Wonderland - Jags

Introduction
The Chemists
Mind Share: About 12%
Where: Same as Support Groups.
Philosophy: Certain drugs have been shown to have the effects of at least
calming persons having Episodes. The Chemists differ from the Support
Groups in that, while holding the same types of meetings they require
that CPD’s be under the care of one of their psychiatrists and be on a
regimen of various, experimental drugs.
Practice: The majority of Support Groups believe that the Chemists
(a derogatory term applied by others) are pawns of a hypothetical
conspiracy of therapists some call The Network. It is believed that
while the drugs may have some beneficial effects short-term, one will
eventually move into the ‘Snake Pits’ (asylums) or be Caught In The
Machine (the Mental Health System). These fears, statistically, appear to
be founded.
Observation: As the syndrome progresses, the drugs become less and
less effective. Both a scheming, malignant therapist and a right-thinking
medical professional will, eventually, do the same thing: have you
committed.
Guru Ranch
Mind Share: 10%
Where: There are some big ones in the Midwest.
Philosophy: Some CPD sufferers claim to have stabilized. Inevitably, this
state was reached through some secret alchemy taught slowly, over time, with
great hardship, and for money. The term Guru Ranch is a derogatory term
used by the majority of the Support Groups. There is a central teacher and his
or her ‘flock.’
Practice: Like the Waldens but sometimes more remote, one signs up and
begins practicing, usually paying more and giving more to “move up” in the
teaching and amount of attention one gets from the master. In some cases
members are taught breathing exercises or bodybuilding. In most cases there
is meditation, ‘prayer,’ narcotics, and sexual practices with the master.
Observation: Lots of people who seek these ranches never come back.
Authority’s investigations have been lackluster—the cult simply says
the person left and what are they to do? The person was already likely a
noted schizophrenic. There are some horrific rumors that exist concerning
cannibalistic rites and human sacrifice. In the end these are probably not
true—but regardless, there always seems to be a sufficient number of people
claiming “long term survival” to entice others.
28
big department stores. A police car, cruising,
makes a turn up ahead. You’re stopped
under the scarlet glare of a red light.
“Most people see black—but if you stick to
the program and you don’t slip you can come
back up—for a while. Most people, outside
of 8 months have a serious trigger. Everyday
life can set it off easily. Most people have
some significant depth too. Behavior gets
weird—really weird. They … if they don’t get
committed they’re street people usually after
a year but that’s not the worst.”
He makes a turn. You’re parked behind a
two-story building that looks to be in a mild
state of decay. He turns the engine off and
opens the door. You follow him.
“About eighty-five percent? Even with
the program? After a year we lose them.
Right off the grid. I know that we’re not
the only ones. Missing persons—right out
of custody—that’s the big new thing. Some
people say the government is taking them
for study or sterilization. I know some people who tell me they’ve found
whole wards empty one morning. I know
people who say they’ve seen CPDs just … get
swallowed up into the floor.”
He shakes his head. He’s using two different
keys for separate deadbolts on the back door.
Click. Clack.
“People vanish. It’s a disease and people
fucking vanish. If they’re not careful.”
The room is a therapist’s office with framed
certificates and diplomas and a comfortable
sofa and chairs. There’s something wrong
about it. There’s something about the
positioning of the furniture and the relations
of the windows and the yellow sodium light
that enters the room that gives it a quality of a
place that is abandoned.
Behind the desk is another counter and, in
the after-midnight office, its slide doors
are opened revealing rows of bottles of
prescription pills in every possible variation