Page 5 of Lethal
She won’t meet my gaze, and I observe how she tightens her arms around her torso, using the stuffed animal as a shield. What the hell is happening here? “Is someone bullying you at dance? Is it one of the older girls? You can tell me, I’ll go there with you, and straighten them out. No one gets to hurt you, sweetheart.”
A harsh chuckle leaves her lips, as her eyes fill with tears, that spill over her youthful cheeks. “No one at dance is hurting me, Cat. I just don’t want to be there anymore, I don’t want to be anywhere. Just leave me alone!” She shouts, turns, and runs out of the room, the sound of her feet racing away on the hardwood, loud and unforgiving.
I urge myself out of the memory, before I have a complete mental breakdown. My hand slides down my face, and swipes at the tear that has made its way toward my jaw. I can’t let those memories overwhelm me here. I have to keep moving forward. I flip open the leather-bound case file marked‘Norwood, WrenM’. The pages bleed together with images, words, and police transcripts. Stained things. Twisted things.Tragic things.A faint metallic scent hangs in the air, mixed with dust, age, and decay, causing my flesh to crawl. Perhaps it’s from the ancient radiator in the corner of the room, or maybe it’s from the contents of the folder; either way, I hate the scent. My eyes stare down at the blank page for a moment before writing.
The subject was initially reasonably lucid and calm. Represented typical behavioral affect: disarming, intelligent, self-aware.
Spoke initially only in distorted nursery rhymes, as has been previously noted in other sessions.
A notable increase in personal targeting was observed in this session, with remarks focusing on clothing, voice, and body language.
Demonstrates escalating emotional fixation, masked by therapeutic rapport.
Quickly escalated to labile affect: Rapid and unpredictable shifts in emotions, and agitation, with questions about his mood.
Refers again to‘the voices’.When questioned further, it led to an increase in agitation, violent thoughts, and outward threats.
Transference symptoms are developing, and include increased inappropriate thoughts of a sexual nature.
Patient’s phrasing is deliberate, possessive, and ritualistic.
Possible need to increase his dosage, if his mood and behavior continue to escalate.
