Outlast the Night

Blackout

In Dramas and Action shows, they create the feeling of suspense right before disaster. For example, the camera pans into a normal event such as a family in a park, eating out, or any common household chore. Then the music switches from happy and positive to mysterious and dangerous. The pit in the bottom of your stomach forms as the protagonist or unsuspecting victim has their back turned to the antagonist or killer stands behind them. The only difference is in real life there is no music to alert of any danger. 

In real life a siren goes off at 1:30 am with loud rushing footsteps running pass your door. Star woke up afraid jolting out of bed as men screamed for people to hide or run. She throws the covers off her body racing to the bedroom door. More men screaming and banging against the walls and doors telling everyone to get out. 

She throws the door open letting the siren's screams echo louder in her ears. Doctors, nurses, and staff members alike running down the hall to the closets exit. 

"What's going on? What is happening?" She tries to stop a doctor but he runs right past her screaming his head off. A guard ran up to her grabbing her by her shoulders so tightly it would have cut her circulation off. He pushed his face in her own with spit flying in her eyes.  

"GET OUT NOW! Just run as fast as you can!" A gun shot bounced in the halls causing more to follow. 

"My patients! Waylon!" She cried out only letting her thoughts topple over each other. 

"NO TIME! GET OUT!" The guard ran off as the lights and siren turned off plunging the room into quiet darkness. As he ran, her pushed her back inside her room letting the door lock shut after her. She moved the handled up and down banging the door. 

"Hey let me out!" She called out listening to the remaining footsteps leave. Her heart pounding in her chest with sweat forming on her skin. The lights in her room were off leaving her window open for the little moonlight to shine through. Her hands shaking with fear as her mind was imaging all the horrors of what was going on. A sharp flash of lighting breaking the darkness of her room as a roll of thunder passed through. 

She jumps listening to more screams of terror and unknown sounds of horror. More gun shots and screams through the halls. She walked backwards hitting her desk and thrown back onto her bed. Her heart hammering in her chest as the sounds of terror fade out. Her body shaking; waiting for something. A noise of any kind other than her own heartbeat. 

She sits and waits for what feels like hours waiting for anything to happen. She places a hand over her heart and slows her breathing down to a steady pace. The sweat drying on her face and body as she removes her sleep wear and changes into her one pair of black jeans, a black top, and boots. She only had time to pack one bag before a shiver crawled up her spine. The heat was off but it was not a normal cold shiver. She looked over to her door at the bottom watching the green shadows crawl up. It twisted upward to her knees as it began to take a clearer shape. It formed a human head but disappeared as another flash of lighting danced over the window. 

She blinked not believing what she saw and continued to pack up. She left behind the majority of her clothing carrying basic supplies and her books. The door was no good for her so she decided to head towards the window. She pushed the window open allowing the little drops of rain to fall in but after looking down the ten foot drop she shut the window close. The next best exit would be the air conditioning vents.   

After taking a small coin to the screws, Star popped the cover off and pushed herself up into the medal maze. By using her elbows and knees, she crawled and shimmed her way into the confining hallway. She twisted her body in the three-way hole and kicked the air vent open. After two hits the grate popped opened and she jumped down landing on her feet. Her body shook from the impact but quickly raced the same way as the other staff members. It was only five minutes before a man's scream echoed through the walls. She could smell blood and other human matter the more she made her way through the asylum. 

Pieces of broken furniture and wild papers crunched under her feet. She glued her body to the walls staying away from the lights that were on from the emergency generator. Star crouched down low crawling under a bed frame and a desk as she made her way closer to the front entrance. The only sounds she could hear was her steady heartbeat and a clatter from somewhere else. She stood straighter as she slowly walked down the stairs leading to the main desk. Careful to avoid any creaks on the wooden steps. She could see the head of one officer but the other one with his feet out from the desk lying on the ground. 

"Hello?" She called out but nobody moved." My name is Dr. Swan I need some help." She moved closer but slipped onto her back side. She groaned from the pain and sat up to see her bruises. But instead of dark blotch on her skin, blood stained her pants and hands. 

"Oh my god!" She raced to push herself up and saw the two dead security guards, one without a head. She leaned over the desk heaving her guts out but nothing coming out. She stood on her elbows coughing and chocking on her own spit. 

"Little bird." Star looked up and saw a figure standing on the second floor. The hulking figure staring down at her from the secondary floor behind the glass wall. 

She pushed herself up against the desk looking towards the voice. 

"Hello?" She called out. The figure moved from their spot and raced to the stair case. She followed the figure as he stomped down toward the female doctor. She stood frozen as the solider walked calmly toward her. His face was covered in scars and his mouth pulled back so all his yellow teeth glowing in the lights. Star sucked in a breath holding her hands over her face taking in the metallic smell. 

"Chris what happened to you?" She whispered watching the giant. 

"Little bird you're safe now." He stomped closer to her and as soon as he was in arms lengths, her picked her up by her waist and carried her away. She could smell his diseased flesh and dried blood on his skin and clothes. She wiggled her arms out form her side as he moved back to where he stood.  

"Chris put me down. Tell me what is going on?" She shifted her hands on his back to try and face him but he only tighten his grip around her waist. 

"You're safe Little bird. You're safe with me." He walked up the stairs again and turned to the library. He moved the barricade blocking the way. He kicked open the door to the small library moving around the messy stacks of books. He set her down on a single chair the corner. Chris stood back looking down at her watching her. He would make sure that she was safe until the Walrider was gone. He can continue to protect his little bird and at the same time keep the Walrider away. He needed to keep her safe. 

"Stay safe. Stay away from pigs." He pulled a book shelf wall inward towards the pair causing a mess of books to fall down around him. The falling books did not phase the veteran as he pulled another shelf in creating a pentagon around them. 

"Chris can you please tell me what is going on? Please?" Star sat in the chair watching the older man placing the fallen books on the floor in piles. Fear started to shake her hands and tears forming in her eyes. She has never seen Chris in this state. She concluded that he was having flash backs from the noise and lights. She had no training to help him out of this state. 

"Walrider coming. It will hurt Little bird, must protect Little bird now." He heaved and huffed as he moved around the small space. He took a few books and placed them in her lap. 

"Stay safe Little bird. Must go and protect." He began to move the book shelf again as Star called back to him. He simply moved the two shelves and shut the makeshift door locking her in. She called out to him again receiving nothing but dead silence. Tears falling down her face wanting the answers she could not reach. Her sobs and hiccups echoed around her as the lightening stopped. She set the books down on the ground pulling her knees up to her face. The smell of blood and books invading her nose.     

    "Somebody help me. Help me please." She cried out to no one. No one could reach her. No one could save her.