Arbatian Mental Institution

Ch.16 Stranger

Three Months Ago

"Hold up you're going too fast! This is really cramped in here.", Gil says while trying to push his body through the narrow hole. He follows the bearded figure as he pays Gil no mind scurrying quickly.

The figure drops off an edge revealing a small amount of light. Gil pushes through and grips the edges of the drop off heaving himself through. He lands on a worn out mattress resting on concrete.

He lays there temporarily before sitting up rubbing his back. Melted candles line against a wall on a faded wooden table. Water stains brown the walls from ceiling to floor. The room is small but could hold one person comfortably. A toilet in the corner sat looking as if it hasn't been cleaned or used in quite some time.

The bearded figure sat on the floor staring at Gil. His eyes heavy with wear, his hair thick like a bushel of tree branches. His shirt although small, hung loose on him. His ribcage poked through his skin. Gil looks around and quietly asks, "Who are you?"

The man replies, "My name is Mike. You?"

"Gil. Where are we?"

"Forgotten room in the institution. Used to put stray jackets in here but after one bit his tongue off and choked on his blood they closed it off. Door is sealed from other side."

Gil felt something wasn't right, but he was often paranoid and owed the man thanks for saving his life. Gil reached out and shook his hand, "I owe you my life. I would of died in there."

Mike nods his head and reaches over to a small bowl pressed against the wall. It was filled with water drippings.

"Drink this. You're dehydrated.", Mike offered the bowl.

Gil feeling kind of weak decides to take a couple of gulps and thanks him.

"Mike how did you end up here?"

"Escaped one day during a winter storm. Well tried at least. Fucking guards on the doors found me. There is no escaping this place. I was able to outrun them for a little while but eventually found a crack in the wall by Wing E. I squeezed in and they stopped chasing me. Managed to find this place and made myself at home. No one goes into Wing E, well that often."

Gil never hearing of the 'guards' begins to asks but is reminded of his night in Wing E. "Oh about that do you know anything about that place? They threw me in there and something was in there with me. It almost killed me."

Mike nods his head, "Yeah I know about that. Few guys died in the hail storm. Way I see it their souls merged into an evil spirit. Almost got me once. Went in there scavenging for food and attacked me."

"How did you get away?"

"Made a deal. See we both needed something in life. I needed food and it wanted souls."

Gil tilts his head in confusion, "Hold up what did you say?"

"See last night it was toying with you before you pulled a Houdini and left. You don't know how long it's been since I've had some good meat. Really pissed me off you did."

Gil's heart begins to race as he starts trying to get up. He falls sideways and lands on the floor as everything begins to spin. "What did you do to me?!"

Mike smiles, "Little stuff here and there in that water you drank. I use it to sleep through stomach pain but thought it work in this occasion for you."

A gray hand reaches from the hole with black claws etching against the brick wall. He hears the heavy breathing but can't move.

"All yours. Now if you'll please hurry I'm hungry.", Mike says from somewhere in the room.

A tear runs down Gil's face. So this is how it ends?

Claws begin to penetrate his back as the creature makes his way up to his face.

"Cousin I know we never made up. I know this is why I'm cursed!",Gil shouts, "I just want you to know I forgi-"

The creature grabs his head pulling it back and inhales deeply. A black vortex comes spiraling out of Gil's mouth into the creature's. It let's go as Gil's head plops to the floor. His eyes open and blank.

Mike smiles and licks his lips walking over before bending down and tearing into Gil's neck.