XL Asylum

Liz shrugged. "How should I know? I don't work in city public works department." She imagined she heard Jeremie chuckle at her comment.

"How did he hear me?" Peace asked PK.

"I don't know." PK replied.  "But, I got the feeling that the water must've done something." 

"And, I don't know how to begin." PK said.  "For one thing, someone did sabotage the water in here cause someone was bored... Maybe... I don't know."

"I can hear you because I'm a hunter, and a good one too. And what's all this about sabotage?" Jonathon asked curiously.

"Just a guess." PK replied.

"You know, I don't even know how being a good hunter can relate to someone detecting a personal mind-based entity like me." Peace stated in full detail.  "It's highly unlikely that the detection of a personal thought and entity..."

"We get it, Peace!" PK shouted.

"...wait....Peace isn't real?"

"Of course he isn't,  knucklehead. "PK replied.  "He is a personality based entity, like a conscience or individual personality that exists only in my thoughts."

Kelly frowned at Peace and Jonathan. "Who are you guys talking to?" She shot a glance at Liz. "Do we have another Jeremie running around here?"

"No, his name is Peace." He looked over at PK.

"But...if he's in your imagination.....why can I see him....and hear him?"

"Crack, maybe?" PK guessed.  "I don't know."

"Maybe you should start by asking around." Peace suggested.

"Yeah, maybe I should ask around." Jonathon looked over at the group by the table and froze.

"um.....PK..................I can see Jeremie now...." Jonathon said terrified.

"I know that it's the water that makes everyone like this," Kay sighed, "but no one's ever had that much at once, no wonder you're flipping out right now."

"Yeah, i realize that it's probably the water. But if anything, wouldn't I be imagining things? Why am I able to see other people's imaginations? And it's not like I'm only imagining their imaginations because what they're saying is exactly what the people imagining them think they're saying. ....it's as if...as if I can detect the projections of other people's thoughts....."

"Great!" Peace exaggerated.   "Now the crap water is messing with him some how.  I wonder if the water is contaiminated with more than human waste."

"What?" PK asked.  "Like radiation.?"

"This isnt Fallout." Peace replied.   "However, denying any theory right now is like denying that the New England Patriots won three Super Bowl rings."

"Peace is right, what if the water isn't just making us crazy... what if there's more to it? Like uh.... like what if the water has something...i don't know, something else in it. Something that gives us...crap I must be going crazy already, but what if it gives us....abilities?"

Liz looked over at Jeremie, or as others saw the empty space beside her. "I never saw Peace before," she said.

"Wait... so am I the only one that can see both Peace AND Jeremie? Nothing weird has happened to you guys?"

Liz shook her head. "Not since I've been here, except for all the staff leaving."

"The staff? Why would the staff leave....unless........oh jeez."

The staff left because they knew this place was about to get dangerous....they know about the water, don't they?


"Um...if anyone notices anything weird around here or you get some kind of....uh...ability. Tell me. Peace, keep an eye out, you're the one i trust the most around here.....which is awkward..."

Good god i am crazy, i trust someone else's imaginary friend more than anyone else.

What Liz sees:

Liz whispered to Jeremie. "He's lost it, just like the rest of us." Jeremie nodded. "Your parents put you here because they thought you were crazy. But, I know you're not." Liz smiled and held his hand. "I know. Thanks."

What others see:

Liz whispered to the space beside her. "He's lost it, just like the rest of us." There was a long pause and she smiled and curled her hand, like she was holding someone else's hand. "I know. Thanks."

"So, let me get this right. There are two other people, Jeremie and Peace, in the room besides us, but most of us can't see them. This is getting even weirder..." Kelly shook her head. She tapped her chin, thinking, and then brightened. "Are they nice, at least? Maybe they can help me get a pet ostrich!"

Liz nodded. "Yes, Jeremie's nice. He's also smart, caring, and forgiving. That's why I fell in love with him."

"I'M NOT LOST! There's something going on here and I know it! I'll prove it to you Liz, Jeremie just told you that your parents put you in here because they thought you were crazy, but Jeremie doesn't think you are. Now how would I know about your parents? And yes Kelly, there are more.....people here. And yes they're nice, don't worry about that."

Liz sat in shock and dumbfounded. "You read my file, didn't you? It's locked up in the overseer's office and no one is allowed in there. You must have drank to much of the water."

"If that's the case, then how do I know exactly what Peace has been saying, word for word. PK, please tell her." he looked hopefully at PK.

Liz sighs. "I can't see peace, Jonathon. I can only see Jeremie."