Part Fourteen

Into the Hellish Abyss

My heart raced almost as fast as my feet as I headed towards the grosteque elevator. I hit the button for the second floor and awaited for it to arrive on that floor. It felt like forever, or atleast my impatience was making it longer than it actually was. When the rusted iron gates of the elevator opened, I speed out to only find that a large hole in the hall way. A pathetic note laid by the hole and I read it aloud:

"Go to the first floor. Fight Leonard. Use the blood to get to him."

That was all that was written and the person's hand writing familiar to me. I couldn't remember right now whose it reminded me of but I took their advice. I went back into the elevator alittle worried and pushed the first floor button on the button pad. It started with a rusted moan but continued down as did my heart. Loki was dear to me, even though he was from this hell. He seemed like he was the only sane person here but he also seemed so alone.

I couldn't bring myself to leave him all alone here in this world. No matter how long you could stay here, it would never seem right. He potrayed that determination to get out of this hell and fight for reality in the gleam in his eyes. I could also see a motivation to protect me in that same gleam as well. I really should concentrate more on finding Leonard. Loki will find his way back to me, I had faith in him. He was the only thing I really did have faith in anymore.

The elevator died to a stop and when it opened, I walked out, making my way around the first floor. I decided to check the patients' rooms first, since most of the offices in the main entrance wouldn't lead me to Leonard. When I got to the first floor door, it was locked. I looked in my pocket for the key Stanley had. Maybe Loki was on the first floor looking for Leonard too? Anyways, I used the key and with a gentle click, the door opened to reveal the same sort of decoration the third floor hall had.

Grumbling to myself and heading into the wing, I tried to find doors that opened. Only one did thus far but it only had a nurse (which I killed) and a health drink. The last door down the hall was the only other door that was open. That very same door held the room that I was looking for. There was an altar set up there and thinking about the note I found on the second floor, it made sense now...well, alittle bit.

I walked over to the altar and took a step to the side as I pulled out the plastic bag containing the blood from the one person hanging upside down. I poured the blood onto the altar and looked away, hoping that none of the blood would splash unto me. After tossing aside the empty bag, I found that half of the room became a hole and there was a ladder inwhich I could climb down on. I gulped, this ladder must lead to where Leonard is.

I took a few brave steps towards the ladder and got onto it, plunging down deep into the depths one rung at a time. It was a few minutes before I could see the bottom and I was alittle shocked by the sight. The bottom had water running up to the end of my skirt and to one end of the room, there was rotating gears that would probably tear me to shreads if I got stuck in it. However, I saw no sign of Leonard.

"Heather?" A familiar male's voice rang out from nowhere as he I began to tread towards the middle of the watery room.

"Yeah?...Leonard, where are you?" I asked him and then he sighed in what seemed to be relief.

"Thank you. Now I can finally leave here. Now Claudia's ridiculous dream is over. Now...it is time to dispose of her..." Leonard ranted and I looked around the room hoping to find the source of his voice, "Salvation of all mankind, ha! Why must we reward even the unbelievers?!"

"What are you talking about?" I asked him, seeing that I may have ran into another nut case.

"About our plans, of course! Its true that God is merciful but first one must be choosen!" He paused for a breath, "Only we, who harken to the voice of God will be given the keys to paradise! Don't you think so Heather?"

"Yeah sure, go ahead and think whatever you want." I said sarcastically, taking a step back alittle.

"What do you mean by that?" Leonard almost barked at me.

"I mean that I don't think the ways you guys do. I don't want any part of that paradise!" I said loudly back to him, hoping to get my point across.

"You're an unbeliever?! You've decieved me!!" Leonard snarled and thats when I grew impatient.

"I didn't decieve you," I groaned and then continued with, "We were just both wrong about each other...I thought you were a normal person."

"So...you tried to trick me so you can run off with my seal, eh? Heretic!" Leonard growled, "You plan on to destroy God!"

"I told you, I wasn't trying to trick anyone!" I shouted back at him, temper rising quite a bit, "What is this seal thing anyway?"

"Don't play innocent. You can't fool me anymore...The seal is mine! I was appointed by God to be it's guardian!" Leonard boasted, "The only thing you'll get out of me is a gruesome death!"

I walked forward as he talked and as he finished his little speech, a monster came upward from the water and I just sighed. This was Leonard?

"Leonard, is that you?" I asked uncertainly.

"Death to all who turn their backs to God!!" Leonard roared, a monster howl sounding off behind his own voice.

"Is every person here a mental case?" I scoffed as I placed my hands on my hips, "Well, I guess you're not a person anyway."

Thats when he started towards me and I aimed my handgun. Firing a clip into him, the monster man fell into the water only to crawl on all fours around the area. I stayed put towards the middle, watching and waiting for the chance to attack him again. I couldn't fire at him while he was in the water, the bullets would stop as soon as the water pressure would kick in. After a few more moments of waiting, the monster rose back up and started towards me yet again.

I fired another clip of handgun bullets into Leonard and he yet again fell into the water. As quickly as the water would let me, I ran towards Leonard and kicked him as he flailed. A pained grunt escaped him so I kicked him again, hoping that this one kick would get him gone. However, I had to kick again for him to finally stop moving and a low fog invaded the flooded area of Leonard's lair.

I blacked out, unaware of where I was. As I woke, I saw a red twilight beaming from behind and projecting its light ahead of me. I sat up from the ground to find myself in the normal world hospital. I was in that room with the key glued to the wall. Taking a step forward, something slid acrossed the floor.

I looked over and saw it was some sort of circular object. Was this the seal Leonard was talking about? I put it in one of my jacket's pockets and headed out the room and down the hall. No nurses were around and when I got to the main lobby, I pratically sprinted to the front doors and left. Taking a deep breathe and finally enjoying being outside the hospital, I headed back to the motel room that me, Loki and Douglas got.

When I finally got there, Vincent was waiting for me and I looked around in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"Loki left a message for you. He said that Douglas went to the Lakeside Amusement Park. He is going after him and that the Amusement Park is the only way to the church." Vincent said in his creepy ass grin.

"Church?" I asked him alittle confused on why he would be leading me to there.

"Don't you want to kill Claudia? She's there." Vincent replied, his jazz hands expressing the words in his speech.

"How do I get there? Through the Amusement Park?" I asked him again and he nodded.

"Yes, you go up Nathan Avenue and keep going straight. The only way to the church is through the Amusement Park. All the other ways have been long ago destroyed." Vincent creeply smirked and I took a step back.

"Loki really said this?" I asked, not really believing in a word he said.

"Don't you trust me Heather?" He asked and the disturbing glint in his eye grew even more disgusting.

"No. I don't. But I'll trust Loki's word." I replied, leaving the motel room and heading towards the highway.

I avioded some monsters here and there. As I made the long walk to the Lakeside Amusement Park, I began to wonder where Loki was. Why didn't he come to me? Is Vincent really telling me the truth or is Douglas really in danger at the Amusement Park? I didn't want to think about any longer for I had a horrible feeling about what happened to Loki and the whole Amusement Park idea itself.