The Key to Immortality

Chapter 4

Jax didn't sleep any better that night. Despite having finished his work for the day, the journal and new books still called to him. Eventually, he got tired of resisting. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and slid on his slippers, padding over to his desk where all of the books sat. He sighed and opened up the first book, flipping through the pages. His eyes skimmed the words, not really paying attention until he saw the word 'asylum'. The second he read that word, he froze. He looked back at the beginning of the page, reading.

The Brockenhurst Orphanage was built in 1825. In 1850, it was bought by Doctor Andrew Williams and converted into an asylum. Doctor Williams served as the warden until it closed in 1916.the Brockenhurst Asylum had a dark history full of mistreated and missing patients. While the asylum was operational, it is estimated that up to thirteen patients went missing. No records of their deaths have been recovered and their bodies were never found. We only know the identity of one of the missing patients. Her name was Samantha Pickett, a fifteen year old girl who was admitted in 1884.

Samantha Pickett...could she be the owner of the journal he found?

Nobody knows exactly what went on inside those walls, but there are countless rumors and speculations about the secret happenings of the asylum. Some people say it was home to a Satanic cult, others say the warden was just as insane as the patients, but by far the most popular theory is that the warden was doing experiments on patients. There is no concrete evidence that could support any of these conspiracies, but that doesn't stop them from spreading like wildfires.

As Jaxon's brain processed the information it was receiving, he looked up from the book. He knew that tomorrow, he had to get more information. He yawned and marked his place in the book before going to bed.

When Jax awoke the next morning, he went straight for his desk. He put the books back in his bag and changed into casual clothing before heading back to the library.

"How can I help you?" the librarian asked kindly.

"I'd like to return this book," he stated. He handed her the book and she scanned it in, looking back up at him.

"Anything else?"

"Do you have books about Brockenhurst Asylum?" he asked. She nodded, writing something down on a sticky note. She handed it to him and pointed to a shelf on the left side of the library.

"These are the titles with the most information," she said. "You can find them all on that shelf." He nodded.

"Thank you." He went to the shelf and scanned the books, looking for the titles she had written down. After he found them, he went back to his usual spot. He stacked all but one of the books and set them aside. He flipped one open and started to read.

Brockenhurst Asylum was founded in 1850 by Doctor Andrew Williams. He served as the warden of the asylum until it closed its doors in 1916. Not much is known about the conditions inside the asylum, but journal entries from former patients suggest that they were less than ideal. We know a bit more about the treatment of the patients. Family members of former patients say that their loved ones were often bruised and flinched away from physical contact. However, none of them reported the patients saying anything negative about the asylum. Quite the opposite, actually. Patients praised their doctors and caretakers, saying nothing but good things about the way they were treated.

"That's awful," Jaxon muttered. "It's like they were brainwashed or something." He closed the book and slid it to the side, picking up the journal. He opened it and flipped to the first entry, dated August 14, 1884, and began to read.

Today was my first full day here. Mother and Father put me here because they don't understand. They can't accept that I'm a boy. They say I'm a girl, but I'm not. Yesterday was my birthday. That was the day I told them my feelings. They were outraged. Father threw a liquor bottle at me. Mother broke down into tears. Emily was so scared. She didn't understand what was going on. She didn't know why our parents were so upset with me. Father told me to pack my things, he was taking me somewhere to get help. They brought me here, to Brockenhurst Asylum. I don't need to get help. The only thing that's wrong with me is that I don't feel attracted to boys like other girls my age. I don't feel attracted to boys, I don't feel attracted to girls, I don't want an intimate relationship with anyone. I'm...broken, I suppose.

Jaxon's heart hurt for the boy.

"You're not broken," he whispered. "I'm like you."

The doctors put me in a room by myself. I heard them saying that I'll need 'special treatment'. I've read about the kind of treatment that patients here have to endure. Experimental treatments using electricity. Hydrotherapy. It sounds terrible. I'm dreading tomorrow. The food here is nothing like it is at home. The meals they give us here can barely be classified as food. I wouldn't feed it to my dog.

I haven't gathered much information about this place. All I know is that we have to turn out our lanterns at 8 o'clock. Mealtimes are at 6 o'clock in the morning, midday, and 6 o'clock in the evening. You're not allowed snacks between meals.

The entry ended there. Jaxon closed the book and sighed. He looked out the window. How was it already dark outside? It seemed like he had only been there for a few hours at most. He stood up from his chair and picked up the books, going over to the counter to check them out. Afterwards, he went home.