forever lost.'�

I looked again at the people in the white coats. I could see and hear everything clearly now. They were Doctors. One was turning off a machine that was keeping me breathing while the other was removing a tube from out of my mouth. A nurse was talking to my sister explaining this was for the best.

'Nina, we have done all that we can. Jenny has suffered too much trauma from the car accident. She has been on life support too long. This really is for the best. The Doctors believe that she will not revive from the coma.'�

Nina cried even louder.

'You are all wrong! Jenny please wake up!'�

I stood shocked to hear what was happening.

'I'm in a coma?'�

Mike warned me again that time was slipping away.

'Jenny it's now or never. Join the two dimensions or you will be lost forever.'�

I walked over to the hospital bed and lay down on top of my self. The room began to swirl and bright lights began flashing. I felt a sharp pain in my chest each time I breathed. A nurse began yelling.

'Doctor, she's breathing on her own.'�

The room fell silent for a split second. Then everyone began moving. I was hooked up to an oxygen tank as I slowly came to.

Nina ran to my side.

'I knew you were still with us, I just knew it.'�

Several hours went by. Doctors came in to check on me throughout the day. My sister Nina stayed with me until visiting hours were over.

'I will be back in the morning. Don't go anywhere sis.'�
Just as Nina left, a nurse entered the room.

'Hello Jenny. I hear you are our miracle patient. My name Julie,I'm one of the nurses who have been taking care of you. How do you feel? Do you need anything for pain?'�

I freaked out and yelled at the nurse and began checking my wrist for bloody bandages.

'No medication! I didn't try to kill myself!'�

'Jenny are you all right? Of course you didn't try to kill yourself. You were in a car accident. You have been in a coma for about six weeks. We almost lost you.'�

I sighed with relief and wondered.

'Was it all a dream? Was I really in another dimension?'�

As the sun rose over Ronen hospital Nurse Babcock yelled for Doctor Van.

'Doctor it happened again! Another has escaped.'�

Doctor Van slammed his fist upon his desk

'Who was it this time?'�

'It was Jenny Saunders. She escaped sometime during the night.'�

'Nurse check room 111 she if Gina is still here.'�

Nurse Babcock opened Gina's door. Gina was just waking up.

'She is here Doctor.'�

'Of course I'm here where else would I be?'�

Gina placed her arm under her pillow to prop it up when she felt something crinkle under her fingers.

'What's this? Who the hell is Jenny?

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