Hell's Asylum

Jingle Jingle

     "Pain, more and more pain" Is all I could hear. The ringing ceased, the floor was soft. I was back in my padded cell, my neck hurt and my now empty mouth. The pain wasn't bad, but one wrong move and it killed. I opened my eyes, nothing new. My jacket wasn't on, instead I had bell bracelets. I examined the bracelets, metal to hold them on, four bells on each. I felt a buzz in the bracelets and the bells chimed four times. The chimes weren't loud, they were loud enough that they couldn't be muffled easy but not loud enough to hurt my ears. The door opened. "Good you are awake" Mitchell came in with a bowl and plastic fork. He handed it to me. Mac and cheese, looks like they added extra cheese too. "I'm sorry about Doc, but I promise, no more knives, and you won't see him for quite a while" since I couldn't speak my response was a glare. He sat down facing me. I slowly ate the mac and cheese, it was surprisingly good. In a place like this I didn't expect good food. "Those bracelets jingle every hour, you can also jingle them yourself by shaking your hands. I thought it might help you communicate a bit." Yea right. he just did it so if I try to escape it'll ruin my chances.

     I finished my meal, Mitchell took the bowl and fork and left, when he left I noticed he left a stack of files. I don't know if he left it on purpose but they were there. I know damn well reading those could help me, whatever they are. I quickly grabbed them and opened one. Patient files, possible allies. The one I opened was Marcus Ingles. The photo attached looked like the man I saw banging his head. He went mad a few years ago, he hates the dark and is terribly afraid of cats, not helpful. He does however love people, and if not talked to he bangs his head against anything. That could be useful, I guess. Next file was Izic nuttle. His photo showed charred skin and one lost eye. He isn't really crazy, he just fears fire terribly and reports sightings of sparks. Loon? I think so. Next file, the twins. Two big buff guys, who are always naked. Gross. But they are strong and will do almost anything for a women. A huge help to me. The rest of the files were mostly just people who report ghosts, demons and shadows moving. none who could help. The twins I saw on the way to my cell, they stand at the bars next to the stairs. They were naked so I looked away.

     I fell asleep reading the files. First time I actually slept since I got here. I heard the bells jingle and the door open. "Morning sleepy head, today you get some out time. You can wander the cell block, doors to anywhere else are locked. Jax is patrolling, but only this floor, so for you I recommend heading downstairs. Maybe meet some people" His eyes glanced at the files spread out on the floor. I nodded. He left, the door was still open. I got up and slowly walked out. The air was colder out here than in the cell. I crept along the hall towards the stairs to the level below. I saw the twins at the bars, they saw me too. Jason, the taller and uglier of the two spoke, "You are Summer Yes? We have heard a lot about you. You are the only women here. If you ever need help, talk to us. We've been here a while and know a lot." I crept closer. His gaze shifted to my neck. "Stitches on your neck, Doc took the box didn't he? He was going to take Dane's but it was too big." I nodded. I felt a yawn coming on and couldn't suppress it. "Tongue too. You got the worst ones." I looked down. I would make a snappy comeback, try and make them fear me a bit. No way, they already offered help and were way stronger than me, plus I had no way to talk to them. I heard the chains jingling. Jax was coming. Jason must've seen I was scared. "Go down, he won't follow" I bowed, hoping he would get it was a thank you and ran down the stairs. I ran straight into Marcus. I fell onto my butt, which made the fall cushioned.

     Marcus stared down at me and then had a look of realization. He held out a hand to help me up, I took it. He pulled me up with ease, he was strong. The file didn't mention strength in the slightest. "S-umer?" His words were broken and his voice was raspy. I nodded. "S-ory." I heard the chains, they were much louder. Jax was at the top of the stairs, looking right at me. I looked away, scared to see what he would do. Marcus pointed to a cell to my left. "Go, he h-ep you" I nodded and walked quickly to the cell he pointed to. Inside I saw Izic. He looked me up and down, "C-can you speak?" He asked quietly. I shook my head. He mumbled something. "Y-you must be confused. Y-yes?" I nodded. His voice was very soft and shaky. "Come sit with me, I'll exp-plain every-ything." I hesitantly walked over and sat on the ground in front of him. He sat up straighter and looked me in the eyes. "You already know us. I can tell. I am correct that you read our files?" He stopped stuttering and his voice was stronger and sounded almost normal. I nodded, it surprised me that he didn't scare me at all. His one eye was bloodshot and green, his other eye gone. His skin had been stitched up so his eye socket wasn't shown. But his forehead's skin was pulled down to the nose to hide it fully. "You are the first girl to every come here. That we know of at least, only one to see us. We all hate it here, we've been here for years. We don't want anyone, especially a women to stay here long. You seem very co-operative with Mitchell. Does he have something against you?" He was extremely smart, I can cross loon off my list for his attributes. I nodded again with a frown. "A person or evidence of some sort?" I held up my index finger to signal number one. "So, to escape you need them too." He began mumbling. He pulled something out from behind him, another file. "This contains Mitchell's and Doc's. It will tell you weaknesses and any other useful information but you'll have to read it here. He won't let you keep this file." I stared at the file as he handed it to me. I finally have something against him. I looked back at Izic, he was watching me. I motioned with my hands a large stomach and big feet, hoping he would understand it meant Jax. He did, "Jax? I don't know why he is so different with you, he has treated everyone the same, even a female scientist that came in once, she didn't stay long. Jax killed her in an instant when she tried escaping." I began to wonder, nothing would help me with him, best plan. Avoid him during escape. I motioned to myself and then to Marcus and him. "How we know about you huh? Well Mitchell has a runny mouth as we call it, he tends to drop details often. He talks to everyone about their condition and compare us to everyone else including you, so we know all about you. The only thing we don't know is what Doc did to you." I thought for a moment then motioned to my throat and moved my mouth. "Voice box?" He questioned. I nodded and then opened my mouth to show him my non-existent tongue. He mumbled "He finally got a tongue and box, wish it hadn't been you though. May I feel your stitches?" I was hesitant but nodded anyways. He gently felt along the stitches on my neck. "Red Xs all the way down, makes you look pretty bad ass if I do say so myself." He took his hand back down to his lap. "Summer?!" Mitchell was at the top of the stairs. "Leave the file with me and you can read it next time you come." I nodded and gave him the file. I stood, waved and left his cell, I walked up the stairs to where Mitchell stood. "Good to see you getting along with the others, come on back to your room. Dinner is waiting for you" I walked back to my cell, I already knew where it was. Luckily I didn't see Jax at all. I went inside and found a bowl of mashed potatoes waiting for me. "I'll be back soon to take the bowl" Mitchell said as he shut the door. I sat down and ate in silence. The recording had stopped to my luck. Or maybe it was all in my head.