Outlast the Night

Smoke and Mirrors

It was cold. That feeling of icy air touching the hairs on her skin. It was heavenly. 

Her fingers grasping the last bars of her prison. She banged her hands on the rusted grate pushing herself into the outside world. Her hands and legs shaking as the building gave birth to her. She was careful to roll onto the tiny patch of grass underneath her landing on her butt. As she lied on her back, all she could think was how beautiful the fall weather was in Colorado. 

Although the sky was blacken and the brick walls standing in her way; she never felt so free. Her breath fogging up around her. She closed her eyes letting her senses over load on the sweet taste of freedom. The smallest of part of her brain could hear the sounds of birds.

Oh how beautiful do those birds sound! 

 And a low humming sound. Electrical fences. Why would an asylum even need electrical fences? Star looked over to her left and right listening for that sound again. She remembered that the power should have been turned on but only to the building. Her eyes were searching playing Hot and Cold with sound. 

There were spots of darkness on the walls and cement yard. The spots she could see were disappearing into the fog was growing around her as she continued to walk. The fence door squeaking ; alerting of her presence to anyone hidden in the same fog. Her bare feet moving along the cool, hard floor of a basket ball court. She saw a patient sitting alone on a bench staring at the sky. He most likely never got to see the outside world before all this began. She left him alone moving in her current direction. 

Her mind began to wonder on its own. She had ran away from Miles and Waylon once she saw a chance to escape. How horrible of a human being could she be to leave the two men who cared about her. Sanely of course. 

But this was her habit. Every time a guy came her way and they would get close; she would run. As if something inside of her was telling her that this guy was no good. Before coming here, she found a really good guy. He was super sweet and funny and smart but her skin would crawl when he would touch her or kiss her. It wasn't as if she wasn't attracted, she is a heterosexual female, to the guy but it didn't feel right when it was him touching her.  

Growing up, she loved the idea of a fairy tale romance. After all it's what most girls dream about, right? But becoming an adult, the reality of that romance died out when she learned the real stories of Disney's princesses. Although, having those butterflies and late night talks would make her blood rush through her veins. Her feelings were becoming her heat source as she walked through a maze of chained link fences. The over-sized shirts accompanying the cold; reality was sinking in her like the Titanic. That would be an improvement over her current situation. 

Sometimes, it felt like she was walking in a circles. Only hearing the sounds her breathing and heart beat in her ears. It was so quiet. She leaned into a corner listening for anything else. At this point it was hard to tell how long she was here. With no phone and little internet access, she couldn't contact her family. How scared or worried they were about her. Her older sister has a baby on the way. Her second kid; a baby girl. They named her Charlotte. Their son Jackson would be an older brother by now. Whatever now was. 

Another flow of tears were trailing their way down her face. When she heard she was going to be an aunt with Jackson; her heart was over flowing with love for a tiny bundle of blue eyes. All she wanted to was protect him from all the evil in the world. After all, she would sit right in front of them and have hour long conversations with them. Spilling all their wicked deeds to her. Her whole world was split between talking to evil and protecting her loved ones from her work.   

It might be the fear, the sadness, the hurt and anger, but Star couldn't hold herself in much longer. 

So she screamed. She screamed so loudly until her lungs and vocal cords hurt. She cried into the night not caring if another mad scientist or twisted murdered came looking for her. She was so tired of consistently looking over her shoulder and running. 

"I want to go home. I want to go home." She cried into the night. She was shaking; covering her ears and burring her eyes into her knees. Hiding in the corner. Making everything around her disappear into quiet darkness.  

Her screams attracted a fellow lost soul. One who was searching for that perfect someone. He could see her tears, her fear, her heartache. He wanted to make it go away. To help make her feel better. But she was just out of his reach. Soon he'll come for her. He'll be patient and make her feel all better.  

"I'll take you home soon my Darling, soon." 

Star looked up from her timeout feeling a presences over her. The air was warm around her but still cool. She looked around to see if a body was running around. The fog dancing around her losing shapes in the mist. Not a soul was around her. 

Answer me this, which is scarier being all alone in the dark or surrounded by masked murdered in the daylight?   

After wiping her face, Star stood up by pulling herself with the fence. If she wanted to see her family, she was going to see them. Even if she has kill every last person in this Hell hole. Her hands patted down her pockets only to realize they were empty. Hands made it upward to her bra feeling the sharp warm glass on her skin. Luck was finally on her side. She began to run through the stairs looking for any weapon, food, or supplies she could use. So far she only found small rocks and flatten basket balls. Nothing that could help her. She avoided as many of the patients as possible not knowing if some are violent or not. 

The howls of the wind whispering in her ear. 

"There she is."

"Yes there she is." 

Star looked around by couldn't see anyone. 

"Father Martin will be pleased that we found her." 

"Indeed. He will." 

The voices grew louder but couldn't see their sources. Fear was becoming her best friend. 

"We should get her soon. It's dangerous for her be all alone." 

"Yes brother. We will need to protect her." 

"Keep her safe." 

She quickened her pace; running through the maze of a courtyard. She found other inmates and patients: in pairs or standing alone playing with a served head. Oddly that was the most normal thing she has seen in a long time. Normal to play with dead bodies, who have I become?  

Those voices have traveled long into the air but she could feel someone looking over her shoulder. She wanted them to go away. Her feet were hurting from the cuts and bruises she has collected in her travels. Sweat was dripping down her face and neck. The smell of human remains poking its way into her body. She wanted to take off her shirt but she would be even more exposed that she already is; she needed to trek on. She ran another mile before reaching the opposite side of the Asylum. 

The Prison Block. 

Star has never found herself on this side of Hell. It looked like Dracula's castle. But would be better than staying outside with the voices. She raced to climb the ladder leading to the top of the tower. Her fingers tightening around steal bars as she took one step at a time. Her teeth chattering together climbing further and further away from the safety of the ground. But the ground was becoming less and less secure with her mentality.  

The twist and turns of the stairs along with the violent winds were pushing her away. Her foot slipping twice as she moved closer and closer to the tower. She passed another inmate this one was looking out to the world. His face stone as he talked to himself. She couldn't make but a single. Billy.   A friend, brother, or son. As much as her curiosity  was peeking, she need to leave. 

After another flight, Star found the door and opened herself into another level of Hell.