Greatstone Asylum: A Ghost Story (Fanfiction)

Chapter Five: A Haunting Vision

If you've ever seen a horror movie, a scary play, or read horror story (perhaps like the one you're reading currently), you know that it's a horrible idea to do any single one of the following...

1.) Call out the name of the person you're looking for, no matter how many times they don't respond.

2.) Go into the basement.

3.) Stand in front of a mirror, and talk to it. Or even be in front of it at all.

4.) Hear a sound and head towards it.

5.) Call out "hello" to whatever made the sound.

6.) Repeat all of the above
continuously.

Funny thing, though. I've seen movies, plays, and read horror stories. You think I'd have enough common sense to not do ANY of the above. Only you aren't going to believe this. I not only do just one. I do ALL of it. How daft can I be?! Oh well.

~

After what seems like the thousandth time calling out Rodger's name, and getting no reply, I give up and decide to head back to Wally and Jason. If Rodger's in trouble it's his fault. He ran off. Besides, I can't keep going after him. I still have to check on Scarlet and Theo. They may still be locked in that room. Hopefully Wally and Jason got them free.

I stop suddenly in mid-step in the lobby, as a strange, but hauntingly familiar melody fills the air. It sounds like an out-of-tune music box, playing a something I haven't heard in years.
The last time I heard it was the last time I saw my parents. That fateful night a few years ago.
The music grows louder, and I find myself walking towards it. I don't know what's making me do it. I don't want anything to do with the music. It brings back to many painful memories. Memories I try not to remember.
The music seems to be coming from the kitchen. As I get closer to the door it gets louder. More sounds can be heard now, clapping and cheering. Totally confused, I kick open the door.

Silence.

I take a step in, and let out a gasp as the door slams shut behind me, flooding the room in darkness.

A light appears above, lighting up the room. I look around, but there's something wrong with this kitchen. There's no stove, fridge, counters, shelves, or anything you'd normally find. Instead there's what appears to be a bunch of metal bleachers, surrounding a large, wooden ring at the centre of the room. Two poles at either end of the ring stand tall, wires going across the top. The walls, white and red stripes going all the way up and over the room, like the way a tent does. I suddenly realise I've been here before.
The music starts up again, slower this time, like it's trying to taunt me. Like it knows I loath it. But that's impossible. How could it know? I cover my ears to try and block out the music, but this does nothing. I still hear it. It's almost as if it's playing inside my head.

I notice movement in a dark corner of the room and freeze. For some reason I'm daft enough to call out a 'whose there'. A figurs moves slowly toward me. I squint to get a better look at it. It's slim, tall, probably a woman, with her long hair back, and her beautiful, pale face catching the dim light of the room. My heart skips a few beats as I recognise my mother.

For several long minutes I gape at her. A smile appears on her calm, soft face. "Hello, Richard. I missed you." Her voice sweetly fills the air. I'm too stunned to do anything. So I just stand, frozen in shock, not even breathing. I let my breath out slowly, and my voice shakes. "M-mother?" I finally manage to say. She nods and holds out her arms. I run forward and hug her tightly, tears filling my eyes. Her soft hand gently strokes my hair, and I press my face into her shoulder, taking in the sweet sent.... of....