Beginning of the End - II

GingerNut's picture

As Pert began to read the next letter, he wondered whether or not his personal enigma was merely toying with him, and if these letters were just figments of his fleeting imagination.

Shoving aside the letter to his mother, the piebald moved onto the third one. Much to his relief, it had been typed out on a typewriter. At least he didn't have to bother deciphering his messy scrawl anymore...

Feeling the hallucination's seething gaze burning into the side of his head, Pert continued to read.



---


To the Katterling Therapy center,

Please forward the enclosed letter and address to Doctor Melwhim. I apologize for the inconvenience.



Doctor Melwhim,

My name is Pert Kambell. I was once a patient of yours several years ago for psychiatric treatment due to hallucinations and repeated headaches from bright colors and patterns. I believe you diagnosed my illness as an early onset of schizophrenia (despite my very young age at the time and limited analysis).

While I still disagree with your diagnosis, I’d like to request a prescription refill for more anti-psychotic dosages (Prolixin, 6.5 mg if you’ve forgotten). All I need is a signature, if you would be troubled to do so.

I’m afraid that an individual counseling session with you will not be possible due to my current out-of-state residence. However, if it’s absolutely necessary in order to get access to a prescription, then please refer me to a nearby facility that I can go to instead.

I apologize for the urgency of this letter.

Many thanks,
Pert Kambell



---



Another request for medication. How desperate had he gotten? Was the situation really so bad that he'd risk being tracked down and institutionalized? People who took anti-psychotics were rarely given any leeway in the matter of their own free will, especially in the time period that Pert had lived in.

Pert reread it, focusing purely on the diction of the message itself. For the person it was being sent to, the wording seemed oddly unprofessional. Yes, it carried a certain weight of respect to it, but it also sounded condescending and even spiteful.

Disgusted, the stag pushed the parchment aside, but found that had been the last in the pile. He hadn't even noticed.

"That's all?" Pert asked, feeling another powerful jolt of anger.

The man merely shrugged in response. "I have one more... dunno if ya really wanna read it or not..." he grinned, the corners of his lips stretching to his very ears.

"Of course I do!" Pert snarled in reply, pawing the ground in agitation. "Come on, give it here!"

"Easy Perty~" the man cooed, stuffing a hand in his pocket to pull out a folded sheet of yellow paper. "C'mere and take it."

It was challenge. Not of strength or speed, though. It was a challenge of civility. Pert lowered his head, taking a few slow, deep breaths to stifle his temper. If he didn't, he probably would have just charged the man just for the sake of venting.

Feeling as calm as he could possibly get, Pert slowly walked over to the hallucination and snatched away the soiled paper in his teeth, much to the man's amusement.

"There, now was that so bad?" he smiled mockingly, the yellowish tint of his teeth staring back at the stag's muzzle.

Pert ignored him, choosing rather to storm back off to the spot from whence he came. Plopping back to the ground, he carefully unfolded the paper with his snout, trying not to stain the edges with the moisture on his nose.

With the paper folded out, Pert could recognize his messy writing from before. But just by glancing at it, the letter seemed different... as if it wasn't really his.

And as he read it, he found that he was right.


---


Dear Olay,

I’m having Pert write all this stuff down for you since I still can’t read all those squiggles that you all take for granted. Anyway, how’s school going? I bet you’re still getting straight A’s, even in math. You were never that good at math. Remember how I always had to help you on your homework?

We’re both doing okay over where we are. Well, Pert is doing well. I’ve got a bad case of the shivers and aches and whatchamacallit. It’s probably because I lost all my cigs a few weeks back. I’ll live though, it’s just really goddamn miserable.

Be glad that you’re a girl by the way. Otherwise you got yourself a one-way trip to god knows where (how long has that been going on, anyways? Not everyone has been cut out for army work, least of all me). At least we can be sure that Avvy didn’t get into it.

So yeah, don’t worry about me. Pert and I are doing A-Okay. Sorry I didn’t get a letter sent out to you after about two years. Postage is pretty pricey these days.

As always, make sure that Dad and Mom don’t see this. Hopefully you’ve kept up to that promise.


Still alive,
JerXXXX


---


Yes! Finally he could make out some of the name! That goddamn name that always seemed to have ink splattered all over it.

Pert closed his eyes, trying to remember anyone from his life that had a name that started with those three letters... Jer... Jer... Jer...

Nothing.

He still couldn't remember, even if a little bit of it had been given to him.

The enigma sighed dully, as if he were working with a small child. "Turn it over, genius." he ordered, twirling his cigarette in his fingers to demonstrate.

Narrowing his eyes, Pert grabbed the lower corner of the paper to flip it over, leaving teeth marks.

The handwriting was different now. It was much neater, a fancy cursive that coated the surface.

Pert read.


---


Olay,

Having some volunteer chick (you heard me, write everything down!) I bribed write this part.

I need advice, sis, so you better send me a reply this time.

Pert's been getting worse. I don't even know why. We're in the nicest goddamn location we've been in years. Last night I got my arm sliced. That's the worse it's gotten.

I don't know what to do. Pert can't take care of himself, he's too loopy, but at the same time I need to get the hell out ASAP.

He doesn't understand that he's doing more than just being an inconvenience to me. Sometimes I don't even think he knows that what he's got going is wrong.

What do I do? I can't just leave him, or can I? He's nineteen now, a fucking adult. I shouldn't have to take time off to make sure that he doesn't go off the deep end.

I'm the one that bailed him out, though, remember? If it weren't for me he'd be in a padded room.

Reply to me. I need a girl's input on this. You guys are better at this shit than us guys.


Love,

Jergens


---



Jergens.

As soon as Pert read it, his damaged mind seemed to implode in on itself.

As if a dam had broken, memories rushed into his head at such an alarming rate that he nearly cried out in agony. He forced his eyes open, and found that the hallucination and the letters were no longer there.

He felt dizzy. He pressed his head against the ground, feeling more and more light-headed.

He tried to grasp a fleeting thought, or at the very least, a small fragment, but they passed by so quickly that he found he could not touch them.

That is, of course, until he passed out.

His mind slowed to a crawl.

And a single episode was recalled.






---

Originally longer. I cut out one of the letters.

The pace will pick up next week, I promise.

P.S; Trying to write out something that Jergens is 'saying' in formal English is hard as hell

P.S.S; if you think this is rushed, that's because it is |D
Skitties's picture

Oooh. So intriguing. I am

Oooh. So intriguing. I am curious about the letter you cut...

As always, I anxiously await more.

Signature by Roo ♥

Oooh. O_O Poor

Oooh. O_O
Poor Perty-kins.
More is anxiously awaited.
Also curious about the letter you cut out |D
Munkel's picture

-waits for more too- alskdj!

-waits for more too- alskdj!
Skitties's picture

*bumps so more people can see

*bumps so more people can see it* <3333

Signature by Roo ♥
GingerNut's picture

Wow... did I really forget to

Wow... did I really forget to reply to everyone? What a jerk I am ;; Honestly, I really am dissapointed with this one just because I literally whipped it up in about 15 mins cx The next one that I'm posting a few will hopefully make up for it~

Skits/Ammy; Eeeeee<3 Honestly, it was cut just because it sounded tacky to me, and it wasn't that long to begin with so you didn't miss much. Thank youuu ;;

Munk; <33333 Thank ye~

Skitsx2; lawl, don't spoil me, you<3