Take each chance like your life depends on it

by icewulf

Rowan Frost. Just another teenage patient, suffering from a trauma no-one, especially not a child should have to witness, is intrigued to see the mysterious Mr. Tall at the Asylum. especially after her first glimpse of him in the storm two days ago...

1. Chapter 1

Prologue

It wasn't meant to be this way. LIFE wasn't meant to cause so much pain, was it? As I sat in my room, in the attic of the asylum, I couldn't help but wish for something more. I wanted a real life. The ones I had been allowed to watch on television sometimes. When I wasn't trapped in this box-like room.

I took a deep breath, moving to the window. Looking out at the small street below, you would have thought that the world had stopped still, if not for the slow patter of raindrops. How much I would have given to be out there. To feel the wind on my face, like the trees did as it pushed them from side to side. Or to feel the cold chill of the rain on my outstretched arms.

I rushed to the door, banging.

"Hey, hey over there! Please, let me out. I want to go outside! Please!" I yelled through the tiny window. They'd stopped even bothering getting up now. I heard them yell from down the corridor,

"Shut up Frost! CSI is on for Christ's sake! Can't you be quiet for one frickin' night?" God, I hated Tony. He'd stopped caring a long time ago. Actually scratch that, I doubt he ever cared at all.

I turned back to the window. At least I had one, I told myself. I should consider myself lucky.

I don't know how long I stood there, tracing patterns of moisture on the windows like on a drawing board, watching the storm build up to its climax. I watched the flash of the first lightning dash the sky, followed by the thunder clap which shook the roof. I couldn't actually see much of the sky, but the patterns it made on the street were fantastic. It was as if someone were turning the lights on in short bursts.

The next flash came shortly afterwards. A shadow unknown was cast onto the street and I caught a glimmer of a man before the darkness reclaimed him.

I waited impatiently for the next to show me more of the stranger, but was bitterly disappointed when he was gone.

But I'll never forget that face. Sincere, and calm in the storm, with the deepest eyes I had ever seen. The same eyes I had caught looking straight at me in the dark...