Mirrors by Ted Dekker Page B

staff. The upper level is reserved for our more challenging cases. We employ rather advanced, unconventional treatments on the upper level. Extremely effective, I might add.”
    Two floors? She hadn’t seen any exit sign leading to another floor, but then she hadn’t been looking for one.
    “It can be accessed only by a secure elevator and is operable only by qualified staff. There is no other way in or out. None.”
    Lawson reached into his lab coat pocket and came out with a small box of toothpicks, one of which he withdrew before returning the box to his pocket. He slipped the sliver of wood into his mouth and rolled it with practiced ease as he studied Austin curiously.
    “And since I’m sure you’re wondering, the crawlspace Alice found in the basement has been sealed. I was admittedly quite surprised to find it. Thank you, Alice, for bringing that to our attention.”
    He looked at her, and then pressed when she offered no reply.
    “A ‘you’re welcome’ would be appropriate here. Let’s try to be cordial, shall we?”
    Play along , Austin had said.
    “You’re welcome,” she said.
    “Well, thank you for saying ‘you’re welcome,’ Alice.”
    She just looked at him.
    “Are you going to say ‘you’re welcome’ for my saying thank you for saying ‘you’re welcome’?”
    She blinked.
    “No, you aren’t, because that would be circular, wouldn’t it? I’d keep saying thank you, and you’d keep saying you’re welcome. It would be insane. And your brain is working overtime trying to convince you that you’re not insane. Not even disturbed. Not even a little bit. Classic delusional behavior.”
    “It’s also classic sane behavior,” Austin said.
    “True enough. Only this time we know that’s not the case. Deep inside, Alice knows that. Like many in her shoes, she’s so accustomed to being the way she is that she honestly thinks it’s all completely normal. As is the case with you, my friend. You can see that, can’t you?”
    Austin thought a moment, then followed his own advice.
    “Yes.”
    “Yes, of course. You see how much better this is than resistance. Simple acceptance is always the first step to freedom.”
    “Makes sense,” Austin said.
    “Everything I say will eventually make sense.” Lawson withdrew his toothpick and pocketed it, maybe for future use.
    “All the therapists conduct their cases under my strict supervision,” he continued. “On occasion, I take cases on personally, which is what I’ve decided to do in your case, Alice. If you’re agreeable, that is.”
    Christy wasn’t sure how to take him. The man that stood before her now seemed quite different from the one she’d first met in his office. And yet quite the same. She didn’t know when he was toying with her and when he was serious.
    She looked at Austin, who still sat in stoic control. He offered her a slight dip of his head.
    “Yes,” she said.
    Lawson glanced between them.
    “I can see that you two have formed a bond. Scott, you will remain on this floor until we develop a more thorough treatment plan. Based on your file, your illness is severe, but I see no manic behavior that concerns me.”
    He faced Christy.
    “Fortunately for you, Alice, we have an effective treatment for patients who display the kind of extreme dissociation you’ve exhibited. You’ll be taken up to the second floor as soon as we’re done here.”
    “What?” The thought of being separated from Austin and placed in some secretive upper floor pushed her mind over some unseen cliff.
    “I’m not a problem!” she cried, feeling her control slip. A voice somewhere told her to play along , but she couldn’t stop herself. “I’m not some nut and I’m no worse than Scott.”
    “Maybe not, but make no mistake, Alice. You are a problem. You’ve been in here less than a day and you’ve already gone to great lengths to escape, once through the basement and once out the front. You injured yourself in the first attempt and