BXBX NOVEL Chapter 55: Cold Air
The only source of light on the road was George's truck's headlights, casting a solitary beam that cut through the darkness, illuminating the lonely stretch of road ahead.
According to George, the lack of people around was normal.
The entire mountain was owned by the mental hospital, and its notorious reputation meant that no one in their right mind would choose to live in such close proximity to the institution.
"How about we play some music?" George suggested, his voice tinged with weariness from the long drive.
"Sure," Reign agreed with a nod.
George reached out and turned on the radio, filling the truck's cabin with the soothing melodies of a song.
After thirty minutes of driving, they finally reached the outer perimeter of the hospital.
The mental hospital loomed large in the darkness, its massive structure was very visible even in the dark.
The walls surrounding it rose to towering heights, casting a foreboding shadow over the surrounding landscape.
With its weathered look and imposing presence, it resembled more of a prison than a place of healing for the mind.
However, there was something unsettling about this place: there was no light whatsoever.
'This place looks straight out of a horror movie,' Reign mused to himself.
As a monster himself, he found no fear in the eerie surroundings; it was merely an observation.
"And where are the security guards?" he inquired, scanning the area for any signs of personnel.
He expected someone guarding the premises, but the guard box at the entrance was empty.
"Strange," George muttered to himself. "A place that houses dangerous criminals should always be heavily guarded."
CLICK!
Reign swung open the door of the truck, his eyes narrowing as he glanced back at George.
"Wait here and babysit your brother Wick," he quipped, a hint of sarcasm lacing his words.
"Enough with the dog jokes," George muttered, his tone tinged with irritation.
"Who says I'm joking ? Reign replied with a smirk
Then, he stepped out onto the cemented road, the sound of his boots crunching underfoot echoing in the still night air.
'Let see…' he walked along the edge of the walls, his gaze scanning the surroundings for an alternative entry point.
The walls of the facility rose high, nearly as tall as a two-story building, its metal construction indicating the severity of those housed within—the mentally ill seen as criminals by society.
But for Reign, such obstacles were mere inconveniences. He retraced his steps, gathering momentum, he propelled himself forward, muscles coiling like springs before launching into the air.
There, on top of the wall, Reign maneuvered his body past the prison wire to avoid his clothing being rip apart.
THUD!
After landing on the other side, he finally got a glimpse of the yard.
To his surprise, even within the compound, thin metal fences dotted the area, further emphasizing the stringent security measures in place.
However—
Reign furrowed his brow, placing his hands on his chin in contemplation. Despite his heightened senses, he couldn't detect any signs of people whatsoever.
The absence of any human presence puzzled him further.
To confirm his suspicions, Reign cautiously approached the building, his senses on high alert. He scanned the area, searching for any signs of human presence.
He reached the large door made of thin blue metal, which served as the entrance to the building.
Initially, he thought it was locked, but when he pressed it with his palm, it creaked open, revealing the dark corridor beyond.
Fortunately, his ability to see well in the dark meant that this was not an issue for him.
Inside, the air was stale and thick with dust.
The halls, once clean and orderly, were now cluttered with debris and broken furniture. Moonlight streamed through cracked windows, casting eerie shadows across the worn linoleum floors.
The walls were bare and peeling. Broken light fixtures hung precariously from the ceiling, their wires exposed and dangling.
In one room, Reign's gaze fell upon a familiar sight—a chair equipped with restraints, likely used for restraining mental patients during experimental procedures.
It was fortunate that his trauma had begun to heal; otherwise, encountering such a scene might have triggered a painful response.
'Shit this place has been abandoned,' he speculated, considering the lack of activity and the state of the whole building.
George's information was outdated, leading them to a place long forgotten by society.
'So this is a waste of time,' he sighed, disappointment evident in his voice.
He mentally noted to give George a piece of his mind once they returned, perhaps even a literal slap in the face for wasting his time.
'Wait!' Reign stopped abruptly in his tracks.
It was subtle, but he felt a presence—a lingering malice that seemed to permeate the air.
And just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished.
'What's down there?' he pondered to himself as his eyes fell upon a staircase leading downwards.
Curios, he approached cautiously and peered down the spiral stairs, noting how deep it was.
'There's a hint of malice, but it's not too strong. I think it's safe to go down,' he thought to himself, weighing the potential risks against the opportunity to gain more skill points.
With only one skill point acquired from Wick so far, he considered the possibility of encountering a more powerful demon that could offer greater rewards.
Feeling more sure of himself, he was confident he could handle whatever came his way—unless it was those three vampires.
He was ready to face any challenge, but if things got too dangerous, he could always run away.
STEP
STEP
STEP
His footsteps echoed as he descended further, nearing the bottom of the stairs. The malice he sensed grew stronger with each step, but it wasn't enough to make him feel afraid.
After reaching the bottom, he was greeted by a long hallway.
The walls here appeared much older than those above, their weathered appearance suggesting they had been standing for at least fifty years.
The smell of mold and dust was also strong, permeating the air with its musty odor as he walked further into the hallway.
DRIP
DRIP
DRIP
After walking for over three minutes, he heard the sound of water as he approached a corner.
Upon reaching it and turning, he was met with another door, but this one resembled a vault door rather than a standard entrance.
'This thing is very thick,' Reign muttered to himself as he knocked on the vault door.
The sound resonated with a deep, heavy thud, indicating its thickness—reminiscent of the same type of door used by banks. There was even a wheel-type mechanism to open it, reminiscent of a traditional vault.
'I don't know why a door like this is here, but I'm sure that the malice is coming from inside,' Reign stated with a more serious tone.
He knew that whatever was beyond the door would likely not be friendly at all.