Let me tell you a story.

I once found myself standing in a psychiatric ward once, I neede help and knew where to get it, and was still sane enought to know that I did need professional help. That is how I came here. I wasn't planning on staying long, just a few days to see a shrink, get his advice, maybe some medicine to help feel better then I'd leave. Simple.

Thereceptionist was nice, she directed me to where I needed to go. Now I don't know much about how things go when someone comes looking for help, but the last thing I wanted to happen was get them to think that I was going to kill myself and end up staying alot longet than I'd planned.
I laughed at that. The last thing I was going to do was try and kill myself. No, some things have been pressing on my mind and I neede some one to talk to, someone that would listen and possibly help.

I had arrived at the room, there was no pause as I walked inside. The doctor inside was A plus material. A real fox, literally. We shook hands and she introduced herself as Doctor Kathrine Neffec, oddly enough a fox-fennec mix. Even my pure cheetah blood couldn't catch her if she played hard to get. Even so, that wasn;t the reason I was here, that would just add more onto what I already needed to take care of.

Hours passed. We continued to talk through the day, it was already half over by the time I'd cheked in already, but still. I spilled everything, my life and where it was now, and where it was heading. Things that I planned to do, and things I had yet to do. Some women that I'd met and left, all these things I thought would be key in getting a conclusive decision. Dr. Neffec sat there, taking notes and occasionally nodding.

She came to the decision that I should probably stay here at the hospital for a while, but it was completely up to me. I opted to stay, so I didn;t ahve to go home and worry about anything. She grabbed some papers in a drawer at the bottom of her desk, I stole a peek. She passed them over and I signed on several dotted lines.

Together we walked down the hall and into the reception area for the psych ward. I didn't like to call it that, reminded me too much of the old movies, people yelling at invisivble things, insane mumblings, and the straitjackets. Now that scared me, more than anything else. I didn't want to think about that, actually being in one. I shivered.

I was told at the desk that there were no regular rooms open, the kind with the beds, tv and bathrooms. And they definately didn't allow double rooming. Dr. Neffec was hesitant about saying anythign, but she managed to say it, kind of quiet. The only thing they had as far as a place to stay was a 'safe room', well that was what they called it. Everyone else just called it a padded cell. I was hesitant to stay here overnight that having been said. But the Docotor and the receptionist assured me that the door would remain open. I felt pressured, like othe times before. I felt compelled to stay.

I cautiously agreed. I wanted that door to stay open. We walked to the cell. The outside was a two foot door, on the outside the letters were painted '226' My lucky numbers, they turned up everywhere. The door was open, it was a good foot or so before the cell actually started it was set back, probalby for the closet beside the door.

The doctor opened the closet and grabbed out one of the pairs of clothes. White hospital clothes, the nubers '226' down the side of the pant and hte short sleeve of the shirt. The rest of the closet was filled with several more pairs of pants, shirts, socks, a pair of slip on shoes and a neatly hung straitjacket, the numbers '226' down the left sleeve. I backed up into the wall opposite the cell. I was afraid.

Dr. Neffec saw this, and from experience knew what it was. She grabbed the remiander of the clothes I'd need and then shut the door. I was told that it was mandatory by the state to have at least one jacket for every cell, and they were used only when things got extremely out of hand.
I shivered again.

I was handed the attire to change into and moved into the cell. The first thing I noticed is that the floor was thick and sank down a couple inches, felt it through my shoes. I changed into the hospital clothes, shirt, pants and socks. My other clothes were pu intide the bag I had carried in and that was placed inside the cabnet, which Dr. Neffec locked. She told me it was patr of the regulations and also that no one that shouldn't be leaving would take my clothes and walk out.

I was given a pass card, a platcic like card with my ID picture on it along with a call number and the doctor's signature. I was to use it every time I went through a check point because the clothing that I was wearing was the incorrect color, light blue for the patiens in the medical section, dark blue for the patients seeking psychiatric assistance for them selves, and white for the 'mental' pateints. The good doctor used a different word, it was more politically correct, but then again I wasn't.

There have been people that have said I was a fool for doing that, it wasn't intentional, but I was setting myself up for somethign to happen. I knew what that was, but right now I needed help more than anything. As long as I had the pass card, things would be good.

I was shown where everything was and then the Doctor moved on to other patients. I spent the rest of the day thinking in the lounge. So many things crossed my mind. Things that I had forgotten. Before I knew what time it was, the day was over. I moved slowly back to the place where I would sleep, or at least try to. As promised, the door was open and there was a clip board with a note from Dr. Neffec, and underlined in bold letters was an order to keep the door open, or if the occupant inside (Number 226) wants to be released, comply. There were several other signatures were below that. I felt better.

The room made me envious of the bed I had at home. The floor was more comfortable than anything I'd slept on in a long time. Things were great, no disturbances. Untill arround 2 am.

I was awoken by a sound, and wasn;t sure if I'd heard it at all. A swishing sound, followed by a thud, something moving around on the padded floor. I sat in silence, to hear it again. The swishing sound, it was close. Adrenaline spiked, my heart started beating rapidly. There was soemthing in here. I listend again, over the hum of hte fan at the top of the cell, just to make sure I actually heard it. This time it was official. The sound of soemthing moving over the floor and an occasional thund that followed. I was scared.

Slowly I moved to the door, thank God it was still open. I turned on the light from outside the cell and looked in. Nothing, just the empty room. I waited a second before I turned it off and laid back down. Maybe I was imagining things, or that the thing could have run outside when I got up. Another thought crossed my mind, perhaps someone was meesing with me, in here that wouldn't be far fetched.

I was almost asleep when it happened again. Swish. I froze, my heart beating rapidly again. There was something in here and I knew it. This time I bolted up and switched on the light before anything in there could react, my ststems already on over drive I let out a small squealch. The cell was empty, like last time. This attracted one of the orderlies that worked the night shift, and I had to attract the hulk.

A massive Pitbull saultered over the the beam of light comming out through the door whre I stood. He asked what was the problem, I explained. He looked inside, scanning the cell, seeing the same thing I did, nothing. He turned to me with furrowed brows. In the best manner he could, he asked why this door was open in the first place, I showed him the papers. He scanned over them and replied, letting me know that I was causing a big comotion and could wake up the other patients, and kindly said he'd check on me every few minutes, after he locked the door. My muzzle droped open, I couldn't argue this guy was a meat head and could have taken me apart. He advanced toward me, in effect moving me into the cell. He sad he understood what was going on, and that he would open the door in the morning after his shift, but for now it would remain locked.

My heart sank, knowing the events that would follow, I sat back down on the padded floor and sighed, the heavy bolt outside the door thunked quietly in the night. I shivered, this place can do that to you.

Several times I saw the shillouhette of the big pitbull peer inside and look for me, like he said he would. Nothing else happened for a few hours. Then it happened again. The moving on the floor and the thuds I was terrified, the door was locked and I was stuck inside with whatever else was in here. This time it touched my pant leg, I could feel it. I yelled, but then quickly snapped my muzzle shut. The orderly was at the glass window faster than lead in quicksand sank. The ligth flipped on.

I found myself standing against the wall, hands pressed into the padding and on my tiptoes in the hospital's socks. I didn't want ti to get me. My eyes remained closed, the door creaked open. The orderly let it close behind him. In a rather coarse voice he let me know that despite whatever problem I ha, to keep it quiet or he'd have to make me be quiet. I didn't like the sound of that, and promptly told him what was going on and that there was soemthing inside the cell. He gestured with his hand around the room, there was nothing inside, and he didn't see anythign come out when he opened the door. He said it was all in my head.

I didn't argue, didn't say anything. I was told to keep it queit again, or he'd get intot eh cabinet outside the cell. I knew exactly what that meant without a second thought. I started to cry, slinking back down the wall into a corner, shivering. The huge pitbull aplogized and backed out of the cell, switching the light off as he went. The bolts clunked again. All I wanted was help, and now I was being terrorized by someones' rude jokes and t wasn't funny. I shivered, hearing that sound again.

I eventually fell asleep. Now I understood what it was like to be inside a padded cell. I wanted out, but couldn't. I wanted to pound the door untill someone opened it, but that would give people the wrong ideas, and that was the last thing I needed ontop of all this, and that goddamned thing in my cell. So far it hadn't done muchm but move around and hit my pants. But I couldn't see it, I couldn't tell if it was a threat or not. It was the first tiem in ym life that I felt scared as much as this. True terror. It was cold.

The morning didn't bring much consolation. Doctor Neffec was informed of what had happened and asked be about it, I told her the truth. Soemthing was inside that cell, it was moving about all night, sometimes touching me, other times just moving. I had seen enought faces to tell me that she thought ill of what I'd told her. Then the questions came. Was I doing any drugs, legal or illegal. had this happened before. What did I think it was.

She decided that this new turn of events warrants a further investigation. I sank into the chair. I was allowed to keep the Id card, but was told that I could no longer leave the building at will. I was warned about trying to do anything stupid aswell. This wasn't going well.

The entire day passed as a barrage of new doctors trying to help me. I tried to help them, each story was the same, averything before I came, then the events of last night. They also talked with the Pitbull who had shown up for his shift. I learned his name, Terrance. That was s good tough name. His story paralled mine. I was disturbed several times during the night, and upon each inspection of the cell there was nothing to warrant alarm. Things were not looking good. I admitted where I could be wrong, and just hearing things.

The rest of the day was a blur.

I didn't want to go inside, but I had to. Again I sat down amongst the pads and leaned against the wall. My eyelids started to fall, my head rocked back and forth. I was almost there, the ground opened up and I fell over in sleep. I had won that night.

Again it was about 2 am when it happened. Shiwsh, thud. This was getting tiring, adrenaline spiked again. A few seconds passed, it happened again. There was no mistaking it. Something WAS in here. Despite the fear telling me to sit still and cower in the corner, I sat up. It was in here, I was in here and eventually I would find it.

I started out slow, searching the floor with my hands, it was too dark to see anyting at all, even with my night eyes. Every time it happend, I turned to the sound and reached out, afraid of being bitten it was slow, but as things progressed, I was faster. Grabbing out and lunging toward the sound. Sweat rolled down my fur, that wasn't supposed to happen. We big cats always sweat through out paws, but in extreme heat I alway found myself sweating like a human.

I sank back in defeat after a half an hour. This was madness defined. I hoped it wouldn't happen again. The fear returned as the courage left. This time it hit me, right in the knee, on the side. I had enough, I wanted out and was determined. Likea predictable nut case I started banging on the door, the pads absorbing the impact, muffling the sound. The sound again, swoosh, thud. I pounded harder, slamming my body against the door, yelling things through the door.

Terrance came and he didn't look happy. He threw the bolt for the door open. I didn't plan on going anywhere, jut to the other side of the hall, to get out of that cursed cell. I lunged fro the wall and slid out from the cell to the other side of the hall way, and began cowering. I pleaded not to go back in there, I'd do anything, but go back in there. Over and over again I pleaded; kept saying it was in there and it would get me. This stopped me for a second, I was rambling on like those psychos, cowering in terror at aparently nothing at all. The bif pitbull used his hand held radio and called for the other Orderly over to his position.

I was pulled off the floor, his hands gripped me tight thinking that I was going to go somewhere. The other Orderly came over, a hulking Doberman. Both men were probalby washed up bouncers, but the were still strong as hell. I didn't want to go back in, there was no way. The two convinced me that it was in my best interest to go inside. Both decided to count to three after that I was going inside. They reached three.

I was digging myself a hole to get out of by ignoring them. I was pushed toward the doorway, but I resisted, pushing back. I repeatedly told them that there was something in there, but they didn't listen and kept pushing. It was a war of the wills, I had the doorway to push against any they kept pulling me off and trying again. Things got rough, they started to punch, naturally I punched back. It was stupid, the entire fight, but I was determined not to go back in there.

I took a punch to the head and went down. Before I had a chance to recover they dragged me mover to the locker, I knew what they were doing. The locker was opened and a jingling of belts rang out. I tried to get up, but the pitbull was ontop of me pressing down on my neck, pinning me down. I was hauled off the floor, the pitbull wrapped his arm around my neck, the other had my arm pinned behind my back. He advised me to stick out my other arm and squeezed, cutting off blood to my head. Now I still had most of my wits about me and complied.

I felt the jacket slide over my arm, it was heavy. When the half of the free side was in the jacket, the doberman grabbed my sleeved arm and held fast. It was wierd, usually when you put on a shirt the cuff fell around the wrist area, but the jacket had sleeves that extended down several inches past the hand and ended, sewn shut with one side of a belt sticking out of the end of the sleeve. The two ere brutal, my other side was quickly jacketed, the bluckels in the back too a while to tighten. The two had done this before, there movents were fast and precise, tightening the jacket down enough not to restrict breath.

I shiveredas they passed my arms through the front strap and around the back. The doberman came close and 'hugged' me, squeezing my arms closer to my body, Terrance tightened the strap in the rear. The last strap was passed between my legs and kept loose, I had plumbing down there. Then I was released from the strangling hold. I was defeated. The two moved me through the narrow door, and pushed me inside. I fell to the floor, my arms instinctively went out to catch myself. Straitjacket. I landed flat on the floor, sinking in the pads, the door clunked behind me.

I twas a wierd feeling, not being able to move my arms, I had to roll up to a sitting position. The light turned off, leaving me in total darkness. I felt vulnerable, unable to defend myself restrained like I was. But then again I asked for it. The sounds started again, I backed up to the wall as best as one could and cried. The noise continued off and on all night, sometimes hitting me, there was nothign i could do, but wait for the day to come.

It was light. The morning had come, somehow I'd fallen asleep. I head Dr, Neffec's hight heels clacking down the hall, and that damn noise. This time I caught it. The light flicked on when it started, just in time. My worry was repalce with a feeling of cowardice, my fear turned into a laugh. I fell over to the floor and laughed uncontrollably. The tormenting noise, the 'attacks' that I had wound my self up for, that I'd gone nearly insane over. That I now sported a straightjacket for, I continued laughing. That God awful noise...



My tail. I tried it, moving it across the floor, creating the exact same sound and thunk. I knew it had a mind of it's own, and sometimes I didn't notice it moving at all. I was making that noise, I laughed again, my tail...... Dr. Neffec walked into the room, and didn;t quite know what to make of it, untill I told her.

We laughed.