Chapter Text
“Morning Tyler. I've got bad news today, unfortunately.” His voice was monotone. It's been a while now that Tyler was seeing this psychiatrist. Probably about a year. “I spoke with your parents recently and-” he sighed, looking at him right in the eyes. “And we noticed that you had a lot of issues. Mental issues. I know we've been seeing each other for a long time now, but... I have to admit that we haven't really identified the source of your problems.” He scratched the back of his ear before continuing. “Your parents and I decided that it would be better for your mental health to be interned in a psychiatric institution”
“What? My parents agreed with letting me go to an asylum ?!” Tears started to fill his eyes. It couldn't be real...
“It's not an asylum. Those structures are for teenagers like you, that have problems which cannot really be identified. Everything is gonna be okay, I promise Tyler.”
He shook his head. “NO !” He stood up and clenched his fists. “NO, I REFUSE TO GO THERE!” He started to cry and sat down again, burying his face in his hands.
Calm down Tyler, or he'll give you drugs like last time !
He was 18 years old. He couldn't imagine for a second that he is going to be in an asylum. It couldn't be real. No.
“I'm sorry Tyler but that's a considered judgment. There's no way for you to be sane again if you don't go. I'm sorry.”
“No you're not. You just don't understand that I don't have any problem! I AM PERFECTLY FINE! I wonder how many people like me you send up there! It's unfair !”
“Tyler...” He sighed. “We both know that you have a problem. I just cannot figure it out clearly. There is a good number of qualified psychiatrists at this place that may help you better than I can. You have to understand, that it is for your own dear sake. We just can't reconsider it right now. It's too late.”
“I don't want to go...please...” He whispered those words, face wet with tears, and eyes begging.
“It's not how you believe it is. There is no torture, it's not jail. It is made to help people going through hard times of life. Not to traumatize them.”
“I know you lie...this place is hell, I'm sure !”
“For Pete's sake, Tyler, I told you it was the best treatment for you! They aren't gonna hurt you at all !”
Tyler sighed. He knew what it meant. He was trying to reassure him. But he knew that those 'psychiatric institutions' aren't a place where he could be safe at all.
“Where is that asylum...” Tyler hoped so much that it would be near his house for some reason. At least in Ohio.
“It's in California.”
Tyler laughed nervously “That's a joke, right? It's in Ohio, isn't it ?”
The doctor shook his head. “No, Tyler. It is really in California. No jokes here.”
The little bit of hope that stayed in Tyler's chest has just escaped. He was going to be sent far away from his family. Tears filled Tyler's eyes once again as he realized that it was because of his family that he had to go. At least, he had no friends.
“Please tell me that there's another solution! That there's one of these institutions in Ohio in which I could go! But don't send me to California...” he sobbed.
The doctor gave him a sympathetic look. “I'm sorry, Tyler. The institutions in Ohio are not qualified enough for your type of issue. You have to go to California.”
Tyler bursted into tears.
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The doctor told Tyler that he had a week to prepare himself and what he needed as well. He had spent this week locked away in his room, avoiding his parents and packing his stuff. He talked briefly with his siblings sometimes. But not that much. But most of the time, he was crying in the corner of his room, thinking about how hard it was going to be for him to live with complete strangers. He used to be very uncomfortable with people he didn't know. He doesn't like talking that much and that's probably why he doesn't have any friends. As Tyler was a child, he used to have friends. But of course, his father had a job opportunity in some other state and he had to go away. After that (but not because of that) Tyler was homeschooled, and that's when he started to be scared of strangers and people in general. He wasn't able to replace his old friends. He thought that the only person he could trust was himself. And that's why (he assumed) he was now sent to an asylum. The doctors thought that he was schizophrenic and depressed, but like the doctor said 'they are not sure'.
The following morning, Tyler's mother came in his room -that was unlocked for once and woke her son up without saying anything. Tyler got ready and didn't want to eat breakfast. He could see the worried look in his parent's eyes. He barely ate that week and it's been a long time since Tyler parents had heard their son's voice.
But now it was time to go. They drove silently to the airport and took a plane to California together. It was a 5hour flight.
They arrived there after a taxi cab drove them to the center. Tyler looked at the building for a little while, thinking about the fact that he will have to live here for probably a long time. He didn't even know how long. His mother put her hand on his shoulder but he pulled out. She muttered a 'sorry'. Tyler never liked to be touched but at this moment, he hated his parents for sending him here, so any contact with them was like an electric shock.
They went inside and all that Tyler could hear was the noise that was coming out of a room to the right. This place was creepy. It looked like an old mansion, everything was gray and dark. Tyler rubbed his neck, feeling trapped.
Damn! Where are we ?! Get out of here ! Quick !
Tyler shrugged. “We're trapped. There's no way out.” He tried to speak low since he didn't want his parents to hear him talk.
A man in a white lab coat came to meet them. He assumed it was a doctor.
“Hello and welcome to the Peace River Psychiatric Hospital Center,” He looked at Tyler, a wide smile on his face. “You might be...” He looked down at the clipboard he had in his hand. “Tyler Joseph ?”
Tyler nodded.
“Well nice to meet you. I'm the doctor Aaron Hanson and I will take care of you during your stay here. You can call me Aaron though.” he extended his hand in Tyler's direction, that dumb smile still on his face.
Tyler looked at his hand, not wanting to touch him.
“Tyler, baby, don't be rude!” His mother pushed him gently in the back for him to take the doctor Hanson's hand.
Tyler held it quickly to escape his mom's touch and shook it before taking two steps back. The doctor smiled at Tyler's parents. “Would you follow me to the boy's room ?” he offered, starting to climb up the stairs, and they followed him. They arrived in a long corridor on the 3rd floor. In the middle of it, was his room. The corridor was different from the hallway. The hallway looked old and creepy and the corridor was like the corridor from a hospital. He opens the door to show a room with 2 beds. They went inside. “The number of your room is 326, so remember it, Tyler. You're gonna share your room with one of the patients here. He's been here for almost two years. He's got almost the same health issues as you. He's not here now, he must be in the common area with the others.” he stopped for a second and then opens a door on the right side of the room. “Here's the bathroom. There's a sink, a toilet and of course a shower. Do you have any questions about the room ?”
Tyler parents asked a few questions but Tyler didn't listen to them and looked at the room. He has to share it and that was a big problem, because Tyler had nightmares, and he doesn't want to wake his roommate up at night, screaming. He also hoped that his roommate will be nice. He walked towards the window to look outside. He could see a park. With a big fence around it.
Dude this place is hell! Take us out of here for fuck's sake!
They went back downstairs, and Hanson explained a few things. “On the right is the common area. That is where most of our patients are spending their day. I can't show you that room though. There are games, books, and some stuff to stay occupied during the day. The kitchen is on the left. Normally, you wouldn't have to go there. The dining room is on the 1st floor, and every medical facility is on the 2nd floor. The rooms are also on the 3rd and the 4th floor. Any questions ?”
His parents are once again asking questions. Tyler took a closer look at the doctor. His smile still stuck on his face. He knew that this man could be nice. But he doubted that this was his real face. He could be very, very bad. He swallowed his saliva, knowing that he could probably never escape. He was freaking out.
After a long conversation in the hall, Tyler's parents decided that it was time to go. His mother hugged her son tightly, kissing his forehead and his cheeks many times. He could see some tears in her eyes and he knew that he would probably never see them again. His father just patted his shoulder gently, a sympathetic smile on his face. As soon as the main door was closed, Hanson locked it, his smile blending away. “Now, you can go to your room and unpack your stuff. You'll find a phone in your room, it's directly on the left when you enter, it's on the wall. You'll find my number on it, so call me when you need help. Meet me in 30 minutes down here, I'll take you to the director. He'll ask you some questions.” Tyler nodded his head and climbed up the stairs to his room. There were two closets. One with his name on it and the other one with the name of his roommate: Gerard. He wondered what he looked like.
As Tyler finished to unpack his stuff, he went downstairs and waited about 10 minutes for Aaron to come. They went to the 5th floor which seems to be the last one. “Here are the rooms of the employees and the doctors. The director's office is up here,” He pointed his finger to the double door at the very end of the corridor. They stopped a few inches away from the double door. “Just one thing you have to do when you're with him,” he was now whispering. “don't ever frustrate him, or you're not gonna have a good time here, understood? If you are honest and if you act normal, he will seem kind” Tyler nodded once again, and Hanson knocked on the door. A 'come in' coming from the inside of the room. Aaron patted his shoulder. “Good luck, Joseph.”