Night
Chapter One
I could tell it was past sunset now; the night was young. I surely hope they aren't planning on keeping me in here all night. This room is very dark, and this strait jacket isn't exactly the most comfortable thing to sleep in.
My name is Sherry Whestal. I am sixteen years old. I currently live in Ludilt Asylum, I have been in here for seven years now. Why? Because I have visions, I see things, I hear things that no one else can see or hear. They just don't believe me. I know I'm not crazy, all these things that happen are real. I know it. But then again, these thoughts must go through every crazy persons mind at some point. So that doesn't prove that I'm innocent, does it?
Things happen that only I can explain. But they end up not believing me anyways. They say I'm a liar.
Now what got me into this mess I'm in now, is claiming there to be a Vampire outside my window; I just wouldn't shut up about it. I cried, wailed, and did all I could to get their attention. But when the guards arrived, the Vampire disappeared. It vanished from sight, and the guards got upset with me. They strapped a straight jacket on me and threw me inside this white pillowed room. I really don't know what you normally call it. I don't know much about anything; I've been here since I was nine years old. Only grade three. Yes, I have a mind of a grade three. But I like to think I've grown wise over the years here. And Cole has been teaching me a few things.
Who is Cole? Cole is my Guardian Demon, as I like to call him. I haven't seen him, only spoken to him through my mind. He said he doesn't like to show me what he looks like out of fear. I keep telling him there's nothing to worry about, after all I've seen over the years. I look at all the other patients here, and I'm way better off than them.
"Listen, Sherry, I apologize for letting you be thrown in here. I couldn't really do anything about that matter," Cole said through my mind. I smile and sit up.
"That's alright, Cole. Now tell me, what time is it?" I spoke aloud.
There was a small pause as he left to check the clock and come back. "It's eleven thirty, love." I absolutely loved Cole's British accent, it made him seem mysterious.
I chuckle pathetically at myself. "So they do indeed intend to keep me in here all night." I look down at the floor in the dark. "Cole, can you please fetch me a pillow for me to lay down upon?"
"Of course, Sherry." And I could no longer sense his presence in my mind. He had left to my room to get me my pillow. I hope he didn't get caught this time. It wasn't that long before he came back and shoved a pillow under my head, gently lifting it. I know it wasn't really him, just is mind doing it for him. Even if it really was him, I wouldn't be able to see in the dark room. "Here you go, love."
"Thank you very much, Cole."
"Pleasant dreams."
"Yes, yes. Goodnight." And I felt the room start to fade away and I could no longer sense Cole or anything. The weightlessness of sleep felt very good on me as I relaxed my aching shoulders. The straight jacket did a sure number on me. And just like that, I was asleep.
In the morning, I was awoken by Cole as he started to speak soothingly in my mind. "Sherry, time to wake up. Come now, it's morning. The nurses are coming to check up on you, maybe even let you go back to your room." I opened my eyes to darkness still. It didn't seem like it was morning, but I saw no reason to not trust Cole in any situation. I sat up and faced where I thought the door was.
Just like Cole had told me, two guards and one nurse opened up and came into the small cramped room. They started at me and the pillow. "Where did you get the pillow from, Sherry?" the nurse asked in her flowery gentle voice. It sounded light and fake. "And why are awake so early? Did you get any sleep last night?"
I nod my head. "Cole retrieved me my pillow, and he woke me up as well when you started to head my way."
Her ever faint smile turned down to show her pity. "Well, we'll take you to your room now. Boris, take her pillow with us." The nurse raised me and started walking me down the many halls until we reached my room. The guards were always no more than three steps behind us, always watching my every move. She opened the door and took me inside, it was the same as always. I don't really see why I was expecting anything different. The windows were still barred with rusty bars, the bed was still as lumpy as ever, and Charlie was still rocking in my rocking chair. But of course no one else could see Charlie other than me. Not because everyone thought I was insane, but because he only wanted me to see him.
The nurse took off the straight jacket while the guard named Boris put my pillow on my bed. I sat down on it and started to blank out as everyone left my room. "Good Morning, Charlie. How are you today?" I ask cheerfully.
He smiled his toothy smile. "I am fine. Thank you, Miss Whestal, for asking. How are you?"
"I am well, Charlie. Well, what brings you here to my room this fine and lovely morning?" I inquire. Charlie always had something he wanted to tell me, teach me, or ask of me whenever he came. Last time was a warning about the Vampire. He came only moments before the Vampire actually arrived.
He smiled even wider and stood from the chair, motioning me to sit down in it. I took his offer and sat in it. He started to rock me gently. "Listen, Miss Whestal, my family is supposed to be forever loyal to yours. So that means I must tell you this very frightening piece in information." He paused for a bit, as if waiting for my approval.
"Continue."
"Tonight, not too long after sunset. That Vampire will come again, this time he thinks he will succeed in drinking your blood, Miss Whestal. And I'm pretty sure he will if Cole doesn't stop him in time, either him… or your other Vampire friend." I knew who he was mentioning. He meant Alucard.
"I do not think Alucard will come, Charlie. He only comes around once every few months, and it's always him to me. I have no way of communicating with him."
"Unless you get Cole to do it for you."
"I would never. Cole is very dear to me and I wouldn't send him off to fetch a Vampire for me. Even if I had requested it, he wouldn't compete the task. He's a Guardian Angel, not messenger-retriever boy, Charlie. He has feelings, as well."
"Aye, an Angel he is; a fallen one. I still don't see how God can allow someone who is friends with Satan up into Heaven again. It really, truly puzzles me. Plus, wouldn't Satan get extremely angry with Cole?"
"We're off topic, Charlie!"
He chuckled to himself and nodded a few times as I stared up at him. "Yes, yes. It appears we have strayed away from our tracks."
"Alucard will not come. Cole will not fetch him, either. Cole will simply have to protect me himself, I guess. You think he can handle it?"
"Not sure. Cole is very powerful, indeed. He has some access to Demons Magic, and he doesn't follow the rules all the time since he's a Fallen Angel and all."
"Yes, well. This is in the evening, and now 'tis morn. May you please wake the chefs? I am feeling very hungry."
"As you wish, Miss Whestal." He stopped rocking me and walked through a wall towards the chefs room. It was always handy to have friends who could not be seen.
"Now I may think in peace." I start rocking myself as I felt a presence in my mind. "Hello, Cole. How are you?"
"I'm fine, love. Sherry, I must apologize. I listened into the conversation you and Charlie had. And I must say, I will fetch Alucard if it means protecting you. If the means of that action will truly protect you, I may be granted on earth to fetch Alucard and protect you. I will set out not too long before sunset, Sherry." Cole spoke very fast, I had to repeat some of it in my mind to get it all.
"No, Cole. That is alright. Can you not protect me yourself?"
"I'm not sure how powerful I am up to a Vampire, love."
"But you're an Angel! A fallen one, too, so you have access to Demons Magic! You can do it, Cole! I trust you!" Just then the door opened and a nurse stepped in with a tray of food.
"Here you go, Sherry. And may I ask, who were you shouting at?" She set the food down on a small waist-level shelf and turned to look at me.
"I was shouting at Cole for being stubborn. And do please go to the kitchen and say thanks to Charlie for me? I do believe he will leave soon and I do want to thank him for waking the chefs up for me." She started at me like a crazy person then shook her head in pity.
"Yes, Sherry. For your sake."