Supermarket(64)

What a fucking story. I could write about all I had gone through and maybe, in turn, help others through their own struggles in life.

But I couldn’t get ahead of myself—I was still in the here and now. At the Mayberry Psychiatric Hospital.

But not for long.

The holiday play wrapped up, and after mingling with the patients, the costumed actors packed up their things.

“Lights out!” the security guard said, his voice echoing throughout the wing. It was time.

My stomach fluttered with nervousness. He made his round down my hallway. Just after he passed my door I slipped out, not making a noise. Using Red’s key card, I scurried through a maze of locked doors. I had the whole floor plan committed to memory. I was feeling like James Bond, stealthily trailing the guards as they made their last checks of the night. I followed the moving light from their flashlights, bouncing from wing to wing, making my way closer to the back exit.

I was careful not to make a sound.

Nearing the East Wing, I walked slowly but confidently. I was almost out. Red said there would be no guard here. As I entered the wing, I picked up my pace. Nearing the door, on my way to freedom, I heard . . . another door open.

A flashlight shone in my direction.

I quickly hid behind a trash can, the light growing closer and closer. The trash can was only a few feet from the door leading to freedom and, assuming she got my message and came through, Mia’s car . . .

“West Wing, this is East Wing,” the guard said into his walkie-talkie as he made his way closer to me. “Thought I saw something down here. Checking it out now.”

Godammit, Red! I thought. You said nobody was gonna be on this route tonight!

The security guard was now only feet from me, the trash can shielding my body. But if he continued to walk just a few more steps, then turn to the left, he would surely spot me— “Hey, who are you?!” the guard said.

Oh, shit.

“I’m an elf, obviously!” said another voice. “I forgot my wallet and have to get home or my wife is gonna kill me. I’m already late.”

“Oh, I see,” said the guard. “Okay, well, did you grab it?”

“Yes sir, just on my way out now! Thank you.”

“Well, be more attentive next time, will ya?”

“Yes sir,” the voice said. “You got it.”

“West Wing, East Wing here,” said the guard, speaking into his walkie-talkie again. “It was just one of those actors from Santa’s play. Never seen a black elf before.”

I watched as he walked through a door and shut it. I couldn’t see anyone and it was dead quiet, so I got up and began walking quickly toward the door until . . .

I was grabbed by both arms.

“Oh, shit!” I said, looking around. It was so dark, I couldn’t see anything.

“Hey, kid,” said a familiar voice. “It’s me!” I could barely make out the goofy elf costume in the dark.

“Red? What the hell, man?! I thought you said there wasn’t gonna be a guard in this wing tonight? And why are you—”

“That’s just why I’m here,” he interrupted. “I had to tell you. I overheard the guards saying that even though Henry called out sick, another guard ended up covering his shift. In the East Wing.”

“Well, yeah . . . I can see that.”

“Look, Flynn, I’m sorry, okay? I mean, I’m here, aren’t I?” Even in the dark, I could make out his smile.

“Yeah, but that’s just the thing. You’re here now, so how are you supposed to make it back?”

“Well, damn, I hadn’t thought of that,” said Red.

As much as I wish it weren’t true, at this point, he had to come along. If he didn’t, there was a chance the guards would catch him heading back to his room, and once they did . . . they would search every wing, making sure every patient was accounted for. And that’s when they’d discover . . . I was nowhere to be found.

Game over.

We were already at the exit. No turning back now.

“Come on, old man,” I said, swiping the key card and opening the door.

An explosion of freezing air smacked me in the face. I wasted no time, running fast as I could. I was finally out of that damn place! There was a guard patrolling the grounds outside, so I ran as fast as I could, passing the Mayberry Psychiatric Hospital main sign and . . .

An empty parking lot. Fuck. My heart sank. I stood in the cold air, out of breath.

This was the end of the line. Mia hadn’t come through.

“Red, what do we do?” I said.

“Well, boy, this ain’t good. Let’s jet to the trees over here and regroup.”

Feeling defeated, we shuffled into the wooded area bordering the parking lot.

“Red, I really thought Mia was going to be here. I guess this is how she really feels. I felt so sure about this plan earlier. I don’t know what ha—”

“SHHH—Get down, boy!” Red whispered. A car turned off the road into the parking lot, coasting in as though in neutral. Its headlights turned nearer and nearer to our location in the woods. The car suspiciously parked itself. The headlights turned off.

I could see it now. It was Mia! She’d actually come!

This would be it. This was the night all of this would end! I ran to the car, holding my Santa pants up with my left hand. I opened the passenger door and jumped in.