~*~
Faith picked up her pace and began to race down the dark path. Only to slow down her strides when she knew the end was near. Faith stopped and blindly reached out for the handle of the door. Her hands glided down the cool metal frame until finally she grasped the handle and turned the knob. It didn't swing easily so Faith had to push against the door with her shoulder. She pushed until finally an iridescent light from the other side of the door spilled through the cracks. Faith gave one final push on the door and as it gave way the made a corroded creaking sound. Faith flinched from the brief noise. She stood still waiting for any confirmation that someone had detected her entry. She let out the breath she was holding and continued to walk into another hallway.
Faith squinted her eyes against the glaring white fluorescent lights. She blinked once, twice, then a third time to adjust her eyesight. It took her more then a second for her eyes to grow accustom to the harsh light. She scanned the area and realized it was exactly as she remembered. The floors, walls, and yes even the ceilings were lined with stainless steel. Everything was immaculate and sterile. Her image reflected off the polished floor.
Faith remembered the first time she had ventured down into the bowels of the mansion into 'The Dungeon' as she had called when she was a little. It was a true contradiction to the dismal muggy grime she had thought the Dungeon would be. The floor covered in dirt and mud, crevices along the walls and ceiling filled with mold and filth. And in place of the fluorescent lights were lines of torches lit by fire. Faith shook her head to clear her thoughts, 'Damn I had a warped imagination back then." She turned around to close the door behind her. She slowly pushed the door hoping no sounds would creak out again. Thankfully it softly clicked as it closed.
Faith guardedly walked down the long corridor and at the end of the hallway she was stuck with a dilemma. The path broke into to three different directions. She looked down the hall to the left. At the end was a metal door with no handle but the frame was only equipped with a small keypad. She turned her head to the right there was no door at the end and it looked like the hall continued on. And just a few feet in front of her was a set of double metal doors. To the right Faith knew it was the passage that leads back up into the mansion. To the left was that horrid chamber: the torture room. Faith had an eerie feeling the reason Ian hadn't picked up his phone was because he was being held in there. For what reasons she didn't know yet.
In order to gain access into the room she needed the pass code. Unfortunately there were only two people that knew the code and she wasn't one of them. One was Kenneth Irons and there was no way he would willingly tell her, especially to her. The second person that knew the code was behind door number two, Dr. Immo. Behind those doors was his lab, his sanctuary. One of the many rooms she had grown to hate over the years. Faith walked those last few feet, closing the gap between the doors and her. She closed her eyes but was immediately assaulted with memories from the past. Screams echoed in her ears and images ran through her mind. Faith took in a deep breath and willed them away. She was not going to linger on the past. She had to move on especially now when Ian needed her. Finally she brought her arm up and rested her right palm against one of the metal doors. She pressed against the cool metal frame, pushing until the door quietly hissed opened.
Faith stepped over the threshold and was transported into the mad laboratory of Dr. Immo. She scanned the area of the room and noticed that nothing had changed all those years. Walls adored with cabinets all filled with medical supplies all from basic bandages and gauze to countless vials of medications. Not only cabinets but also shelves upon shelves of medical journals and books. To her left was a large freezer door. To her right were two recovery beds. In the middle of the room was a long sleek metal table. Hovering above were lamps and on a small tray where Dr. Immo's tools of his trade. Faith tore her gaze away from the table and continued to look around. An extensive array of medical equipment and machines also filled the large room. The room itself was a hospital all on its own.
In the far corner of the room elevated on a platform was Dr. Immo's desk. The small lamp and the computer screen on his desk along with soft glows from a few cabinets were the only lights provided. Faith made her way through the lab over to stand behind Dr. Immo. The older man was still dressed in his white lab coat. Hunched over his desk, head resting on top of arms that served as pillows. Obviously asleep and oblivious to the presence standing behind him. From behind Faith turned the lamp off but left the computer screen on. Immo stirred but didn't awaken. That was until Faith tapped him on his shoulder and said, "Rise and shine Dr. Immo."
Immo's head jerked up followed by his body. He looked from left to right trying to find the source of the voice. He was about to turn when an arm wove around his neck. Holding his head in place and pulling his body back against the chair. Immo began to struggle but stopped when he seen a long jagged blade popping out somewhere from under coated sleeve. His eyes widen as the cool blade was rested lightly touching his neck.
"I will release my hold on a few conditions," Faith whispered into his ear, "don't run, don't call security and importantly don't turn around. I mean I would hate the fact that you may accidentally fall on my blade and kill yourself doctor." Faith moved her left arm away from his neck. Making sure Immo got a good eyeful of the sharp weapon before it slipped back under the sleeve. "Do we have an understanding, doctor?" Immo nodded his head. Faith slowly moved her arm and placed a hand on each shoulder.
"Who are you? What are you doing here and what do you want?" Immo blurted out.
"You are in no position to ask questions, Dr. Immo. Only to be allowed to answer them. But I will tell you this. I'm here for Ian Nottingham."
Faith picked up her pace and began to race down the dark path. Only to slow down her strides when she knew the end was near. Faith stopped and blindly reached out for the handle of the door. Her hands glided down the cool metal frame until finally she grasped the handle and turned the knob. It didn't swing easily so Faith had to push against the door with her shoulder. She pushed until finally an iridescent light from the other side of the door spilled through the cracks. Faith gave one final push on the door and as it gave way the made a corroded creaking sound. Faith flinched from the brief noise. She stood still waiting for any confirmation that someone had detected her entry. She let out the breath she was holding and continued to walk into another hallway.
Faith squinted her eyes against the glaring white fluorescent lights. She blinked once, twice, then a third time to adjust her eyesight. It took her more then a second for her eyes to grow accustom to the harsh light. She scanned the area and realized it was exactly as she remembered. The floors, walls, and yes even the ceilings were lined with stainless steel. Everything was immaculate and sterile. Her image reflected off the polished floor.
Faith remembered the first time she had ventured down into the bowels of the mansion into 'The Dungeon' as she had called when she was a little. It was a true contradiction to the dismal muggy grime she had thought the Dungeon would be. The floor covered in dirt and mud, crevices along the walls and ceiling filled with mold and filth. And in place of the fluorescent lights were lines of torches lit by fire. Faith shook her head to clear her thoughts, 'Damn I had a warped imagination back then." She turned around to close the door behind her. She slowly pushed the door hoping no sounds would creak out again. Thankfully it softly clicked as it closed.
Faith guardedly walked down the long corridor and at the end of the hallway she was stuck with a dilemma. The path broke into to three different directions. She looked down the hall to the left. At the end was a metal door with no handle but the frame was only equipped with a small keypad. She turned her head to the right there was no door at the end and it looked like the hall continued on. And just a few feet in front of her was a set of double metal doors. To the right Faith knew it was the passage that leads back up into the mansion. To the left was that horrid chamber: the torture room. Faith had an eerie feeling the reason Ian hadn't picked up his phone was because he was being held in there. For what reasons she didn't know yet.
In order to gain access into the room she needed the pass code. Unfortunately there were only two people that knew the code and she wasn't one of them. One was Kenneth Irons and there was no way he would willingly tell her, especially to her. The second person that knew the code was behind door number two, Dr. Immo. Behind those doors was his lab, his sanctuary. One of the many rooms she had grown to hate over the years. Faith walked those last few feet, closing the gap between the doors and her. She closed her eyes but was immediately assaulted with memories from the past. Screams echoed in her ears and images ran through her mind. Faith took in a deep breath and willed them away. She was not going to linger on the past. She had to move on especially now when Ian needed her. Finally she brought her arm up and rested her right palm against one of the metal doors. She pressed against the cool metal frame, pushing until the door quietly hissed opened.
Faith stepped over the threshold and was transported into the mad laboratory of Dr. Immo. She scanned the area of the room and noticed that nothing had changed all those years. Walls adored with cabinets all filled with medical supplies all from basic bandages and gauze to countless vials of medications. Not only cabinets but also shelves upon shelves of medical journals and books. To her left was a large freezer door. To her right were two recovery beds. In the middle of the room was a long sleek metal table. Hovering above were lamps and on a small tray where Dr. Immo's tools of his trade. Faith tore her gaze away from the table and continued to look around. An extensive array of medical equipment and machines also filled the large room. The room itself was a hospital all on its own.
In the far corner of the room elevated on a platform was Dr. Immo's desk. The small lamp and the computer screen on his desk along with soft glows from a few cabinets were the only lights provided. Faith made her way through the lab over to stand behind Dr. Immo. The older man was still dressed in his white lab coat. Hunched over his desk, head resting on top of arms that served as pillows. Obviously asleep and oblivious to the presence standing behind him. From behind Faith turned the lamp off but left the computer screen on. Immo stirred but didn't awaken. That was until Faith tapped him on his shoulder and said, "Rise and shine Dr. Immo."
Immo's head jerked up followed by his body. He looked from left to right trying to find the source of the voice. He was about to turn when an arm wove around his neck. Holding his head in place and pulling his body back against the chair. Immo began to struggle but stopped when he seen a long jagged blade popping out somewhere from under coated sleeve. His eyes widen as the cool blade was rested lightly touching his neck.
"I will release my hold on a few conditions," Faith whispered into his ear, "don't run, don't call security and importantly don't turn around. I mean I would hate the fact that you may accidentally fall on my blade and kill yourself doctor." Faith moved her left arm away from his neck. Making sure Immo got a good eyeful of the sharp weapon before it slipped back under the sleeve. "Do we have an understanding, doctor?" Immo nodded his head. Faith slowly moved her arm and placed a hand on each shoulder.
"Who are you? What are you doing here and what do you want?" Immo blurted out.
"You are in no position to ask questions, Dr. Immo. Only to be allowed to answer them. But I will tell you this. I'm here for Ian Nottingham."