Crane's Weapon, It's Not Killing…It's Curing
Edward Crane walked in the lead of the trio Cody still struggling with the extra weight behind his back which was Noah who was still knocked out from the torture and gas attack, his breathing was stabilized not too long ago with the fresh air out there than the grisly fate in the library. Edward casually walked on down the large main hall which was the crossroads of all the facilities and sections meeting there, the three were surrounded by the guardian eyes of the stone figures standing tall filling up the spaces in the corridors with their stone faces casting down wings or worse their concrete weapons down upon them as though casting judgment of damnation but Crane walked on, his dark shined shoes reflected the moonlight which skimmed elsewhere across the marble reflective floor towards the fancy staircase made of the same marble but a darker toned used in the furnishing of the railing, which gave it a sense of…diversity. The psychologist laughed to himself, his face hardening a moment later at the scenery of gloom and death stinking all around him…it sickened him deeply just by looking at the statues everyday he went to work along with the things it contained, the patients who try to jump on you like they were in a rodeo heaven riding bulls in their dreams no doubt while he even heard some employees were subjected to violent retaliations of their assigned patients, the blood and agony combined gave the man such a shiver by the mere thought and the days he spent thanking the Lord he was not in a job like that…but he wasn't saying that the job he was doing for the past few years would even be considered, how should he say, normal in terms of asylum staff work. There were reasons that the asylum must be saved, and not just for the current threat that lurks here but instead something the detective should stick his nose out of…some things in Erebus Asylum should not be seen nor heard, and what Cody suspected about the place might lead to some conclusions. The man sighed, ruffling his thick black hair running through the strands wave by wave at the very consequence should the detective or the bomber interrupt with whatever they were working on, and no doubt the bomber would be on to his tracks…when he got to the medical treatment center where he worked, his work would be hidden.
"Man, Noah is getting heavy on my back. Seriously I think that he's gotten some weight or something…anyway, where are we?" Cody spoke looking around the creepy hall which stretched wide with different gates at the ends of the staircase, towering to the ceiling with the sharp iron spears that positioned themselves threateningly at the arch of brick. The statues did not add much security to the whole scene as the people of stone started to glare upon their new guests, blank solid eyes did not glow nor flicker under the unnerving moonlight with the silence which was a normal routine in this place for the insane, Cody nervously watched the whole scene before he heard an incoming beep from his Bluetooth which he had entirely abandoned when he was busy escaping from the attempt on his life, a finger tapping the side to accept the transmission from his butler.
"Master Cody, I have some information on the bomber." At that instant Cody's eyes widened at the new update, his fingers tapping on the volume level to make the voice clearer over the small tiny crackling noise in the background as Valen continued with a new revelation.
"What was it about the bomber?" Cody asked first, the butler felt quite rudely interrupted but he knew how his employer could be so polite to put manners ahead of important information before the butler tried to gather the words he was about to say from a nearby computer, Cody hearing the tapping of the keyboard as some pings were heard as Valen's voice resumed once more.
"The bomber's name is definitely Amos Casteon, and his past is quite shady…I couldn't get anymore information than his family was murdered when he was five and he was put in an orphanage. I'm trying to find that very same orphanage right now, so right now it's a road block…anyway are you alright sir?" Valen asked worriedly over the line, Cody could just give a slight smile at the narrow escape from death but his thoughts told him not to bother his butler and especially Gwen with the horrible details. He tapped his earpiece with a deep breath before he spoke again with a reassuring tone to ensure no hints of fear were evident in his voice in every word.
"I'm fine, just a little singed that's all. Anyway, how did you find out about the bomber's past? When we checked the national records the whole page about him was just blank about his personality in the past along with his bio, I thought he had a false name." Valen's voice just spoke with an equal egotistical tone like the bombers', much to the detective's own amusement.
"Well, sir…when you've served as a spy in the past for fractions divided over power, you pick up a few connections or two when you are traveling." Cody just nodded in some understanding, Valen did tell him when he was a young teenager in the prime of his youth the stories of his past deeds…the one thing that stood out about the trusted butler was that the man had participated in the Cold Wars when the Russian and American negotiations were failing and it was soon evident Armageddon could be on the rise that the world experienced fear between two major competing powers. The detective recalled the tales of bravery and stealth that Valen described with great detail, but due to his young age the ex-spy was careful to choose his words about certain portions which were too bloody for the young boy, and when he grew up the man delved back into some stories that were life-and-death situations the veteran had faced prior to the end of the war. He was told that the butler still had his connections to some of the agents who were part of the same old organization, but the detective never completely bought the story…but by the looks of the information, it was best to go along with it for now. Cody looked towards the back of the doctor, who was walking in front of him unarmed of all weapons but his thin raking fingers as well as the arms which were that of some abnormal length the detective could not even comprehend so much, but it looked like the man couldn't even harm a maddened inmate with a gun raving and shooting lead over the place…yet the doctor knew his way around here so no doubt the whole layout depended on this surviving employee if he was right about the others with him, but one thing continued to stick on his mind: Crane mentioned something about armories which was reminiscent of some government agency, which was a really strange occurrence to even have an arsenal of weapons against the patients…Cody narrowed his eyes, something was definitely up here and the doctor was either not telling him or hid a secret of his own.
"I've no absolute idea about the orphanage nor the details of the murder…the information seems to be deleted, and I mean from the national files about the incident. The government won't do this, it would be the bomber to wipe out his memory from any sort of police departments tracking him by his name." Cody had an idea springing to mind, his fingers tapping the communicator as he spoke back into the line to the butler with a new order needing some attending to.
"Valen, give me any information of the asylum I'm in right now. There are armories here, and if that's the case then there is something more to the bomber's objective to make us suffer which could lead towards the asylum's own personal records…since the building is in lockdown and Casteon can still access the entire matrix inside the asylum and control the cameras and other features, I'm suspecting that the doctor knows something."
"Master Cody, Casteon's threats are starting to send panic into the public so this could result in the whole city turning into chaos. Right now you should stop him first, leave the issue of the asylum to me…I'll try and hack into the same signal that the bomber is giving off from the mental institution so that I can then read through the captured information." Valen acknowledged his employer's own orders as he took it right away, the detective left his own loyal servant at the computer typing all sorts of keys into the database eyeing the information. The butler was sitting at a large leather armchair with the typical black styled office kind, sitting there in his own personal office made him feel like the young days in his thirties when he was an agent during the Cold War…the best of his kind with deep concentration, the cushion gave way to his weight though he was still keeping fit with his physical health in top condition. On the pine table which made up the main desk at the very front where stacks of papers with all sorts of descriptions, mostly bills he had to pay monthly to the government for his busy employers while they were away at work and school but the one item that stood out from all that was a picture frame of two people, a man and woman in smiles and happiness at the Statue of Liberty standing tall and proud holding her torch in the air for the years of its country's pride both in a hug wearing winter clothing on the deck of a ship, the wind blew back the woman's black hair as she gave a large grin a finger aimed at the large colossal statue itself. Valen took a break from the stressful job for a few minutes, his hand cupping around the handle of his mug that had a tea bag sunk in the water coloring it grassy green as the butler brought the beverage to his lips gulping the hot substance down his throat, then wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Sometimes when no one is looking a butler could let go of his civilized ways to be normal, the older man stared at the picture with a huge smile of nostalgia as he eyed the face of the woman with a warm touch…she was a spy, like him back in the day but he never knew they would be much more after so many assignments and his memory recalling that she had a fiancée who was killed before the end of the war and he was comforting her deeply with genuine affection which led to the first relationship Valen had. She was a fine woman, and a fiery attitude but she and him got along despite the issues in relationship they would try their best to sort it all out before further damage would crumble their intimate feelings…in fact, the reason that he had understood Master Cody so very far was because Gwen was kind of a distant reminder of his own relationship of a woman with fire and spirit, always ready to swoop in and rescue his tail from the fire quite a few times after she took a short break from the agency despite him trying to keep her safe she rebuffed him and just said that he had been there for her, and so she repaid the debt back…with marriage after the war a few years later into dating and a steady going relationship. Valen just had a smile on his face, but the moment was cut short when the door to his own office opened as he placed the picture frame down gently back onto the surface of the table and braced himself for the visitor at his door.
"Come on in, Miss Gwen." The door opened slightly to show the goth's teal black hair stick right through the entrance, her black eyes popping into the office as her body followed into the room where the butler had continued his work with Cody's request. He gestured a hand to the seat where Gwen took it kindly, sitting right down and just tried to relax as calmly as she could, her hair was not so neat like this afternoon's with stray strands poking out of her head like little trees with their black or teal colored trunks stretching for the air. The goth kindly gave a polite smile as she noticed the picture frame, her thoughts still a little scattered as the butler spoke in return his eyes not returning from the screen to face her but his voice was still full of warmth and a sort of fatherly feeling around him as he spoke.
"Ah, I see you found our picture. This was my wife, Jessy…she was one wild card in my time if you understand what I meant, her attitude was so fiery and independent which really drove her fiancée to wavelengths of frustration it was funny to watch." He spoke with a little chuckle, Gwen observing the smile on the woman's face pointing towards the statue at the open sea. The warm looks on their faces gave a smile to Gwen's own, the butler was lucky to have such a beautiful woman…just like she thought her lives with both men in her romantic life was broken by each one's betrayal of her own actions. Valen noted this and began to speak more of his wife, his eyes still trained on the young woman warmly while he continued watching how she was looking with some happiness for the two, arms crossed as he leaned back on his armchair.
"Jessy was a nice person, caring just like Master Cody…she would never leave me alone after we confessed to each other and that resulted in her new determination to help me and rejoined the agency. Once, I was struck near the heart and I could still recall what had happened to me with the blood flowing out my chest while I looked at her concerned face tearing at the miserable sight of me, her hands clutching the sides of my head with crying. I still remember what she said to me: 'Don't die…you mean my world, just don't leave.'" Gwen felt like she was hearing a typical romance film with the women just sighing in delight at the show of affection, if Valen's life were a film all the female audience especially her would have swooned at that display of love. She placed the picture back on its proper place where she had seen it, her face now changed to that of a stern face of serious business as the butler noticed the facial expression his eyes raised in wonder…her black eyes were sort of burning, like there was something impulsive that kind of spooked the older man out as she stood up palms on the table as she asked the one thing on her mind through her teal colored lips.
"Where is Cody?"
"Here we are, Medical Treatment Center. You know some first aid?" Crane turned around to address his new ally in the fight, Cody was still holding up with the weight on his back heaving the body smoothly and gently while he breathed slightly heavily as he just nodded slightly the psychologist could hardly be surprised at the exhausted face, the stairs and sharp turns around the place could confuse even the most veteran employee here for five years straight…he had seen the entire area and saw some doctors stride back and forth along the hallways unsure of where to go, the worker always found himself instead of going back to his duties having to direct the experienced employees where to find their stations. Crane sighed as he slid his name card through the slot along the scanner that sat at the side of the door, blinking green thrice before it opened greeting the doctor by name as he walked right through Cody meeting a sharp hiss of air blast into his face catching him slightly off guard, the doctor turned towards the detective with a slight grimace before he signaled him to hurry up.
"Cody, we have to keep moving…otherwise we'll never be able to treat him in time. This way to the infirmary where the medication cupboard is stored." Cody followed him willingly, his mind still going off into a wonder as he laid Noah onto a nearby chair putting the young man securely with his arms crossed in an X to prevent any further pain should he wake up. Crane just approached the other side of the white germ-free room, his hands flying to the large medical cabinet or maybe a whole wardrobe as the 'cabinet' as Cody thought was much taller and larger than what he assumed it would be, in fact it stretched from the floor nearly to the ceiling along with its width stretching from one wall to the other showing him just how prepared asylums were on keeping their patients in line and even for cures. He watched as the older man reach into the depths, shuffling with the various bottles muttering their names silently pushing them aside before his eyes laid on the intended item, his fingers snaked around it and gripped the bottle tightly bringing out to the detective who took the medication without further instructions walking to his friend and administered the medicine to the young man feeding the syrup inside in a small teaspoon shoving it slowly in his mouth careful not to spill it. After two direct spoonfuls as well as some small coughing on the bookworm's part, Cody could settle at ease as he looked at the bottle label eyeing the content saying painkiller but there was none of those specified names which did give the detective some concern though the soft breathing turned to the eyebrows starting to flutter a little, Cody held his breath before Edward Crane brushed his shoulder aside from him as he was stretching the length of the bandage roll the action was like a rope or wire which did make the detective gulp a little swallowing the saliva. Edward however knew what he was doing, the sound of stitches and ripping noises that sounded in the air as Cody watched the roll circle around Noah's bleeding head with deadly precision, the doctor did it as though he had done this many times before concerning those patients who probably tried slamming their heads against the wall and it didn't take much longer as the doctor stepped back, Noah's head was securely protected with the pure white rough fabric rolls his fingers were flinching and twitching in short intervals but no other clear sign of regaining consciousness did inform the two about when he would wake up but Edward just shrugged reluctantly at all his skills could prepare him for.
"I cannot do anything further though, the painkiller should help the pain subside but I would advise Noah not move yet until he has fully recovered. Now if you must excuse me I must attend to my research, the bomber must not even find these…now just turn the safe numerals here and there." Edward excused himself from Cody and his friend as he approached the cabinet, rummaging through stacks of paper lying all over his iron desk as he took the whole bunch not minding the sheets that idly fell to the floor fluttering in the cold rush of wind coming from the ventilation system, stuffing them all into a safe as he shut the door loudly proceeding to lock it his mouth frowned. The detective noticed the action as he stared at the papers being put away securely, even he didn't know what it was containing but Cody had a slight feeling that it could lead to something more he wouldn't know about this facility, the armory and the heavily armored guards…the whole place with the tall iron gates seemed to make it more of a maximum security prison than the standard asylums with dorms for the patients to have beds and the main door was the only thing that was locked to prevent escape. Leaning forward, he caught sight of something metallic lying on the table next to where the notes once were with a handgrip and a long tube which looked like that of a gun, but there were differences he could not see unless he could get close enough to…
"R-RARRRAGHGHHGHG!" A loud maddened shriek almost like a yell was heard from his left, Cody spun around a hand secured around his gun to draw on the intruder but he what he saw next was a figure pouncing on him sending him flying across the floor with the attacker on him, the detective could feel the slimy feeling of spittle on his own face as Cody instantly faced the attacker to his own shock who was a patient in a long sleeved jacket and orange pants, the face was contorted and disfigured to an indescribable look on the lips and eyes which seemed to burn right through Cody's own as the patient let out another maddened yell and without warning wrapped his hands around the detective's throat in an attempt to strangle him. Cody instinctively gripped the elbows of the hands constricting with some inhuman strength cutting off the air from his lungs, the organs starting to feel deflated as it let out gasps to grasp on to life the two caught in the struggle to not notice the doctor walking towards the patient who was so obsessed with ending an innocent man's life, something black in his hand formed from the dark brown sleeve under the grip of his fingers tightening over it. The patient suddenly stopped his assault, sniffing the air like a dog before his eyes fell on the doctor who had a dark look on his face aiming some sort of gun but this time it was close for the detective to see it clearly, it had a weird orange liquid that was inside a small canister inserted into the six-shooter-like weapon with the barrel having a long sharp needle poking right out of the upper barrel. The detective could just stare in wonder at the strange weapon but the patient started to scream in terror, his eyes widening at the needle threatening pointing at him as the doctor continued his deadly walk watching the patient scatter to the other side of the room, his hands flailing carelessly around the room searching the tables scattering various medical tools around the floor before the madman stopped short over a sharp object, suddenly snarling to himself as he picked it up and pointed it at Crane who paused in mid-stride still aiming his gun at the mentally challenged man. Cody caught his breath in sharp gasps, he was still shocked from the sudden attack his heart beating loudly trying to burst out his chest as he watched the doctor's eyes still blackened and before he could look at the patient standing his ground with the scalpel glimmering in the light of the small room his breathing was ecstatic the detective could have sworn the man could have had a heart attack there as he stood there shaking uncontrollably, eyeing the doctor like he was a menace as Crane spoke with a soft calming tone his weapon still pointed towards the patient his eyes blazing at a soon to be test subject.
"Now, calm down…I don't have to send you a dose but if you put the scalpel down maybe we can sort something out. I can and will give you a taste." The doctor warned, his hand reaching for something in the back of his pocket when he noticed the patient gave a half-step forward almost like a skip but it didn't matter, the man instantly reacted to the danger by firing one of the canisters into the patient's chest the victim fell back with a loud thud as he crashed into a nearby trolley, the canister activated its tiny needle as it stabbed into the chest area beneath the clothing. Crane immediately took Cody, who was grabbing Noah over his shoulders hearing the groggy groaning, taking the young adult by the sleeve and dragged him out closing the main door behind him locking the door as Crane turned on his heel and walked down the hallway towards the main entrance but was stopped by the detective who had a look of wonder on his face at the long barreled gun.
"What is that thing?" He asked but the moment was cut short as the window of the door was thumped against with two large palms forcefully knocking the madman trapped inside as the detective just shrunk away from the door, unsure of the man's stubborn strength to pursue them…but as Cody narrowed his hearing he heard the distinct screaming of the patient, the hands slamming onto the door like a mad bull. Edward Crane wasted no time in grabbing the police officer by the scruff of his neck and dragged him away from the scene Cody could hear the violent yells and the noise of things being smashed around the place, the three turning one into the other corridor before Cody could speak again with a irritated look.
"Dude, what the hell?"
"This weapon is not a damn toy, and I don't expect you to understand my research…so if you really want to ask some more questions about it, I suggest you save it for later where we are safe and save your friends." He explained briefly, expecting the whole situation to blow off sometime but was blocked by the detective who lowered Noah at the wall securely and gently before he shielded the road with his hands outstretched eyes narrowed at the doctor's own black orbs.
"I am not going anywhere without you explaining yourself. What was that liquid? What did it do to the patient? I have so many damn questions now that you just gave a whole lot of incriminating things done around here, the armories, the research…what is that research about anyway? I want to know right here, with my authority." Crane seemed unmoved by the threat as he slid past the detective with a smooth fluid movement, bumping the man's shoulder aside from his way as he stopped a few feet away from the two as he had a dark face towards Cody who stood there confused by his expression. The doctor glared like that for a while before he just swept the tension aside without a second thought, his back turned towards the detective.
"That liquid is something that is top secret, not for anyone outside the asylum to know…even the authorities. Normally our policies in this concerning outsiders like you are to give them some bribe or throw them off the hard way, and if we weren't in such a situation I would not hesitate to stop you from finding out too much." He spoke the words coated with malice as he raised the strange gun in the direction of Cody who drew his pistol out in response, the two just staring at each other with matched glares in the silence of the gothic halls. Cody didn't know what was going on with the doctor and his own research, but he knew that whatever it was now the employees seem dedicated to stop anyone who got in their way…this was like some sort of movie, the whole secrecy of the project shrouded from the public and even the government in some plotlines but this time it was real, this man was willing to kill him or inject him with whatever that liquid was. The stirring of Noah cut off the pause in movement, his eyes fluttered a few times to clear his vision as he gave a pained grimace on his face unable to make out the two men standing with arms at each other and he rubbed his eyes so he could see better, his mouth gaped open at the sight of Cody and a unknown figure standing in a deadlock each person on the trigger as Noah tried to respond to the situation, coughing loudly as he felt pain course through his legs as a ringing noise kept blaring in his head. Cody went to the man's aid sheathing his gun from the doctor who kept his, the two turning their attention now to the weakened man trying to push himself up with bloodied fingers as the detective spoke to the bookworm with concern filling his mind right now, his hands grabbing the man by the shoulders.
"It's alright Noah, you're going to be fine." The bookworm seemed to think the opposite, his eyes fell down on his fingers where he saw blood smeared his palms as he turned it over with fear draining color from his face upon the sight of his nail-less fingers shuddering as the memories of what happened drew into his mind's focus. His eyes were watered as he could hardly breathe as scene after scene unfolded, his legs started to give way at the knees but was supported by the two men who put aside the argument for later as Cody tried his best to comfort his traumatized friend, taking his hands away from his eyes watching him shake like a leaf.
"Noah, Noah…you're going to be fine." Noah looked at him like he was crazy, his face stricken with fear and terror as his eyes battered and flew across the room like a maniac ignoring Cody's words of comfort and replaced it with his own frightening interpretation.
"Fine? Fine? You don't even get fine, I'm not fine…look at me. I have no fingernails, he beat me around the head and then he brought out a poker and then he…he…t-t" He could not finish his statement as he started to crumble under the torture, his body shivering in jitters and quivers so uncontrollable and untamed Cody felt pained watching his friend suffer as he tried wearingly in vain to help him out of the place again, his hands now shaking the man out of the fear.
"Noah, you're going to be fine you hear! You're going to be fine!"
"No, no, I can hear it…can't you hear it? That little singing voice just speaking to me, I can hear it…tick, tock, tick, tock heh heh." Cody's face widened in terror as he tried to wake the man up from his own swallowing madness, now wasn't the time…Noah was one of his best friends and he couldn't stand the thought of losing him, the more Noah spoke in a ragged voice the more the detective shook him unaware of his yelling and shaking the man violently.
"DAMNIT NOAH! DON'T!" He continued on like this for what seemed an eternity, the same reaction on the bookworm's broken face under the bandages as he pursued for some hint of sanity left. He finally felt a cold hand touch upon his shoulder as he turned upwards to look upon the face of Edward Crane who could say absolutely nothing but a shake of his head glancing at the fetal curled Noah.
"I'm afraid it was too late…" Cody now felt a nerve snap at the doctor's own diagnosis as he tried to fight back the reality he knew was true, continuing to refuse to believe what was said to him.
"No, no! There has to be a way to save him, there has to…what about your formula? Can it cure him, can any FUCKING DAMN thing be done for HIM?" Cody felt now like shouting, cursing, kicking, screaming as he looked upon the broken body of his friend still trapped in his shell of the mind muttering the words 'tick, tock' over and over again like a rant unable to react properly as he sucked on his thumb chewing an imaginary fingernail as Edward Crane could just shake his head a stern look on his face.
"Cody, he's gone. Noah has been under the bomber's torture for too long, he's now lost to the sea of his own madness. There is no cure after fear…there is only oblivion."
End