Punishment In Due Course

CHAPTER SEVEN

Over the next couple of days, more boys were vanishing from the town. Everyone is confused, no one knows what has happened to them. The media have no answers, the police have no leads to follow on. No one has any idea... except Henry. Henry put the pieces together quicker than Jacob did. So now, Henry is outside the Asylum, shaking in fear. He doesn't want to go inside, what he has a feeling that whatever is in there is causing all of his friends to vanish. With a deep breath and one last look around, he went into the Asylum.

Jacob was sitting in his room contemplating what this all means. He wrote ideas down on piece of paper, he thought that it will help him figure it all out.

"Idea No. 1: This is a dream, this isn't happening, this isn't real

Idea No. 2: A madman has decided to steal boys and hold them ransom

Idea No. 3: This a conspiracy against the police to try and embarrass them"

All of these ideas could be possible, nothing is impossible after all. Jacob kept thinking to himself on which idea is the best one to go with. As he thought about it, he had to go to the toilet. When he got back, there was... one other idea written on the page. Jacob knew he didn't write it. He looked around and everything was the same. Same coloured walls, same bed, and same windows. Everything was the same. So, Jacob thought to himself, why was there a fourth idea written down? He read the idea, then he read it again, his eyes widening every time he read it. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, his blood running cold.

"Idea No. 4: An old friend out for revenge, with a Punishment to hand out."

 Jacob's face fell, he through the paper across the room. He didn't write that idea, some would say it was an old friend reaching out, some would say it would be Jacob's imagination. Whatever it was though, it scared the hell out of the boy.

                                                                                               *

Henry has never been into the Asylum before, but he has heard stories. Stories wouldn't be a good word, you could say, Henry has heard urban legends about the Asylum. As he made his way through the building, he would see doorways, broken walls, and graffiti everywhere. When he got deeper into the Asylum he heard a voice. A voice that sounded familiar.

"Hey Henry, old friend, how are you? Can you hear me? HEEEENNNNRRRYYY?"

"Y-Yeah, th-that's me', said Henry in fright. "W-W-Who's this?"

"Henry, it's me. Surely you recognise my voice. You were the one that found my hand after all. Oh yeah, and my head."

"Your head, what are you...talking about?" asked Henry before realisation hit him. "How are you going James?"

"I doing great Henry", said James. "Thanks to you and Jacob, I know longer have to put up with you anymore. After all, you sent me in here".

"James, where are the other boys? I know you have them", said Henry.

"They are, let's put it this way, facing their Punishment. Just like you will", said James.

"What are you talking about?" asked Henry. Then a figure came at him and then...

Darkness.