When Violence Ensues: Slenderverse Short Stories.

Story Twenty Eight: Carved Stone Doctors and Medicated Kids.

Hell itself could not even begin to compete with this place. Unspeakable horrors were committed within these now vandalised and charred walls, and the sheer agony of the past patients seemed to linger like a dark cloud before a storm. Fairmount Children's Home was kin to hell itself. Even the name itself was a sick joke- it was no home. Especially not for the children that resided there. Well, in HABIT's case, at least.

This orphanage housed thousands of lonely souls during it's time before closure- and eventually- destruction by fire. In particular, the personal demons some of the children fought while inside these walls were chilling; four children specifically had gotten the attention of Dr Corenthal, the psychiatrist and doctor that worked within the home. Vincent, Evan, Jeffery and Stephanie were the names of the four children- but Evan wouldn't answer to his name under any circumstance.

HABIT was the only name he went by.

Out of the Mining Town Four, HABIT was possibly the child that concerned Dr Corenthal most. From intense mood swings to an eerie love for anything violent- the kid had all of the staff, and children, at the home terrified of him. Many incidents that had occurred within the walls of Fairmount were down to HABIT himself- including the murder of a nurse.

Which had been carried out with a plastic fork.

That had quite literally been a shock to the system, considering the fact that HABIT was a juvenile- a child. No child should have the strength to carry out such a crime. Especially not how vicious it was- yet the dark eyed child smiled and shrugged his shoulders hours after the incident. Due to this happening, HABIT was banned from many things- being around other children or staff unattended, eating with anything other than a spoon unless stated otherwise, and was even kept in confinement for a short period of time as extensive mental examinations took place. It became quite evident very quickly that this seriously pissed the child off.

Despite all of the shock and horror of this happening- they were warned. HABIT had been admitted into Fairmount with extreme caution and serious consideration due to the warnings they had received about him and what he could potentially do. Dr Corenthal himself was the one who had spent the most time with HABIT, so he understood well the risks.

The doctor was not someone HABIT was very fond of- that could be due to the persistent questions, the 'condescending' tone of voice or simply the fact that he was authority. HABIT didn't like authority. Soon enough, however, the child had come to terms with the fact that he was going to be monitored by Corenthal- and began to unnerve him mercilessly.

"I know what you've done, Doctor." HABIT would state innocently, blinking up at him with those dark eyes that seemed to contain a festering rage at all times. This alone was enough to concern the doctor, as he hadn't anticipated the Sixth Sense-esque attitude that HABIT had claimed. Dr Corenthal raised an eyebrow and adjusted his glasses,

"Why, what have I done, HABIT?" He questioned in return; and every time he did, HABIT would simply smile and point to the clock,

"Clock's ticking. They'll find out eventually." He'd chuckle with complete amusement. It was as if the child knew everything about him- which was impossible, the doctor knew that- but yet it still unnerved him greatly. This was a minor example of HABIT's many mind games that he loved to play.

For a while, those mind games grew worse before they simply ceased, and HABIT withdrew into himself. This was an example of his mood swings, but as Corenthal came to learn, those mood swings could lead to bouts of severe depression- which heightened his violent tendencies. Knowing this, Corenthal gifted a Polaroid camera to the child, and a bound journal, as a way of keeping a log book of sorts. He knew HABIT liked to be organised when it came to remembering things. As much as the bad side of HABIT showed and terrified anyone who came into contact with him, he had a very sweet side that could be coaxed out. He could be witty, and strangely empathetic, but those moments were rare unless you knew when to look for them.