Biting...

William led me out of the room and back towards where my room was situated, again our footsteps echoed eerily from the walls. I attempted to cover my head with my hands, but my tiny digits could not form a shield and I was vulnerable to the discriminate thoughts of the other inmates. I could just hear them: Look at that bald girl, she's so ugly. We eventually reached my luxurious living quarters.

"Make yourself at home" William mumbled. "I'll go get your clothes" he turned away and began to make his way back through the corridors.

"Can't I stay in my clothes?" I questioned.

"No" he replied shortly then continued down the corridor. I went to my bed and lay down, curling up into a ball because of my cold head. One solitary tear left my eye, trickling over the bridge of my nose and then into the mattress. The skin it had once covered was fresh, clean and soon I broke into full blown sobs. I was stuck in here for the rest of my life, why don't I just kill myself now? Save the state a lot of money, make everyone happy, heck - Mother and Cynthia would probably dance on my grave.

Stop being absurd Alice. I sat up and wiped my tears onto my wrist, don't give up, don't be a coward. It's only a mental asylum...besides, you have William. His head poked around the door then when he saw I had been crying, he came to me with concern written all over his face.

"What's wrong?" he took my hand and rubbed soothing circles across my palm, his cool fingertips woke my nerves.

"What do you think?" my tone was disbelieving, wasn't it obvious?!

William nodded solemnly. I noticed the grey overalls atop the desk near my door.

"I have to wear those don't I" I glared at the offensive material, the fabrics of my life because that was all I had left.

"Yes" he answered. "I'm sorry Alice, these are my orders - standard procedure" he rose and took the clothes from the desk then handed them to me.

I ripped them from his grasp. "Leave me alone so I can change please"

He didn't respond but just stood there.

"Get out!" He left.

I struggled out of my dress and corset and replaced them with the dull fabrics, I walked to the door to let William in. As I saw his unhappy face I felt guilty for being so horrible to him.

"I'm sorry I shouted" I told him. "You didn't deserve it, I'm just so upset, and angry"

"I understand"

"You have no idea!" I shrieked, stomping over to the opposite side of the room.

"I know how isolation feels like, I live it" he told me but I felt there was a double meaning to his words; I decided to press it.

"What do you mean?" I walked till I was an arm's length away from him, hoping to find the truth in the short distance.

"It doesn't matter" his eyes became significantly darker in what seemed like half a second. Am I going mad? I wondered.

"Your eyes just changed colour" I murmured. William looked me straight in the eye, why do I want to know? I suddenly asked myself. For something to do, to keep me even remotely sane.

"It doesn't matter" his eyes narrowed in concentration as he stared into my eyes. In the end I decided to stop my questions, he was adamant in his refusal to tell me. I sighed.

"Okay, it doesn't matter" William's face softened ten fold in relief.

"No" he smiled.

"What time is it?" I looked to the window high above me, the light was fading.

"I don't know, I don't carry a watch" he replied, "it must be about six o'clock though"

"Oh joy, the end of the day" I went to my bed and sat down.

"I should leave you now" William said. My mind frenzied at the thought of being left alone for hours on end. I abruptly stood and grabbed his arm.

"Don't go" I whispered, looking up at him.

"I have to prepare the evening meal" he started to uncurl my fingers from around his arm.

"Let them starve" I muttered resentfully. I saw the corners of his mouth pull up slightly then return to their expressionless mask.

"I'm afraid I must leave, Alice. Much as I enjoy spending time with you" he walked as far as my door then turned - winking. I had no idea what that might mean but I guessed it was something good, something I should look forward to. I slumped back onto my bed again, and just stared at the ceiling. A new vision came to me.

A blond doctor who looked just the same as William - beautiful, pale, with yellow eyes - stood over a boy who looked as though he were on the brink of death. His features were unremarkable, although he had an amazing hair colour, bronze but matted with sweat. The doctor was obviously agonizing over something as he stared at this boy, who looked no more than twenty years old - a terrible sight. Some time later the blonde doctor bit down into his neck and then at other places all over his body. When the man stepped away his eyes had become a frightening shade of crimson while the boy writhed in the bed that looked just barely better than my own. Then the screams began.

"You're going to be fine" the doctor told him, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

His screams were still ringing in my head when I returned to the reality of things. Excruciating pain, death and William were three words that came to mind. Who was the doctor who looked so much like my attendant? What practice was he performing? Could it have been magic? Some kind of life saving elixir, as the boy seemed to recover with whatever he had done. Biting...

A/N: Hooray! A new chapter. Hehe. Sorry it took so long, I hope you're enjoying it! Please review!!