Abandoned Complete Darkness

Chapter Three:The New Deputy

The sun had just begun to ascend above the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over River Edge . Sheriff Thompson sat behind his desk, a cup of strong, black coffee in his hands, as he pored over a stack of reports. Deputy Harris sat across from him, looking as though he had not slept a wink. They were both deep in discussion when a knock echoed through the office.
"Come in!" Sheriff Thompson called out.

The door creaked open, and a young woman poked her head inside the office. She had a lively gleam in her eyes and a confident smile on her lips.
"Morning Sheriff, Deputy," she greeted them with a cheerful wave.
Deputy Harris grumbled in response, rubbing at his tired eyes. Sheriff Thompson, on the other hand, looked up at her with mild curiosity.
"And who might you be?" he asked, setting down his coffee cup.

The woman stepped into the office, her confident stride belying her youth. "I'm Deputy Emily Adams," she replied, the words sharp and clear. "Just arrived from the city, sir."

Sheriff Thompson raised an eyebrow. He had expected a new deputy, but he hadn't anticipated someone so young. He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "How old are you, Miss Adams?"

Deputy Adams didn't seem the least bit intimidated by the sheriff's scrutiny. "I'm 21, sir," she replied, her tone still confident. "I know I look young, but I promise I can handle myself."
Deputy Harris let out a scoff. "And how much experience do you have, Miss Adams?" he asked, his voice dripping with skepticism.

Deputy Adams turned her attention to Deputy Harris, her demeanor unflinching. "I graduated top of my class from the City Police Academy," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "And I've done a fair amount of field training before they assigned me here."

Despite himself, Deputy Harris was quietly impressed. He grudgingly nodded in acknowledgement, mumbling, "Impressive for a city kid."

Just then, the door burst open, and a disheveled woman, known colloquially as 'The Crazy Lady,' rushed into the office. She was dressed in a mismatched array of clothes, her hair wild and unkempt.
"Sheriff Thompson! Deputy Harris!" she exclaimed, her voice shrill and panicked. "Something terrible has happened. I saw it in a vision!"

Deputy Harris rolled his eyes, the mere sight of the woman already grating on his nerves, while Sheriff Thompson sighed deeply, bracing himself for an onslaught of the woman's usual nonsensical ramblings.

"What is it now, ma'am?" Sheriff Thompson asked wearily. He had learned over the years that her visions, if they ever materialized at all, were usually nothing more than exaggerated fantasies.

The Crazy Lady came forward, her eyes wide and wild. "It's bad, Sheriff," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "A man, someone close to your deputy...he's been taken. I've seen it in my visions. We have to act before it's too late."

Deputy Harris let out a snort of disbelief, while Sheriff Thompson rubbed his temples, a headache starting to form. "And what makes you think we should believe you this time?"

Deputy Adams had been silently observing the exchange. Now she spoke up, her voice clear and calm. "Sheriff, Deputy Harris, maybe we should hear her out. It doesn't hurt to check, does it?"
Deputy Harris shot her a look, clearly surprised by her interruption. But before he could say anything, Sheriff Thompson gave a tired nod. "She's right," he said, gesturing for the Crazy Lady to continue.

The Crazy Lady, taking Sheriff Thompson's nod as her cue, began her tale. "The vision was clear," she began, her eyes darting around the office as if trying to remember every detail. "There was a song playing, a haunting melody... 'Sleepwalk,' I think it was called."

Deputy Harris's expression darkened. "Sleepwalk..." he repeated the name, a pang of dread starting to form in his chest.
"That's right," the Crazy Lady confirmed, not missing his reaction. "And the song was coming from an old, abandoned asylum. I could see the letters on the building, faded and worn, but still readable - 'River Edge Sanitarium.'"