SWNOVELS Chapter 2261
It was Rosalynn who arranged it, probably.
"I run this place, I'm Scales. You must know Mr. Jerome, the hypnotist extraordinaire!"
"Strictly speaking, Mr. Jerome is my mentor's colleague," Penn replied. They shared the same academic lineage.
"Well how great! I had the privilege of attending a few seminars by Mr. Jerome," Scales said, puffing up his chest with honor.
Penn followed him inside, keeping the conversation light and polite, and chatted with Scales.
From the outside, the psychiatric hospital looked rundown, but inside, it was surprisingly clean and orderly.d2
They walked past a couple of high-rise buildings until they reached a modest green space.
"Dr. Lange, there she is," Scales pointed toward a woman standing by the wall in what clearly looked like oversized hospital scrubs.
She was turned away, her body swaying unconsciously.
Penn's gaze followed down to see a thick iron chain, tethered from her ankle to the wall.
"She's a bit unruly; we had to restrict her movements, or she'll lash out," Scales explained. At that moment, the woman seemed to sense something and turned around abruptly. Seeing the tall, striking figure of Penn, she screamed, "Ah! Penn! Big brother Penn!"
The women here all sported similar haircuts, short with bangs barely brushing the shoulders. Rose was no exception. But she was alarmingly thin, her cheeks hollow, and her eyes sunken. Penn's heart twinged as her face reminded him of Yvette's. They do look alike.
"I'd like to have a word with her in private, if I may," Penn said to Scales.
Immediately, Scales agreed, but not before he warned Rose sharply, "Don't hurt the visitor, or you'll go without food for the next three days!"
Rose instinctively shrank back, her eyes avoiding Scales in apparent fear. After he had left, Penn approached Rose, stopping just a few steps away from her.
"Penn..." Rose reached out, her eyes brimming with tears.
Penn stood still, not moving any closer, then he said, "You smell."
He looked at her directly, his clear eyes devoid of emotion, and added, "Just like your mother used to."
Rose looked absolutely terrified, sniffing herself on impulse. "No!" she objected. Then, as if snapping back into reality, she begged, "Penn, please, take me out of here! Rosalynn is tormenting me. I'm not unwell, I'm fine. You're a psychologist, so you'd know!"
"Yes, I know," Penn nodded calmly. "You're simply bad. You're not ill."
Rose was stunned.
"I can change, no, no, I've already changed. I'll be good, I'll listen to you, please... We grew up depending on each other, can you bear to see me like this?" She began to sob. "Everyone here is crazy. I'd rather die than stay here. Penn, please, I'm begging you, take me away!"
Penn finally cracked a warm smile. "Wayne has improved," he said soothingly. "A flawless evaluation before discharge. Rosalynn came to pick him up herself, without anyone else. They're probably still enjoying their little world together."