**Chapter 4: Sanity Fraying**

Alec's eyes seemed to hold a hint of desperation as Sol visited him again at Rutledge Asylum. The charming facade was still there, but it was beginning to crack, revealing glimpses of the turmoil brewing beneath. Sol's mom, Dr. LeRoux, sat in on their conversation, her eyes watchful but not unkind. "I'm telling you, Sol, I've been having the most fascinating dreams," Alec said, his voice low and urgent. "Dreams of a world that's so real, so vivid, I can hardly believe I'm not already there." His eyes sparkled with a manic intensity, and Sol felt a shiver run down her spine. Sol leaned forward, trying to keep up with Alec's rapid-fire thoughts. "What kind of dreams?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. As an anthropology and botany student, she was fascinated by the way the human mind worked, and Alec's experiences seemed to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. Alec's gaze darted around the room, as if searching for an escape route. "Dreams of a rabbit hole, of a world that's full of...of nonsense, I suppose. But it's a nonsense that makes sense, you know? Like there's a hidden logic to it all." He paused, his eyes locking onto Sol's. "I've been trying to remember, to piece together what happened. But it's like trying to grasp a handful of sand – the more I try, the more it slips away." Dr. LeRoux intervened, her voice calm but firm. "Alec, we need to focus on your treatment plan. These...dreams of yours are a symptom of your condition, not a reality." Sol noticed that Dr. LeRoux seemed hesitant, as if she wasn't entirely sure what to make of Alec's claims. Alec's face twisted in frustration. "You don't understand, Sol. You don't understand what it's like to be trapped in this...this place." He gestured to the asylum, his eyes flashing with anger. "I need to get out of here, Sol. I need to find my way back to...to that world." Sol felt a pang of sympathy for Alec, but she also knew that Dr. LeRoux was trying to help him. She tried to walk a fine line between supporting Alec and respecting her mom's professional boundaries. "I understand that you're feeling trapped, Alec," she said. "But we need to work with Dr. LeRoux to find a way to help you." As the visit drew to a close, Sol noticed that Alec seemed more agitated than before. His words tumbled out in a frantic rush, and his eyes seemed to hold a hint of panic. Sol's heart went out to him, and she reached out to place a hand on his arm. "I'm here for you, Alec," she said. "We'll figure this out together." Alec's gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, Sol felt like she was drowning in the depths of his eyes. As she left the asylum, Sol couldn't shake the feeling that Alec's sanity was fraying, thread by thread. She knew that she had to be careful, to tread gently around the fragile edges of his mind. But she also knew that she couldn't give up on him, not now, when he needed her most. Sol's thoughts turned to her own studies, and she wondered if there was a connection between Alec's experiences and the cultural significance of mental health in different societies. She made a mental note to research more about the history of Rutledge Asylum and its approach to treating patients like Alec. As she walked away from the asylum, Sol felt a sense of determination. She was going to help Alec, no matter what it took. And she was going to uncover the secrets of Rutledge Asylum, secrets that seemed to be hidden in plain sight. The encounter with Alec had left her with more questions than answers, but she was ready to dig deeper, to explore the strange and fantastical world that lay just beyond the edge of reality.