by Amy Cross
"You're uncomfortable talking about your mother," he says eventually.
"I'm uncomfortable talking about anything," I reply firmly, "especially when I'm being held against my will in an asylum." I pause for a moment. "That was a nice little trick you played with Madeleine, by the way. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that she ended up meeting that Dronigan guy, which I guess was what you intended all along."
"You'll have to forgive me," he replies, "but I had to demonstrate the dangers that exist on the other side of these walls."
"Of course you did."
"You're very cynical, aren't you?" he continues. "You assume the worst about everyone."
"So what's this all about?" I ask, feeling as if Dr. Cole is forever circling an important point without actually saying anything. "You brought me all this way, so I guess you must have something in mind."
"There are three parts to you, Abigail," he continues. "There's the part of you that came from Patrick, which as you say is intense and brooding, and not a little unstable. Then there's the part of you that came from Sophie, which you believe to be your more human side. And then..." He pauses, as if he's finally getting to the reason for my captivity in this place. "And then there's the third part," he adds, with a faint smile. "It's almost as if someone has hidden something deep inside your mind."
"You're not the first person to tell me that," I reply firmly. "Hell, you're not even the first person to tell me in the past twenty-four hours."
"Are you not curious?"
"The way I see it," I continue, "there's only one person who ever had a chance to hide anything in my head, and that's Patrick. I might not have completely liked the guy, but I trust him, and if he hid something, I'm willing to let things play out however he wanted." I wait for a reply, but Dr. Cole is eying me with suspicion. "Secrets aren't puzzles," I add. "Sometimes, secrets are kept hidden for a reason. If Patrick hid something in my mind, it's because he wanted it to stay out of sight, but he didn't want to destroy it."
"You're scared," he replies.
"No," I say firmly, "I'm not."
"Yes," he continues, "you are. Very much so, in fact. I'd never claim to be a great reader of people, Abigail, but I recognize certain signs of fear. You're reasonably good at keeping your true emotions hidden, but your eyes betray the truth." He pauses. "Your father's capacity for causing chaos was well-known, and I'm sure you realize that anything he hid in your mind is bound to have consequences. You can either wait for it to burst out, or you can let me remove it cleanly and with the minimal amount of fuss."
"I didn't realize you were running a charity," I reply darkly.
"You can leave once the operation is complete," he adds. "There will be a short recovery period, of course, but I'm confident that you'll suffer no lasting damage."
"Meanwhile you get to keep whatever you discover in my mind," I reply.
"I have certain plans," he says with a smile.
"It's ready," the nurse says as she sets out a series of scalpels. "The mixture is at an optimal temperature, and sterilization is complete. All values are within acceptable ranges."
"What if I refuse?" I ask.
"You're worried that I'll tie you down and rip this thing from your mind without your permission?" he replies. "Of course not, Abigail. We're not savages here. If you refuse, I will simply have to accept your decision, although I must admit that I'll retain a little hope that perhaps, over time, you might reconsider."
"And I'll be free to go?"
"Alas not. There are other authorities within these walls who have a claim on your time."
"I thought you said you're the only doctor here."
"Tor Cliff stands on ancient ground," he continues. "From time to time, certain other parties express their interest in our activities. From above, from beyond, and even sometimes from below. It's a compliment, in a way, but it can also be a nuisance. I can assure you, however, that of all the people you might encounter here, I am by far the most reasonable and helpful. I believe we can help one another -"
"No," I say firmly.
He pauses, and I can see that he's trying to hide his irritation.
"I'm not letting you into my head," I continue. "I've had enough people poking around in there recently, and I kinda feel as if I'd like to take a little 'me' time. It's my head, after all."
"You're stubborn," he replies with a smile. "Like your father."
"There he is again," I say with a sigh. "He's dead. Why does his name keep coming up?"
Dr. Cole stares at me for a moment, before turning to the nurse. "Put the equipment away," he says with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "We're not going to force the issue. If Ms. Hart doesn't wish to accept our help, I hardly think that we should press her." He glances back at me. "You're making a mistake, Abigail, but no-one can stop you. If you ever -"
Before he can finish, however, there's a scream from elsewhere in the building. Up until this moment, Dr. Cole has seemed to be in complete control of everything, but I can see the expression of concern in his eyes as he looks over at the nurse.
"Sounds like you've got a problem," I say firmly, as the scream rings out again. I can't deny that I'm slightly amused by the idea that this asshole might be about to get a shock.
"Stay here," Dr. Cole says firmly, pushing past me and hurrying out of the room.
"Whatever you say," I reply. I wait until he's out of sight, and then I set off after him. If there's a crisis here, I might be able to use the confusion to slip away, and as the screaming continues in a distant part of the asylum, I start to realize that Dr. Cole might not have everything under control after all.
Chapter Three
Felix
"What's happening?" I ask as one of the orderlies leads me along the corridor. In the distance, I can hear someone screaming, and a moment later several nurses run past in an apparent state of panic.
"Nothing for you to worry about," the orderly replies, although there's a tense tone to his voice and I can't help but notice that he keeps checking over his shoulder, as if he's concerned about something.
"I'll take him from here," says a voice nearby.
Turning, I see that Nurse Silk has caught up to us, and although she seems to be keeping a very stoical and calm manner, I'm convinced I can see a faint glint in her eyes.
"I was given orders -" the orderly starts to say.
"You're needed downstairs," Nurse Silk replies, interrupting him. "There's been an incident in the kitchen, and Dr. Cole's going to need all the orderlies on duty. Please, hurry. I think someone's been badly hurt. I can take the prisoner to his cell."
As the orderly hurries away, I can't help but wonder whether Nurse Silk has set all of this up purely for my benefit. She seemed to appear almost from nowhere within just a few minutes of the first scream being heard. Then again, perhaps I'm becoming a little paranoid; in this place, it never pays to spend too much time trying to work out how people should be reacting. Even the staff are unpredictable.
"I don't actually know what's happening," she says, grabbing my arm and leading me along the corridor. "I think a nurse has been hurt, but apart from that, I've got no idea."
"Did one of the other patients get loose?" I ask.
"I told you," she continues, leading me around the next corner before stopping and turning to me, "I don't know what's wrong. Whatever it is, though, we don't have much time. I just wanted to find you and tell you I'm sorry for everything that happened earlier. I didn't want to hurt you, Felix, I swear, but..."
"It's okay," I reply, even though the pain in my side is still throbbing. "I understand."
"If I'd let her see even the slightest hint of weakness," she continues, "Nurse Fletcher would have picked up on it. I still -" She glances over her shoulder for a moment, to check that we're still alone. "I couldn't take the risk," she adds, before turning back to face me. "It wouldn't just have been my future that would have been in doubt. You'd have been in trouble too. Any kind of fraternization be
tween staff and patients at Tor Cliff is strictly prohibited."
"Is that what we're doing?" I ask. "Fraternizing?"
She pauses, and it's clear that I've caught her off-guard.
"I'm sorry," I continue, "I didn't mean to upset you, it's just that..." I take a deep breath, aware that I might be about to make a complete fool of myself. "Forget it," I say after a moment. "You should just take me to my -"
"No," she says quickly, "tell me. What were you going to say?"
"It's dumb," I continue. "I'm a werewolf. Hell, I'm barely even that. And you... You're a vampire. You're so much..."
"Better than you?"
I nod.
"Don't believe that garbage," she continues, "not even for a second. All this talk of superiority is just a way for vampires to make themselves feel better about themselves. I know, deep down, that werewolves can be just as noble and proud and strong and..." She pauses, and I can tell that she's struggling. "You mustn't listen to what people tell you in here," she adds. "They'll grind you down eventually until you won't know what's true and what's just part of the lie. I don't care about the difference between werewolves and vampires, I just care about..."
I wait for her to finish, and then finally I realize that it's now or never. Even though my heart is racing, I lean closer and kiss her delicately on the lips; she doesn't respond at first, but as soon as I start to pull away, she leans forward and kisses me again. This time, our lips stay together, touching delicately as she slowly reaches up and puts her hands on my bare shoulders. I've never felt such tenderness before, and we stay like this for several seconds before finally she pulls away.
"No-one can know about this," she whispers, her eyes filled with earnest fear. "Please, Felix, I'm not exaggerating when I say that Dr. Cole would have me killed if he knew what I was doing."
"Then why are you doing it?" I ask, desperate to pull her close for another kiss.
"I can't help myself," she continues. "When I see the way the others treat you, I want to pull them away and make them see you the way I see you. I don't think you belong in this place, Felix. You're a noble creature, and you should be back with your own kind instead of being pushed around in this place by a bunch of cruel freaks."
"There's no way out," I reply. "Don't you think I tried when I was first dragged here? I kicked and screamed and did everything in my power to get free from this place, but nothing worked. Even if I managed to get past the door, there's still Dronigan. They say he's out there somewhere, waiting in the forest. At first I used to think he was just a bogeyman invented by the people who run this place, but I've come to realize that he's real."
"What if..." She pauses, just as more screams are heard in the distance. "What if I told you that there's another way out?" she continues in hushed tones. "What if I told you that you can get away from Tor Cliff without having to go out there into the forest with Dronigan?"
I stare at her, and even though I know I should be more skeptical, I can't help but believe every word she's saying. She's so beautiful, and her heart seems so pure, it's hard to accept that she'd ever lie to me.
"There's another route," she continues, "if you go below."
"Below?"
"Into the depths of Tor Cliff."
"There's nothing down there," I point out. "Believe me, I've done my research. If you go down, all you come to is..." I pause as I realize what she means. "You can't be serious," I say after a moment. "No-one can go down that far. The beast would incinerate anyone who tried. Haven't you heard the stories? We'd never make it out alive!"
"What if those stories aren't quite true?" she asks. "You said yourself that you were worried Dronigan was an invention of the staff, designed to keep everyone living in fear. Even if that's not true, might it not be the case that the beast is just a fairytale, used to keep everyone in check?"
"But the beast communicates," I continue. "He calls Dr. Cole."
"I know," she replies with a sigh, "but something about the whole thing isn't right. The way Dr. Cole talks to the beast, it's almost as if the person on the other end of the line..." She pauses. "I'm not quite sure what I mean," she says eventually, "but I think Dr. Cole has been lying about the beast. Whatever that thing is, it's not the crazed killer we've been led to believe. If there's a route out of here via the depths, it might be worth risking the beast's wrath."
In the distance, another scream rings out.
"If you want to try," she continues, "I'd be willing to help you."
"You'd have to come with me," I tell her.
"I can't!"
"I'm not leaving without you."
"Don't be stupid." She sighs. "It's one thing for a patient to get away," she says after a moment, "but if we both left at the same time, Dr. Cole would know what we'd done."
"I don't care," I reply. "I'm not leaving this place without you."
"But if -"
Before she can finish, there's the sound of someone hurrying along a nearby corridor, and seconds later Nurse Fletcher comes into view, stopping as she spots us.
"What are you two talking about?" she barks, clearly suspicious.
"I was just telling the patient to get to his cell," Nurse Silk replies, taking a step back from me. "He was being difficult, but I think I've managed to persuade him."
"We don't have time for this," Nurse Fletcher snaps, grabbing my arm and pulling me along the corridor. "Go down to the kitchen and help out!" she shouts. "I'll get this brute back to his cell."
I look over my shoulder and see that Nurse Silk is already hurrying away, keen to make sure that no-one suspects anything about our conversation. Still, as Nurse Fletcher takes me to the cells, I can't help but smile. After my session with Dr. Cole last night, I was starting to give up hope of ever getting out of this place, but now I can see that there might be a chance. However, one thing's certain. I'm not leaving Tor Cliff alone: I'm going to take Nurse Silk with me.
Chapter Four
Abby Hart
"Get away from her!" Dr. Cole shouts as he runs into the kitchen, pushing past a group of shocked nurses who have gathered at the far end. "Let me see!"
With the whole asylum seemingly in a state of panic, I'm able to sneak through behind him, even though technically I should have been taken back to my cell. As I make my way past the nurses, I see that Dr. Cole is kneeling next to a woman who has been left to bleed heavily across the floor, with her uniform having been ripped away along with part of her chest. Several ribs are sticking out, and although she's still alive, her labored breathing and wide, frantic eyes make it clear that she won't last much longer. A trail of blood has been smeared across the floor, leading over to the door.
"What happened?" Dr. Cole asks, checking the injured nurse's pulse.
"We heard her screaming," says one of the other nurses. "She and Nurse Walker went to put the garbage out in the yard, and then we heard..."
"It was terrible," says another nurse. "As she was screaming, you could hear that her throat was being -"
"Enough!" Dr. Cole says, cutting her off. He checks the injured nurse's pulse again, and then there's a pause before he gently closes her eyes. "She's dead. She -"
Before he can finish, the dead woman's eyes open again.
"Don't let her suffer," another nurse whimpers. "Please, just put her out of her misery."
"She's already dead," Dr. Cole says firmly, closing the nurse's eyes and waiting this time until, after a few seconds, it's clear that she's finally gone. "What about Nurse Walker?" he asks after a moment, turning to the others. "You said two of them went out."
"It's too late for her," one of the nurses says. "She couldn't even get back to the door. She's out there somewhere. I think he took her."
"I saw her face as she was being dragged over the top of the wall," another nurse adds. "She was still alive."
"I don't understand," Dr. Cole replies, getting to her feet and hurrying over to the window. He peers out for a moment, before turning back to the others. "There's
nothing out there. There can't be anything out there."
"What about -" one of the nurses starts to say, but then she seems to think better of it.
"What about what?" Dr. Cole replies.
"You know... him..."
"Dronigan?" I ask.
Dr. Cole turns to me. "What are you doing out of your cell?"
"No-one took me back there," I reply, trying to sound innocent and sweet. "I wasn't sure what to do, so I figured I should just follow you. I mean, you are in charge, aren't you?"
"You don't know anything about Dronigan," he snaps. "Why are you even saying that name?"
"He's real," I continue, "isn't he?"
"It doesn't matter," Dr. Cole replies. "This attack happened on the asylum's grounds. Dronigan has never entered our territory. It's simply not in his nature to be so forceful."
"Then who did this?" one of the nurses asks.
Sighing, Dr. Cole heads to the door, before unbolting it and leaning out into the yard.
"Be careful!" a nurse hisses.
"There's nothing out here," he continues, stepping through the door. "Come and see for yourselves. There's no sign of anything or anyone. The entire place is deserted."
"What about Nurse Walker?" another nurse asks.
"She's not here either." He walks to the far side of the yard, climbs up onto a bench, and peers over the wall. "The forest looks to be completely calm. There's no sign of any disturbance. It's just the same as usual."
"Then where's Nurse Walker?" one of the other nurses asks.
"He must have..." Dr. Cole pauses, and it's clear that he's not sure of the answer; as he climbs down from the bench, he walks to the middle of the yard. "Are you absolutely certain that she came out here? Is it not possible that in the confusion, she might have slipped away? She could be elsewhere in the building, perhaps taking a patient to the cells?"
"I saw her," one of the nurses says. "She was a few steps ahead of Nurse Devonish as they were going outside, and then suddenly there was a scream." She pauses, as if the memory is too chilling to recount. "I saw something flash past the window," she continues after a moment. "I didn't get a good look at it; it was just a dark shape, and it seemed to pile right into Nurse Walker and knock her down."
