We'll find strength in pain.
Chapter 1
Scene 1 (Soundtrack: Edward Scissorhands theme)
Many winters had gone by since the rusty, iron gates of Briar Cliff had opened to welcome strangers. It was just a few days before the 1963's Christmas Eve that finally a pair of outsiders was allowed to pass through them. It was Dr. Ben Harmon, the facility's new psychiatrist, and his daughter Violet. One wouldn't have to be too observant to notice that these two people were no less broken or alone than the souls residing inside the walls of the Asylum. Not long ago they had lost the one single person that kept their family together; Vivien Harmon. She died giving birth to her second child; her stillborn child.
All the patients of the asylum gathered behind the caged windows to take a peek of the newcomers as they were getting out of their car. First came out the doctor. The collar of his grey trench coat and his fedora-style hat were doing a good job of not revealing much of his features, but he did seem to be quite handsome. He ran to help the stuff carry the luggage.
And then the girl stepped out of the car. She was around fifteen, though a bit petite for her age. She wore a cotton, dark blue dress and a black cardigan. Her long, blonde hair was tied behind with a black ribbon. Feeling a cold breeze hit her face, she pulled the ribbon and let her hair wave along with it. Even in the midst of her greatest grief, Violet continued to appreciate the simple beauties of life.
Despite the fuss that was going on around her, with people running around, carrying boxes and suitcases and shooting insults at each other, Violet just stood there. She was just looking around, trying to process that this was going to be her new home. Not that she missed the old one. Nothing was holding her back there. But every new beginning was difficult and needed adjusting. Especially if this new beginning was supposed to take place in a remote mad house.
Violet broke a sad smile. ''It isn't that bad.'' She thought. She actually found the eeriness of the asylum kind of charming. '' Besides…misery does love company.''
When everyone had gone inside the building and Violet was the only one left in the front yard, she opened her haversack and pulled her beloved Nikon. Taking pictures was the only thing she found interest in lately. Her father had noticed it (which kind of surprised Violet) and bought her the camera.
''Probably because he had no fucking idea what else he was supposed to do… Oh, God…Do I feel sorry for his patients.''
The Asylum was truly the perfect setting for photo shooting…at least for the kind of album Violet had in mind. She took multiple pictures of the grim building and then she decided to go for a walk and look for anything else that would make for an interesting photo. But right at that time her father came out to tell her they should go meet the facility's administrator.
That was truly unfortunate. Maybe if she had gone on that walk, she would have gotten to meet the one patient that hadn't bothered to take a look at the newcomers. Tate Langdon wasn't much of a people person. But on that day he should have made an exception. Without him knowing…even though it wasn't Christmas just yet…the gift he'd been expecting his whole life…had arrived.
Scene 2 (Soundtrack: an old pickup playing Mozart's ''Requiem'')
Before Violet entered the administrator's office, she imagined she would see an old, strict looking nun sitting in a dark, cold room full of crosses and saints' icons. When her father pushed the half open door, she realized she couldn't have been more wrong. Behind an oaken, obviously expensive desk, sat a woman that didn't look a day over twenty five. She had her eyes shut and listened to the music that played in the background; she looked so peaceful and…innocent. At some point she decided to acknowledge their presence. She opened her eyes and formed a wide smile. Violet shivered. While the nun looked indeed young, her eyes didn't. And her smile seemed…odd. Suddenly she didn't look so innocent anymore.
-''Welcome.'' Said the nun without even bothering to stand up. ''I am Sister Mary Eunice, Briar Cliff's director. And you must be Dr. Harmon.''
-'' Yes. Ben Harmon. And this is my daughter… Violet.''
-'' Hello, Violet. I'm… really sorry for your loss.''
-'' Eeehm… Thank you… Sister.'' Violet said. She looked around the office and was surprised by how luxurious it was; heavy curtains, porcelain vases, mirrors with beautiful ornaments. The mirrors were the strangest part. Violet never thought nuns to be so vain.
-''See anything you like?'' The Sister asked Violet, apparently thirsty for flattery.
-'' Yeah…'' Violet replied, trying to be kind. ''Your office is quite beautiful. Did you decorate it?''
-'' Yes. I redecorated right after the last administrator…quit. Our sense of taste was vastly different… She had none.''
A knock on the door interrupted the Sister's modesty delirium. Before Mary Eunice had the chance to answer, a man in a lab coat and a nurse entered the room.
-'' Dr. Arden you came right on time to meet our new psychiatrist. Dr. Harmon, this is Dr. Arthur Arden. Briar Cliff's physician.''
-'' Nice to meet you.'' Ben said while shaking Dr. Arden's hand.
-'' I'm here too… Sister.'' The nurse pointed sourly. She was amazingly beautiful. The short, tight uniform was highlighting her curves. She had wavy, red hair and skin in the color of alabaster. She was practically perfect… Almost. For there was one slight imperfection. The eye patch on her right eye.
-'' Oh, Moira dear…Why so touchy?'' Sister Mary Eunice asked, twitching her nose in a cute, but also mocking way. '' Doctor, this is Moira O'Hara. She is Dr. Arden's assistant. And I mean that in every possible way.''
Moira goggled her eyes, surprised by the unexpected insult. She was about to hit back, but Dr. Arden grabbed her firmly by the arm and looked at her meaningfully. She immediately calmed down.
Both Violet and Ben were in a loss about how to react in the presence of this peculiar company. Violet had never met a nun before, but she was pretty sure that Sister Mary Eunice was not the regular kind.
-'' Maybe Violet and I should go to our bedrooms, Sister. We are quite tired of the journey from Boston.'' Ben said, desperate to get out of the difficult position.
-''Oh, alright. We may as well talk about your sessions' schedule tomorrow, Doctor. Moira, show them to their bedrooms.''
-'' Why me?'' Moira asked, obviously unwilling to leave the office for some reason.
-''Moira, please.'' Dr. Arden said. The nurse's lips tightened in anger.
-'' Very well. If you may follow me.''
Scene 3
Violet had no idea about her father's room, but hers was quite horrible. It was small, the atmosphere was muggy and the only furniture in there was a bed and a weathered closet. She thought it would take some time, but she would fix it. Right now though, it was impossible for her to spend time in it. Since she was done meeting nuns of questionable morals and lecherous scientists, she could finally go explore Briar Cliff.
Her first stop was the common room. There she met a very kind nun, Magdalene, who didn't mind having Violet around while she was giving the patients their medication. So in that one hour Violet got to meet all sorts of different people, most of them a lot more interesting than the ones she had met in the out world; a man with dendrophobia, a woman that swore compulsively, a time traveler and many, many others. Some of them even let her take their picture.
There was also a particular company that drew Violet's attention a bit more. They were three patients that were sitting at a table at the far end of the room; right in front of the window. They were not talking…they were doing nothing at all… They just watched. It sort of felt like they were supervising the space. In the middle sat an old woman with long grey hair; she had aged quite gracefully and you could tell that back in her days she used to be very pretty. On her right sat a teenage girl with straight, black hair and black eyes; Violet got the feeling that the girl was watching her in particular. On her left sat a red haired boy who seemed to be around the girls' age.
Sister Magdalene said that they were always like this and always together. Violet decided to go talk to them and let the nun finish her rounds alone.
-'' Hello.'' Violet said happily. '' My name is Violet.''
The two kids shifted uncomfortably on their chairs. The boy threw a frightened look at the old woman.
-'' And we care about that because…?'' The young girl replied coldly.
-'' Well… Since you scrutinized my every move, I thought you'd at least want to know my name.'' Violet told the girl still smiling.
-'' Forgive my friends…'' The old woman said. '' We rarely ever see strangers in Briar Cliff and they don't know how to act around them. I am Elva.''
-''Hello, Elva. And you are?'' Violet asked the girl.
-'' Angelique.''
-'' Cool… Ange.''
-'' No! Angelique.''
-'' O…kay. And what's your name?'' Violet asked, looking at the boy. With eyes full of panic, the boy reached his hand to the girl. She held it tightly and looked at him comfortingly.
-'' He cannot speak.'' Angelique told Violet. ''Not for a long time now.''
-'' He's Kai.'' Elva said.
-'' Nice to meet you all.''
-'' You are the doctor's child. Right?'' Elva asked.
-'' Yes.''
-'' We never thought…he'd bring a child.'' Angelique said. There was a guilty tone in her voice that Violet didn't quite understand.
-'' Angelique means that this is no place for a child.'' Elva hurried to add. '' Don't you have any other relatives? Anywhere else to stay?''
-''No. Not really. But I very much like it here anyway.''
Elva was about to reply when suddenly all three of them stood up.
- ''It's time for us to leave.'' Elva said. '' We'll…be seeing you.''
When she passed near Violet, she grabbed her hand and then let it go abruptly. Violet opened her hand and saw a silver cross necklace. When she turned to ask Elva why she'd given her the necklace, the company had disappeared. At the opposite side of the room stood Sister Mary Eunice…watching her.
Scene 4 (Silence. Silence all around. )
Sister Mary Eunice looked very unpleased that Violet was consorting with the patients. She told her it was very risky and she wouldn't want to be held responsible if anything bad happened to her. Violet told her that she was just trying to get to know the place for she found it very intriguing so the Sister suggested that she visited Briar Cliff's garden. She said it was one of a kind.
So here was Violet, standing at the back yard under the suggestions of the Sister. She wasn't entirely wrong. The asylum's garden was impressive indeed. Its crops included every winter vegetable that Violet could think of; onions, garlic, broad beans, cauliflowers.
-'' But where are the flowers?'' Violet thought out loud.
-''There ain't any…'' A voice from behind her said. Violet let out a little scream and turned surprised to see a young man standing behind her. The first thing that Violet noticed was that he was unbelievably good looking. He was tall, with blonde, curly hair and warm, hazel eyes. Then when his image had settled in, Violet realized that he was wearing the patient's blue uniform.
''Of course… All the good ones are psychopaths.'' She thought. She noticed that he was wearing garden gloves and he was holding a shear.
-'' You are the one taking care of the garden?'' Violet asked.
-'' Yeah… They told us it's good for us to have a hobby. It helps get the dark thoughts away… they said.''
-'' You've done a great job.'' Violet told him. She was a bit anxious and had no idea how else to keep the conversation going. She kept looking at the shear in his hand, wondering if she could outrun him.
The boy noticed it and started laughing.
-'' No need for you to worry. Really.''
-''Really?'' Violet said distrustfully.
-''Yeah… No decent serial killer would off his victims with a shear. It's not poetic enough. Besides…''
-'' Besides what?'' She asked curiously.
He didn't answer for a while. He just looked at her as if he was weighing his words… as if he was not certain if he was allowed to say what he had in mind.
-'' Besides…'' He finally said.'' I would never hurt you. Never.''
-'' Why?'' Violet asked. A fluttering sensation in her stomach had started making her nervous.
Though Violet hadn't noticed, the boy had been watching her for quite a while. When he saw her walking in the garden, he wanted to go and tell her off for intruding in his space. Especially while he was working. But then for some reason he couldn't. She seemed so…lonely and so vulnerable. Like a sparrow in the midst of a cruel storm; you could never harm it, just try to protect it. He knew it wasn't logical to have such feelings for someone he had never met before, but maybe he had been locked in Briar Cliff for too long and that somehow intensified his feelings.
How could he tell her all these? He couldn't. He would scare her off.
Instead he said:
-'' I…I …don't know…I am Tate by the way.''
-'' I'm Violet. My father is Briar Cliff's new psychiatrist.''
-'' Yeah. I kind of guessed. Then I suppose… we'll be spending Christmas together.''
-'' It must suck to spend Christmas locked up…right?''
-'' Not…if I'm locked up with you.'' Tate said. The fact that when he did, he also lowered his eyes embarrassed, made that line a hundred times more beautiful.
Seconds later the first snow started to fall. It was really a magical moment for Violet.
-''It's getting cold. Wanna walk you inside?''Tate asked.
-''Yes.''
(The two kids are heading into the Asylum side by side. Soundtrack: Abigail's Song ''Let in the shadow. Let in the shadow. Let in the light of your bright shadow.'')
To be continued
-First of all… Merry Christmas! I wish you all a happy holiday.
-''We'll find strength in pain'' is completely AU so the characters will have different back stories. Also the setting of Briar Cliff I have in mind is not the same as the original. Mine is quite larger and more remote so that I can give the characters more freedom of movements.
- In the parenthesis I give you the music I had in mind when I was writing the scenes. I'm just trying to make the story feel more series-like. You don't actually have to listen to them and if you have any different suggestions about the song choice feel free to tell me.
-I can't promise a happy ending with this one…we'll see how it goes… but I hope you'll enjoy it as much as you enjoyed ''Second Chance''.
-VioletLangdon1994 I hope it's close to how you imagined it. Thanks for the suggestion.
Disclaimer: I do not own American Horror Story or any of its characters.