Chapter 5 - Grief

A/N: Hey y'all. So, here's that chapter that I should have had out a long, long time ago. ._. Seriously, guys I'm soooo sorry...T-T

It's just, I don't know whether this is actually any good or not. I know I'm not a great writer, but I'm working my butt off to get better. Also, I found out right after I put up the first chapter that there's a story similar to this one (which I sincerely apologize for, I had no idea about it at all.) I hadn't even read TEW fanfiction yet, and I thought I had a really good idea..but now...I just don't know.

I just gotta know guys, is this even worth my time? If no one is enjoying it then it may have to stop. School is CRAZY, so if I don't get much feedback on it then I just can't do this anymore. I'm sorry and I hate to be this way (really, I HATE being that person)...I just need a reason to keep going. So,...let me know and be honest, please.

And to those of you who just read all of that: you're so awesome. T-T *virtual hugs*

I found myself in an ocean of pitch black, with not even the faintest of light. I couldn't see my trembling hands out in front of me.

To make matters worse, I'm deathly afraid of darkness. It's not the fact that I can't see anything that bothers me, that part of it I'm perfectly okay with. It's the fact that you don't know what's out there lurking in it. All you can do is either wait or search blindly for a way out.

"Oh, Ali…" I could hear his disembodied voice dance through the air around me, as if encircling me. "You've disappointed me. I instructed you to stay away with the intention of keeping you safe,…and yet you have deliberately disobeyed… I know your deepest fear, what you've confided in me as a child and what still haunts you to this day. Darkness. And it's your punishment for your defiance."

I could hear the guttural squeals and howls of the undead in the distance. I shook. Cold chills shot through me. My breathing became so erractic, that I began hyperventilating. My heartbeat raced and beads of cold sweat began to roll down my face. Tears formed in my eyes as memories from my childhood of complete and utter terror flashed through my mind. They came all at once, too fast for me to interpret one from the other. Cold. Dark. Falling.

I fell to my knees and curled myself into a tight ball on the ground below, too scared to even cry. This darkness was far beyond any sort that I had ever known – the blackest black I had ever experienced. Slowly, I felt like I was losing myself to it.

"I'm sorry,…I'm sorry," I pleaded to him in a soft mantra. I don't know how long I stayed that way. For all I know, hours could have passed. But that didn't matter, because at that moment it might as well have been an eternity.

A faint illumination began to dilate in the distance and he appeared before me, fading into existence as if he were a glitch on a television screen. He stared down at me unfazed by my cowardice. His sudden appearance caused me to let out a small squeak of surprise.

"St-stop!" I cried up to him, stumbling to get back on my feet. "J-just, please stop this!"

"Don't ever disobey me again," he drawled, almost like a parent to a child.

I nodded shakily. "Okay...I promise."

He turned to prowl around me, eyes darting over every inch. "I always wondered what became of you after you left. It's really too bad we had to reunite this way." He seemed void of expression, almost hollow, but soon it was replaced by the tiniest smile of deranged pleasure. The way he looked at me was unsettling, like he was analyzing every inch of me.

"But it would be a lie to say that I haven't enjoyed watching you," he confessed. "You've managed to adapt quickly to this world I've created. I didn't anticipate your survival. A pleasant surprise, I'll admit."

"Why are you doing this?" I questioned with a wavering voice, hand resting on the loaded gun in my pocket though I knew it would do me no good.

"Revenge. Payback for what they've done to me." He stopped in front of me. "My research was so close to perfection. But Jimenez betrayed me and chose to use it against me."

"Wait…Jimenez? He was involved?" I frowned. "What research was this?"

Ruvik tensed. "He and I were partners," he replied bitterly, continuing to circle me. "Through my research, I theorized that the human mind could be linked in order to share the memories and perceptions of another individual. For my generous donations to the hospital, he assured that I was given test subjects to validate this conjecture."

"So, that's where all of those patients went? But why?" I demanded, growing furious. "What you're talking about here is insane."

He stopped right in front of me again. "That scum?" Questioning eyes locked onto my own. "They were mine to do with as I please." He motioned to himself to emphasize his point. "In the field of science, sacrifices must be made in order to expand our knowledge…no matter how abhorrent it may seem to those of a lesser mind."

I shook my head, completely astounded by the man's barbaric outlook on the value of human life. "Oh,..now you insult me too?" With a scoff, I turned away. Something told me that he wouldn't intentionally cause me harm, but I still couldn't even look at him.

From my experience at the hospital, I knew that finding reason with him was pointless at this point. Now was the time to try to change the subject.

I took a shaky breath. "So, is that why I'm here?" I asked. "So I can be your plaything? Is that what we all are to you?"

For a moment there was only uncomfortable silence between us. With my back turned, I could only imagine what he was doing or thinking. Suddenly, he glitched before me – face downcast and eyes filled with fierce determination – which caused me to jump back in surprise. I immediately began backing away.

"You're mine. That is why you are here." Despite the low tone of his voice, it seemed to boom through the room, dour and authoritative. "Have I not made that clear?"

I cleared my throat and tightly balled a portion of the fabric of my skirt in my right hand. My eyes locked onto his, too afraid to look away. "So,…you've got me…Now what?" I asked softly, voice filled with emotion.

"I cannot ensure your safety, though I will do what I can." He raised his head to a normal level, appearing only slightly less intimidating. "Follow the beacon. That is your only hope for survival."

After that, he was gone. And I was alone.

'Follow the beacon?' Beacon Mental Hospital?

I slumped back against the wall and sank until I hit the floor. My head fell into my hands.

"I know you can hear what I'm saying…," I whispered. I let out a sigh and licked my lips. "Really, I wish I could go back and change everything so you didn't have to become…this." I closed my eyes. "I know of all people that you didn't deserve it."

The only answer I received was silence.

After a few minutes of regaining my composure, I realized I was in some kind of a hospital ward. I stood up and began walking. Blood and, what I assumed to be, human body parts squished under my feet. The stench of rotting flesh was overwhelming, but strangely, I was growing used to it.

I immediately searched for some sort of exit, and was rewarded by the sight of the large, red letters that guided me to my gateway to freedom. I ran for it without another thought.

The door slammed behind me as I passed through and I found myself in front of a stairwell. All I had to do was decide whether to go up or down. And I had to make a decision quick.

So, I chose to go up. Seeing as that last place I remembered being was in a basement, I figured it was the best option. I bolted up two flights of stairs before I saw that the next set of stairs and the upper floor were blocked off by tables and wheelchairs stacked on top of each other.

Of course.

I groaned in frustration and slammed my fist against the railing before turning around and heading back down.

Of course he would do this to me.

It seemed like the stairwell was never-ending. Before too long, my legs began to grow tired from the amount of running I had done. So, with nothing chasing me at that moment, I decided to take a short breather.

This turned out to be a grave mistake.

After what seemed only a few seconds had passed, I began hearing a clanking noise. Faint at first, but soon it grew louder. More intense as the scraping of metal on tile became more and more apparent. As I listened I realized that heavy footsteps accompanied it, along with a heavy breathing.

What the…?

I looked up.

The creature that stood two floors above wore a dead pig's head over its own – eyes crudely stitched shut, blood smeared down it's pasty cheeks. The body was similar to that of a very large man's, only decomposing. Chains enveloped it from the neck down. Hooks wrapped with barbed wire hung from its wrists where hands should have been, while a few protruded from its hunched back.

It paused as we seemed to make eye contact.

Then it let out an ear piercing shriek before charging at me.

I whipped out my gun and hightailed it down the stairs screaming. Though I refused to turn around I could just sense that the creature was right on my heels. The chains clanked and jingled as it chased me. The creature panted heavily, I swear I could almost feel its hot breath down my neck.

Finally, I saw a door up ahead and aimed for it. I slammed it behind me and slid the locking mechanism into place. Next, I pressed myself against the door in an effort to hold the creature back as it attempted to ram its way through. And with each shudder the door made, the creature only intensified its squeals. The tips of hooks protruded through the crack in the door as it scrambled to get inside. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. The lock was breaking.

I had to run.

I turned on my heels and dashed down the hallway behind me. The lock snapped and I could hear the creature's howls as it came barreling at me.

Running as hard as possible, I had just enough time to be out of its grasp. Up ahead, the corridor made a right turn. I turned right and dived for the open vent near the floor, clambering to get inside.

I just kept going, not willing to risk being caught. It let out an angry scream before I heard it claw and bang on the walls as it searched for me. Soon, the monster gave up. I listened as the chains dragged on the ground and away from the area until they became nothing but sweet silence.

Finally, I stopped and lay there panting, shaking from head to toe. I wiped the sweat from my brow. Though I was exhausted I knew I couldn't stop again, lest I run into something equally as frightening and dangerous. I crawled on, taking a few brief seconds to occasionally catch my breath. Cobwebs, dust, and other miscellaneous things that I don't want to know about seemed to thrive inside, adding to the nastiness that I was already covered in.

Up ahead, I saw light stream through a vent, making horizontal illuminations on the floor of the air duct. I immediately headed for it. Once I arrived, I awkwardly moved to kick it open. Luckily for me, the bolts had become so rusty that it didn't take much effort before the metal landed with a loud clank on the floor.

This attracted the attention of the two haunted that stood on the other side. They came at me, growling and hissing. One carried a butcher knife in her hand, while the other carried a gun.

I began firing at the one with the handgun, taking it out after the fifth bullet. Unfortunately for me, this happened to be my last. I pulled the trigger again, this time making a clicking noise that alerted me to the fact that I was now out of ammo.

With nothing left to do, I hopped out of the vent and pulled out my hand-scythe. The knife wielding one charged.

Let the fighting begin.

Our weapons clashed as I blocked its swing at my head. I kicked it in the stomach, sending it stumbling backwards. I rushed to finish the job, until I felt a slash at my arm. I cried out at the stinging pain before hacking at its head, killing the haunted. She fell limp at my feet.

Panting, I closed my eyes until I regained some strength. I was weary, drenched in sweat along with God-knows-what. I sat on the ground and allowed myself a moment of rest.

The room appeared to be some type of sitting room. A few chairs were scattered about, some toppled over and some broken. Pictures in broken frames hung from the walls, most of things relating to the hospital. In the center of the room, however, sat a table. Placed perfectly, almost as if it were there on purpose. On top, I could make out what looked like a box through the dim lighting.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I stood to find out what it was.

A tape recorder?

It was old, obviously, covered with dust and filth but still looked to be in somewhat good condition. I ran my fingers over the buttons. Just to see what would happen, I pressed play.

Static.

Figures.

I began walking away before I heard it cut to heavy breathing and soft crying. I turned around.

"Alice," the man's voice whispered with a sniffle.

I froze.

"D-daddy?" My voice trembled.