The Nightmare

Chapter One

It was a dark and stormy October night. Steven was driving through long and winding roads as the harsh rain hit his front window. As he turned, he did so each time with caution when suddenly, one of the cars wheels burst, causing him to skid off the road. His car flipped multiple times as it rolled down a hill until it finally stopped. Steven sat unconscious as a large figure pulled him out of the wreckage and dragged him by the collar of his shirt to...

THE CASTLE

When Steven woke up, he found himself lying on a four-postered bed. The room had a chandelier hanging in the middle of it and an open fire facing the bed on the opposite side of the room. As he looked down he realised he was no longer wearing his clothes, instead, he had on a white night suit. At the side of the bed were a pair of slippers. A set of drawers sat on the other side of the bed with a glass of water on top of it. He put on the slippers before slowly getting up and looking out of the window. He saw nothing but miles of hills covered in rain as lightning struck the ground every now and then.
"Enjoying the view?" A voice from behind him asked.
"Where am I?! Who are you?!" Steven yelled, backing himself against the stone wall.
"Relax Steven, my name is Doctor Cooper, and this is my castle."
"How do you know my name?!"
"I found your ID in your clothes. My servant's cleaning them as we speak. Please, come downstairs. Dinner is about to be served." Cooper left the room, his cape narrowly missing the door as he walked out.

At dinner, Steven couldn't help but stare at Coopers appearance. He had long, black hair and wore a black tuxedo to match, with an immaculately white shirt and cape to complete his look.
"It's rude to stare at people Steven." Cooper said sternly as he sipped what looked like wine. Before he could apologise, a hunchbacked man presented Steven with a plate containing a bloody steak. "Please. Enjoy." Cooper told Steven as Steven hesitantly took a bite, trying not to drop blood anywhere.
"What happened to my car?" Steven asked.
"Destroyed in a ditch. Don't worry though, you can stay here for as long as you need..."
"That's very kind of you mister-"
"DOCTOR Cooper." He interrupted.
"Doctor Cooper. But I wouldn't want to impose."'
"Oh on the contrary Steven, I love having people round to eat. I find it keeps me young.
"What kind of doctor are you?"
"A scientist. I quite enjoy the study of the human anatomy. All of our nerves, how we react to them and our pain receptors. It really is quite...entertaining." He said as he arched an eyebrow at Steven. "Now if you'll please excuse me Steven, I have an experiment to conduct. Igor will clear your plate and take you back to your chamber for the night."
"Can't I see the experiment?" Steven asked making Cooper freeze.
"Oh I'm sure you will in due time, but for now, let's leave some mystery."

The hunchbacked man Steven presumed to be Igor took him back to what was now being referred to as his room. However, sleep alluded him that night. He had too many questions to just ignore them all and dream, he needed answers. Warily, Steven snuck out of his room and began wondering about the castle, investigating every little detail. Eventually, he came upon a room with loud bangs coming from it and bright lights flashing in the gap between the door and floor. He hesitantly opened the door slightly as he saw Cooper rushing around the room. He was no longer in his black tuxedo, he now wore a white lab coat with big black gloves covering the majority of his forearm.
"IGOR! Bring in our friend." He commanded with malicious intent.
"Yes master." His minion groaned as he wheeled in a chair with a stranger strapped into it.

The stranger wore dirty rags and had his mouth covered with tape. Each movement he made was an attempt to escape the chair, but it never worked.
"Now Mr. Weiss. You're not gonna cause any trouble for me are you?" Cooper said as he caressed the strangers face. He then moved over to a table of surgical equipment, picking up a cleaver. "Igor! The arm..."he said with a sadistic smile.

Steven watched in fear as Igor unstrapped one of the strangers arms and pinned it down on a table. With one swing Cooper chopped off the mans arm as his muffled cries echoed throughout the room.
"Very nice master." Said Igor, complimenting the straight cut Cooper had made.
"Thank you. Now, cauterise the wound and put the arm with the others. I think I ought to check on our guest." Steven quickly ran with fear, trying to be as quiet as possible as he made his way back to his room.

Bursting through the door, he leapt into his bed hyperventilating.
"Everything alright?" Cooper said ominously as he seemingly appeared out of thin air, back in his tuxedo.
"I'm fine." Steven lied panting. "Just a nightmare."
"Now that's the thing with nightmares...they sometimes come true." He slowly walked towards Stevens bed. "You saw my lab, didn't you?"
"Lab? What lab?" Steven whimpered, readying himself to run.
"Don't lie to me Steven. I know you saw me tend to my other guest. Now, you're going to have to come with me."

Steven grabbed the glass of water and smashed it in Coopers face before pushing past him and running out the room. Cooper fell onto the bed screaming in pain as he pulled glass out of his eyes. He then wiped the blood from his face and ran into the hallway.
"YOU CAN'T RUN FROM ME STEVEN! I WILL FIND YOU! THIS CASTLE WILL BE YOUR TOMB!"