Chapter 13: Albert Carroll
"So, who's Coraline?" he asked me.
"Where did you hear that name?" I said.
"Heard it from you. You were calling out her name in your sleep. Who is she a girlfriend?"
"That's none of your business."
"Ooo, I'm going to have to that as a yes."
"Why the hell am I strap to a table?!"
He chuckled as he went away for a moment and came back with a tiny vile of blood. Is that my blood? He said, "I was so busy trying to create a new test for you. That I didn't think you were someone else's patient. Guess what I've found in your blood?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've found microbots. So tiny that you've been dosed by millions of these. Right now I've got these IV's hooked into your veins."
I didn't notice the two tubes sticking out of my forearms connected to these liquid bags from the IV's. "What are these for?" I asked.
"These are clearing out the microbots from your system. Sadly it also means they're getting rid of the microchips I've implanted in you. So it's going to be a while before I perform surgery on you again. Sad face."
He took out Charlotte's IPod from his coat pocket. He said, "Oh and also while you were in a coma. I've found this in your possession. Was looking through it and saw a playlist that has a name, Charlotte. Now if I remember correctly, Charlotte is the woman who owns that little pastry shop. Would you like to see her, Mark?"
"What?"
"I can bring her here. Also I can get a chance to see why she's so... interesting."
"You harm one hair on her I'll-,"
"You'll what? Hmm? You'll kill me?"
"..."
"Even though you have the freedom to do so. You're not capable of taking another life. That's the problem with you gamers. You can kill in games but you can't even stomach to take a life. So tell me." he walked away to turn on a stereo and skip a couple of tracks. He played an old song called Sex And Candy by Marcy Playground. "How do you feel about Charlotte?"
"Why on earth would I tell you about my feelings?"
"Well Mark. You never know if a woman is just toying with you. She's a complete stranger to you isn't she?"
"Yeah but why on earth would she take the time to do that? People are dying out there because of the virus, who on earth will plays games with someone in a terrible crisis?"
He chuckled as he said, "I'm going to tell you a story Mark." He pulled a wheel chair and set it next to me so he can sit down on it in backwards position. "Once upon a time in high school. I use to be sane."
... (Carroll's Narrative| 17 Years Old, Junior Year)
I was reading inside the library sitting at a table. I had my eyes glued to the words on the pages of Lewis Carrol's Alice In Wonderland. When I thought I was going to read at peace for the first time. All of a sudden my head was slammed into the book. "Ow!" It hurt quite a bit since I was wearing my glasses.
"Why the hell are you reading a girly book?" said Henry, the one student who keeps bullying me. He took the book from my hands.
"Give that back! That's the library's, and it's not a girly book! It was written by a man!"
"Checked out by you I'm assuming. So you have to take care of it right? Well what happens if I tear it apart?"
"Then you'll be reported to the Librian and you have to pay for it." said Edward who happened to show up in good timing. Henry shoved the book into my chest as I grab it. He then confronted Edward as he said, "Pretty brave to go against me, Riddle-Freak. I'll see you again."
Henry finally left as Edward walk over to me and said, "I myself enjoy Lewis Carroll's work. Why is a raven like a writing desk?"
"I've haven't the slightest idea." I said.
He smiled and said, "Correct. There's no answer to that riddle at all because there is no answers in Wonderland."
I looked at the two books he's carrying in his right hand. "Coraline is a good one." I said as I pointed at them in his possession, "And Firestarter is definitely a great story as well."
"You're quite the bookworm I see."
"True but if anyone is really a bookworm that will be Alexander Wyvern."
"Ah, now there's a student who can match wits against me. I'll talk to you later, Albert. I need to get to class soon."
"Oh that's right! Thanks for reminding me. Talk to you later Edward."
We both went our separate ways to go to our classes. As I arrive in mine I sat in the usual corner seat at the right end of the room. While everyone else was just coming in and talking among themselves. This girl name, Nadia, I have a crush on decided to sit next to me for once. My breathing elevated as my heart was racing too.
"Hey, Al." said Nadia... Wait did she really spoke to me?
"Uh, hi Nadia."
"Do you have any plans tonight?"
"Plans? Um, no. Why you ask?"
I can tell my cheeks are blushing because I feel quite heated right now.
"Well you see, I'm going to a school party tonight. I don't have anyone to go with so, I was wondering if you would like to come with me tonight."
Oh wow, Nadia is asking me to go out with her! To a school party no less! I don't really go to school parties, for one they never seem fun to me. I guess going out with her to one will probably be different. "Okay," I said.
"Great then we'll pick you up tonight."
"We'll?"
"My friends and I."
"Oh, okay then."
When the teacher started talking class begun. Ever since then I was really excited to go with her. At the end of class Oswald came up to me. He said, "You know those parties she goes to isn't a normal school party?"
"What? How would you know?"
"Because I help run those parties."
He put a little bag with a blue pill in my hand as he said, "This will help you not get too vulnerable."
"I don't think Nadia would ever-,"
"Let me ask you this, Albert. Do you even know Nadia on a personal level?"
I was quiet because I knew the answer to that. I don't know Nadia all that well.
"Just watch yourself."
He walked away leaving me in confusion. Tonight is surely going to be interesting.
...
I fixed up my hair and dressed up a little nice. I'm wearing a white collar shirt slacks, and dress shoes. Hopefully I'm not too overdress to this party. When I heard the doorbell ran I rush downstairs and gave a shout to my mother in the living room, "I'll be back mom!"
"Be carful sweetie!" she shouted back and I walked out the door.
Nadia is wearing a light blue blouse with jean shorts and blue converse. "You look really nice, Al." she said.
"You too, Nadia."
"Come on the car is just over there."
She took my hand as she led me to the red car. I sat in the middle between Nadia and her friend Hanna in the back seat. Jane is sitting in shotgun and the driver is Nadia's older sister, Lana.
"Oh so this is Al," said Lana, "How're you're doing, Al?"
"I'm doing well."
A sudden chill suddenly run up my spine. Weird I've never get those before... I don't like this feeling.
...
When we've arrive at the party it was at a huge house. There were a lot of students from my high school here. Even though I recognize most of them, I've never known them on a individual level. Music was blasted real high in volume that it was beginning to hurt my ears. The students I came across has been drinking alcohol or smoking weed. Some I've seen taken pills but not the kind I've received from Oswald.
Speaking of Oswald I saw him bar-tending drinks to the other classmates. I walked up to him and said hello, "Hey Oswald."
"Ah so you came." he said with a smirk, "Nadia treating you well so far?"
"Well I've just got here so I don't know yet."
"If she suddenly gives you a drink take the blue pill first. If you don't drink it... Well let's just hope she doesn't give you one. You're a good student with intelligence. I would hate to see you go to waste."
"...What is that suppose to mean?"
"Hey Al!" shouted Nadia taking my hand, "Come on, There's someone I want you to meet."
She lead me to a guy I've haven't seen at the school before. He's blonde with dark eyes. He's wearing a black collar shirt with dark jeans and black converse. "Hello Nadia." he greeted her.
"Hey Phillip," said Nadia, "This is Albert Carroll. I've talked about him before to you."
Strangely he looked at me up and down. What is he doing? Is he trying to observe me? "Hey Albert is so nice to meet you." he outstretch his hand to me for a shake. I took is as he said, "Nadia told me you're quite the honor student in class."
My grades are high up in my subjects, but when is comes down to the highest GPA Edward takes the cake. "Well I try." I said.
Phillip chuckled as he said, "I'm the same myself. Let me guess, this is your first party right?"
"Um, yeah. I'm not much of a party person."
"That's completely fine, I've got a room that'll make you more comfortable here. Nadia if you don't mind could you get us some drinks?"
"Sure." she said.
"Follow me, Albert."
I've felt unease at this. So while his back was turned to me and Nadia went away for drinks. I consumed the blue pill quickly. I followed him to the room with the two big doors and once he led me inside I see more than a few game consoles, bunch of video game cases, computers, laptops, game controllers, and a couple of huge T.V's. "I assume you're a gamer, am I correct?"
"Yes, I play video games when I get the chance."
I wonder who are the parents of this guy. There's a lot of expensive game equipment here so they must be pretty well off. Of course the equipment didn't tip me off it's actually the house. It's so big and spacious that it could rival against the -, "What kind of games do you like, Albert?" Phillip asked me.
"All kinds really. Especially the ones that have a great story to them."
"Well I've got a few games that might be to your liking. They're also multiplayer so it will be fun for the both of us."
While he set everything up we sat down in these game chairs on the floor and grab a game controller. "This game is called Insomnia." he explained, "Believe it or not this game is based off a true horror story."
"Horror story?"
"Yeah, well more of a tragedy than anything else. You see there was this little girl name Alice who couldn't go to sleep. Only because she kept on hearing screams throughout the house she lives in. Pretty much you're playing as a girl, walking around the house, meeting monsters, and while trying to survive through the nights."
"How many nights are there?"
"Well at least about 3. Three long nights that would last up to dawn. In game time though not literal time, or else that would be insane for any gamer."
"Here you boys go." said Nadia when she game in with drinks, even one for herself. When I received mine though the drink looked normal to me, but the ice could be just covering something off about it. I took the chance a drink some of it... There is something weird about it. It's Coca-Cola but there's something that's disturbing the taste.
"Ready to play?" he asked me.
"Oh, yeah." I said as I put the drink down.
Oswald given me a blue pill that counteracts something that might be in the drink. If it's a date rape drug that I've heard so much about. It should affect me within 15 to 30 minutes. Which won't take take long at all so I must admit. I'm a little scared.
As the the minutes went by that's when I've started feeling nauseous. I put the game on pause and stand up. "You okay?" Phillip asked me. All of a sudden the support in my legs failed me. I fell to the ground as I said, "Why? Why bother with me, Nadia?"
"You know what's happening to your body huh?" she said with a wicked grin.
"You tricked me? Wh-..."
My speech all of a sudden is starting to fail. The room is spinning. If I calculated earlier. The symptoms took effect within 5 minutes. This is a different kind of drug. Is this... A sedative? Before I knew it everything shut down.
...
I woke up in a barely lighted room. As I moved around I've felt my wrists tied behind my back and my mouth is covered with duct tape. There were other kids in here, but they're not exactly whole. By that I mean, some of them are missing parts.
There's a boy who's missing a right arm, a girl missing eyes, and another girl missing a left leg. They're not awake so they must be sedated. I looked down at myself and see that I'm not missing anything, at least not yet. I sat up to move my arms underneath me and slip them out of my legs to get them in front of me. I use my fingers to rip the tape off and then my teeth to undo the knots.
Once I got the rope off I suddenly heard footsteps coming this way from the other side of the door. I quickly stand up holding the rope out in my hands to stand next to the door. When a man opened it and walked into the room to find me I'm assuming. He couldn't see me because of the door blocking his view. I quickly jump onto him with the rope wrapped around his neck.
He put up a struggle and tried getting me off, but I was able to choke the life out of him. When he was down my adrenaline was kicking in, and it felt riveting to kill him with my own hands. Strangely though I've felt confident that I took his gun and walk out the door without feeling remorse whatsoever. I made guesses where to go from here. This is an interesting place, it's such a maze that it will be hard for a prisoner trying to escape on the first try. Thing is I now have gun so hopefully it will go smooth for me.
That blue pill is quite the counter drug. I think I was only asleep for 20 minutes. Some sedatives usually last up to 6 hours. Once I get out I'll have a big surprise for Nadia. This is the last time I'll ever trust a girl.
I stop in my tracks when I suddenly heard a scream down the left hallway. I cocked the gun in my hands and walked down that direction out of curiosity. When the scream happened again it sounded like a dying cry from the fith door to the left. I held up the gun at the ready as I entered through that door. What I saw was nothing I've ever seen before. This is the kind of stuff you'll only see in horror movies.
I see a what I assume is a surgeon standing next to the operating table with a dead body. He turned around as he said, "Oh, you're that boy Albert."
"You know me?" I said.
"I always take the time to know my patients. After all, I treat all my patients like my own children."
"By dismembering them?"
"Amputating what they no longer need. This patient failed to complete one of my experiments. All it's good for now is spare parts."
"How unfortunate. What experiment are you working on."
He was silent but only for a moment. He started removing his surgeon's mask and his gloves as he said, "You sure don't act like the highschool students I've previously worked on. Most would freak out, scream, or ask questions why. They never showed interest in my work. So why are you curious Albert?"
"One I have an open mind, and two... Well you can say I'm quite the scientist myself. So if you don't mind me asking. What's you're name, sir?"
He smiled happily as he said, "Dr. Francis Dulmacher."
... (Markiplier's Narrative)
"You can't be serious! You're joking right?" I said quite freaked to what I've just heard.
"I joke about a lot of thing but never my backstory." said Dr. Carroll, "I was one of the few chosen by him. I became his son working by his side and introduced to many of his beautiful experiments. He taught me how to take apart and reattach the human body. I can even switch around your parts with Aaron's if it was so my desire, but Dr. Dulmacher and I have different taste in experiments. He likes switching body parts, I like controlling the body."
"Wait so you were insane from the beginning then?"
"Neh, I was half insane during my high school years. When I was completely sane that was when I was just a kid. Insanity didn't creep in until my father did his own experiments.
"Now let's see what's your status."
He went to the computer that was keeping tabs on my body. "Annnnd you're good. All those microbots including the microchips are gone. Which means I get to operate on you again."
"Please don't. At leas not today. Haven't I been through enough being a lab rat to everyone?"
"Mark Mark Mark, you're just so valuable that it's hard not to make you into a test subject. Besides whoever is trying to dose you with those microbots. I will find the source and eradicate them. No one takes away my patients."
I began to struggle through the straps as I started to beg to him, "Get me off this table right now! I don't want to go through this again!"
"Relax. Once you're sedated it'll be real quick."
"STOP TRYING TO CONTROL ME!"
All of a sudden I dropped to the ground appearing in a different room. That was a Glitch ability I did! My emotions must've helped me get out of that place but where am I? I stand up to see that I'm next to a man sleeping in a white bed with an IV connected to his left arm. It's strange though how this man has white hair. He doesn't look all that old, he looks like he's in his 30's.
When he opened his eyes they were red. He said, "Who are you?"
"Mark." I said.
"...Markiplier?"
"How do you know me?"
"...I'm Richard Smiley."