Amnesia - Dr. Julia Madison

"...Dad, I'll be fine," Julia said hastily, checking her watch Monday morning. "I know it's Gotham, but this is what I love doing--and I always have a knife in my glove compartment in case I'm in danger and can't call the police. But I really need to get going. Maybe you or Mom could call me back tonight? Alright. Love you too!" She hung up her phone hastily, grabbing her purse and folder and heading for Arkham. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVsKtVny0q
   It started out as a normal day, although normal didn't have to mean pleasant--overly confident criminals in colorful outfits being forced into uniforms, the defiant screams, and the horror stories about the place the other residents in her group loved to tell during break, most of which Julia fervently hoped were mere rumors. But even so, she still wanted to prove to her parents that she could do it. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLLZXC2hBP
   But she was surprised at how some of the patients seemed more jumpy than usual that day when she and the others made their daily rounds. More...fearful.    813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRF1depAdI
   Maybe she would try to ask the head administrator if he'd noticed anything different before she would leave for the night, since she knew what an expert on fear he was. She would probably find him in the library there in Arkham later that night.

   Sure enough, that night, she found her boss at a table in the library reading a book about the many phobias of the mind. She greatly respected Dr. Crane, especially since she knew not many bosses were as passive and patient as he was. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzdLOfpAr2
   "What brings you here, Ms. Madison?" Dr. Crane asked without seeming to even look up from his book. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEyjmOFOt6
   "Hello, Doctor. I was...wondering if you noticed a difference in the patients' behavior today?" 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeDFPCk48I
   "Oh, definitely. Why do you ask?" 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhJo4KfTXx
That didn't exactly answer her question, but she didn't want to press him, so all she said was, "I just thought I'd say something. We like to keep you posted." 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTdAWV4YOg
   "Well, thank you for your concern," he said, closing his book and standing up to put the book back on its shelf. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcLJp5CQSa
   Just then noticing the title, she asked, "So, find anything interesting in there?" 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmtcnK6DIE
   "Fear in itself interests me," the doctor said quietly with a foreign look on his face, as if he had a lot on his mind. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6lwDR0pF9
   "...Which was why I wondered if you might know something about this," Julia said before she could stop herself. She hoped she didn't sound accusing, but she had noticed their patients' usual prescriptions had been changed around somewhat. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw316iJ7Oc
   "I respect the mind's power over the body," he replied easily. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBb8SCJOsM
   Julia nodded, pretending she understood, but she must have still had a few lines of confusion on her face. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5nXiB8Ola
   "In other words, don't fear your fear; embrace it." 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRKXDdgd4H
   She hesitated. "I guess that makes sense," Julia said, but still wondered how that helped the patients, or if any of the new drugs they'd been prescribed was interfering with their minds. Well, whether she understood or not, she trusted him. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB37bo45coK
   Dr. Crane nodded. "So glad you agree." With that, he bade her good night and walked out. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEljmbpHYR
   I should probably head on home too. She'd just exited the library when she heard a familiar whiny voice. Harleen Quinzel. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP8TP6ESjY
   "So, Jules, how's your boyfriend?" 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWrl4yVfxb
   "Good-bye, Harleen," Julia said, sighing and shaking her head. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAs4Di6AjE
   "Hey, wait up." Harleen sprinted up beside her. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFchPTkzbsN
Julia looked at her and cocked her head condescendingly. "Why would you say something like that?" she asked honestly. "I wanted to ask him about the patients. It's just kind of strange that these guys would be making threats to us from their cells one day and be shaking and staring quietly the next." 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQITWYAcb22
   "Well, either way, I saw the way you smiled at him. I can see it now! Julia and Jonathan--" 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfiPa6MW0i
   "Good night, Harleen!" Julia said quickly, realizing changing the subject hadn't worked thus making her way to the elevator. She wondered how someone in their twenties who still acted twelve could have made it into the profession of psychiatry so easily. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6masJnjDZv
   "Agh! Make it stop! Please, anyone, just make it stop!" came the voice of a male patient nearby. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM0wXi9592
   Julia felt a shudder of sympathy for him and all the other patients as the elevator doors closed in front of her. But she would not suspect her own boss was trying to harm them, and she wouldn't tell her parents either; they would merely say like so many times before how afraid they were that she "couldn't handle it."