Anthony+M

Anthony M Depths of Despair



Chapter 1 – First Class
Sitting in first class, in a leather-covered seat, was Andrew **Deific**;a recent graduate from Yale, he earned his degree in psychology, granted from a scholarship.

The flight attendant walked towards him and asked, “Good evening sir, what beverage would you like for this fine evening?”

With a smile he replied, “A glass of ginger-ale please,” and then quickly added, “with ice.”

The flight attendant passed him a glass and then a can of ginger ale, and proceeded to walking off.

In a sort of liquid fluidity, he poured the contents of the can as such, of what a skilled bar tender or winemaker would do. He held the can aloft, until every drop was within the contours of his glass. Drip. Drip. The droplets of the drink resonated within the glass, producing ever so fine waves. A liquid art of sorts.

The twenty eight year old was clean-shaven, wore a fine navy blue suit that spoke volumes about his personality. He was a sharp, serious, but amiable young man. One who was an alluring speaker. Andrew had light chestnut brown hair with short whiffs, pumpkin brown eyes. In short, he was handsome.

The plane quickly experienced a short burst of turbulence, but then went to its relatively calm flight pattern. Andrew closed his eyes in discomfort, holding his forehead to relieve the pain of the past. His parents died in a plane crash when he was just fourteen. He had numerous responsibilities as a teenager.

Despite having loving grandparents that took care of him and his sister Liz, he quickly became a father figure. At age fourteen, there was a large gap in age between Liz and Andrew; however, they still had a close, tight knit relationship.

“Promise me something, big bro?” uttered Liz in a quiet voice.

“Sure, anything Lizzy,” replied Andrew with tenderness.

Liz spoke with worry, “Call me once you arrive in Stockholm, kay?”

“I will, Liz,” stated Andrew with a smile, and then continued, “once I arrive at the U and meet the prof, to help me get set up as a

teachers assistant in psychology.”

Liz beamed a wide smile at his brother. “Love you, bro.”

“You too, sis,” replied Andrew with a grin.

Andrew smiled in reminiscence of the fond memory. He was well over four hours into his flight from New York City, to Stockholm, Sweden. The vivid colors of fall were now gone and replaced by the brightly lit interior of the cabin. The Boeing 747 quickly went into an unanticipated dive and shook with turbulence.

“This is flight 117 we are experiencing engine problems, over?” announced the pilot into the radio. He had cold sweat running down the sides of his face and looked at his co-pilot. The co-pilot looked intently at the display in front of him with uneasiness. The contours of the flight deck had red plastered all over the ceiling and glass as warning lights continuously flashed vermillion red and beeped. “This is flight 117. I repeat, flight 117. Does anyone read? Over,” said the pilot once again in urgency.

Within a few moments, flight number 5 – B77 replied to flight 117 cries for help. “Yes this flight 5 - B77, we copy you over.”

“This is flight 117, our left engine is beginning to fail. Our coordinates are at 66 Degrees due north-“ The Boeing 747 quickly lurched into a quick dive and went into radio silence.

“Flight 117 do you copy over?” stated the pilot of flight 5 – B77.

The intense G Force of the dive as the pilots quickly tried to force the aircraft upward was enough to redden the faces of the pilots. Their attempts were futile as the plane continued to lurch downwards, at a steeper angle.

“This is your pilot speaking-. We have just lost engine two and are continuing at an uncontrollable downward descent. Brace for impact!”

Andrew grabbed his carry on from beneath his seat and held it tightly at his chest. He stared at his wallet of the picture of his grandparents and his sister at their last meeting. His lanky sister with a wide grin, and his grandparents behind her with a kind, gentle smile. Andrew quickly pushed out the thought and tucked his wallet safely into his suit pocket.

The lady sitting beside him was in complete, utter, shock. Andrew grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. She turned and stared at Andrew. “We’ll be okay, kay?” Andrew stated unconvincingly. The frail, middle-aged women shared a small smile to thank him.

Andrew muttered a quick prayer and braced himself. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Andrew counted the seconds and then finally there was an explosion at the front of the aircraft and then, ker-splash! The world went black.

Andrew opened his eyes to see the world in slow motion. The poor flight attendant’s dead body that floated up towards the surface as the front of the plane continued to sail slowly into the ocean’s depth. Her face held a gash filled with blood. The cold arctic water quickly brought him into reality, and he gasped for air. But there wasn’t any.

Andrew grabbed his bag and turned to his right. The windows were no longer there due to the immense pressure of the ocean. He noticed the lady and grabbed her by the arm. She was unconscious. Andrew steadily swam toward the surface as the front half of the plane continued to descend toward Poseidon’s depths. The floor lights illuminated the scene in gloomy detail. Contents floated in “mid air,” bodies mangled and entwined, trapped within their seats. In front of him, a handful of passengers swam towards the surface.

Andrew gasped for air as he reached the surface. He took in the whole situation as he recollected his thoughts. Lightning thundered, provide shorts glimpse of the surrounding area. The plane was split in half, and waves swept surviving passengers everywhere in the icy, northern waters. Several empty life rafts had been deployed, but left empty.

A pushing wave propelled Andrew towards one and he quickly hauled himself over the side of the raft and pulled the lady with a tremendous might. The lady remained unconscious and Andrew quickly passed out from exhaustion. Behind him, the scene of screaming passengers and aircraft staff was muffled by the cry of the thunder and the fiery inferno of the burning corpse of the aft side of the plane.

Andrew’s raft sailed away through the rough waves of Poseidon, and continued forward as cold droplets of downpour swept over him.



Chapter 2- Reborn
Andrew awoke to find himself sprawled upon the coarse dull sand in the early midst of morning. He flipped over to face the luminescence of the full moon and then spat out seawater. A salty taste was left ringing in his Mouth.

Andrew coughed violently for a few moments before recollecting his thoughts as they began to whirl around in his head. //New York.// //Sweden..?// //New job.. Plane, Crash!// A flurry of images flashed into his mind.

Andrew remembered the moment of impact in which the cold ocean water quickly swept up and devoured the cabin. People were left screaming and crying for help, as they lay helpless in the ocean's wrath. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, and he was brought into reality.

The sudden realization of his predicament put him into shock.

He began to crawl slowly away from the water’s edge out of desperation to escape the nightmare.

Behind him, was the glittering reflection of the evanescent moonlight revealing scratches on his arm. The wounds of yesterday’s past stung of sea salt and of the coarse grains of sand that began to become embedded overtop of his skin.

“Liz,” Andrew whispered as he called out to his sister’s name.

“Liz, be safe.”

“Stay close to grandpa, grandma.”

“Stay close-“

“Andrew?” exclaimed Ruby in shock.

“Ruby?” Andrew replied in confusion before succumbing to exhaustion.

“Andrew! Wake u-“

He fell into a deep slumber and the outside world was cut from him.

Inside of a small, crudely made shelter, lay Andrew. Behind the shack was the shore. It provided a sense of calm with the noise of the sea. Birds chirping, waves softly crashing.

** *Two Days Later* ** “Mister, wake up!” nudged a chestnut brown haired girl.

Andrew's eyes flickered to life, and he turned to face the source of the voice.

“What’s your name?” Andrew asked coldly.

“I’m Alice,” she replied with a small smile.

Andrew collected himself and spoke softly, “Where are we?”

“Don’t know, some island. Our plane crashed.” replied Alice unconcerned.

“You’re Andrew, right?”

“It’s Mr. Deific, and how do you know my name?”

“Oh, the red headed girl told me.” Alice looked intently into Andrew’s eyes as if to search for something.

Andrew stated in shock, “Ruby... She’s alive?” //Even when I’m knocked out// //she causes trouble.//

“Oh Andrew!” responded Ruby, as if on cue.

“It’s Mr. Deific, Ruby,” Andrew said in a stern voice.

“The formalities, Andrew! Even here, you insist on being called by that name, Mr. Deific. Why Andrew?” she pressed on.

“Do you two know each other?” vocalized Alice.

Ruby replied with a smile, “Andrew is my psychiatrist, well former psychiatrist. He tried to get rid of me by going to some fancy job at some University. But nope! Can’t get rid of me that easily!”

He ignored the comment, “Never mind that, where’s that lady? On the raft with me?”

“Her name’s Vanita,” chimed in Alice. “I think she’s in the forest.”

Andrew stood up and walked out of the crude shelter. He glanced at the surrounding area. The beauty of it all. The lush green forest to the right, shore to the left. Andrew inhaled a deep breath of cold air and exhaled.

“Andrew, you were out for two days.” Ruby stood to face him.

In a cold voice he replied, “I’m fine.”

“But your sister-“

“Shut up! Forget it. K?” Andrew quickly reclaimed his calm demeanor.

“Where’s Calvin?” asked Alice.

Andrew asked in interest, “Who’s Calvin?”

“He’s the shy boy. He’s kind of weird.” answered Alice.

** *Two Months Later* ** Stalking Ruby was Andrew. He followed her into the dense foliage of the forest. Everywhere around him, was a lively green. Birds chirped above them, unaware of their existence. A land untouched by the hands of man.

Ruby reached a clearing further ahead. In front of her was a cabin. Untouched for ages. It looked so unreal. The windows of the small building were tinted of grey, musty dew.

Ruby stepped in front of the building. She looked at the hazel oak door and turned the knob. It opened. With her flailing red hair behind her, she entered the ancient structure.

//What’s she doing?// Andrew crept slowly to the cabin and quickly ducked beneath one of the musty windows. It smelled of age. He took a quick peek and saw Ruby opening the drawers of a large desk that sat in the dark corner of the room. In her hand was his briefcase. Andrew’s eyes opened in astonishment. //Why does she have it? She can’t// //open it. She can’t.//

She stood at the large desk and placed the briefcase on top.

“It’s time to see what Andrew’s been hiding from us,” she smiled mischievously.

Ruby carefully unlocked the fasteners of the briefcase and opened it. Inside, the interior of the leather case held pens, family photos, papers and reports, and three files labeled **__Ruby__**, **__Alice__**, and **__Calvin__**. Interested, Ruby opened the first file labeled **__Calvin__**.

Patient #5-67-B

Name: Calvin ####

Diagnosis: Suffers from schizophrenia. Prone to hallucinations.

Recommendation: Three doses of pills a day.

Notes: Abusive family. Treat with caution. May be subject to outbursts caused by “triggers.” Killed Vanita. Be __extra__ cautious around him.

Ruby smiled an evil grin.

“What else can I learn?”

She began to read Alice’s file.

Patient #3-88-Z

Name: Alice ####

Diagnosis: Multiple Personality Disorder

Recommendation: Calm environment, therapy sessions, new treatment option.

Notes: 3 personalities. “Normal” – typical 18 year old. Energetic, intelligent. “Child” – acts like a five/seven year old. Curious,energetic. “ Trouble maker” – clever, mischief, rude, sarcastic.

Ruby gleamed in excitement, “So that’s why she’s so weird. Wonder what Andrew wrote for me.”

Patient #2-46-Y

Name: Ruby ####

Diagnosis: Minor tendencies of a psychopath.

Recommendation: Therapy sessions at Stockholm Centre for Mental Disorders Notes: Killed animals in barn at youth. Has potential to integrate to society, but needs to work harder during therapy sessions. Easily distracted. Treat with extreme caution. Very __manipulative__. Second option would be to place in rehabilitation centre.

Ruby stared in shock. “Me, in a rehabilitation centre? That’s like prison!”

“How could Andrew do that...”

Andrew burst into the room. “Ruby! You can’t open that...” He opened his eyes in realization. He hastily pushed her aside and collected the files and closed the brief case.

“You drive me crazy sometimes, you know?” Andrew spoke harshly. His eyes showed nothing but cold hate.

Ruby’s eyes began to tear, “Andrew, I’ll work harder I promise!”

“File reads **//manipulative//**, don’t you agree with my analysis?” he remarked chillingly.

“Andrew, give me a chance! Anything but that place!” Her breathing began to intensify.

“Always the fun and games, Ruby. Never taken my sessions serious.” There was a glint to his eyes, “Once we are off this island, I’m taking you straight to the centre.”

Andrew grasped Ruby’s arm firmly and began pulling to her towards the door. She resisted.

“No Andrew, please don-“

In a swift movement, Andrew had Ruby pinned to the wall with his hand covering her mouth.

“Ironic, isn’t it? The psychiatrist is the one who has gone mad. This feeling, I can’t control it..” Andrew had a wild look to his eyes and his appearance was disheveled.

Andrew drew a knife from his pocket and brought it close to her neck. The blade made a fine line on her skin. A small stream of blood began to flow.

“Stop Andrew! This isn’t you,” pleaded Ruby.



Chapter 3: Cessation
“Stop it Andrew! You’re hurting me,” entreated Ruby.

I stare at her face to witness tears dripping from its sides, fear evident in her emerald green eyes, open in panic, and her red blazing hair disheveled around the edges of her face.

“Andrew please! You’re not like this.”

//What’s wrong with me? I’m the psychiatrist. Yet I can’t control my// //anger. It’s… taking over.//

I look in horror to see my blade penetrate Ruby’s collarbone. She lets out a yelp of pain, and I continue to see my hands holding her firmly against the hard wall. Her eyes continue to plead, but I’m fighting an ever evident, internal battle with myself.

She yells out, ” Andrew! Snap out of it! I can see it in your eyes.”

My eyes continue to flash between cold, hard, dark hatred and compassion - showing my former self. In this state, my senses are heightened and I can hear, feel, everything…

Just outside of the cabin, Alice hid beneath the window, just out of site. She held an old oil lamp in one hand and in the other a match.

Further behind her, hid Calvin. His body hugged the dark evergreen trees tightly to hide himself within their shadow.

//What’s Alice doing? Why does she have a lamp? More importantly why// //does she have a match?//

Over the weeks, Calvin and Alice grew a close and well established friendship. He quickly learned to deal with Alice’s multiple personalities and kept a close watch on her.

In a movement of quick liquid efficiency, Alice set fire to the lamp and released it to the clutches of the cabin. In a matter of seconds, the whole thing went ablaze, and she calmly sauntered away from the scene.

Calvin yelled out in shock and surprise, “Alice! What have you done?” and quickly ran towards her and grasped her hand.

Alice looked at Calvin with a grin and replied innocently, “I made fire.”

//This isn’t Alice.//

“Run, Alice!” he shouted.

“Go back to camp! I’ll get you when it’s safe.”

Alice listened intently and followed his command and vanished into the forest.

From inside the cabin, Calvin heard a shriek.

“Andrew! There’s fire!” she yelled in panic.

I can feel the heat on the hairs behind my neck. But I can’t move…

She pleaded, “Andrew, we have to get out of here. Snap out of it!”

Her palms begin to sweat, and she pushes against Andrew’s hands with no avail. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see the door quaver.

I still stand here paralyzed, with Ruby standing in front of me, trying to escape. She does everything she can do - kick, punch, push - but no success.

//Ruby and Andrew are in there. I have to get them out.//

Calvin bursts through the flaming door and slams into Andrew.

“Snap out of it!” he yelled.

“Lets go Ruby!”

Andrew lies sprawled on the hardwood floor, still in shock.

Flames began to encircle the trio.

Calvin gripped Ruby and pulled her towards the door.

“We can’t leave him, Calvin! We can’t!” she held worry in her face, now darkened by smoke. “Andrew wake up! You can do it”

I stare up to see Calvin and Ruby beside the entrance of the door with worry in their eyes. My thoughts finally recollect and a blur of images storm into my mind. One being the briefcase.

“Get out of here!” I scream. “I need to get the briefcase.”

“You’re crazy!” Calvin shouts.

I plead, “Get out please.”

Calvin pulls a resisting Ruby out the door.

“We have to get him, Calvin!”

“We can’t,” replied Calvin.

In that moment, the framework of the door collapsed. It was now encased with smoldering hardwood. It radiated, crimson red from the intense heat.

Andrew ran towards the briefcase, and crammed the contents strewn upon the desk into its leather interior and closed it shut.

//I’m trapped in here.//

I mutter a quick prayer and ask my sister for forgiveness.

Calvin and Ruby stood outside and stared at the spectacle. Both of their mouths gaped in awe of the situation.

Ruby quickly collected herself, ”What do we do? WE have to do something.”

Calvin just stood in shock.

Hiding in the forest was the child form of Alice. She looked in wonderment of the whole ordeal. //I’ll save Andrew, she thought, if no// //one else can.//

Alice burst from her hiding spot and ran towards the burning corpse of what was once the cabin.

Calvin looked in shock as he saw Alice leap through the window of the burning building. He saw her in brief moments in which he saw a child running, but his vision returned and he saw the real Alice burst through the window.

Alice leapt through the window, glass crashing onto the hard wooden floor. Bits of glass cut into her skin and slashed at her face, but she rolled into a summersault onto the floor.

Andrew covered his face to protect himself from the glass projectiles and then asked in concern, “What are you doing here Alice?” “I’m here to save you Mr. Andy!” she exclaimed.

“I’m glad you came. Lets get out of here!” he smiled.

Andrew went through the frame of the window first.

Calvin and Ruby stood close.

“Lets go Alice! Hurry up!” Andrew shouted with concern.

Alice was halfway through the window when the roof collapsed.

She screamed in pain, “Andrew help!” when the glowing structure fell on her back.

Andrew collapsed onto the forest floor and gaped in shock.

In quick thinking, Calvin ran towards Alice and pulled her from beneath the burning wreckage.

Her eyes gleamed in worry at Calvin, as she lay on his lap.

“Cal-Cal-Calvin.. I-I don’t feel so well...”

“You’ll be fine!” he reassured with tears streaming from his eyes onto Alice’s face.

He brushed the strands of hair away from her eyes.

“I-I don’t know if I’ll make it..” she managed out.

“Andrew will fix you up! Won’t you Andrew?” his eyes pleaded.

Andrew just sat in shock with Ruby next to him.

“I’ll be okay, Calvin.” she smiled with her eyes closed, faced covered in ash.

“You-you, are my best friend. I love you.” she then passed out into a coma.

“I love you too,” he replied and kissed her forehead.

He walked menacingly towards Andrew and kicked him, square in the chest. He coughed violently and Ruby quickly went to help him get up.

“What’s wrong with you!” Ruby shouted.

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with him!” Calvin called back.

“That bastard nearly got us killed! Alice is in a coma because of him and she’s burned really badly!

“We have to think clear-“

Calvin cut her off, “no!” and pulled a coughing Andrew to his level.

“Stop it Calvin!” Ruby yelled.

Calvin became more agitated of Ruby’s interference.

“You’re on his side aren’t you? He nearly killed you for Pete sake!”

“Stop it Calvin,” Andrew replied calmly and continued, “this is between you and me, if you’re gonna hurt me, do it now. Just don’t hurt anybody else.”

“In that case,” Calvin grabbed the small blade from Andrew’s pocket and stabbed him in the lower abdominal region, nearly missing a kidney.

A puddle of blood began to form on to his shirt and Andrew collapsed.

Calvin looked at Ruby in disgust. He threw the blade beside the still body of Andrew and ran away into the dark.

“I can’t breathe Ruby… Help please.”

She ran toward the weakened Andrew and flipped his lifeless body upwards.

“What do I do Andrew?” she panicked.

“App-Apply pressure. I might pass out…” his breath began to waver.

Ruby placed her hands on the wound.

“It’s not working Andrew!” but he was already passed out.

***Three Days Later*** I awoke with a searing pain in my lower abdominal region. I look towards the source of the pain but see only white cloth, patching up the wound. Next to me laid an unconscious Alice. She too was patched up well.

“You’re up sleepy head,” Ruby announced from out of nowhere with a smile.

Andrew chuckled, “so I am. “

“How’s she doing? Where’s Calvin?” he quickly asked in concern.

“Well, Alice has been out ever since, but she mutters words when she’s asleep, so I guess that's good?”

“It is,” stated Andrew calmly and then added, “and Calvin?”

“He’s in the other shelter, I found him on the ground with a twisted ankle, he was passed out. I guess he tripped when he ran away.”

“Well that's good and bad,” said Andrew. “It’s good we found him.”

“Yes it is!” Ruby beamed.

Andrew said proudly, “you sure held up good, the last couple days alone, taking care of us all.”

“I did, didn’t I.” she smiled.

“You did, and I’m sorry about what happened in the cabin. I couldn’t control myself. And what I wrote in the files were wrong.” he said apologetically, “you’ve really grown up.”

“Thanks Andrew,” Ruby said tentatively.

“You really have, when we get off the island, I’ll send you home.” Andrew reassured.

He smiled, “I think you’re fine now. No more meetings, no more psychiatric evaluations.”

“I should get some firewood Andrew, thanks so much.”

“Anything,” he replied back.

Ruby left the room and Andrew was left alone.

I lay on the floor, looking up towards the ceiling of our rough shelter. To the left was the opening of it, and to my right, was my briefcase. //Looks like Ruby brought it in.//

I grabbed the slightly burned case and opened it. Everything inside was safe. The pictures of my family, the files, everything. I looked at the picture of my sister.

//I’ll get back to you sis.//

I grabbed the files of the three and began to rewrite them. I made sure Calvin and Alice would go back to the states and live close to each other. Hopefully they can be happy. As for Ruby, I also made sure she could go back home and reintegrate into society.

//She really pulled it off didn’t she?// I smiled, //and she really has grown on// //me. Like an annoying little sister that you still love. Maybe// //I can show her// //to Liz someday?//

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a bellow of smoke resonate from the ocean. //This is our chance to get off this island!//

I quickly grabbed Liz’s picture and wrote a note on the backside for Ruby. In case anything happened. I grabbed the flare gun from the first aid kit.

I was still weak from the stabbing. I crawled outside of the shelter and onto the beach. It was a grey gloomy day and the ocean shook with waves.

I fired the first flare into the air and waited a minute.

//Nothing. I have to get closer.//

I went towards the water’s edge and swam towards the source of the smoke with great difficulty. I only swim to a distance of about 100m to a floating piece of driftwood. My breathing quickens and I am left out of breath.

//This is my chance. I only have one more shot. They have to see this.//

I fire the last flare high into the air, but my body weakens and I let go of the “floatation device.” My body gets thrashed between the rough waves but there’s a sign of hope. I hear a ships horn in the distance…



Epilogue: Home?
I awoke in the dark interior of a ship. Sitting in the corner of the room was a deckhand.

“Where am I?” I asked with curiosity.

He replied, “you’re on a cargo ship. You’re lucky man! Nearly drowned.”

“Are the others okay?” I said in concern.

“Yeah they are! Umm.. there’s the boy, and two girls.” he replied. “I’ll check on them for you.”

“Thanks,” I said. I closed my eyes.

The deckhand burst into the room.

“The red headed girl, she’s gone!” he shouted.

“Gone?”

“Yes she’s gone! Missing.”

//Why Ruby? You could of gone home and been happy. But we’ll find you on// //the ship eventually.. One last game of hide and go seek// //perhaps?//

“That’s Ruby alright,” I grinned.