The Asylum

I

"Ten bucks for every hour we stay inside. Last one to get out gets all the money." A boy's voice echoed through the abandoned street.

"You're an idiot." A girl said, her voice monotonous, like she was bored and her friend made bets like this all the time. Actually, he did, and he always won those bets, and she had gotten used to him when he was like that.

"River, I'm hungry." Another girl complained. "Bambi, we just ate." The boy, River, replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Three people looked up at the tall, imposing building standing before them. The place was so run down, it seemed like it would collapse any time soon. The gates were rusted shut, and a chain with a lock was wrapped around the handle for extra security. Not like anyone would think to rob, or even enter the place except for ignorant teenagers who were looking for trouble.

They stood next to the sign.

Three feet tall, made of stone and lined with metal. It must have been a fine work of art before. But now it was so corroded; after years of neglect that one couldn't even make out the words that were once etched on the stone. Now, the only word that was even close to readable was,

"Asylum"

At least the people in the little town of Deacon Falls knew what it was. Many stories have of course been told of the Asylum. People claim they have seen ghosts in the halls of patients who had gone mad and died there; a girl in white standing by a window; the wails of a crazy old woman. None of these sightings were ever confirmed, but all the people needed were the stories. They never needed proof.

All they needed was a scary tale to tell their children to bring them home early. Of course, there were teenagers who were stupid or brave or bored enough to climb the tall gates, jump to the other side, bring alcohol and smoke pot inside.

The place was dirty, and dust blew in their face with every move. But once they're high, or drunk, they start seeing things, and they run out screaming, anyway.

The smallest girl in the group that was standing by the Asylum tugged at the sleeve of the tall, beefy guy next to her. The boy merely shook her off, "What?" he hissed, irritated. "Riv, it's going to rain soon." The girl said, still tugging at his sleeve. "So? What do you want me to do about it?" River snapped.

"Mom won't like it if we go home late and soaking wet."

"I thought your parents were in Baltimore." The other girl piped in, looking at River.

"They are. Bambi is just acting like a ten year old." River responded, still looking up at the Asylum, not bothering to look over at his companions as he spoke even though he knew—and felt—that their full attentions were on him.

His friend laughed, while the small one, Bambi, crossed her arms. "I'm going home." She said, although not moving from where she was.

"What are you still doing here, then?" River tore his eyes off the Asylum to give his sister an annoyed look.

"I don't know the way." She mumbled, to which the other girl laughed at. "It's not funny, Queenie!" Bambi said, turning to the girl who had put her hand on her mouth to stifle her laughter, failing miserably. "Oh, it's pretty funny." Queenie said.

"Okay! Fine! I'll just walk home. Alone. By myself." Bambi said, turning her back on the Asylum.

"That's what 'alone' is supposed to mean." River said, running a hand through his spiky hair in frustration, watching his sister's slowly retreating back. He sighed and followed after her as she kept walking without looking back at either him or Queenie.

"Hey! What about my money?" Queenie called, falling in step right behind River. He didn't even slow down to wait for her, "What do you mean your money? You're a girl! You can't stay in there longer than two minutes! You'll probably run out the first second you see a cockroach!" River teased.

"Oh, ha-ha. Funny, Mr. I-Can't-Even-Plug-In-An-Electric-Chord-Because-I'm-So-Afraid-Of-Being-Electrocuted. If I remember correctly, when you saw that big ass rat in the janitor's closet, you screamed like a b—"

"I drank too much coffee!" River interrupted Queenie, but she kept going.

"If I had ten dollars every time you use that excuse, Bill Gates won't have anything on me." The argument between River and Queenie went on, their voices overlapping so the words mixed together and became hard to understand.

Bambi kept quiet through it all. She had long given up trying to make them stop. Whenever she did, they both turn against her, and that was even worse. She had gotten used to her brother and his best friend fighting, or arguing with each other for the simplest reason.

In fact, it seemed like a necessity to keep a happy, healthy friendship between the two. River was too proud that he always wanted the last word, and Queenie was too hot-headed to calm down enough to say sorry. Eventually, they burn out and stop fighting; one of them always ended the fight one way or another.

"You know what? You know what?" Queenie raised her voice, punching River's arm to cut off whatever he was saying.

"No, what?" he said, punching her back.

"This won't work out. I need more than just twenty bucks on me. How about bringing in more people?" She suggested, rubbing the arm that River hit.

"No." He simply replied.

"Oh, everyone knows you're capable of shrieking like a little girl. There's nothing to be ashamed of." Queenie teased.

"I'm this close to pushing you down that cliff." River warned, to which Queenie only laughed at. "Chicken." She said, smirking.

"Pig." He retorted.

"Rabbit." She snapped back, thinking about how River always jumped at the slightest noise. He didn't seem to get it, though.

"Rabbit?" He repeated, confusion clear on his face.

"That's right! Rabbit!" She said, smugly while River's eyebrows knit together, trying to figure out her words.

"Fine! Bring your ridiculous friends, too!" He finally gave up. "Bye, Queenie." Bambi finally spoke, she raised her voice loud enough to be heard over the arguing. They had finally arrived at the front door of her and River's home, and she was pulling out the key to the door.

"Bye, kid." Queenie said, barely looking over at her, but raising her hand in goodbye and turning to leave without another word at River. Once the door was unlocked, Bambi opened it and River pushed past her to enter first. She came in after him and locked the door behind her.