As time passed, and night finally claimed the sky, Lydia decided to make more hasty decisions. Between what she heard and what little she knew thus far, she couldn’t help searching out an answer. After all, it seemed she was the only one willing to try.

Right now, she was at the edge of the girl’s corridor on the second floor; the hallway that branched right of the main room with either of the staircases. While others went about their business, Lydia eyed the gate and third-floor staircase with a suspicious look. She already had a few plans formed in her head, though she figured some would be too hard or impossible to pull off.

It’s unbelievable...Even the patient before me had to have been here for at least a few months, and yet nobody has bothered getting their hands dirty, or asking questions? How ridiculous; these people really are crazy.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted as she saw someone pass in front of her.

Hmm...Yet from what I’ve seen, some of them may be useful if I can convince them to break from old habits.

Lydia called, “Pardon me, Warren.”

The person, Warren, stopped and happily trotted back over to her.

“I didn’t know you were capable of speaking, for a while,” he remarked. “At least not to me.” He gained a taunting gleam. “So what can I do for you this fine evening?”

Typical juvenile boy, Lydia bitterly thought. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you seem like someone who’s dwindled in petty-criminal practices.”

“Well, Silas and I are rather great pranksters,” he remarked. “I wouldn’t say criminalistic, though. Why do you ask?”

“I have some troubling thoughts that I want eased,” Lydia explained. “In order to do so, I need to see if anybody here has a certain set of skills that I can hire or convince.”

Warren sneered, “With all due respect...Lydia, was it? Yes, I’m afraid you’re just experiencing what all new patients do, and there’s really no reason to be so worked up over it. Even then, what kind of skills are you talking about, and why choose me?”

“Your mischief gave me the idea,” Lydia flatly replied. “And I’m looking for basic thievery; how to pickpocket or lockpick, and so on.”

Warren laughed in her face. “Good god, you’re really determined! Sorry, but even if I wanted to, I can’t. I may be ‘mischievous,’ as you say, but I’m not a criminal.”

Dammit. Lydia mentally groaned.

“Sorry, girl,” Warren insisted. He gained a mischievous look. “Maybe you can hire me for something else, though…”

Lydia shot him a glare. “Go away.”

He pouted like a child, starting to sulk off. “So close.”

You weren’t even close!

Still irritated, Lydia spun back, ready to storm off to her room. However, yet another person stopped her.

“And you call him the mischievous one?”

Lydia turned back again, and to her surprise, found Trancy. The blond boy still gave off an impressionably arrogant aura, but also had a look of mockery.

Lydia sighed, “How much of that did you hear?”

“Almost all,” Trancy replied. “You’re literally only about twenty feet from my room, you know, and you should be glad it’s me and not someone willing to rat on you for those ideas.”

“Then maybe somebody should give me a reason not to,” Lydia retorted. “Honestly, what’s going on? There’s clearly something wrong here, and yet even those who have been here for years haven’t bothered looking, or even found something? Why don’t these people-”

Trancy quickly silenced her. Lydia was confused, but then noticed that Hinata was coming up the stairs with some maids tailing her.

Well, there goes that…

To her further surprise, Trancy gestured for her to follow.

Perhaps he has an answer?

With that in mind, she eagerly followed Trancy. It seemed he was leading her to his room, which was the closest one in the boy’s corridor; the first door on the left wall. Inside, the room seemed exactly like her own, only there was a lot of things like spindles, thread, and needles.

I see where Alice goes to destroy her dresses with those ridiculous ribbons and ties, now.

Trancy closed the door and explained, “It’s never a good idea to discuss that right in front of Hinata. She doesn’t do anything, but gets very defensive. Also, let’s make this quick; this current setup seems quite indecent, and I have a reputation to uphold.”

“I told you the questions I have,” Lydia responded. “Questions about questions, as mad as that sounds. Why does nobody do anything?”

“I already gave you the first part of the answer,” Trancy replied. “Whenever anybody tries to ask too much about the third floor and strange sounds, and her excuses, Hinata gets very defensive and insists it’s nothing. Evidently, she’s extremely determined to keep her secrets, and is quite the expert on it.”

“So you just stopped?” Lydia inquired.

“Naturally,” Trancy replied. “And can you blame her? The way we come to see it, everybody here has their own secrets, even you and I. What position are we in to patronize her over what we all have? She’s already opened her arms and home to us, so the least we can do is give her her own space to keep.”

“But it’s not natural,” Lydia argued. “Something up there is not right!”

Trancy crossed his arms. “Have you noticed where you are? Nothing here is right, not even most of the people. I think it’s another reason they never found the oddities, or Soloman’s conspiracy theories, too concerning.”

“You say ‘they’ so much,” Lydia suspiciously spoke. “Does that mean at least you agree with me?”

“Yes and no,” Trancy responded. “Frankly, I just don’t care. My goal is to get out of here, not study it. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about what Hinata is trying so desperately to hide, or why it’s so important to keep hidden, but I’m not going out of my way to find it.”

“What about the others?” Lydia asked. “Soloman has been here the longest, is the clearly the most suspicious, and yet he’s found nothing? Nor Esther, Alice, even you. Surely, even if they weren’t trying, they must’ve found or heard something by now.”

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Trancy remarked. “As I said, Hinata’s an expert at this, or she’s very determined, maybe even both. The others are quite hopeless at this, too. Alice is like her chatty little sister, so she always respects the prominent boundaries, and Esther is far too anxious and shy to break any rules or even ask unnecessary questions.”

“And the rest?”

“Well, Warren and Silas are careless morons, I already said I don’t care, and Elizabeth doesn’t care as long as she gets her books and science trinkets. Soloman…” Trancy seemed unsure. “Well, it’s true he’s been the most superstitious, but Hinata is precisely what stops him. He doesn’t want to provoke her, I suppose; others even mock him by calling her his ‘lady friend.’ It makes sense, though.”

“On what world does that make sense?”

“Think about it,” Trancy replied. “None of us knows Soloman’s story, but we know he was the first patient here. And unlike what usually happens, he certainly wasn’t admitted because of police recommendation. Hinata had to have gone out of her way to help him, so the least he could do in return is avoid imposing on her secrets.”

Lydia shook her head. “Alright, so you never bothered looking. But I’m a curious girl, and if I don’t find what this is, I’ll just become even madder.”

“I was afraid you would say that.” Trancy gained a look of mischief. “Well, you’re in luck. I heard you were looking for someone with experience in thievery, and I can help with that.”

Lydia arched one brow. “Really? The pretty boy knows how to get his hands dirty?”

Trancy laughed, “You flatter me. And using obvious assumptions, you’re after Hinata’s key to the gate, aren’t you?”

“Is it really that obvious?”

“Yes, it really is.” Trancy cracked the door behind him, listening in for a moment. “Hinata’s still downstairs, which is another stroke of luck for you.”

“What’s she still doing down here?”

“She discusses things with the staff every night, and now she’s sidetracked and is talking with Alice, not surprisingly. Now, the plan…”

\\

Out in the main room on the second floor, Hinata was still happily talking to Alice before they settled down for the night.

“Isn’t that just typical of Warren?” Hinata remarked, laughing some. “Ah, and I was meaning to ask, how is Lydia faring?”

“Very well!” Alice responded. “She’s still adjusting, but we all had those nervous moments when we first came here, so she should be used to it in no time.”

“That’s great!” Hinata chimed. “Thanks for helping her along, I know you do a great job at providing a warm welcome.”

“I’m happy to,” said Alice. “I know you’re busy, and the rest of us aren’t very…” She cringed. “Well, great at it, so someone has to. Although, I think Lydia will be another one of those patients that prefer to keep to themselves.”

Hinata sighed, “That usually means stubbornness; bad for the doctor.” She turned, unlocking the gate and cracking it. “But it can’t be helped, so-”

Suddenly, Hinata grunted as someone ran into her. As she inspected, she found Trancy nearby, and Lydia, looking terribly angry, across the way. It seemed she had just shoved him.

“Pervert!” Lydia snapped.

“I didn’t even do anything!” Trancy argued. “It was Warren which said that!”

Hinata cringed. “Easy, you two, let’s not destroy each other. It’s late; both of you should get some rest about now.”

Trancy took on a more dignified position, readjusting his clothes. “Very well, and I apologize for the run-in.” He shot Lydia a glare. “Someone clearly can’t keep their hands to themselves. Are you alright?”

Lydia just crossed her arms and stormed off.

“Yes, Trancy, I’m alright,” Hinata replied. “This may be a rough start, but I want you to try getting along with her from here on out; we don’t need any more rivalries.”

“Very well, milady,” said Trancy, “Good night.”

“Good night.”

With that, Hinata finally proceeded through the cracked gate, letting it slam shut and lock before anyone could react. Even then, a reaction quick enough would alert Hinata before she reached the landing, which provided yet another obstacle that foiled one of Lydia’s earlier plans.

Alice looked confused. “What was that about, Trancy?”

Trancy shrugged her shoulders. “Warren popped off, being his typical self, and while he ran off to hide, I got blamed and assaulted.”

Alice sighed, “Typical Warren; Hina and I were just talking about that. Well, I better get to bed.”

“Very well,” Trancy replied.

As Alice left, too, leaving just himself in the hallway, Trancy approached Lydia’s room, letting himself in. Inside, Lydia was waiting, only she was perfectly calm.

Lydia crossed her arms. “That was a grand gesture, but I still don’t understand-”

She stopped, blinking hard when Trancy suddenly held up a black key.

“No need to thank me,” he remarked. “Although, I wouldn’t be opposed.”

Lydia rolled her eyes, taking the key. “How did you do that? And out of everybody here, how are you the one with the thief skills?”

“I may look like a charming angel…” Trancy winked. “But I do have my dark side. I used to be involved with a more notorious, but small gang of criminals, and I picked up a few things.”

“Why haven’t you done anything, then?” Asked Lydia. “You could’ve picked the lock, or done this when you first got here.”

“As I said, I don’t care about this place,” Trancy insisted. “Besides, not only am I afraid of getting caught by Victor himself, and the lock is too complex to pick, but Hinata took me in off the street…” He looked uneasy. “I’m aware I can be difficult sometimes, but I don’t want to be the one to invade her privacy over just a few strange things.”

“Suppose I understand,” Lydia agreed. If they can’t do it, I will.