Greatstone Asylum: A Ghost Story (Fanfiction)

Chapter Ten: Escape At Last

Bruce takes a breath and begins telling us. "Years ago, before I took Richard in, there was a young girl. Mandy. She lived in this very asylum." He pauses as we all glance at each other. This we knew. Since we had met Mandy's angry ghost.
"Mandy was a complicated child. It had been said that she was responsible for the deaths of a few other children here-"
"But she was innocent!" I interrupt. This takes Bruce by surprise. "How do you know?" He asks slowly. I notice everyone's looking at me now.
"She... She... Uh... That is... She t-told me..." I answer, feeling my face turn red. Bruce continues. "Anyway, Mandy was locked in her room. Being declared 'insane' and 'doesn't get along with others'. They limited her contact with the other children, and the staff. I had decided to give Mandy a second chance. So with some persuasion with the second in command nurse, Miss Dona, I got permission to care for Mandy at the manor. She agreed that a change of environment may do the girl good." At the mention of Nurse Dona I flinch.
"But the night before she was to live with me, a boy, Mandy's very close friend Mason, had gone missing. The staff had questioned the girl, but she denied ever even seeing him. Nurse Dona then became a little apprehensive to my taking Mandy home. She feared the girl may try something. I told her that I was sure Mandy would be alright, and Nurse Dona let me take her."

"A few days had gone by, and Mandy seemed as happy as any child would be. She and I played board games, did puzzles, watched movies, and even went for walks. Mandy seemed normal. I began to even wonder what she was doing in the asylum in the first place."

"About a week later, I gave Mandy the news that Nurse Dona was coming for a visit. Then everything changed. The girl became quite. She stayed in her room most days. Would hardly eat. And became very temperamental."

"A day before Dona was to arrive, I confronted Mandy. She told me everything. She told me that nurse Dona was the one who murdered the children, and framed her. She told me it was because they knew Dona's secret. Dona was head of a secret department of illegal experiments on children. And I believed Mandy. So I decided to expose Dona's secret when she came. But Mandy was in danger. So to protect her I hid her in the basement."

"Dona arrived and right away demanded to see Mandy. I told her Mandy was asleep. Dona seemed displeased, but let it slide. Dona decided to stay for diner. Which worked for me. The longer she stayed, the more I'd get to know her. Then Dona asked to use the restroom and I told her where it was. She was gone awhile. I took this as an opportunity to check on Mandy."

"I descended the basement stairs and called out to her. She didn't answer. I figured she was afraid, so I continued into the basement. But when I found her..." Here Bruce trails off, a look of pain in his eyes. He slowly takes a breath and continues. "She was hanging from the ceiling, the words 'I'm sorry' were written behind her in blood."
Bruce looks away with tear filled eyes. I move close to him and rest a hand on top of his. "She said... She said it was your fault... She said you killed her... Bruce, I don't think she hung herself... I think Dona did someth-"
Suddenly the basement door slams shut. Theo jumps and her hands go out.

After a minute Theo lights her hands back up. Bruce stands and grabs my hand reassuringly. Slowly he moves me behind him and does the same to Scarlet and Jason. Theo stays where she is and Bruce makes no move to move her. Wally quickly joins beside me. Jason whimpers and grabs my arm. "Stay behind me." Bruce orders.
Something in the shadows moves quickly. I step back and trip. "Behind me, Robin." Bruce repeats. I get up. "Not like I wanted to fall over, but there's something in here..." Then her voice fills the air again. "Richard, why do you run from me? I am your mother. I only want to help you." I throw my hands over my ears quickly.

It's not real.
She's not real.
It's just fear.
Only you can see-

"Who is that?!" Jason screams as my mother, looking even worse than before, steps out of the shadows. But she isn't alone. Beside her is Slade, Bruce's parents, the guy Max, Scarlet has talked about, the Joker, and the Flash. Mostly everyone looks horrified. Bruce especially. Theo on the other hand could care less. She just stares calmly at the Slade copy and shrugs.