The cold was inconsequential to Lenten. The boy had no feeling of it, wandering into the snowstorm undeterred. The taxi driver had wished Lenten luck, for what reason the boy could not figure out. So, with an ominous feeling, Lenten proceeded, swinging the wrought iron gate of the hotel wide open.
The snow had begun to pick up its pace as he worked his way towards the main building. As he grew closer, however, the boy could feel an unmistakable heaviness; an oppressive darkness which hung in the air like a tangible velvet shroud. The boy was drawn not towards the mansion with all its stoney splendor, but off the cracked concrete path.
Lenten trudged through the light snowdrifts that covered Trinity Heights' front lawn, walking parallel to the main structure. It didn't take him too long to reach the side of the right wing of the building, and from there the impressive architecture blocked some of the blizzard.
From the side of the building, Lenten could see more structures, all connected in a circle around the main body of the asylum by stone pathways. Only one light shone in the dark plaza, one leading to a back door of the mansion, a fire exit Lenten presumed. In the very center of the ring of buildings was a garden courtyard, or at least the remains of one. Shriveled bushes, choked by weeds, poked their pathetic branches out of the snow like the claws of zombies digging themselves free of their graves. Leafless trees with gnarled branches twisted up all around the courtyard. Blackened vines crawled up a robed statue that appeared to have been a monk at some point. Now deep water marks left black tear stains from the statue's eyes, and it's hands, folded in prayer, were bound with the ropy vines. Lenten stared at the statue meditatively. Everything is reclaimed by nature eventually, he thought speculatively.
Lenten took in the rest of his surroundings. Besides the main hotel building, he spotted an old church, a green house, the brick smokestack of some chimney furnace, and two or three other identical brick buildings indistinguishable from one another.
"This place feels dead," he muttered aloud.
"It is dead." Lenten spun around. There stood a boy, snow clinging to his mop of blonde hair. "The plants, the trees. Everything here is dead."
"So you felt it too?" Lenten asked, although it sounded more like a statement. The blonde boy nodded.
"I'm Hinoki. Hino, if you prefer."
"Lenten Rose, ever at your service. Let us not stay in such a sad place. Shall we go inside?" Lenten asked, nodding to the illuminated door.
Hino nodded, his shaggy bangs bouncing into his eyes.
The two made their way to the door. With one good tug, it creaked open in a cloud of rust and chipped paint.
The door opened into what appeared to be a waiting room of some sort. Grey-blue pleather couches lined two of the four walls, accompanied by squat coffee tables, each with their own lamp. A wooden cross hung on the third wall, in between a glass door and an old reception desk. A flower pot sat on the desktop.
"Poor little guy. He was left here to die," Hino remarked, taking the pot into his arms to get a better look at its dry brown flower.
"Hmm."
Lenten's ears perked up at the hum. "Hino? Was that you?"
Hino looked up from his flower, brows knit in concern. "Was what me?"
"I could have sworn I heard a hum."
"A hum?" Hino asked, placing the flowerpot back on the counter.
Lenten nodded. "Like someone singing. Shh! There it is again."
Quick, short, almost tuneless Lenten observed. A hum with no purpose other than to fill some morose loneliness.
Lenten looked around, searching for the source. After a few minutes, Hino joined him, tilting his head as if to listen more closely for voices.
"It smells like death in here," Hino observed. Lenten was about to ask the boy what he meant, but then he caught it. A whiff of musk, like mothballs and stale air and dry roses.
"I suggest we find the dining hall. There is no point in staying here any longer, and it would seem that the hospital is telling us we aren't welcome here anyway."
Hino nodded, allowing Lenten to lead the way.
The first thing Lenten noticed about the hallway outside the reception office was that it felt less heavy. The smell of staleness dissipated, morphing into the acrid scent of fresh floor polish. Well, at least the floor-tiles looked squeaky clean.
"It feels better out here," Hino muttered, almost so low that Lenten suspected the boy was talking to himself. Lenten adjusted his backpack and looked for some kind of sign to point him to the dining hall.
Luckily, it didn't take the duo long to stumble upon a staircase. A sign at the bottom of the stairs read "Directory", and fortunately pointed out that the dining hall was located on the second floor. About halfway up the first flight of stairs, Hino stopped.
"What's the matter?" Lenten asked.
Hino smiled. "I hear music."
Lenten listened. Sure enough he could hear the steady beat of the bass to some rapid pop song. "It sounds like we have found the party."
XxXxX
Hello again readers! How did you like Lenten (Eliade) and Hino? Just so you guys know, past chapter 1 the chapters will be much longer. I've just divided chapter 1 into parts in order to introduce each character.
A quick note regarding submissions. Submissions are still open, however I have recieved enough "demon characters," so any more from here on out will be rejected. Thanks for reading and review if you wish! Starting with chapter 2, I will be checking in with each of you so I know what your OCs think of the other characters and the current situation.