Chapter One: Seclusion
The room was dark and claustrophobic. On one wall was a window made of iron bars, overlooking Rutledge's courtyard, where the full moon hung in all its glory and freedom, as if mocking the unfortunate souls who were trapped inside the walls of the asylum. The other wall housed a small, grey washbasin and latrine. In the centre of the room were a table and two chairs, where two figures sat, their shadows dancing eerily around the candlelight burning on the table.
"Please! I just want to go home!" One figure wailed.
"You've been near comatose for nearly a year now. You only woke up last week; I can't just let you go without making sure you're alright." The other replied, with a tone of sympathy in his voice.
The wailing figure shook her head slowly. "But Doctor, I'm fine! I can walk, talk and think straight. What more do you want from me?"
The Doctor got up from his chair and motioned towards the door.
"I'll be back in the morning where I'll run some thorough investigations on your mental state. If everything proves to be okay, then maybe we can consider letting you go. Until then, Alice, please try and rest." The Doctor looked concerned; he managed a wry smile before he picked up the candle and walked out of the room, as if to assure her that everything would be okay. The door slammed and was followed by the distinct sound of a door locking.
Alice staggered over to her bed, fresh tears already building up inside her glistening emerald eyes. What had happened to her? Why couldn't she remember anything? She curled up on the tough mattress, hugging her knees as she cried herself to sleep.
She heard screaming, but was unsure of the source, as she was surrounded by blackness. Nothing was visible, and nothing could be heard but the awful screaming.
"Save yourself!!" A male voice bellowed, with clear desperation.
"Hello?" Alice hollered back, but there was no reply.
After what seemed like a lifetime of darkness and silence, her eyes were flooded with light from a fire in the distance. Not knowing which other way to turn, she ran towards it, and each step closer she took, the larger it seemed to grow.
Alice stopped in her tracks and gasped. It was a house. Flames engulfed its walls, shingle and shutters collapsing as they gave up fighting their destruction. The distinct crackle of wood sounded louder than anything, until the screaming started again.
"Alice! Please get out! You must save yourself!"
This time came a female scream. But it had not come from the house as the other had. It took her a few moments to realise the sound was coming from her own mouth. A loud squeak and a subsequent slam sounded from a few feet away. And then she was covered in light. Her vision paled, and all she could see were shadowy figures lurking towards her.
"Alice! Alice! Are you alright?" The voice was familiar.
She felt a hand touch her forehead and jumped slightly, she still wasn't sure of who this person was.
"Nurse, get a cold towel and a bowl of water, she's burning up." The Doctor ordered sternly.
The nurse ran out of the room quickly, the sound of her heels echoed out into the corridor.
"Fire." Alice whispered.
The Doctor's concern grew as he felt her begin to weaken. He held her in his arms and slapped her face lightly to keep her conscious.
"It's going to be okay, Alice."
The room was dark and claustrophobic. On one wall was a window made of iron bars, overlooking Rutledge's courtyard, where the full moon hung in all its glory and freedom, as if mocking the unfortunate souls who were trapped inside the walls of the asylum. The other wall housed a small, grey washbasin and latrine. In the centre of the room were a table and two chairs, where two figures sat, their shadows dancing eerily around the candlelight burning on the table.
"Please! I just want to go home!" One figure wailed.
"You've been near comatose for nearly a year now. You only woke up last week; I can't just let you go without making sure you're alright." The other replied, with a tone of sympathy in his voice.
The wailing figure shook her head slowly. "But Doctor, I'm fine! I can walk, talk and think straight. What more do you want from me?"
The Doctor got up from his chair and motioned towards the door.
"I'll be back in the morning where I'll run some thorough investigations on your mental state. If everything proves to be okay, then maybe we can consider letting you go. Until then, Alice, please try and rest." The Doctor looked concerned; he managed a wry smile before he picked up the candle and walked out of the room, as if to assure her that everything would be okay. The door slammed and was followed by the distinct sound of a door locking.
Alice staggered over to her bed, fresh tears already building up inside her glistening emerald eyes. What had happened to her? Why couldn't she remember anything? She curled up on the tough mattress, hugging her knees as she cried herself to sleep.
She heard screaming, but was unsure of the source, as she was surrounded by blackness. Nothing was visible, and nothing could be heard but the awful screaming.
"Save yourself!!" A male voice bellowed, with clear desperation.
"Hello?" Alice hollered back, but there was no reply.
After what seemed like a lifetime of darkness and silence, her eyes were flooded with light from a fire in the distance. Not knowing which other way to turn, she ran towards it, and each step closer she took, the larger it seemed to grow.
Alice stopped in her tracks and gasped. It was a house. Flames engulfed its walls, shingle and shutters collapsing as they gave up fighting their destruction. The distinct crackle of wood sounded louder than anything, until the screaming started again.
"Alice! Please get out! You must save yourself!"
This time came a female scream. But it had not come from the house as the other had. It took her a few moments to realise the sound was coming from her own mouth. A loud squeak and a subsequent slam sounded from a few feet away. And then she was covered in light. Her vision paled, and all she could see were shadowy figures lurking towards her.
"Alice! Alice! Are you alright?" The voice was familiar.
She felt a hand touch her forehead and jumped slightly, she still wasn't sure of who this person was.
"Nurse, get a cold towel and a bowl of water, she's burning up." The Doctor ordered sternly.
The nurse ran out of the room quickly, the sound of her heels echoed out into the corridor.
"Fire." Alice whispered.
The Doctor's concern grew as he felt her begin to weaken. He held her in his arms and slapped her face lightly to keep her conscious.
"It's going to be okay, Alice."