“Greg,” she says quietly, “this is your home now.”
It’s an island, Mike whispers. It’s always been an island.
Yes, Greg thinks. Yes.
DR. HESTER says, “You’re looking better today.”
Greg grins. “It’s a prison, you know.” He’s sitting in a chair next to a window that overlooks a large cactus and not much else. The ground is red, arid. It looks like nothing. Greg likes it. Mike hates it. Greg’s become adept at ignoring him.
Dr. Hester’s chair falls silent. “How’s that, now?”
“This. This whole place. It’s a prison. Just a nicer one.”
“I don’t see that at all. This is a place where we are changing the world as we know it.”
He cocks his head. “What would happen if I tried to leave?”
“I don’t understand.”
“What would you do if I tried to walk out the door?”
“Where would you go?”
“You’ve been talking to Dr. King.”
“Mr. Hughes, I don’t think you quite grasp the situation that you’re in.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Tell me, doctor. What do you know about schizophrenia?”
Dr. Hester flinches. It’s barely there, but Greg catches it. “I don’t know if I can apologize more than I already have.”
“I don’t know that you’ve apologized at all.”
“Would you have rather us left you there? Where I found you? Neglected and uncared for?”
Greg laughs but doesn’t say anything.
“Would you like to go back?”
He stops laughing. “Back where?”
Dr. Hester is watching him closely. “Amorea, Mr. Hughes.”
He thinks Mike is almost gone, because he doesn’t even register a blip. “How?”
“A medically induced coma. It would be deep, Mr. Hughes. I’m not going to lie. You wouldn’t wake up from it. And in all honesty, I’m not being entirely altruistic. There is so much I can learn from you. From your brain.”
“Why didn’t you do it then?”
“When?”
“When I was waking up? Why didn’t you just put me back under?”
“Why, that wouldn’t be ethical.”
Greg snorted. “Somehow, I don’t believe you’re worried about ethics.”
Dr. Hester doesn’t reply.