A/N: Sorry for the delay in uploading the next chapter. I got a bit busy with a lot of stuff. Thank you though for you amazing comments :)
"Sometimes I question myself...Is this right or is this wrong? Should I be alive or dead? I don't know anymore but this thing…inside of me…Refuses to accept death. Maybe he saw that too, maybe that's why…why he's kept me alive for so long, at bay from the madness. How ironic that is. Escape is just a play on words; this darkness isn't just within this place, but also within me too…"
A large heavy hand was placed upon her shoulders as she shut her eyes tightly expecting to be hurt, raped, brutalized or dragged into the darkness to become just another pile of mushed up brain matter and entrails to be used as some bastards deranged decorations. Drawing in a deep breath she felt a head pressed against the side of her own, he was breathing heavily, no he was taking in a deep long breath of her. It didn't make much sense to her and 262 had stopped trying to make sense of anything in this place, she'd given up just hoping that this would all end.
"Darling please look at me…I hate seeing you like this" His voice was soothing and sweet, it sounded faintly familiar with a lisp though. It was enough for the hairs on her back to stand up.
Gulping down her fear she slowly turned with wide eyes glazed and red with dark bags as she peered up to the man that stood behind her. He was a towering man with a muscular build, however he was leaning, hunched over looking down at her, a toothy grin growing on his face, his eyes closed for a brief moment before looking into her own, it was like a dreamy state. The right side of his face was marked with horrible blisters and lacerations, perhaps from a rash maybe or something far worse like being burnt. Then her eyes moved up to his, they were a strange ice blue, one eye on his right had every blood vessel burst causing the sclera to be a crimson painful red with inky blotches for veins, the other eye wasn't as bad, a faint spec of white but it also had a few vessel burst.
Maybe the man noticed the pitiful look on her face as he cupped the side of her face, his thumb ever so gently caressing her skin. "Oh please dear don't look like that, its ok; I'm going to make everything Better." He took her other hand in his and held it tightly. The action in its self was like that of a lover only causing 262 to feel confused.
At this point 262 noticed just how large his hands where compared to her own. They were like giants and he could have easily snapped her neck with a single flick of his wrist as she squinted before returning her gaze back up to him. His hair was combed back in an old fashion style, the side of his head had been shaved and it seemed oddly familiar, but she couldn't place it as she blinked trying to work him out. Why was he being so gently towards her, so caring? Then her eyes moved over the rest of his body, it looked like he was wearing a white blouse, although there were specks of blood here and there along with thick stitches sewn to bring pieces of dirty fabric together, the same could be said with the steel blue and faint purple vest he seemed to wear. In fact it kind of suited him, gave him this gentleman look but even so she still couldn't smile and she felt his eyes glare into her soul, was she meant to be smiling?
Clearing his throat this strange giant of a man tried to reassure her of that charming nature of his. "Let me take you back Home my dear. You must be tired, look at your eyes almost as bad as my own" He chuckled softly and pulled her into his chest for a tight hug, his arms overlapping around her waist and upper body holding her in place while his head nuzzled down against her neck.
This man had to be around 6'5ft tall, maybe a little taller than that as 262 was only 5'ft making him seem far larger. For a moment she thought he would crush her to death, he had her hands pinned by her sides as he continued to tightly hug her against him while he hummed something before letting her go and sweeping her into a bridal hold, never allowing her a chance to think or even breathe. "There is so much to do and yet so little time my dear." He whispered in a loving way as he seemed to smile brushing a tear aside that had begun to trail down her cheeks.
Whoever he was, he seemed to be familiar with her but she couldn't recall him, she never knew a man with half a face as a monster, this strange style he wore wasn't like an inmates but he must have been someone like that right? Again her body felt tired, perhaps it was the fact she was being carried down a dark alley way while he hummed a strange tune she had never heard. It was rather comforting to her as she pressed her head against his chest feeling him hold her tighter a little bit, the vibrations he made as he hummed was sending her to sleep as she closed her eyes. In this cold bitter place, he was warm and comforting. This stranger was also the only person thus far that wasn't out to kill her or show any sinister intent, so naturally she began to feel comfortable, uneasy and wary but comfortable. Though she was starting to question if her grip on sanity had fully gone by now.
Just as long as he didn't take her to that horrible old man that looked like a priest with those weird naked guys. However 262 realized in parts of his humming he seemed to croak or find it hard to hum in a gentle way, but there was also the hint of a faint laughter beneath the humming before he would pause and draw in a deep long breath puffing his chest out. 262 wondered if he did that deliberately so she could feel him against her, the pumping sound of his heart seemed a tad bit accelerated. Something she didn't understand or comprehend as she too drew in a breath and relaxed allowing herself to be carried away into the darkness to whatever horror that awaited her.
However as they walked along the dark corridor, 262 began to drift into a deep sleep with her body finally catching up with her. Honestly she couldn't remember when or how long she had slept but as she rolled over onto her side her face squished up against something hard and warm, it was also moving slightly too as 262 grunted and attempted to rub her nose as she struggle to lift her hand up and press it against the strange warmth. There was also this strange vibration, a chuckle of sort that made her slowly raise her eyelids and peek up. It was the strange man that had carried her, his large arm was slung over her shoulder pulling her against him, her face had been squished up against his chest as she yawned and stretched a little, his other arm was acting as a pillow beneath her head as she moved slightly noticing how stiff her body was. They were laying on a single mattress, or bed, she couldn't really tell as she realized pretty fast that this large giant of a man had her pinned against him, she could barely move again as his arm that was slung over her was crushing her inwardly against his chest again as he seemed to plant a kiss on her forehead.
Something about this seemed forceful, maybe it was the position or his words as he spoke up "Oh Darling" He sounded so humble and gentle "You sleep just like an angel. Even the little sounds you made where so delightful" He cooed holding her a little more tightly now as he coiled his other arm around her back.
It took 262 all of her might not to thrash against him or slap him as she felt she was suffocating, but just as her lungs tightened and began to burn he seemed to let her go loosening his hold on her to look down at her. The smile on his face and the look in his eyes where like he was in a dreamy state as he gazed at her, almost as if it was the first time seeing her. She had seen it before somewhere as she placed one hand up against his marked side causing him to softly hum in delight upon her touch. Taking in a deep breath she planted a kiss on his lips, he seemed to softly kiss back, for a giant man with so much strength he only kissed back in a soft and gentle manner while his hands trailed up and down her back in a caressing sort of a way.
Pulling back 262 knew exactly what was wrong with this man right away, she had to test it out first of course but now she knew. He was looking for love, affection in this dark and horrible place and it seemed to be some sort of twisted obsession of him. "Why aren't you smiling?" His voice sounded almost distressed brining her back to reality. "Do….Do you not love me?" His face contorted, his humble eyes seemed to sharpen with anger boring into her soul.
"Huh?" 262 didn't know what she had said or done, he wasn't happy that she wasn't smiling? Feeling his hand quickly rise up she came up with the first Bullshit she could in hopes that hand didn't snap her neck. "I'm sorry I'm just so tired…Maybe it's this place, the dust in the air you know?" Her question stumped him as he looked at her a little dumbfounds before smiling.
There it was again that hum, that blissful look on his face as she forced a smile, he was satisfied and joyful again. He wanted love in this dangerous and dark place, and she wanted escape, two contradicting things that didn't make much sense but yet again what did make sense in this place?
His hand that she had feared would choke her or snap her neck seemed to come up the back of her short hair and playfully tease with his fingertips trailing them up and down her scalp, almost massaging her. It wasn't hard to figure that he was rewarding her with kindness and love as long as she did what he wanted. His other hand left her as he finally sat up before hoisting her to sit up on his lap and forcing her against his chest. It's not that he wasn't comfortable but rather the strength and ease he had at doing so as she looked up at him trying to remain smiling but such a thing is hard when you know that the ultimate end for you is death, a horrible twisted and painful death.
"You are such a tease you know that? I can't wait for tonight my love, after the ceremony nothing will come between us ever again. I promise you that, and we can finally consummate our love." The way he seemed to speak affectionate, hopeful but also love sick as he planted a kiss on her lips for a brief second or two before he moved her off his lap and got up extending a hand down to her to help her up. "Come my dear we must get you ready. After all a man can only wait for so long for his bride." He chuckled softly like a smitten little boy; his face was glowing with happiness. A strange happiness that seemed so wrong but so right at the same time. How sick she must be to have smiled back, to feel a little at ease despite the horrible fact he was speaking about marriage as if they were no longer in the asylum anymore.
Taking his hand she slowly got up thanks to his aid looking up at him a bit curious. How did such a gentleman such as him end up so screwed up? Maybe even worse than some of the others that she had ran into. Though there was something she needed to ask and she could not stop herself from saying her next set of words. "Who are you?" Her eyebrows knitted together confusion written all over her face.
The man paused and almost gasped before he leaned down and held her tiny face in his large hands, something about the way he did that, looking at her the way he did seemed like he was lost between being angry and shocked. "My dear how could you forget my name?" He paused and looked her up and down "Did they do this to you? Those Jack-Booted fucks?" His voice was stern as he clenched his jaw and grinded his teeth.
His face screwed up and his eyes shifted to something of anger and concern but mainly anger as 262 cleared her throat confused as to what the problem was or his sudden change in attitude. Did he mean those scientists? Men in Hazmat suits? "I uh…No…I just…Hit my head" She stuttered before rubbing the side of her head to make the act even more convincing but in all honesty she didn't know who he was, he looked and sounded familiar but there was no way she knew him.
Whatever it was the man seemed to relax and exhaling and caressing the side of her temples as if to heal her in some sort of strange way. He looked sincere as if he was genuinely concerned for her even though he was probably a crazy man obsessed with love, marriage and who knows what else. "You see this?" His other hand trailed down to her chest and slowly, almost teasing, down her cleavage and towards her belly button to the stitched pattern.
Of course 262 couldn't forget that incident, she'd crawled up in the air vents and managed to stumble her way into the men's ward falling down a vent and confronted by Eddie whom seemed all too eager to keep her, hide her away and was obsessed with…262 suddenly realized that man before her, this giant was Eddie Gluskin. Heck he looked like he had added a few inches on since she last saw him and she swore that was only 24 hours ago, maybe less. However the reality hit her pretty hard as she looked up into the man's eyes, even they were slightly different but his features somewhat the same. Perhaps it was the horrible scaring; the marks and blisters that made her assume he was someone else. Either way 262 felt a ping of guilt having not registered who this man was before her. She even felt a little silly and unsure. After all he had protected her before those men had tranquilized her, dragging her back to her cell.
Slowly the edge of his lips curved upwards forming a faint smile as he looked down upon her before placing both hands upon her cheeks and leaning down towards her. "It's ok my dear you remember don't you? How could you forget me after all we have been through?" The way he spoke was like a true lover, his obsession seemed far worse and the curiosity was only eating away at 262 the longer she looked up at him.
"Of course I would never Do such a thing" She sweetly said playing along as she hugged him to avoid any sort of outburst since he seemed far more unstable now than ever before. The Gluskin before this seemed a bit strange, like a rapist convinced in the head that she would stay with him in such a highly secure asylum. Either way Gluskin wrapped his arms around her in a tight fashion and seemed to hum in delight to her strange affection. In all honestly 262 was finding it harder and harder to be happy, to find some form of peace in this nightmarish place though the harsh truth was what ever had been done to her was slowly stripping away her humanity, piece by piece.
Although Gluskin retracted back and began to ramble about a dress and sizes and how it would all fit together, yet 262 wasn't all that concerned, she put on a fake smile and followed him with her eyes while he moved about gather a tape measurer and taking her size. Everything he did was gentle and caring but even so 262 didn't feel the same, she felt strange and at times she wanted to sigh but instead pushed it aside and took in a deep breath. This wasn't the life she wanted, as a child she wanted to be something much more than this, a strong independent woman that didn't need a man to carry her safely.
It wasn't just that either but his obsession, it was strong; in fact it was perhaps too strong to break or sway him without causing a tantrum or even worse, death. Gluskin looked like the type that would kill if you disobeyed him and 262 was starting to feel that, the vibe from him was eerie and yet charming, he was coaxing her to love him, making sweet promises about how good he would love her and their children, the happy life they would live. All but a fantasy he himself was dreaming about as 262 stood still mindlessly listening to him while taking it all in wondering how the hell she would solve this situation. Perhaps if he had not been put in the engine it would have been different, he wasn't overly insane back then, of course he was still protective and seemed to flow with the similar idea he still does, just not as strong. Either way what Gluskin believed was right was actually wrong as she drew in a deep breath, the man walking back and forth gathering white material from curtains, left over fabric and a few other things he'd found along the way.
Whereas 262 only watched him as he took his seat at a nearby sewing machine, this had to be the female wards, though 262 didn't know much about the previous female experiments or why she just so happened to be the only woman here minus that one she had seen before, before all of this started. Yet the problem was that 262 was starting to forget her face, it was just a blurry image crumpled on the floor in a heap, even her clothing didn't stand out anymore or her hair or eyes, just a blurry mess drenched in blood, but why? "Darling?" Gluskin caught her attention once more brining her back to reality as she looked up at him a little shocked.
Eddie Gluskin, The Groom towered over her looking down at her with such a concerned look that even his bloodshot eyes didn't seem to be overly creepy. "Are you ok my dear you don't seem all that with it?" He pondered leaning down to plant a typical kiss on her forehead. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet already?" He seemed to chuckle bringing back the fact he was about to marry her, make her his bride for life.
Wasn't that a bit too farfetched? Too fast moving? 262 felt his arms once more wrap around her tightly, she was starting to understand why, what was so utterly wrong with this man. He was afraid to be alone, afraid to be in the dark like a child and so instead of being patient, he uses his charms to achieve what he wants, someone that will stay by his side, never judge him and love him to the very end. However the most important thing was the marriage, 262 knew that it wasn't just about marrying someone so he could have a sexual relationship with them, but ensuring them never run away from him. All in the spar of the moment she thought and figured it was safe to hold onto him and press her face against his chest, he purred at the affection almost too well.
Eventually after a few moments of holding onto her and gently caressing her hair, Eddie let her go and kissed her softly on the lips before returning back to the sewing machine, he went about rambling again, about a happy life mentioning Leave it to Beaver, a TV series that dated back to the 50's, it explained his attitude and way, but it was flawed because it was all but an act and she knew that there was something darker behind the mask he wore. Of course he was trying to put on the whole 'I grew up in a rich and wealthy family and had a happy life' story but if that was true why was he here? A spoilt brat perhaps but even then that didn't make much sense as 262 moved off to the side, Eddie watching her like a hawk watching its prey.
On one of the old dusty cupboards had a small set of patterned fabric and a few needles that looked old but still good enough to use as 262 grabbed the materials, the sewing machine humming in the background as 262 looked up and down eventually finding some thread. After all she had to find a way to pass time as she sat down, Eddie never moving his eyes off of her and although she didn't look up at him, somehow she knew that he was just watching her. Sitting down at a nearby machine bench 262 looked at the fabric she'd found, it wasn't much, old tattered looking pieces of fabric probably used in the sweat shop long ago, but it was enough as she pulled out the needle and thread and began to stitch the pieces together.
Eddie was overly intrigued she'd picked up the spare needles he'd managed to salvage. Was she really interesting in stitching or just doing it to appease him? Part of Eddie was slightly speculating her nature but he only smiled, if she was willing to do that for him then what else would she do? A sinister smirk grew from his smile at the thought. "What are you making Darling?" He questioned her looking back down at the white fabric he was so carefully sewing together.
Raising a brow 262 looked up at him, she wondered why he was curious but yet again she was sitting here with a needle and a thread and it probably seemed strange. "I thought I'd try and make something." She said raising the fabric up looking at him a bit curious, he admired that look on her face, so dumbfound and cute at the same time.
Eddie didn't stop what he was doing, his hands moving the fabric up as it stitched together, he'd done this before, making so many dresses for his brides, but they always ran away. "Dear if you want I can teach you how to use a blanket stitch. It'll look nicer." He chimed in with a gleeful smile that was only reciprocated from 262 as she looked up at him.
Although she wouldn't address it to him, but she didn't want this to look nice, she wanted her stitches to be messy as she used a black thread to pull the pieces together, she doubted Eddie would let her use the scissors so she nipped at the fabric with her teeth and tore parts of the fabric up going with the flow of a pattern she had in her head. Surprisingly she was able to see the pattern, like little black dots or insects that moved around pointing her in the right direction to what she had in mind. Eddie on the other hand only watched meekly as he had to focus on the perfection of the dress. It was so strange for her to just sit there, endure him like no other had but he also loved it.
Though something was itching, like an itch in the back of her brain as 262 tried to remain focused on the needle and thread, pushing the needle through one part of the fabric and the next, in and out, up and down. Nothing was working; the itch felt like was it getting worse and 262 began to tap her foot softly. Eddie took this as a gesture to start singing which he did so perfectly, something about finding a girl that would make him happy but 262 couldn't pay attention, the sound of static was growing in her ears as she felt her lips softly tug at the corners into a slight frown. Her toes began to curl against the dirty ground, her breathing picked up and perspiration began to build up on her forehead. Gluskin must have caught on that something wasn't right as he stood up and came towards her, kneeling on the ground with his giant hands clasped over hers, forcing her to stop what she was doing and to pay attention to him as she looked at him. Those pale blue eyes pleading, he could see into her soul almost.
Sweetly he spoke like Romeo to Juliet "My dear you do not look so-" Something in the background clashed loudly enough to make Gluskin pause and look behind them.
There was nothing but darkness really, apart from the faint moonlit coming through the blocked out windows. Yet even so 262 felt off, something in her gut didn't sit right as she looked over in the direction the loud bang sound had come from. Eddie stood up and withdrew a knife from behind his belt, 262 didn't even know he was carrying a weapon on him and she suddenly felt sicker at the thought that he could have easily stabbed her or sliced her up. Despite the fact he had a concealed weapon on him, 262 was redrawn to the darkness, the sound of something coming towards them like an eerie breeze. Looking up at Eddie and then back to the darkness it was clear he couldn't hear it since he seemed to turn back and smile, but 262 still could, something was coming as she returned her gaze to the darkness. Something was watching them and she could feel it, its gaze upon her as she stood up and dropped the fabric and needle.
Of course Gluskin, being the typical knight in shining armour so to speak, placed both hands on her shoulder and began to speak to her, 262 could only see his lips moving, but the words no more than a faint whisper, even when he shook her and his face turned to something menacing as he screwed up his nose and leaned down at her, glaring into her, furious and enraged but even so she couldn't hear him, couldn't feel the vibrations in the air as she looked into those ice blue eyes of his with fear. Never a smart move as Gluskin slapped 262 sending her falling to the ground, even then she felt so numb to everything as she looked up from the ground over towards the darkness once more before her vision became clouded. Surrounded by darkness she felt utterly cold, freezing to be exact and she could no longer hear or see Gluskin anymore, but there was someone else there, someone watching and reaching out to her in the darkness, an unseen hand clouded by smoke.