Knock. Knock.

Click.

“Hello, love.” A soothing, masculine voice chimes. In front of me stands a tall man with dark, freckled skin and bouncy curls that fall to his shoulders. Like the other head Advocates, he wears the same uniform; though a pair of yellow spiral goggles rest over his head. A rich, flowery scent fills the air as he approaches my bedside. “How are you today?” He asks with a soft smile.

“Go away.”

“Oh… Well, I apologise, however… I’ve been ordered by the boss to visit with you today.” The man explains softly. “I am Doctor Henry Allan; though you may simply just call me Henry. I’m the lead Advocate of Hypnosis here at The Sanctuary. ”

I hug my knees and look up at him. Despite the eerie scars along the edges of his mouth, his smile appears genuine; the first of its kind in this cult.

“Great… Hypnosis. ” I mumble.

“How about you come with me, yeah? I’d like to help.”

After shooting him a look of exhaustion, I look away in thought.

It’s not like it matters anymore. They’re just gonna keep poking and prodding me until I break.

“…Fine.” I huff as begrudgingly get out of bed. He holds his hand out for a moment before retracting it in defeat and giving me a nod of appreciation. Henry gestures to the door and follows me out of the room as I sluggishly walk into the hallway.

“How old are you, darling?”

“…Nineteen.” I mumble.

“Ah, I see. That’s quite young. We don’t usually treat people your age.” Henry replies, turning a corner. Instead of walking ahead or behind, he walks beside me- as if he’s a friend rather than a doctor. “I’m sorry that our treatment has been unsuccessful.”

Following at his side, I give a huff of defiance as I cross my arms in frustration. After a short, painfully silent walk through the cold halls, we arrive at a set of yellow doors embellished with a spiral badge icon which matches a large, ironed-on patch on the back of Henry’s lab coat.

The room appears more spacious than the other sections of The Sanctuary despite being the same size. Not a piece of medical equipment is in sight; in fact, the space seems rather cosy for a room in this industrial facility. To my left is a large, black couch wide enough to fit at least seven people, and a row of chairs facing the corner of the room which is littered with screens. Freaky. Looking to the right, I see a variety of potted plants and a chaise lounge chair, which is placed beside an armchair similar to that of a therapist’s office.

“Please, have a seat wherever you feel comfortable. I have a few things I need to prepare.” Henry says while gesturing to a table in the middle of the room.

I glare up at the camera, a passive anger creeping up on me.

That bastard is probably watching. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he set this whole thing up to get into my business .

“I’m aware of the struggles you’ve been through thus far… This entire situation must be truly frightening for you.” He pauses for a moment, noticing my targeted glare. “…I know you’re afraid, love, but I just want to help. Do you think you can trust me?”

“…No. No one can be trusted.” I mutter angrily, slumping into one of the chairs and crossing my arms. He sits across from me, his eyes softening with sympathy.

“My colleagues… They’ve put you through hell, haven’t they? I am very well aware of their… questionable methods. It’s valid to be afraid after the mishaps that have occurred during your stay.”

“Tch.”

“Unlike my fellow Advocates, I prefer to take a different, more individualised approach.” He explains calmly, rolling the charm of what appears to be a pendulum between his fingers. “My treatment involves the gentle art of hypnotherapy. I hope you can make yourself comfortable.”

I scoff and look away, my foot tapping the cold tile floor beneath me with anxiety. Henry rises from his seat, approaching a console table which rests against the wall beside us. On it rests various objects: a jewellery rack filled with a variety of pendulums, an hourglass, candles, and a tray of small crystals and stones. He dims the lights in the room and grabs a few items before sitting across from me again.

“The other Advocates here, they use quite unsavoury methods in attempts to gain a patient’s compliance. I believe there are more appropriate ways to go about that.” He sets a candle in front of me, swiping a match against the side of its box and lighting the wick. A faint lavender aroma fills the room, the warm light of the candle illuminating Henry’s face and my own. “I know you have no trust in us, especially after the actions of my colleagues. But please, try to trust me. I promise that I won’t hurt you, Skyler.”

His words break through the anxious thoughts clouding my mind, causing me to perk up slightly.

“You… Called me by my name.”

“Yes, yes I did.” He says, leaning forward slightly with a look of slight concern. “…Is that strange?”

“Well- It is in this place … Here, I’ve been reduced to a bloody number.”

Henry sighs to himself, brushing one of his curls aside with a disappointed expression.

“…I don’t particularly agree with the Ministry’s approach to patient identification. It’s mostly for organisation purposes; most patients go through marmalisation relatively quickly. With the Ministry’s latest advances, we’ve been able to get patients in and out in a week or less. But I don’t see my patients as numbers. You’re human beings… Human beings who deserve to be named.”

This guy is certainly strange, but his presence feels… Warm.

“Focus on my voice, Skyler… Take a deep breath and let the lovely scent ground you to a place of serenity.” A genuine smile rests on his face as he leans forward, his voice becoming more gentle like a lullaby.

Initially, I hesitate, but I take a deep breath, the soothing aroma filling my lungs and slowing my anxious movements.

“Now, I want you to close your eyes and think of something that brings you comfort- a memory, a place, a person…”

I close my eyes, keeping my focus on the scent of the candle.

Lavender… Mum grew lavender.

Tears sting at my eyes as a weak chuckle escapes my lips.

“Could you tell me what came to mind, Skyler?”

“…My mum. She loved to garden.” Faint childhood memories with her play like short, bittersweet films in my mind.

“Why don’t you tell me about her? Anything that comes to mind.”

“She was… kind .” I say with a shaky exhale. “My mum loved everyone and everything… Especially kids. She illustrated children’s books and wrote poems. It’s why I love to paint.”

“Your mother sounds like a lovely person, judging by the way you speak of her.”

“Heh, she was. She always knew how to make me… smile…” My voice trails off, cold tears rolling down my cheeks as I feel my hands start to ball into fists. “She was so… Happy.”

Henry cocks his head, listening intently. He rolls the pendulum charm between his fingers again, as if trying to read right through me.

…I don’t trust him.

The tension in my body returns and I freeze in place.

“…Stop.” I mutter tearfully, digging my nails into my arms. Henry’s expression shifts to one of concern and intense focus as his fingers pause, wrapping around the pendulum charm.

“Stop what, love? Did something unpleasant come up?”

“I… I can’t trust you– I don’t need help… I don’t need anyone-! ” A few tears hit the floor as I shoot up from my chair.

“…It’s very clear you have a lot that you need to process. I can’t even begin to imagine the burden you carry.” He observes my anxious movements as I pace around.

“Y-You’re just trying to trick me-!”

Henry sighs, approaching me with caution before gently pulling my hands away from my arms.

“Hey… I just want to help you, Skyler. That's all I want to do.” He says with a calm demeanour as he guides me to the long couch. I slump onto it in defeat, wrapping my arms around my legs and burying my face into my knees. “I understand why you don’t trust me… But I want to help work through what is causing you so much pain… No tricks, no cruelty.”

“…Fine. Whatever.” I mutter, wiping a tear from my cheek with my palm.

“Thank you for trusting me.” He says, his warm smile returning as he sits on the other end of the couch to give me space. My gaze is drawn to his hands, which pull a small black and yellow coloured pendulum from his pocket. “I presume you know what this is, no?”

I nod in response.

“Good. All I want you to do is focus your attention on this pendulum and my voice… Allow your mind to clear and be drawn to a different state.”

The spiral pendulum dangles from a string wrapped around Henry’s fingers and sways in a repetitive back-and-forth motion. It doesn’t take long to become entranced – the pendulum’s motions become grounding as his voice soothes me into a state of comfort. My mind feels fuzzy and blank, but it feels oh so nice to be away from my own thoughts .

Henry pockets the pendulum, glancing down at a clipboard by his side. His expression shifts back to a careful focus as he looks back up at me.

“Skyler… I want you to tell me about your mother. When did she pass away, love?”

“I… I was five.” I mumble, my eyelids growing slightly heavy.

“That’s a good start, love, thank you for being honest.” He leans forward, observing my sudden drowsiness. “Can you tell me how she died…?”

“…She killed herself.”

Henry frowns, his expression growing sympathetic again. He scoots closer to me, gingerly pulling my hands into his own and rubbing them with his thumbs.

“This may be painful to remember, but… can you recall the events of that day?” He asks cautiously.

“I… Was looking for her… I had a nightmare and… I found her in the bathroom with her wrists slit…” My voice trails off, my throat tightening as tears absently pour from my eyes. “There was so much blood…”

“Skyler… I’m terribly sorry for your loss.” His expression turns sombre as he gives my hands a gentle squeeze. “I want you to picture your mother in your mind… Her face, her eyes, her smile… ”

My awareness begins to fade back, causing my body to tense and my expression to shift to one of apprehension. I can’t bare to think of her- I don’t deserve to think of her. Henry places his hands on my cheeks, grounding me with his gentle touch.

“Shhh… It’s alright, love. You’re safe.”

“…It’s too painful.” I admit tearfully, letting out a sob. “If I remember her… I’ll have to say goodbye again.”

“I know it hurts… and it feels like you’ll lose her all over again. But you can’t move on if you keep living in avoidance. By reliving these memories with her… You’re keeping her alive, Skyler.”

“No… I don’t want to face it… It’s all my fault she’s gone… ”

“Skyler…” He puts his hands on my shoulders with a firm but caring grip. “You are not responsible for your mother’s suicide. That choice was hers to make . You were so young, Skyler… there’s nothing you could have done for her.”

“S-Stop…! You’ll just abandon me like her and everyone else…!” I cry out, pulling his hands off of me.

“No wonder you keep everyone distant… You’re afraid of being alone again.” He gazes into my eyes, once again trying to read me as he reaches for my hand. I swat him away, tears spilling down my cheeks.

“I am alone. And I always will be.”

“You don’t have to stay distant forever, love… You’ll only hurt yourself if you don’t trust anyone–”

“I tried, okay-?! You people only made it worse – you ruined it, dammit-!” I shout, my anger snapping me out of the trance Henry put me in. “You people… Are lunatics .”

“Skyler… I’m only trying to–”

“CAN’T YOU SEE THEY’RE BRAINWASHING YOU TOO?!”

Henry pauses, his eyes widening. He opens his mouth, probably to spout excuses, but his breath hitches in his throat. He reaches into his pocket to grab the pendulum once again.

“Can’t you see through their lies-?! Can’t anyone?! This fucking cult is ruining people’s lives, dammit-!”

“Love, I can assure you, I’m not brainwashed… I’m aware that the Ministry’s methods are a bit… strange to some, but… we’re just trying to better society–”

“Don’t you know what they did to your boss-?! ” I interrupt him, shooting up from the couch and balling up my fists in frustration.

“The Ministry’s methods have all been tested and proven to have positive effects…” He reassures while approaching me, uncertainty creeping through his voice. “You’re just struggling more than the others–” I shove him away, taking steps back as I breathe heavily with anger. His pendulum slips from his hand and falls to the floor, shattering into a few pieces.

“You think this is normal?! Does any of this look OKAY to you?! Open your eyes, dammit! They’re using you- They’re using all of you-!”

“The Ministry would never use–”

“STOP DEFENDING THEM!!! IT’S CLEAR THEY HURT Y–”

The door slams open and two Advocates rush in, swarming to my sides and forcefully pulling me away from Henry by my arms. I cry out in anger, thrashing against them in hopes of freeing myself. It’s useless; their grip is too strong.

“Ah- Hold on a moment…!” He shouts, lifting a hand to the Advocates. His expression grows weary, a hint of hesitance in his eyes.

”Doctor Allan, are you hurt from this patient’s aggressive behaviour?” One of the Advocates questions, their grip on my arm tightening.

“I’m not hurt, I just…” His gaze drifts to the shattered pendulum on the floor, then back to me. “…Release them.”

The Advocates look at each other with hesitance before letting go of my arms and stepping back. The smiles remain on their faces, but their eyes portray confusion.

“…You are dismissed.”

“Alright, Doctor. If you insist.” The other Advocate nods obediently. “We’ll be back to retrieve the patient later today.”

Henry attempts to remain stoic as he watches the Advocates exit the room, though his eyes betray him, conveying unease.

“Wh… Why did you stop them?”

“…You were trying to speak to me– I could see the hurt, the anger…” He explains doubtfully. “Letting them drag you away wouldn’t help you… It’s not fair to continue letting you go unheard.”

“Just… Take me back to my room.” I sneer, bitterness in my voice. “…I’m done.”

Henry sighs and runs a hand through his curls, nodding in defeat as he opens the door and leads me down the hall in silence.