The Warden Of Nightmares

Chapter 2: Unsettling Beginnings.

Liliana woke to the faint sound of a distant bell tolling, its eerie reverberations creeping into the stillness of her new quarters. She glanced at the clock on the ornate wooden nightstand—it was just past midnight. The mist outside her window had thickened, wrapping the asylum grounds in a ghostly embrace.

For a moment, she simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, her mind swirling with the events of the day. The interview had been peculiar, yes, but nothing about this place had truly prepared her for the chilling weight that seemed to hang in the air. The strange, disorienting feeling hadn't left her, and now, even in the solitude of her room, it lingered like a shadow at the edges of her consciousness.

She pushed herself up from the bed, stretching the stiffness from her limbs. Her hazel eyes darted around the room once more, the shadows shifting in the corners as if the very walls were alive. The dimly lit gas lamps on the walls flickered, casting long, haunting silhouettes that made her pulse quicken.

Liliana couldn't quite put her finger on it. Something about the asylum's energy felt...wrong. Not just the place itself, but the people—the ones who worked here, who had brought her in. The receptionist's smile had been too thin, her eyes too sharp. And Mr. Whitmore, with his unnervingly calm demeanor, seemed to know more about her than he should have.

She shook off the thought, glancing at the small vanity across the room. In the mirror, her reflection was a picture of quiet composure. Her chestnut hair cascaded neatly down her back in its usual braid, and her high cheekbones framed the soft glow of her fair skin. The butterfly tattoo on her back—a delicate thing she had gotten during a particularly rebellious phase—was hidden beneath her blouse, but the small rose tattoo on her thigh was a secret only she knew.

Liliana's gaze lingered on her own reflection. She had always been one to stay composed, to hide her emotions behind a mask of professionalism, but she could feel something inside her stir. Her intuition, the one that had guided her through countless situations, told her that this place was far from ordinary. It was as if the asylum itself had a pulse, a rhythm that beat just beneath the surface, waiting for her to notice.

A soft knock at her door broke her reverie. She stiffened, glancing toward the door. Who would be visiting her at this hour?

"Miss Costa?" came a voice—a familiar one from earlier. The receptionist. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, but there are a few matters we need to address before the morning."

Liliana stood up, smoothing the creases in her blouse, and made her way to the door. She opened it just enough to peek out, meeting the older woman’s piercing gaze.

"Yes?" Liliana asked, trying to mask the unease creeping up her spine.

The receptionist's smile was polite but cold, her silver hair gleaming faintly under the dim light. "We need you to review the facility’s schedule and familiarize yourself with the daily operations. Mr. Whitmore requests that you come by his office in the morning for a brief orientation. He’s very particular about preparedness."

Liliana nodded, though she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her visit than just business. "Thank you. I'll be there."

As the woman turned to leave, Liliana felt the urge to ask something, to pry a little deeper. "Is there anything I should know about the patients here? Any specific... concerns I should be aware of?"

The receptionist paused, her eyes narrowing just slightly. "The patients are, as Mr. Whitmore said, vulnerable. But their needs go beyond what can be seen at first glance. Some of them have... abilities. Unseen by most, but not by us." She turned to go, her voice softening just enough for Liliana to catch, "Be cautious, Miss Costa. Not all nightmares stay in the mind."

Liliana's heart skipped a beat at the cryptic warning, but before she could respond, the receptionist was already gone, her footsteps echoing down the hall.

Closing the door, Liliana leaned against it for a moment, taking in the weight of what had just been said. Not all nightmares stay in the mind.

It felt like a challenge. The kind of challenge she had always sought, yet never quite expected to encounter in such a twisted form. She wasn’t sure what kind of asylum she had just entered, but one thing was certain: she was about to find out.

Tomorrow would bring answers—or at least more questions.

And Liliana Costa, with her fierce determination and unyielding resolve, would confront whatever darkness lay ahead.

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A/n

I have actually already written around 5 chapters for the story. So, I'll publishing them all today.

I had the idea of the story from a dream of my own. I wrote it down so that I don't forget what I thought of.

But now I have written a few chapters in the story and wish to complete it to fulfill my own curiosity.

Yes, the secrets of this asylum is a secret to me too.
So, let's wait and see what secrets will the time reveal.

Thank you for reading.

~Haf.