If only he would speak to her.
The others had all responded within a couple of days, spare for a few violent outbursts. The bruises on her wrists had turned a sickly yellow bracelet from Dawson's efforts to snap them. She knew why, and had begged the guards not to sedate him, but they ignored her pleads.
Every morning she would walk up the long winding road to the institution, pass through the wrought iron gates with a sense of determination. Today, she would think, today he'll talk to me. And every morning she would pass the other wards and see patients being taken to and from psych evaluations and toilet breaks. None of the other employees talked to her. Maybe they thought she was cursed or crazy, or maybe just plain weird. She would never find out.
After flashing her security pass to the armed guards stood outside of the formidable steel doors, she swept into Ward C and began her days work.
It started off with a friendly chat to everyone. She would begin with the cages closest to her, checking for any signs of self-harm or injury. The first couple of patients usually responded with a 'hullo' or a non-committal grunt.
As she moved further along the rows the lights dulled and the shadows thickened. The padlocks became heavier and more frequent and the bars thicker and closer together. Every step she took brought her closer to the cage crouching at the end of the corridor, bathed in a black sea of sticky shadows and ominous red aura.
No-one knew what resided in the cage. She was fairly sure that whatever it was, was male and human. She was less confident on the 'human' part, but that didn't stop her from approaching the cage with steeled nerves and a nervous smile every day.
But if only he would speak to her
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Today was no different. She walked up the path, her plum peacoat swinging in the soft autumnal breeze. Through the gates, up the steps and past the other wards. With a cheerful greeting to the guards outside the doors she presented her security pass and pushed open the doors. No new injuries, which uplifted her good mood and pushed her to approach the cage at the back of the room.
Soft fluttery footsteps could be heard echoing from the stone walls in Ward C, for she was the only one not bound to stone floor with shackles wrapped around her ankles. Gentle wisps of sound escaping from her trouser legs brushing against each other as she slowed her footsteps. Nervous energy thrummed through her veins, a bullet of adrenaline fired into her system as the cage loomed ever closer.
Her gentle footsteps slowed to a stop half a meter from the dark abyss that gaped as wide as a dragon's mouth. Her hand drifted through the air and with a surge of bravery overcoming her nerves and crashing down on the beaches of her heart, she grabbed one of the bars surrounding the creature before her, hidden by shadows.
All time stopped as her hand rested there. The only moving was her heart, a hummingbird trapped in a bone cage. A hand had come to lay on top of hers.
Her hazel eyes remained closed, the feel of rough callused skin on her smooth hand enough to fuel her bravery. Slowly the fingers curled around her wrist, pulling at the soft skin until a sharp clang reverberated around the ward, breaking her out of her reverie.
The hand was more desperate now, clawing at the air where her hand had once been, for she had retreated it in a flurry of emotions. Surprising herself, fear was not the dominant feeling, compassion now rested where the fear had once resided. The mere sight of a human was enough to bring the creature out of the bars it had locked around its heart and soul. It had been here for over 30 years now, and was so desperate for contact that its previous aversion to her had been thrown away.
The hand had stopped clawing now, and had slithered back to its master as if to report its findings. She could not let this opportunity pass, for this was the farthest she had ever gotten with it. Cautiously, she let her hand drift forward once more, testing the waters. Her fingertips had just brushed against the bars until it was snatched into the black of the cage.
Her face slammed against the bars as her body was pulled forward and consciousness floated away.
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Fortunately the cannibalistic rumours of the creature were false. She awoke a few minutes later to butterfly touches on her wrist causing her to tense. Slower than treacle, her head turned to her right to be confronted with something that had clearly once been human.
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Hey guys, and welcome to my new book! I am really excited to be writing this. I will be uploading probably around once every fortnight (one every two weeks) but now promises. I have only uploaded this extract as kind of a prologue but its also to see if anyone is interested in this story. If you like it, please please vote or even comment to let me know and of course message me if you have any questions or ideas for me. Of course anyone who would be willing to make a cover for me would literally make my year and if you want I can always edit your stories in return. Just a quick warning, this story will probably be quite graphic with gore and there will be emotional scenes. I will try to warn who beforehand in the chapter. Thanks for reading and sorry for the long authors note!
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Dark Shackles
HorrorIf only he would talk to her. No-one had seen the creature in the cage ever since he was put there. Penny is the Asylum's newest employee and is determined to bring the creature out of his shell. She knows he is male, but can only hope that he is hu...
