Redrum Origins: Part 3

Part 2: Something's Amiss

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

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The asylum had become a nightmarish place for Maddie, standing tall and foreboding in the Midwest's temperate climate. She wanted to turn back and never lay eyes on this building again, but she had no choice. She drew on what little courage she had left. She had to be brave. They both had to be brave.

The atrium hadn't changed one bit, the remains of the asylum wings still piled in rubble. The monotonous gray stone sent the familiar shivers of apprehension down her spine. She steeled herself, reminded that she was on a mission. The well in the center was dry, like they had left it, the hatch closed and secured. With just her strength this time, she was able to grind open the mechanism, gaining access to the murky black tunnels below.

Had they considered that they would be expected? Yes. They were prepared for it, braced to wriggle out of any trap Fraud had set for them. However, there was no certainty in succeeding. They either escaped with their quarry or they didn't. They had argued against one sacrificing themselves for the sake of the other, and they never settled on an agreement. They had to put confidence in that they would make it out alive. That's what pushed them.

The underground passageways were as damp and creepy as ever. They quickly made their way to the center room, the place where they last saw Ravenwood. Maddie hoped that he was still alive, that they wouldn't be too late. However, the room was empty, not just of Ravenwood, but all the other victims Fraud had kept secret. There were only blank stone walls, water dripping in the corners.

"What the hell?" Maddie muttered. "How would he have been able to move all that crap? And where would he move them to?"

"I don't know," Rose answered, gaze darting sporadically around the room, searching for threats. "But I'd assume that he would have moved everyone to the back of the facility. It makes sense that there would be a back exit."

"Yeah, you're right. But how are we going to find it? This place is a goddamn maze." The young psychic pondered this for a moment. She frowned deeply, unsatisfied with the current circumstances. "The best chance we have is by splitting up."

"What? Seriously?" Maddie's eyebrows raised in condescension, staring incredulously at the girl. "I know you haven't watched a lot of horror movies, Rose, but bad things always happen if the main group splits up. It's easy for them to get picked off one by one."

"I know," Rose lamented, weary. "But it's the only chance we've got. We'll cover more ground if we go separate ways. Besides, Fraud is after both of us. If he's able to catch the two of us together, he'll win, just like that."

"Game over," the teen mumbled, begrudgingly realizing that Rose was right. The girl continued. "I don't know how powerful he is, but I know he can't be in two places at once."

A pause. Then, "Fine. But there has to be a way to contact each other if one is in danger. Don't forget, your doppelganger is running around somewhere down here, too."

Rose gulped at the reminder. Seeing her own, yet disfiguring, face on another person was abnormal on all sorts of levels. She wasn't sure how she'd react if she had to experience it again. Maddie leaned forward to get a better look at the girl's face. "Her, I can handle on my own. Fraud, not so much. And you..." She trailed off, leaving her thought hang unspoken. A lot of good Rose's psychic powers will do despite most of the threats being physical.

"I can sense when you're in trouble. Plus, I'm good at hiding and distracting. If I'm in a situation where I can't handle it on my own, I'll run straight to you. I promise." Rose was adamant in her decision. After locking stares with each other for several seconds, Maddie sighed. "Okay. Okay, that sounds like a plan." With a shaky consensus, made they exited the room again, returning to the diverging paths on either side of the ladder.

However, before they trekked on into their respective tunnels, Maddie turned around and called out to Rose. "Another thing," she said. "My powers are... spotty down here. It was the same up above, but it's much stronger here." She looked around warily. "He's got something that's dampening it."

Rose's eyes widened at the declaration. Because she was underground, her connection with spirits on the outside was incredibly weak, but if Maddie didn't have access to her abilities... it posed a risk. "What could he have that would do that?"

Maddie's face scrunched into an expression of stony indignation. It was clear that she had the same concerning thoughts. "I don't know."

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Author's Note: This was the best place to end the chapter.

Ugh, this isn't going to be as good as the others.

Praise is appreciated and constructive criticism is encouraged.

See you next time!

-The_Mayflower