Epilogue

01st January 2021

Victor's POV:

First day of the new year. Everyone was happy. Why? It's just the year that's been born but none of you are going to become any better, I thought internally whenever someone wished me a happy new year.

Horandane hospital for the criminally insane isn't bad at all. We have reading time, indoor games, a new movie every week, and a few classes that the patients can join if they wished. Food served here is more than good and the hospital was always clean and tidy. No problem here at all.

The only session I hate here is the psychiatric therapies that come every three days with Dr. Colin Campway. It was a two hours session and for two hundred times he tells me that I was Victor Anand as if I didn't know that all these days.

All they want to do is to make me feel guilty for kidnapping Lisa and killing people. Telling them that I regret my activities now won't hurt at all. So I always tell them I feel bad for whatever I had done in the past and wouldn't repeat them in the future. My therapist was always happy when I say this.

Pulling up my bitter and abusive childhood here and there earned me sympathies and concerned looks. It has been my key tool and I never failed to use it in my sessions.

I never really talk much to people here, neither did anyone wish to talk to me. Mostly every patient though themselves are criminals, seemed to be a little scared and jumpy when I was around them and it made me feel good.

During this one year, all I think throughout the day and all I dream throughout the night was Lisa, Lisa, and Lisa. But I never told anyone here about it. I pretended like I had forgotten her completely and always spoke about my mom to win people's hearts.

I was told that I would be released when I am diagnosed to be completely alright and I can't wait for that to happen sooner. So I did all that I can to look like I was becoming better in all ways.

I must get out of here and get back to my Lisa no matter how much it costs. This time my attempt will never turn out to be a failure. I will plan it so precisely that no one can trace us like how Noel did. Now that Noel is also dead things will be easier than before.

I will get out of here and seek a job to make it look like I was leading a normal life. Meanwhile, I will start laying out proper plans. Once that's completely done I will carefully set out to put it in action.

Lisa has now moved to Dubai and I heard that she was visiting her native place every six months. She doesn't come to Coimbatore anymore but I will make her come. I am sure about that.

It's been a year since I was admitted here and I didn't have visitors like how other patients had. But I do have a secret visitor who visits me at nights discreetly after everyone goes to sleep.

I was lying on my back staring at the ceiling. My arms were flexed above me with my head resting over my palms. I was waiting for that sweet visitor who would come anytime now if she had anything important to tell me.

Ten minutes passed as I haven't realized that I had dozed off before I heard the lock jiggle. I sprang up turning to look behind me to see the dark silhouette standing behind the locked gate of my room. She has something to tell me.

I scurried towards her and grasped the iron bars as our faces were just inches apart. Her wide alarmed eyes darted across the dark corridor she was standing in to make sure that no one was around. Then she leaned forward as her face eased into relaxation before her lips spread in an excited smile.

"I have good news for you", she hissed making my body tremble. She never really called anything good enough.

"What?", I asked tightening my grip on the bars.

"I overheard Dr. Campway talking to Officer Walter today morning. He said you seem to be very close to the perfectly-alright state. And he also added that if you continue improving the positive behavior they will undergo you a final therapy test and a police inquiry before releasing you from here", she said.

I wanted to shriek out in joy hearing at what she had told me. She grinned widely showing her yellowing teeth.

"And when will that be?", I asked.

"Maybe next year Victor! Make sure you show improvements in your behavior. The most awaited day is not so far", she said patting my cheeks through the gaps.

"Thanks, Rook. Our hard work paid off", I said as her hands crept over mine and gave a squeeze. She nodded in contentment, "Okay, I will leave now. Happiest Night"

She quickly scooted down the corridor disappearing into the distant dark as I smiled.

"I am coming for you, Lisa. I am sure you can hear me"

HAPPY READING!