Bones • MFZ JO COMPLETED

Chapter IX

Mackenzie's POV

I walked downstairs. My mom left several minutes ago while I just finished unpacking.

At the bottom of the stairs I see Johnny standing there. He turns his head and sees me coming down, he gives me a gentle smile.

"Nice to see you again," he smiles. "I'll be giving you your tour of the house."

I nod, "okay well tour away."

He chuckles and nods. Slowly walking several steps then stops. Turning back to face me.

"Here is the living room. We come here twice a day for bitch and bull," John explains.

"For what?" I ask.

"It's what we call group therapy. Two times a day we have it. Once in the morning and once after dinner typically. Sometimes it's before," Johnny said, spinning on his heel and turning around.

Walking towards the dining room, I follow behind him as he rambles on about something.

"Here is the torture chamber. Also known as the dining room by normies," he said. "Here, if you eat points magically appear."

"Points?"

"They're like a reward system. Like chores when you were a kid. That is if you had any. You do something good you get points, reach a certain number of points you level up," Johnny explains. "When you level up, you get more privileges. Like, getting to leave the house on your own. I'm currently planning my next trip. I'm not sure where I want to go yet but, I'll figure it out. Also, the nurses and therapists can give and take away points whenever."

I nod. "So basically you're like a bunch of toddlers in a way?"

"Not exactly but exactly," Johnny nods. "Shall we continue?"

"Yeah sure."

-

"So, I'd like to introduce our new member, Mackenzie," the therapist, Peyton, begins. "So Mackenzie, the way we do the therapy is we take turns. Talk about a struggle, a victory etcetera."

I nod, "sounds simple," I muttered.

She didn't hear what I said. Thankfully she didn't.

"So let's start. Ruby, how're you doing?" Peyton starts.

Ruby looks up. She seemed a little surprised and a little overwhelmed.

"Oh, okay... we'll struggle. I uh- obviously got tubed. I just can't help to think about the calories. I mean, there's probably a lot of calories an-"

"Fifteen hundred," I muttered.

"What?" Ruby questioned scared, turning towards me.

"There's fif-"

"We don't talk about that here," Peyton interrupts.

"Oh sorry, didn't know," I say.

"It's okay, we'll continue," Peyton says.

-

"So, Mackenzie," John begins.

Currently we're sitting at the dinner table. Food hasn't been put out yet. Only the plates and silverware has.