Asylum - The Case of Sophia Rourke

Chapter Eight

We finished our dinners. Grandpa, Collin, the kids and I were still in the cafeteria. I had agreed to travel to the shadow dimension with Collin- but he clarified he wouldn't be able to help Brynne. He would only go to keep me company.

Reiko was staring at Daryl, twirling her hair. He was staring at me, his expression concerned. Ivy was still holding Reiko's hand.

"Come back safe," Grandpa said, then patted my shoulder. I smiled slightly.

"Ready to go, kid?" Collin asked. I nodded. I hadn't ever moved in the 'shadow dimension', and Grandpa told me that if I did, I would be exploring that world. I took one last look at my friends and gave them a reassuring smile, then slipped the bracelet over my wrist. I heard one last thing before the world changed.

"Bring Brynne back!" Ivy yelled.

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The world changed, just like it had before. It was dark, and the grass was crimson. The sky was black as before. I took one step on the blood-red ground, and I felt different. It was like a strange aura passed over me. I was moving perfectly, just like before in the real world.

"Ready?" Collin asked, walking up beside me. He looked completely normal. I nodded, my heart starting to race with fear and anxiety. We started walking. He seemed like he knew where he was going.

I could see shadows everywhere, lurking. They were the scary ones with fangs and blood-drenched teeth. They always talked to me in the asylum, warning me about human beings. I kept my eyes forward, scared that if I looked another way they would capture me, too.

"Don't look at them," Collin whispered. He was also staring forward like it would save his life. I nodded quickly, my head still as a stone. "There's a secret way we've got to go through to find Brynne. I think she would be in the cellar."

"How do we get there?"

Collin grinned mischievously. "You'll see." I knew he had something planned, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to know.

As we passed through the withering trees, I saw an intimidating building in the distance. It looked like thousands of the shadows came together and formed another castle. Collin grabbed my wrist. "There it is. I'll show you the way in." He pulled me forward, and we started running. We took a sharp turn as we approached the dark castle. There was a small opening, where water was draining down from a snapped pipe. Collin crawled down to it. "We can definitely fit inside. This should lead us right to the cellar, kiddo."

I nodded and followed him. My legs were soaked as we crawled through the water, and I was sure my dress was going to be see through in minutes. "How far?" I asked, getting impatient.

"Soon," Collin replied quickly. It was like we were going through a black hole. I couldn't see light, and I wasn't expecting to- it was the shadow dimension, after all. Collin suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me up. We were in what looked like a well. Small, stone steps led up to the surface.

"You go up first," I said. I didn't want him seeing up my dress. He nodded and climbed up the stairs, then out of the well. He helped me up afterwards.

"You alright?"

"Yes." I looked around, examining the area around me. Everything was a shadow to me. Blood was dripping down the walls like melting chocolate. Collin looked just as freaked out as I was. Many cells lined up across the hall.

"Brynne!" Collin hissed. Silence; no answer.

I ran down the dark hall and looked in each cell. By the final one, I heard crying. "Brynne! Brynne, is that you?!" I looked closer. It was definitely her. She was curled up in a ball, shaking.