“Hey, mister? Are you playing with those?”

We blinked away the medicated haze when the boy spoke to us. We looked down at the dominoes on the table. “Naw. Just starin’ at ‘em. Hopin’ they got the answer to a way out of this place.”

He sat down across from us, beginning to move the tiles around. “You have to ask them nicely or they won’t help you.”

“What do you know about talkin’ tiles?”

We watched him carefully examine each piece. “I know they don’t like talking like they used to. Not enough magic left, I guess.”

“Careful with that magic talk, kid. They shove pills down yer throat for that crazy shit.”

He shrugged without looking up from his task. “You shouldn’t cuss so much, Mr. Jakyl.”

We stared at him in confusion. “How do you know that name?”

“I heard the man with green eyes call you that yesterday when we were out in the yard.”

We grabbed our head as searing pain ripped through us, blood dripping from our nose.

“I didn’t know you could see me much less hear me.”

When I opened my eyes again, Krystian sat next to me, his alien eyes studying the child. “Do you have to claw yer way out every time?” Krystian ignored me, keeping his focus on the boy sitting across from us.

“I can see and hear a lot of things that other people don’t see and hear. I guess that’s why my mother brought me here. The things I see and hear scare her.” He paused as he examined one of the tiles closer before putting it back down.

“She is not incorrect to be afraid if you can interact with things like me. What else can you do?”

He shrugged, swinging his short legs. “A lot of stuff, but mother says I shouldn’t do any of them. She says they scare people.”

Krystian tilted his head. “Can you do anything now that you are here?”

The boy shook his head with a sad look. “No. The medicine makes it stop. Cara says that it helps weaken my imagination. She said my imagination lies to me and tells me things that aren’t possible.”

“Is that what you think?”

The boy paused as he looked over the odd pattern of dominoes he had laid out. “No. I know what I see and hear and do are real. At least, they were before I came here.” He glared at the tiles. “These don’t make sense.”

Krystian looked over the tiles as well. “No, sadly, they are only giving you nonsense. What are you trying to get them to tell you?”

The child shrugged with a sigh. “I don’t know anymore. The medicine makes me feel confused. Like maybe I am making it up.” His eyes raised to study the illusion sitting next to me. “Why hasn’t the medicine made you go away?”

Krystian laughed darkly. “It would take something much stronger to send me away. I am quite attached to Jakyl. Would it help you remember that you aren’t making it up if you could see me more?”

The child nodded slightly. “I think so. I know what you are.”

The silence between us all hung heavy, the boy and my tormentor staring at each other. It was the first time I had ever seen Krystian’s composure break.

“What am I, child?”

The boy pushed one of the dominoes toward Krystian. It had a green scorpion on its surface. “You’re the scorpion.”

Krystian was suddenly kneeling next to the boy’s chair. “What’s your name?”

“Vincent. What’s yours, Mr. Scorpion?”

Krystian laughed again. “Krystian. Mr. Scorpion works as well. I quite like that. I think I’ll keep it. I think we’re going to be friends, Vincent. Would you like to be my friend?”

Vincent smiled faintly and nodded. “I would like that.”

To my surprise, Krystian tousled the boy’s hair. I had never seen him physically interact with anyone else before.

“Vincent. It’s time to go to color therapy.” We all turned our attention to the nurse who had called the boy’s name.

Vincent got up and waved to us. “I’ll see you later.” He quickly followed the nurse from the common room.

Krystian sat next to me, his eyes still on the closing door. “What an interesting child.”

“Interestin’ is a word for him. Does you bein’ out where he can see ya mean I get my head back?” My head felt as though it was being split open as the illusion disappeared.

Not a chance. This head is my home. You don’t get off that easy, Jakyl.

We rubbed our temples with a growl. “Can’t blame a man for havin’ a little hope.”