(1D) Saw ; The Beginning

(3) Chapter Five ; The Insane Asylum .

Ashton Irwin ; 

We drove for about an hour, and it felt like forever. I spent the time comforting Gemma because inside it made me forget about what I really wanted to think about.

Finally, I could see the castle of a building that was nearly in the middle of the forest. I had heard stories of Solitude Mental Institution as a kid but I never imagined it looked like this. Giant black barred gates towered over the outline of the property, making it impossible to climb over. The walls of the outside were cement colored bricks and all around it were plants and vines that grew over the windows and walls. Cleyton pulled up to the only way into this place slowly coming to a stop. The guards looked miserable but as I thought about it, anyone who worked here probably would be. It didn't seem to be an appealing job.

   

  "You again?" the guard leaned into Cleyton's window as he rolled it down. "What is your business here? The warden doesn't like visitors at this time of day."

  "Official business-" Cleyton flashed his badge for the guard to examine. "The warden is just going to have to get used to it."

   "Who are the kids?" he gestured to us.

  Cleyton looked back. "Don't worry about it, they're with me...."

   

The guard just stood there idly for a moment before finally giving the signal. The toll bar lifted slowly and we drove past them watching their hard scowls. This place already felt so immoral, so lifeless like a cemetery. I wrapped Gemma tighter in my arms hoping she didn't feel as empty as this place made me feel.

  

  "What are we doing here?" Gemma whispered up at me so Cleyton wouldn't hear.

 "To talk to Amanda-"

  "Who's Amanda?" she tilted her head curiously.

 I hesitated. "She's the only surviving victim-"

  "Here we are" Cleyton interrupted, shifting into park. He looked back at us killing the engine. "You kiddo's ready?"

  "Y-yeah...." I answered catching from the corner of my eye Gemma's death glare. I waited for Cleyton to step out of the car to explain it to her.

  "Ashton I will hurt you in places you can't imagine if you don't tell me what the-"

   "Your brother was kidnapped by a serial killer" I put it in simpler terms not wanting to hear how she was going to finish that sentence. "And so was everyone else. She is the only person who has survived it, and that is why we're talking to her. She might have answers-"

  Cletyon tapped on the window. "You guys coming?"

   I nodded at him, then turned back to Gemma. "I'll tell you the rest later just please, don't freak out-"

   "Freak out??" she growled. "Knowing that my little brother is out there in the hands of some, serial killer, you're telling me not to freak out??"

  "Babe please, we'll find him I swear" I begged her not wanting her to lose it. "This is why I didn't want to tell you! I didn't want you to worry-"

   "Ashton this is my brother we're talking about" she shook her head, hiding her face in her hands. "I am not gonna stop until I find him-"

  "You don't think I feel the same way??" I scoffed stepping out of the car, holding my hand out to help her. "Their my friends too you know?"

   "Do you two ever stop arguing?" Cleyton rolled his eyes, sighing heavily.