Page 2 of Kiss of Fire

“Suraya!”

The doctor dragged her back to the present.

“I'm sorry, Dr Meadows. I didn't mean to hurt him.”A lie. “But I can’t stay here anymore. I'm twenty one. I have rights.”

“You know the rules. The court says you have to stay here until we’re sure you don’t pose any harm to anyone.”

“But I didn’t do anything!”

“So you keep saying. Your stubbornness is impressive, Suraya. But part of your problem is your inability to accept what you did.” Dr Meadows flipped through a manila folder. Raya could see the writing on the top page.Suraya Nilsen. Female. Date of birth, unknown.“You've been in treatment since you were eleven. You were adopted as a baby, your adoptive parents died in a fire...”

“I didn’t start it,” she burst out. “I know everyone thinks I did, but I didn’t. We were attacked.”

The doctor sighed and took off his glasses.

“I know. By a demon with red eyes.” He pinched the bridge of his nose wearily. “You were eleven, Raya, a frightened and confused little girl.”

“I'm not imagining it. I know what I saw.”

“And yet only two bodies were recovered from your home. No sign of this fire-breathing demon. You need to think rationally.”

Raya stood up angrily.

“How can I think rationally when there was nothing rational about what happened?”

“Miss Nilsen, calm down.” The doctor's voice was sharp and she saw his hand creeping under the desk. The alarm bell. She couldn't blame him. Shehadstabbed a six-foot tall orderly with a pen. She slumped back into the chair.

“Sorry, doctor.”

She went back to fiddling with her hair. Dr Meadows studied her for a second.

“Schizophrenia is a serious mental condition but with the right medication, it can be controlled,” he said gently. “In my opinion you could live a productive life but you need to stay here for a bit longer. Do you understand?”

Raya struggled to control the panic rising in her chest. The walls seemed balloon in towards her. She ground the nails of one hand into her palm, aware the doctor was watching her closely. She couldn't lose it now. She took a breath and looked up.

“I understand.”

“It’s good that you’re taking your meds now. I see you’ve stopped hiding them or spitting them out. That’s progress, at least.”

“Yes, doctor.”Just don’t check under my mattress.

“This is a minimum security ward, Suraya. Please don’t force me to move you to the high security wing. You don’t belong with psychopaths and murderers.”

He looked at her kindly and Raya felt a little stab of guilt. Dr Meadows really did care about her. He just didn’t listen.

Mary took her to the shower block. The older woman was one of the nicer orderlies with a ready smile and an easy manner. Raya relaxed in her presence, enjoying her lilting Irish accent.

“You gave everyone a bit of a turn, so you did,” she said. Her tone was mild, and she gave Raya a sideways glance. “Heard you kicked Griggs in the knackers?”

“Yeah. Took a bit of aiming. He has tiny balls.”

Mary turned away to hide a smile.

“But you know darlin', they won't let you out unless you show them you're getting better. You've been here ten years. Is it not time to be thinking of moving on?”

“That'sallI think of,” Raya assured her. “But lately I feel like something’s watching me. Something evil.”

“Is that why you bit Nurse Phillips?”

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