Redrum Origins: Part 3

Part 1: Bad Memories

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 running, but nothing was chasing her. She was searching for someone, someone who had been lost. She wouldn't rest until she found them.

She dashed through numerous twists and turns, as if her feet already knew the way. However, her surroundings were unfamiliar. It was like a hedge maze, except the walls were made of thorns. Sharp, black thorns that seemed to reach out and attempt to snag at any piece of her that dared to venture too close. She tried not to shudder, keeping her focus on the path ahead.

Eventually, she was funneled into a derelict building, half of its structure already collapsed. She burst through the double doors, the pieces of wood barely hanging on by its hinges. The atrium inside was dusty, gray stone muting everything else. In the center, was what she had been looking for. But it was not what she expected.

Her uncle's emaciated form lay tangled in thorns in the center of the atrium. Tendrils snaked in and out of his body. She screamed, falling back on her rear. A laugh echoed all around her, deep and cruel. The stone floor beneath her cracked, thin crevices spider-webbing under her trembling form. She screamed again as she fell into darkness, the laugh still ringing out. She landed hard on a smooth slab of stone, a jolt of pain shooting up her spine. She groaned, trying to take stock of where she was now.

Someone emerged from the darkness. The figure casually sidled their way towards her, a stalking predator. Her heart pounded, recognizing the silhouette before they fully appeared in the light. It was her face, but it was not the same. All the skin was removed, rippling muscles exposed. She had a cruel grin on her face, maniacal.

Before she could cry out, her twin raised a full syringe and plunged it into her chest, pushing down on the plunger. Agony overwhelmed her, and she screamed, bloodcurdling.

Rose jolted awake, panting and dripping sweat. The sound of a lamp turning on next to her registered in her scrambled brain. She flinched, prepared to fight off any assailant. She froze when she saw the concerned face of a sixteen-year-old girl looking down at her from her position on the four-poster bed. Maddie's blue eyes looked heavy with sleep, but she was completely alert. "You alright?" she asked the twelve-year-old. She had heard Rose screaming.

The girl in question finally seemed to take control of herself again, fiddling with the cover of her sleeping bag stretched out on the floor. "I..." she hesitated. "I had a bad dream."

Maddie's face immediately softened, settling into sympathy. "Yeah, I can't sleep that well, either," she sighed. Their current predicament laid heavily on them, like heavy steel chains. Frustration was a common emotion for her nowadays. Horrific events had left her with nightmares.

The young brunette took in Rose's dejected look. She moved over to make space, opening the sheets in invitation. "C'mere," she said. The younger girl blinked at her a few times before climbing onto the mattress with her, snuggling into Maddie's side. The teen settled back down next to her, holding her close. They left the lamp on, staying like this for the rest of the night. Maddie gently stroked Rose's hair until the girl fell asleep once again.

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It had been nearly two weeks since they had stormed the asylum. Rose's birthday came and went. No celebration was held. There seemed to be no point. They had fled back to Ravenwood's house, the closest thing to refuge as they could get. At first, Maddie was reluctant in letting Rose walk back to her mother's house, but she knew the woman had to know her daughter was safe. From then on, the girl camped here most of the time, to the point where it seemed like she actually was living there. Maddie didn't mind in the least.

After the sudden collapse of most of the asylum, the town authorities issued an order to tear it down, deeming it a safety hazard. However, the order wouldn't be enacted until three weeks from then, which gave Fraud plenty of time to escape with his victims and research. Or, even worse, to hunt them down. Every creak in the night startled Maddie back to wakefulness, certain that it was the mad doctor come to follow through with... whatever plans he had for them. He wouldn't give up so easily. There was one thing she promised herself, however: Fraud would never get his hands on Rose, ever.

However, the past several days were quiet. Everything carried on as normal, as if there wasn't a psycho scientist conducting unethical experiments below the old asylum. They couldn't go to the police, not without any proof. Besides, they were the ones who were more equipped to handle whatever horrors waited for them in the shadowy depths.

Maddie and Rose sat side by side on the couch, a foreboding air permeating the living room they occupied. It had taken careful planning. The asylum grounds went silent ever since they escaped. But she didn't believe they would be prepared enough for what lurked down there. However, they had no other choice. Time was running out, for them, and for Ravenwood.

They would leave tonight, and they wouldn't stop until Fraud was taken down for good.

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Author's Note: Part 3, like I promised y'all. Sorry that the first chapter's so short. They'll vary in length. I hope it got you hooked.

Why is this story shorter than the other parts? :C Ugh

Praise is appreciated and constructive criticism is encouraged.

See you next time!

-The_Mayflower