[ WP ] A PTSD support group for those who survive horror movie scenarios .

`` How does that make you feel?'' 
 
 `` Doc, I ai n't here to fiddle fuck around about my goddamned life story. The court mandated this.'' The man with the prosthetic hand glared at the shrink leading group therapy. 
 
 `` Please, Ronald. Share your experiences with the group. It'll be helpful in facing your fears. All accounted for, we've all been through our own nightmares. I, for example, had to face a cybernetic killing machine. Luckily the damned thing was n't hunting me, but these things can be quite traumatizing.'' 
 
 `` Oh, dearie me... You just stood there pissing yourself when a robot walked past you. I had to fight off a goddamned mystical serial killer all by myself.'' The spunky twenty something year old girl had scars across her back, and a thousand yard stare that would give the most battle-weary soldiers a run for their money. 
 
 `` Jenny, you did good. But you need to work on your anger. We're not the Heidnik County Ripper. We did n't kill off your fellow cheerleaders from beyond the grave. The Ripper is gone now, and you need to learn to let go. You finished him by cremating his skull and spreading the ashes mixed with salt into the sea. Let go, Jen. Take a deep breath, and let go.'' Jenny did n't much care for Doc Silverson, a pompous sort of man with a receding hairline and a serious paunch. Still, she needed to vent to somebody, anybody really. 
 
 `` Jim, why do n't you introduce yourself, and tell us a little about you?'' 
 
 `` Hi, everyone. I'm Jim, and I was a victim of a damned evil bastard of a hotel. The son of a bitching thing exploited my drinking problem, and ruined my marriage. They were uppity sons of bitches, real snooty and manipulative sorts. Tried to convince me to kill my wife and kids. It did n't make a very good offer to be honest. Stingy pack of wolves, the lot of them.'' 
 
 `` Good job, Jim. Good on you for not listening to them. Ghosts can be so uncaring and selfish sometimes.'' As Silverson spoke, Jenny just rolled her eyes. 
 
 `` Waahhh, poor wittle baby, ghosts tried to nag you into killing for them? The ghost of the Heidnik County Ripper carved my friends apart right in front of me. You had a rough time? Where's my congratulations? Where's my'Thanks, Jen, for stopping that psychotic nut-job'?'' 
 
 `` Oh, get down off the cross, Jenny. Sure, the Heidnik County Ripper was a sick son of a bitch, but he was just one guy. The damned things I had to kill, they would turn your hair white just looking at them. They got into my friends, masqueraded as them, and I had to torch them all before they got me too.'' 
 
 `` Assimilation is no joke, that is very true, Ronald. But this is not a contest, and each of you needs to let go.'' 
 
 `` Who do you think you are? Doctor Phil wants his song and dance back. We're the survivors here. You were just a damned PHD who got lucky. And Jim, you're just a damned alcoholic.'' 
 
 `` Such harsh words from a little lady, Jenny.'' 
 
 `` Do n't fucking talk down to me! I'm not a little girl, you son of a bitch. I'm a survivor, and damned proud of it. You want me to just forget about my ordeal? Well, gee.. Sorry.. I ca n't do that. And can knock off the shitty Mr. Rogers imitation? It's getting on my nerves.'' 
 
 `` Now, uh, Jen, I do n't think it's all that nice to be berating the good Doctor Silverson here. You know, I hate it when a woman gets all uppity. Am I right, Doc?'' Jim was a drunken asshole, as usual. Resentful about his career, and his station in life, he self medicated with alcohol to forget the things he saw in the hotel. It had cost him his marriage. 
 
 `` Why do n't you go drink some more, Jim? Leave Jenny alone. Her and me, well, we did n't just stand and watch when the shit hit the fan. In both of OUR cases, we actually killed what was threatening us. We hunted the damned hunters. You two, you just played dead and hoped for the best. Fuck you very much, both of ya.'' Ronald and Jen high fived, and Silverson just rubbed his face. 
 
 `` You two are obviously suffering from your ordeal. You're dealing with your issues through rage, and that's not healthy.'' 
 
 `` Rage was what kept me going when the Ripper killed my friends. They froze up, terrified, but I got mad. I was n't scared, goddamn it. I was furious. The adrenaline kicked in, and I got into my car and ran that prick the fuck over. Then I threw it in reverse, and ran him over again. And again, and again. Then I took the skull and burnt it to cinders. It was the only way to be sure. So do n't you tell me to calm down, because that anger, well, it keeps me alive.'' 
 
 `` This session is running a little over time. It's time to wrap it up. I'll see you all tomorrow.'' 
 
 `` What ever, Doc.'' 
 
 `` Thanks, eh, Doctor Silverson. You're a hell of a guy.'' 
 
 `` Ass kisser.'' 
 
 `` Paranoid loser.'' 
 
 `` Yeah? Well fuck you too.'' 
 
 It never ceased for these guys. Their horror stories had ended, but their lives had just begun.
