The Dead House

(AL): [Soothing] Calm down. Calm down…

[Gasps fade into a disturbed panting]

That’s it. Shh… [Away] How much did you give her?

(UNIDENTIFIED NURSE): Twenty-five milligrams.



(AL): Good. Okay, Kaitlyn, it’s okay.



(CJ): [Slurred mumble] Won’t listen…


[End of tape]





Inpatient Session Therapy Notes

Dr. Annabeth Lansing

Patient File [Johnson-C-0399524], Session #52

16 November 2004



An interesting development with Carly Johnson. Kaitlyn has surfaced, it seems permanently. We’ve spent so much time working to suppress the Kaitlyn alter, and Carly was the alter all along. Perhaps the Carly alter was created in order to distance herself from a life without her parents in it.

This contradicts the facts, of course, since Carly (who names herself Kaitlyn at night) is real. The renaming of herself as Kaitlyn, although highly unusual, may have provided the mask she needed to wear. A new identity.

Now that the Carly alter is gone, I can begin to help Kaitlyn be Carly—the real Carly—once again.

I am hopeful of a full recovery in time, although with the incident on the roof, I am concerned that this readmittance to Claydon may be permanent.





43



Several therapy sessions follow before Kaitlyn talks again. Nonetheless, the sessions are recorded, and Dr. Annabeth Lansing attempts to connect with a silent Kaitlyn. For expediency, none of these recordings have been included. However, they are available online at [see appendix A]. The visit from Jaime Johnson on [date unknown] seems to be the trigger event for Kaitlyn’s reawakening.



CCTV Camera Footage

[Date and Time Index Missing]

Day Room



“Carly.”

Dr. Annabeth Lansing kneels next to Kaitlyn, who sits in a chair, unmoving.

“Kaitlyn. Jaime is here to see you. You want to see Jaime, don’t you?”

Kaitlyn does not respond.

“You don’t want her to see you like this, do you?”

When Kaitlyn remains unresponsive, Dr. Lansing sighs and gets to her feet, groaning when her knees crack. She nods at the nurse waiting by a wire-mesh-glass door.

“All right.”

The door drones, a dull beep, and Jaime Johnson dashes in, followed by a grim-faced middle-aged woman with blond hair, stylishly bobbed.

“I don’t like this,” the woman says as Dr. Lansing walks over.

Jaime Johnson has paused in front of Kaitlyn’s chair, little hands opening and closing slowly, expectantly.

“I know,” Lansing says quietly. “It’s not ideal. But I need to try anything at this point, and Carly does have a right to see her.”

“She shouldn’t,” the woman says, her nostrils flaring as though an obnoxious odor has just caught her attention. “It’s sickening.”

Jaime, who has been looking at Kaitlyn silently, turns to Dr. Lansing.

“Why is Kaitie here?” she asks.

Dr. Lansing walks over to Jaime and bends down. “What’s that, sweetheart?”

Jaime points at Kaitlyn. “Why is Kaitie here? Where’s Carly?”

Lansing blinks, shakes her head, and then smiles. “I don’t know where Carly’s gone, angel. Maybe you can find her for me.”

Jaime glances back at Kaitlyn, and her eyes fill with tears. “I don’t see her.”

Dr. Lansing frowns, and Jaime walks over to Kaitlyn, crawling into her lap, where she curls up, tiny fists grabbing at the statue’s hospital gown. She cries little-girl tears.

“This isn’t right,” Mrs. Bailey snaps. “No child should have to see this!”

She starts forward, reaching out as though to lift Jaime out of Kaitlyn’s lap, but Jaime shrieks and clings to Kaitlyn’s gown.

“Kaitie!” she screams. “Kaitie!”

Mrs. Bailey manages to break Jaime’s hold and carries the sobbing girl out of the room, casting a withering glance in Dr. Lansing’s direction.

Kaitlyn does not move, but Jaime continues to scream down the corridor.

“Kaitie! Kaitie! KAAAITTIEEEE!”





44


71 days until the incident




Inpatient Session Recording #57 [Ref: Johnson-Inp-0033]

Tuesday, 23 November 2004, 3:00 PM

Claydon Youth Psychiatric Facility, Somerset

Dr. Annabeth Lansing (AL) and Carly Luanne Johnson (CJ)

(AL): I think we can make great progress in our inpatient sessions. I think I can help you feel a lot better. Get back to living your life.



(CJ): Don’t BS me, Lansing. I know you don’t believe a word of what I’m telling you, but you’re the only person who might know how I can undo this and get Carly back. Even if I disappear, like you want—I don’t care. Just bring her back.



(AL): It doesn’t work that way, Kaitlyn. You are Carly. We just need to remind you of it.

[Laughter]



(CJ): You doctors. You don’t know anything!

[Loud crash, footsteps]

[From a distance] High and mighty! You hear, but you don’t listen. And if you inject me with that stuff again, I’m going to fucking kick you!

[A door slams]

[Silence]