Empathy for the Dammed

Part One: The Beginning

I'm so cold… The little girl in the white cotton dress shivered. Her bare feet padded down the hallway. Why am I so cold? Nurses rush past her can anyone help me? She coughs covering her mouth with her hand. Blood stains the back of her small ivory hand. Where is my mommy? Why am I here, miss can you please help me? The little girl reaches out for a passing nurse her fingers going right through her. Won't somebody help me…?

"Oh come on it will be fine" Anna said pulling her friend Rachel up the steps to Waverly Hills Sanatorium. "You don't believe in all of that hocus pocus crap do you?" Anna said, as Rachel looked down at her feet "oh my god you do don't you" Anna said with a laugh elbowing Rachel as she pulled open the front doors of the sanatorium. "Come on Anna we shouldn't be here" Rachel said as Anna disappeared inside.

Taking in a deep breath Rachel looked up at the tower before heading inside "I can't believe I'm doing this" she whispered to herself as she crossed the threshold of the sanatorium. "Anna" Rachel called out as she passed the reception desk. "Anna" she called out again raising her voice slightly as she looked up and down the corridor. "I'm over here," Anna yelled out from the right wing of the corridor.

Rachel pushed the nurses' station door open and began looking for Anna "Anna" she called out with no reply. She spotted an open locker and looked inside. She found an old nurse's uniform hanging on a hook and a necklace on the top shelf. Rachel reached up and grabbed the necklace to examine it in the dull light. A crash sounded from beyond the door. Rachel pocketed the necklace and ran for the exit. She forced the door open so hard that it swung and hit the wall.

Anna climbed the stairs after finding that the elevator wasn't working "stupid sanatorium" she laughed as she pushed open the second story door. Anna stood in the middle of the corridor facing what she suspected was west since the sun was shining through the windows at the end as the sun set. "Can you please help me?" a child like voice whimpered startling Anna. "Very funny Rachel" Anna said laughing as she turned on her heel to face the direction of the voice. Anna stopped cold and felt her heart skip a beat as she laid her eyes on the little girl. She noticed her unnaturally pale complexion, raven hair, and big sad doe eyes. "Can you please help me miss" the little girl whimpered again stepping towards Anna stepping into the light Anna noticed first the blood stain on the front of the little girl's cotton dress and then that her skin appeared to be translucent. Anna started to back away from the girl "Please help me" the little girl pleaded reaching out her small pale hand almost touching Anna backing her into the wall.

The little girl was so lonely… she wished everyday for someone to play with her, for someone to help her find her mommy. Until one day she got her wish she saw the older girl who looked like so many of the nurses that just ignored her. She pleaded asking this woman to help her find her mommy. She didn't want to be lonely any more. Reaching out she grabbed this woman's hand. The woman screamed.

Rachel's feet hit the pavement as she ran with a loud thundering sound, echoing off the empty sanatorium walls. "Anna!" she yelled, nothing complete silence. Rachel walked down the corridor trying to catch her breath. "Anna this isn't funny can we just go!" she yelled out as she shivered from the sudden coolness of the air "Anna" she called out her voice coming barely above a whimper. A scream sounded from above her. Rachel headed for the elevator pressing the buttons with no response. "Danm it" she hissed heading for the door that was labeled stairs. Rachel ran up the stairs-thanking god for track season. She pushed through the second story door and stood in the empty corridor "I swear to god Anna if you're trying to freak me out" Rachel said as she heard another scream. Rachel took off running in the direction of the scream. Rachel skidded to a stop just out side a patient's room sliding on some foreign liquid on the floor. She grabbed onto the door handle for balance and righted herself on her feet. She looked down at the floor and discovered that the liquid wasn't water as she first thought but blood. A blood trail that led into the room, shaking Rachel opened up the door and followed the trail leading into the bathroom. It stopped at the claw-footed tub, Rachel pulled open the thick shower curtain to reveal Anna lying face down in the blood colored water, and Rachel stifled a scream. "Will you help me?" a child like voice asked from behind her back in the room. With tears running down her face Rachel stepped into the room starring at the little girl "who are you?" Rachel asked her voice quivering with fear as the little girl stepped forward "will you help me find my mommy?" the little girl asked reaching out her hand. Rachel hyperventilating took the small child's hand, as she was lead out of the room and down the corridor.