A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates in such a long time! I've been with my finals and I haven't had a moment's rest. I just regained inspiration for this story, too, in a moment of Fridge Brilliance.

Also, I'm very happy with all the kind reviews I got in the last chapter. I hope I haven't lost some of you people; if I have, I understand: I'm a mess xD I'll be bringing some special chapters after this one, like some dealing with Justine or other miscellaneous characters of both games. If you have any preferences in regards to characters you want me to write about, sound off in a review! Suggestions are always welcome!^^

Enjoy the- wait: this is rated T, turns into an M-ish thing at the end because of the tone of the chapter. Now yes: enjoy the read!

XXIX

Crimson

It was at Dr. Tate's that he first saw blood.

The doctor, in a moment of absentmindedness, accidentally cut himself with a scalpel. Thought not too deep, the injury was wide enough for it to start bleeding almost immediately. Dr. Tate was quick to wrap a bandage around his finger, but the impression had been made: Daniel had seen the dark red liquid flow freely and fall onto the white carpet the doctor always kept neat and clean. A mesmerizing sight, to say the least.

Another time Daniel saw blood was at school. Henry Bedloe was an expert on making some people cry and some others bleed; Daniel was one of those others. More often than not, Henry beat him up, sometimes with a reason and sometimes without. Daniel ended up lying wounded on the ground, his lip bleeding from the hits, his clothes dishevelled from being tossed around like a ragdoll and his hands grazed from falling onto them. He usually had a chance to look at himself in the mirror of the doctor's office. The sight was always disgusting. Daniel was messed up, not to mention dirty, but that wasn't what unsettled him. Some of his wounds were still bleeding, but his own blood lacked charm or beauty.

Daniel thought it wasn't worth spilling.

One evening, when Dr. Tate had come by to check on Daniel's state after catching a light fever, the question came.

"Doctor, what does it mean to bleed?"

Dr. Tate was clearly surprised. Daniel kept his eyes on the physician, impatiently waiting for an answer.

"It means that the person who is bleeding is hurt, my boy."

"Is it good to bleed?"

"Most of the time, it isn't. It's not a pretty sight, either."

"Then why do some people make others bleed? Like I'm always hit at school by Henry. I always bleed and if you say that's a bad thing, then why does he do it? Why does he want to see me bleeding?"

Dr. Tate frowned in thought, then said, "Daniel, tell me something: do you bleed a lot when you're hit?"

Daniel shook his head. "No, I don't. Why?"

"Because some people make others bleed to see how strong they really are. It's a good thing that you don't bleed much: that means you're strong. You're strong enough to face up to Henry." Dr. Tate smiled. "Have in mind that the two of us, you and I, don't get along for nothing. I know what you're going through, Dan, but I can only give you advice and encouragement."

The prospect of being stronger than Henry drastically cheered up Daniel. Thanks to the good doctor, Daniel was able to stand his ground against Henry. He showed Henry how strong he was and how he was not afraid of the young bully. That was until Henry mentioned Hazel.

Daniel couldn't help himself. That time, he was the one to make Henry bleed, he was the one who saw how strong Henry really was. Daniel felt a mix of disappointment and excitement when, after punching Henry in the nose, he saw blood flowing like water out of a fountain. Indeed, Daniel was stronger than Henry; and the blood, as it spread through the snow, a mesmerizing sight.

But Daniel never told Dr. Tate of his aggression against Henry. Despite not knowing what the doctor would say, Daniel had the constant feeling it wouldn't be good.

It's been almost twenty years since that.

The prisoners of Brennenburg, every time they are cut up, apparently make no attempts to bleed less; it's quite the spectacle. Anger takes hold of Daniel sometimes and he taunts them, yells at them and challenges them to become stronger than him. Their blood comes out with nothing to stem its flow; those people can't control it. They can't help being weaker than him.

And that's why Daniel revels in making them bleed, because the sight of crimson splashing against white has never been so beautiful.

A/N: Like I said, an M-rated thing of sorts; not that the game had its shortage of M-rated moments, XD. Again, it's not too long (my comebacks tend to be this short while I get back into the Amnesia groove).

Reviews are appreciated!^^