Sourthen Ravenport

It was morning.

Nathan Mercer lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling as thin streams of sunlight slipped through the curtains, painting pale lines across the room. Dust drifted lazily through the light, the kind of movement you only noticed when you had nothing else to look at.

It was one of those mornings.

The kind where you slept far longer than you normally would—not because you were tired, but because you hoped that if you closed your eyes again, reality would wait outside the door for a little longer.

Nathan had already lost that battle.

Sleep had abandoned him nearly an hour ago, leaving him trapped with nothing but silence and a ceiling he had probably looked at a thousand times before. Funny how an empty mind could suddenly notice every tiny crack, every uneven patch of paint, every corner where the plaster met the walls.

He let out a quiet sigh.

"This ceiling makes me miss my job."

The words escaped without him realizing he had spoken them aloud.

There was something strange about him. Most people counted down the days until they could rest. Nathan counted the hours until he could return to work. Listening to broken people, watching them fight battles nobody else could see, trying to help them carry pain they had hidden for years—that was the only part of life that ever felt real to him.

When he wasn't working...

Everything seemed painfully still.

His eyes drifted toward the small table beside his bed. A plate with several cigarettes rested there beside his phone. He stared at them for a moment before reaching for neither.

Instead—

His phone began to ring.

Nathan glanced at the screen.

Michael "The Rat."

A faint smile almost appeared before disappearing just as quickly.

He let the phone ring for another second, then another, taking his time before finally answering.

"Are you still sleeping at this time?" Michael asked.

"Why would I be?" Nathan replied.

"I don't know. Maybe you're enjoying life while the rest of us are actually working."

Nathan chuckled.

"Says the hospital doctor."

A brief silence followed.

"So... why'd you call?"

Michael's voice became slightly more serious.

"Boss made the decision."

Nathan sat up.

"They chose you to become the new therapist at Rapha Asylum. You were supposed to report tomorrow, so start packing your bags and get ready to leave Southern Ravenport."

Nathan didn't answer immediately.

The room suddenly felt different.

The ceiling.

The silence.

The cigarettes.

The weight that had been sitting on his chest all morning.

For the first time that day, none of it mattered.

A small smile slowly spread across his face.

"I'll be doing that today, Mike."

Before Michael could respond, Nathan ended the call.

He stood up almost immediately.

The same room that had felt suffocating only moments earlier suddenly felt too small to keep him inside.

Rapha Asylum.

He didn't know exactly what waited for him there.

But for the first time in a long while...

He finally had somewhere he wanted to be.










The bus rolled steadily through the streets of Northern Ravenport, its engine humming beneath the quiet conversations of its passengers. Outside the windows, the city unfolded with remarkable order. Towering glass buildings reflected the afternoon sun, while rows of carefully maintained trees lined the broad pavements. People crossed intersections with quiet purpose, each seemingly following a destination already decided long before the day had begun.

Nathan Mercer glanced around.

The bus was filled with people from different professions. Across the aisle sat a woman dressed in a navy business suit, reviewing what looked like financial reports with a pen tucked neatly behind her ear. A few rows ahead, two engineers quietly discussed blueprints displayed on a tablet, occasionally pointing toward diagrams neither seemed willing to leave unfinished. Beside Nathan sat a scientist, completely absorbed in a thick book titled Chemical Combustion. Every now and then he adjusted his glasses before calmly turning another page, never once looking through the window.

It was strange.

The bus wasn't silent.

People spoke.

Phones rang.

Someone laughed quietly near the back.

Yet everything carried a sense of discipline, as though everyone understood there was a time for conversation and a time for work.

Nathan smiled faintly to himself.

Not once during the journey had he seen a teenager.

Not a child.

Not even a student carrying a backpack.

Everyone looked as though they had somewhere important to be.

Northern Ravenport...

The rock of production.

A city where purpose seemed to outweigh leisure.

As the bus continued, Nathan found himself comparing it to Southern Ravenport.

There, the streets breathed survival. Small shops crowded broken sidewalks. Vendors called out to passing strangers, children chased footballs between parked cars, and music drifted from open windows regardless of the hour.

Northern Ravenport breathed differently.

The streets were cleaner.

The buildings stood taller.

Even the traffic moved with quiet precision, flowing through the city without the impatience Nathan had grown accustomed to.

It wasn't better.

It was simply...

different.

The bus gradually slowed before releasing a long hiss as its doors folded open.

"Mason Street," the driver announced.

Nathan stepped onto the pavement, adjusting the strap of his briefcase.

A cool breeze drifted through the street, carrying the scent of freshly watered gardens mixed with polished concrete still warm beneath the afternoon sun.

For a brief moment, he simply stood there.

His eyes wandered across Mason Street.

Office towers overlooked research laboratories whose glass facades shimmered beneath the sunlight. Hospitals stood beside corporate headquarters, while universities and medical institutions blended naturally into the district as though knowledge itself had become part of the city's architecture.

People walked past carrying identification badges instead of shopping bags.

Conversations revolved around meetings, research, deadlines and patients.

The district didn't merely encourage work.

It seemed to exist because of it.

Several metres away stood a man in a neatly pressed white uniform.

He wasn't looking around for someone.

He was looking directly at Nathan.

The moment their eyes met, Nathan knew.

He's waiting for me.

"Good afternoon," Nathan greeted.

"Afternoon, Dr. Mercer," the man replied with a polite nod. "I'm Evan Stains, one of Rapha Asylum's orderlies."

Nathan offered his hand, and Evan shook it firmly.

"Allow me."

Before Nathan could object, Evan gently took one of his briefcases.

As they began walking, Nathan found himself taking in everything around him.

The streets surrounding Mason Street felt unlike anywhere else in Southern Ravenport. Glass office buildings stretched toward the sky, their polished windows reflecting the afternoon sun. Laboratories, research centres, hospitals, law firms and corporate headquarters stood side by side, each building carrying the quiet confidence of people who had devoted their lives to a profession.

It felt less like a district...

...and more like an ecosystem built entirely around purpose.

Nathan realized he had been staring.

"Don't think too much about it," Evan said without slowing his pace.

Nathan looked at him.

"This is exactly where you'd wish to be."

"You think so?" Nathan asked.

"I don't think," Evan replied with a faint smile.

"I simply see it that way."

Nathan couldn't help but smirk.

"You've been here a long time, haven't you?"

Evan chuckled softly.

"'A long time' doesn't begin to measure the years I've spent here."

There was no pride in his voice.

Only certainty.

"I imagine a man in your profession understands what people mean when they say..."

Evan paused.

"'Chase what you love if you want to enjoy life.'"

Nathan looked at him for a moment but said nothing.

For reasons he couldn't quite explain...

Evan had his full attention.

Without realizing it, they had already reached the entrance to Rapha Asylum.

Only now did Nathan truly stop to look.

The asylum rose before him with quiet elegance.

It wasn't the dark, crumbling institution people imagined when they heard the word asylum. Cream-coloured stone walls stood proudly beneath a slate roof, while wide glass windows welcomed the afternoon light instead of hiding behind iron bars. Carefully maintained gardens framed the entrance, and tall oak trees stretched their branches across stone walkways that wound peacefully through the grounds.

The building felt old.

But not forgotten.

It carried the dignity of a place that had been cared for for generations.

Nathan turned to look behind them.

Only then did he notice they had already passed through the security gates.

Two uniformed guards remained at their posts beside the wrought-iron entrance, calmly observing everyone who entered or left. Neither had stopped them. A simple nod from Evan had apparently been enough.

Nathan couldn't even remember walking past them.

His entire focus had been on the conversation.

Interesting...

He watched Evan carefully place the briefcase beside the entrance.

"I should return to my duties now," Evan said politely.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Dr. Mercer."

"You too."

Evan gave a courteous nod before disappearing deeper into the grounds of the asylum.

Nathan remained where he was.

Before him stood the enormous entrance doors, crafted from polished oak with brass handles that had clearly been touched by thousands before him. Above them, carved neatly into pale stone, were two words.

RAPHA ASYLUM.

He wasn't hesitating.

He was taking it all in.

It had been a long time since anyone had called him back to the work that made him feel alive.

Now...

He was here.

Nathan reached for the handle.

Just before his fingers touched the brass—

The door opened from the inside.

The door swung inward.

Standing on the other side was a young woman dressed in a neatly pressed white nursing uniform. An identification badge rested against her chest, and a stethoscope hung loosely around her neck. She looked as though she had been about to leave before stopping in surprise.

"Oh..."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Dr... Mercer?"

Nathan offered a polite smile.

"Afternoon."

"We... we were expecting you tomorrow."

"I couldn't wait."

"It's probably the safest part of Rapha Asylum," Eleanor continued.

"The patients rarely come through here."

They eventually stopped outside a wooden door marked with a polished brass number.

Room 6.

Eleanor pushed the door open.

"I'm afraid this will have to be your room for today."

Nathan stepped inside.

The room was simple but comfortable. A neatly made bed rested against one wall beside a wooden bedside table. Sunlight poured through a large window overlooking the asylum gardens, where patients and staff could be seen walking along stone pathways beneath tall oak trees.

"It's not your permanent room," Eleanor explained as she placed his briefcase beside the bed.

"We really weren't expecting you until tomorrow."

She gave him an apologetic smile.

"So... sorry about that."

Nathan set his other briefcase down.

"It's alright."

He smiled.

"I understand."

Then he added,

"Besides..."

"You've already managed today's first crisis."

Eleanor tilted her head.

"My arriving early."

She burst into laughter.

"You know..."

She lightly tapped his shoulder.

"You're a funny one, Dr. Mercer."

Nathan simply smiled.

"Well," Eleanor said, checking the time on her watch, "it's lunchtime."

"I should head to the Commons."

She turned and walked toward the door.

Nathan looked around the room one last time before quietly following her.

A few seconds later Eleanor glanced over her shoulder.

"Oh?"

"You're coming?"

Nathan nodded.

"I believe we're still in the middle of our session."

Eleanor laughed.

"I wonder how you manage your patients."

Nathan slipped his hands into his coat pockets.

"I usually let them do most of the talking."

Eleanor smiled to herself as they continued down the hallway toward the Commons.

For the first time that afternoon...

Rapha Asylum was beginning to feel a little less unfamiliar.

--------------------

They arrived at the Commons just as the lunch hour had begun.

The spacious dining hall was already alive with quiet conversation. Staff and patients occupied different sections of the room, yet there was no invisible barrier between them. Nurses shared tables with doctors, orderlies laughed over meals, while a few patients sat peacefully enjoying lunch with books resting beside their trays. The atmosphere was orderly, but not strict. It felt less like a hospital cafeteria and more like a community gathered around food.

The aroma of freshly baked bread, roasted vegetables and grilled meat filled the air.

Nathan slowly looked around.

His eyes wandered from one table to another, taking in the variety of meals people were eating.

Burgers.

Lasagna.

Salads.

Soup.

Rice dishes.

Even desserts.

He couldn't help but smile.

"Wow..."

"You eat burgers here?"

Eleanor laughed.

"This is news."

"Doesn't that go against every healthy eating policy imaginable?"

"Oh, no."

She shook her head.

"We have plenty of healthy options."

She pointed toward her tray.

"My burger doesn't even have meat."

Nathan looked.

The burger was filled with grilled vegetables, lettuce, mushrooms and cheese.

"I'll gladly sacrifice meat for this."

The two approached the serving counter.

Behind it stood a cheerful middle-aged woman wearing an apron embroidered with the asylum's emblem. Unlike the rushed kitchen workers Nathan had met elsewhere, she greeted everyone as though she already knew them personally.

"Afternoon, Eleanor."

"Afternoon, Grace."

Grace handed Eleanor a neatly prepared tray.

Nathan stepped forward.

The woman smiled warmly.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Mercer."

Nathan blinked.

"Good afternoon."

"I'm afraid some of the ingredients you requested weren't available on such short notice."

She gave him an apologetic smile.

"So today's menu isn't exactly what we'd planned for your arrival."

Nathan looked down at his tray.

A generous portion of lasagna rested beside roasted vegetables and fresh salad.

He smiled.

"Don't worry about it."

"I'm already convinced this lasagna is delicious."

Grace laughed.

"I certainly hope so."

Nathan thanked her before taking the tray.

As they walked away, Eleanor looked sideways at him.

"I suppose you're wondering how they already know your favourite meal."

Nathan smiled.

"I am."

He paused.

"But I think I already know the answer."

"They asked for your staff profile before you arrived," Eleanor said.

"The kitchen likes knowing everyone's dietary preferences."

Nathan looked back toward Grace.

Interesting.

Even lunch was personal here.

They made their way through the dining hall until Eleanor stopped beside a table where two men were already eating.

Without anyone introducing them...

Nathan had already formed an impression.

The older man sat with remarkable composure. Every movement felt deliberate, from the way he held his fork to the way he quietly observed the room between conversations.

A leader, Nathan thought.

Beside him sat a younger man who looked incapable of remaining silent for more than thirty seconds. His eyes carried constant curiosity, and a smile seemed permanently attached to his face.

Before Eleanor even spoke...

Nathan already knew which one was the head nurse.

"Eleanor," the younger man greeted.

"You finally brought him."

She smiled.

"Gentlemen..."

"This is Dr. Nathan Mercer."

"The head nurse, Dr. Digonese."

"And our very talkative psychiatric nurse..."

"Mister Berlin."

Nathan placed his tray on the table before taking a seat.

"Good afternoon."

"When I heard the Warden chose a therapist this year..." Berlin said, leaning back in his chair.

"I got shivers down my spine."

Nathan raised an eyebrow.

"It made me wonder..."

"Why this year?"

Eleanor sighed.

"You're doing it again."

Berlin shrugged.

"I can't help myself."

Then he looked directly at Nathan.

"I've been wondering what kind of master's degree someone has to earn before the Warden personally recruits them."

Nathan smiled politely.

"It isn't nearly as impressive as you're making it sound."

Dr. Digonese finally spoke.

His voice was calm.

Measured.

"Welcome to Rapha, Dr. Mercer."

"I've read your record."

"You've done outstanding work."

Nathan lowered his eyes slightly.

"It's only a few accomplishments, Doctor."

Digonese gave a quiet chuckle.

"Humility."

"I can appreciate that."

He returned to his meal.

Berlin wasn't finished.

"You know..."

"It's incredibly rare for the Warden to bring someone into this beautiful little freak house."

"What did you just call this place?" Eleanor asked, laughing.

"A beautiful little freak house."

Berlin grinned.

"And I'll say it again."

He pointed dramatically at Nathan.

"I've made my decision."

"Oh no..." Eleanor muttered.

"I want to become a therapist."

Dr. Digonese laughed.

"You?"

"Yes, me."

"You'd spend the entire therapy session talking instead of listening."

The table erupted into quiet laughter.

Berlin folded his arms.

"I think I'd be excellent."

Nathan smiled as the conversation continued around him.

Voices overlapped.

Someone joked.

Someone laughed.

Someone argued over whether burgers counted as healthy food.

Gradually...

The sounds around Nathan began to fade.

Not because the room had become quieter.

Because something had stolen his attention.

His eyes settled on the far corner of the Commons.

A man sat alone.

Unlike everyone else, his tray remained almost untouched.

He wasn't reading.

He wasn't speaking.

He simply stared absent-mindedly through the large window overlooking the gardens.

Nathan's smile disappeared.

I know him.

"...Dr. Mercer?"

Berlin's voice became distant.

Nathan didn't answer.

"...Nathan?"

A gentle tap landed on his shoulder.

He blinked.

Eleanor looked at him with concern.

"Is everything alright?"

Nathan kept his eyes fixed on the man across the room.

"I know that person."

Without another word...

He stood.

Leaving the conversation behind, Nathan quietly walked toward the table in the corner of the Commons.

Nathan stopped beside the table.

The man slowly looked up.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"...Do I know you?" the man asked.

Nathan smiled faintly.

"I don't think we've ever spoken."

The man frowned slightly.

"I've seen you before."

"Southern Ravenport."

Recognition crossed the man's face.

"The clinic."

Nathan nodded.

"You used to walk past every Tuesday afternoon."

The man gave a small laugh.

"You noticed?"

"I notice people."

Nathan pulled out the chair opposite him.

"May I?"

The man shrugged.

"I suppose."

Nathan sat down.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Nathan wasn't trying to fill the silence.

He simply shared it.

After a minute, the man looked out the window again.

"I always wondered what kind of people worked in that clinic."

Nathan smiled.

"And I always wondered why you stood outside the old bookstore every evening."

The man looked back at him.

"So..."

"You really did notice."

Nathan nodded.

"You looked like you were waiting for something."

The man's smile faded.

"I was."

Nathan didn't ask what.

The silence returned.

Eventually the man spoke on his own.

"I kept waiting for life to start."

Nathan listened.

"It never did."

A soft chime echoed throughout the Commons.

A moment later, another followed.

Conversations gradually came to an end as trays were gathered and chairs quietly slid back beneath tables. Staff members exchanged brief farewells before returning to their duties, while patients calmly followed the daily routine they had long grown accustomed to.

Nathan watched the room transform within moments.

It wasn't rushed.

It wasn't forced.

Everyone simply knew where they needed to be.

He couldn't help but admire the discipline.

Nathan returned his tray before making his way back to Eleanor's table.

Mr. Berlin and Dr. Digonese had already finished eating.

"Looks like lunch is officially over," Eleanor said as she stood.

Nathan nodded.

"I enjoyed it."

"I'll take that as a compliment for our kitchen."

She smiled before turning toward the others.

"Well... duty calls."

Dr. Digonese rose from his chair.

"I have afternoon rounds."

"And I've got paperwork," Eleanor sighed dramatically.

Berlin laughed.

"You complain about paperwork every single day."

"Because every single day there's paperwork."

The three shared a laugh.

Eleanor turned back to Nathan.

"It was nice meeting you properly, Dr. Mercer."

"I'm sure we'll see each other again before the day's over."

"I'm counting on it," Nathan replied.

She gave him a friendly wave before disappearing through one of the side corridors alongside Dr. Digonese.

Nathan watched them leave.

"So..."

Berlin adjusted his uniform before picking up a folder tucked beneath his arm.

"I've been assigned to show you around the Therapists' Wing."

Nathan smiled.

"I suppose that makes you my tour guide."

Berlin grinned.

"And an excellent one, if I do say so myself."

The two stepped out of the Commons together.

The afternoon sun poured through the corridor windows, casting long strips of light across the polished floor. The building had regained its rhythm after lunch. Nurses pushed medication carts toward different wards, orderlies transported supplies between departments, and doctors disappeared into consultation rooms carrying patient files beneath their arms.

Rapha Asylum no longer felt like a place at rest.

It felt like an enormous machine whose countless moving parts worked together with remarkable harmony.

As they walked, Berlin casually greeted almost everyone they passed.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Lewis."

"Good luck with today's session, Doctor."

"Tell Ward Three I'll be there in five."

Every greeting was returned with a smile.

Nathan noticed. "You noticed?"

"I notice people."

Nathan pulled out the chair opposite him.

"May I?"

The man shrugged.

"I suppose."

Nathan sat down.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Nathan wasn't trying to fill the silence.

He simply shared it.

After a minute, the man looked out the window again.

"I always wondered what kind of people worked in that clinic."

Nathan smiled.

"And I always wondered why you stood outside the old bookstore every evening."

The man looked back at him.

"So..."

"You really did notice."

Nathan nodded.

"You looked like you were waiting for something."

The man's smile faded.

"I was."

Nathan didn't ask what.

The silence returned.

Eventually the man spoke on his own.

"I kept waiting for life to start."

Nathan listened.

"It never did."

A soft chime echoed throughout the Commons.

A moment later, another followed.

Conversations gradually came to an end as trays were gathered and chairs quietly slid back beneath tables. Staff members exchanged brief farewells before returning to their duties, while patients calmly followed the daily routine they had long grown accustomed to.

Nathan watched the room transform within moments.

It wasn't rushed.

It wasn't forced.

Everyone simply knew where they needed to be.

He couldn't help but admire the discipline.

Nathan returned his tray before making his way back to Eleanor's table.

Mr. Berlin and Dr. Digonese had already finished eating.

"Looks like lunch is officially over," Eleanor said as she stood.

Nathan nodded.

"I enjoyed it."

"I'll take that as a compliment for our kitchen."

She smiled before turning toward the others.

"Well... duty calls."

Dr. Digonese rose from his chair.

"I have afternoon rounds."

"And I've got paperwork," Eleanor sighed dramatically.

Berlin laughed.

"You complain about paperwork every single day."

"Because every single day there's paperwork."

The three shared a laugh.

Eleanor turned back to Nathan.

"It was nice meeting you properly, Dr. Mercer."

"I'm sure we'll see each other again before the day's over."

"I'm counting on it," Nathan replied.

She gave him a friendly wave before disappearing through one of the side corridors alongside Dr. Digonese.

Nathan watched them leave.

"So..."

Berlin adjusted his uniform before picking up a folder tucked beneath his arm.

"I've been assigned to show you around the Therapists' Wing."

Nathan smiled.

"I suppose that makes you my tour guide."

Berlin grinned.

"And an excellent one, if I do say so myself."

The two stepped out of the Commons together.

The afternoon sun poured through the corridor windows, casting long strips of light across the polished floor. The building had regained its rhythm after lunch. Nurses pushed medication carts toward different wards, orderlies transported supplies between departments, and doctors disappeared into consultation rooms carrying patient files beneath their arms.

Rapha Asylum no longer felt like a place at rest.

It felt like an enormous machine whose countless moving parts worked together with remarkable harmony.

As they walked, Berlin casually greeted almost everyone they passed.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Lewis."

"Good luck with today's session, Doctor."

"Tell Ward Three I'll be there in five."

Every greeting was returned with a smile.

Nathan noticed.

"You seem to know everyone."

Berlin shrugged.

"When you've worked here long enough..."

"You stop remembering departments."

"You just remember people."

Nathan quietly smiled.

He was beginning to understand why the staff spoke about Rapha Asylum the way they did.

For many of them...

It wasn't simply where they worked.

It was where they belonged.

A soft chime echoed throughout the Commons.

A moment later, another followed.

Conversations gradually came to an end as trays were gathered and chairs quietly slid back beneath tables. Staff members exchanged brief farewells before returning to their duties, while patients calmly followed the daily routine they had long grown accustomed to.

Nathan watched the room transform within moments.

It wasn't rushed.

It wasn't forced.

Everyone simply knew where they needed to be.

He couldn't help but admire the discipline.

After returning his tray, Nathan made his way back to Eleanor's table.

Mr. Berlin and Dr. Digonese had already finished eating.

"Looks like lunch is officially over," Eleanor said as she stood.

Nathan nodded.

"I enjoyed it."

"I'll take that as a compliment for our kitchen."

She smiled.

"Trust me, you'll start looking forward to lunch around here."

Dr. Digonese rose from his chair, straightening his white coat.

"Afternoon rounds won't wait."

Eleanor let out a tired sigh.

"And I've got another mountain of paperwork waiting for me."

Berlin laughed.

"You say that every single day."

"Because every single day there's another mountain."

The four shared a quiet laugh.
Eleanor turned toward Nathan.

"It was nice meeting you properly, Dr. Mercer."

"I'm sure we'll cross paths again before the day is over."

"I'm looking forward to it," Nathan replied.

She smiled before disappearing down one corridor with Dr. Digonese, the two already discussing the afternoon's schedule.
Nathan watched them leave.

Berlin stood, brushing a few crumbs from the front of his uniform before picking up a patient file resting beside his tray.

"Looks like you're stuck with me now."

Nathan smiled.

"I suppose that makes you my guide."

Berlin grinned.

"And don't worry."

"I know this place better than my own house."

The two stepped out of the Commons together.

The afternoon rhythm of Rapha Asylum had already returned.

Nurses moved through the corridors carrying medication carts and patient files. Orderlies transported supplies between wards while maintenance staff quietly went about their work. Doctors disappeared into consultation rooms, and therapists carrying notebooks walked toward offices where afternoon sessions were about to begin.

The building no longer felt like it had paused for lunch.

It had simply taken a breath.

Now it was moving again.

As they walked through the corridors, Berlin greeted almost everyone they passed.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Lewis."

"Don't work too hard, James."

"I'll bring the files over in a minute."

Every greeting was returned with a smile or a friendly nod.

Nathan noticed.

"You seem to know everyone."

Berlin shrugged.

"Occupational hazard."

Nathan looked at him curiously.

"As a psychiatric nurse, you spend more time with patients than almost anyone else."

He smiled.

"And you end up getting to know the staff just as well."

He pointed toward a passing orderly.

"I know his daughter's birthday."

Then toward a cleaner.

"She makes the best chocolate cake in the entire asylum."

Finally, he nodded toward a nurse disappearing around a corner.

"And she's late almost every Monday."

Nathan laughed quietly.

"So you remember people."

Berlin smiled.

"You can learn a lot about someone from their medical file."

He paused.

"But you learn far more from simply seeing them every day."

Nathan looked ahead as they continued walking.

For the first time since arriving...

He truly understood why the staff spoke about Rapha Asylum with such affection.

For many of them...

It wasn't simply where they worked.

It was where they belonged.

Berlin was in the middle of pointing out another corridor when hurried footsteps echoed from behind them.

"Mr. Berlin!"

The two turned.

A young nurse in a neatly pressed white uniform was making her way toward them, holding a small clipboard against her chest. She slowed her pace as she reached them, taking a quiet breath before speaking.

"There you are."

Berlin smiled.

"Looking for me?"

She shook her head.

"No."

Her eyes shifted toward Nathan.

"I'm looking for Dr. Mercer."

Nathan looked at her for a moment before recognition settled in.

It was Lilian.

The nurse who had welcomed him into the asylum earlier that afternoon.

"You were looking for me?" Nathan asked.

Lilian nodded.

"There's a request for you at the Gathering Hall."

Nathan raised an eyebrow.

"A request?"

"I'm afraid that's all I was told."

She offered an apologetic smile.

"I was simply asked to bring you there."

Berlin looked between the two.

"Well..."

"I suppose our tour will have to wait."

Nathan gave a small nod.

"It seems so."

Berlin smiled.

"I'll find you afterwards."

"I've still got half the Therapists' Wing left to show you."

"I'll hold you to that," Nathan replied.

With that, Lilian turned and began walking.

Nathan quietly followed beside her.

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Their footsteps echoed softly through the corridors as they passed offices, consultation rooms and staff members busy with the afternoon's work.

Every now and then, someone greeted Lilian with a smile.

She returned each greeting with a polite nod before continuing on.

Nathan glanced at her.

"You've been here long?"

"Almost four years."

"And?"

She smiled to herself.

"I still get lost sometimes."

Nathan chuckled.

"I was beginning to think everyone here knew this place by heart."

"Oh..."

She laughed quietly.

"Berlin likes to give people that impression."

The two rounded another corner.

At the end of the corridor stood a pair of tall wooden doors, each bearing the silver emblem of Rapha Asylum.

Above them, engraved neatly into the stone, were two words.

GATHERING HALL

Lilian stopped a few steps from the entrance.

"We're here."

Nathan looked toward the doors before turning back to her.

"Aren't you coming in?"

She shook her head.

"I was only asked to escort you."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Whatever's happening in there..."

"It's for you."

Nathan studied her expression for a brief moment before nodding.

"Thank you, Lilian."

"My pleasure, Doctor."

She gave a courteous nod before turning back the way they had come, her footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

Nathan found himself standing alone before the doors of the Gathering Hall once again.

He took a slow breath.

Then reached for the handle.

-------------------------------------

Nathan stepped into the gathering hall.

A man in a white lab coat stood alone on the stage. He wasn't addressing anyone. He wasn't preparing a speech.

He was reading the rules of the asylum.

Nathan stopped.

The man finished reading a line before speaking, his eyes never leaving the wall.

"You seem curious about who I am."

A brief silence.

"Don't be bothered."

Only then did he turn around.

He looked older than Nathan had expected. Calm. Composed. There was nothing imposing about him, yet something about the way he watched made Nathan feel strangely exposed.

The man walked down from the stage.

"Do you know that even the mayor's daughter is here?"

Nathan blinked.

"No... I didn't, sir."

The man nodded as though Nathan's answer wasn't important.

"This place..." he said, looking around the empty hall, "...isn't an asylum."

He paused.

"It's a library with plenty of books to read."

Nathan frowned.

"I don't understand."

"You will."

The man smiled faintly.

"And you should read the books."

Nathan hesitated.

"...Are you the warden?"

"If you prefer me to be."

Without another word, the man turned and walked away.

Nathan followed.
Neither of them spoke as they crossed the quiet corridors until they reached the chapel.
It was empty.

Sunlight slipped through the stained-glass windows, colouring the wooden floor in soft shades of red and blue. The silence inside felt almost sacred.

The man stepped forward, knelt before the altar, and closed his eyes.

His prayer lasted only a moment.

When he stood again, he spoke without turning around.

"And then they saw me..."

A pause.

"I was like a beast."

Another.

"I was like a monster..."

His voice remained calm.

"Bathed in blood, they said."

Silence filled the chapel.

"But no..."

He finally looked at Nathan.

"I was just a humble servant of God."

Nathan stood frozen.

The chapel remained silent.