Redrum: Origins

Part 7: Trap

Disclaimer: I do not own Redrum. Redrum is a game developed by Anarchy Enterprises. I only own the OC characters.

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She was surprised at the lack of police cars circling the building. She looked up at the sky to notice that the first rays of dawn had only just begun to peek over the horizon. She had gotten here before anyone else. That thought only occupied her for a moment as she slipped through the Asylum's doors. The only thing that mattered to her was walking Rose out of this horrible place.

The front lobby was shockingly empty. Even the woman at the receptionist's desk was absent. That struck her as odd. This place wouldn't be open if no employees had arrived yet. Maybe they had an early morning routine.

She dashed down the Asylum's west wing, feeling anxious. She realized that she should have found out for herself where Rose's room was, but there was no time to dwell on that. She had to get the girl out of here as quickly as possible.

She approached a corridor that had an automatic cell block door, like the ones in prisons. However, it was wide open. She spotted a few orderlies popping in and out of rooms, carrying sheets, pillows and trash bags. Good. There weren't that many and they're all busy. She could easily sneak past them.

Cautiously, she tiptoed down the hallway, staying close to the wall. Whenever she was in danger of being spotted, she ducked inside one of the empty rooms, waiting for them to move along. She had a few close calls, but she was approaching the last room. She could see the path continuing at the end of the hallway.

Out of nowhere, someone gripped her shoulders and pushed her against the wall. One moment she was in the clear and the next she was staring into the wild eyes of a man, cheeks sunken and hollow. He squeezed her upper arms in a tight grip, bruising the skin. His expression was desperate. "Please!" he screamed. "You have to help me! They're going to cut out my brain!"

Maddie couldn't find any words, still reeling from this unexpected intrusion. She blinked at the man, mind trying to catch up with what he was saying. Apparently, this didn't satisfy him, so he tightened his grip and shook her, hard. "Don't you understand?" he screeched. "They're going to cut out my fucking brain!"

Suddenly, hands gripped his arms, pulling him off her. The man struggled in the orderlies' grip, still shouting at her for her help. She leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath. Her heart pounded in her chest. Static roared in her ears. She jumped and cried out when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. However, her dread did not go away at the sight of the old bastard.

"Are you alright, Madeleine?" Fraud asked, concern etched on his face. "It seems he gave you quite a scare." Maddie took in deep breaths to calm herself, in through her nose and out through her mouth. After a few seconds of this, she finally managed to squeeze out a few words. "I-I'm f-fine," she stammered, rubbing at her sore arms. Fraud frowned, not saying anything in response. He looked down the corridor where the orderlies had dragged off the patient. "I'm terribly sorry about that," he said. "It's more difficult to subdue other patients."

Maddie didn't respond, still trying to recover from that incident. She barely registered the arm Fraud circled around her shoulders. "Come," he said. "Tea will help calm your nerves." She was too numb and shocked to resist, allowing herself to be pulled along. Before she knew it, she was sitting in a plush chair in a room she hadn't seen before. The walls in here weren't painted white; instead, they were a deep sea-green color. Tables with coffee machines lined the walls of the room. There were a few lockers as well. The break room, maybe? She glanced around her, taking in every detail. She was unnerved by the pair of orderlies keeping guard by the door behind her, their muscles bulging under their white uniforms.