Redrum Origins: Part 3

Part 9: The Darkness Within

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

-------

The numerous twists and turns in this maze were maddening. She used her psychic abilities to track down her doppelganger. It became increasingly infuriating as her duplicate continued playing with her, following her laughter and singing, only to disappear down another hallway.

            Eventually, the sounds stopped. She glanced around, trying to gauge where the attack would come from. She was still caught unawares, a strong grip latching onto her from behind and throwing her into an adjacent room. She quickly scrambled to her feet when she landed, fully facing her adversary. Her duplicate was smug, someone who knew that she had the upper hand.

            "What's in it for you, huh?!" Rose exclaimed, taking a few steps back. Her clone matched them. "You know he'll get rid of you once you're not useful anymore."

            The doppelganger's smirk deepened. "You think I care about that?" A chuckle escaped her. "You really are so naïve." Her expression widened into maniacal glee. "It's fun tormenting you. I'm just grateful to Father for giving me the opportunity." With that, she lunged forward, hands wrapping around Rose's neck, squeezing. An attempt to knock her out by strangling her.

            Rose clawed at her duplicate's fingers, desperately scrabbling to pry off those tight fingers. Gasping and choking, her legs flailed wildly, trying to land a blow on the other Rose. She managed to kick the clone's shins a few times, but it didn't affect her.

            Finally, her knee sunk hard and deep into her twin's gut. She released the original, doubling over to draw in air. She was completely winded. Rose took the opportunity to shove her attacker viciously to the floor, the clone's head cracking painfully against the stone. The girl's eyes landed on a huge, coffin-like contraption, spikes inlaid within. Without thinking twice, Rose rushed over and began to tip over the device, one of its doors aimed right for her doppelganger. The clone snapped out of her dizzy state long enough to see the iron maiden descending on her. A scream escaped her before it landed, crushing her head and puncturing her body with dozens of spikes. The cry was prematurely cut off, deafening silence following everything afterward. Blood pooled out onto the floor underneath the toppled device, the clone's arm sticking out, still and lifeless.

            Rose fell to her knees, the reality of what she had just done crashing down on her. She had... killed someone. No matter which way you looked at it, she had taken a life. Her chest grew tight, making every breath a struggle. She barely noticed Ravenwood then, appearing in the doorway, Maddie draped in his arms, unconscious. "Rose! Oh my god." His concerned cry halted abruptly, taking in the scene. His eyes widened in surprise and disbelief at the body crushed under the iron maiden, Rose collapsed next to it. He noticed his niece's distress, attempting to reach her. "Rose, come on. We gotta go."

            For several moments, the girl didn't move or look away. Ravenwood believed she hadn't heard, prepared to call out again, before she slowly started pulling herself to her feet. He couldn't see her eyes as she approached him, her black hair shrouding her face. But he didn't have to see her expression to know what she was feeling. "C'mon," he urged, providing room so that his niece could join his side. "Let's go home."

-------

            Darkness consumed her. She couldn't remember what happened previously to get her here. But she didn't like it. Something sinister lurked just beyond her sight, eying her and licking its lips.

            A distant scream. She turned around, wondering if she just wasn't hearing things, but it rang out again. She moved quickly towards the sound, a sudden urgency in her stride. She broke out into a full sprint once the voice grew louder.