Prologue

A Chapter by Marissa Carter

December 16, 1957

The Belladonna Insane Asylum, the most feared and dangerous hospital in the state of Connecticut. Housing over 16,000 patients and employing over 100, today will be her final day with the staff and their patients. On the outside, Belladonna looks like any other building in the small town of Ashford. It stands three stories high, a window neatly centered in every room. The bricks are a dark red-brown color, chipping off at the corners here and there. However, the most noticeable, and hair-raising feature, is the double doors in the center of the building. They are dark grey, almost black, doors with eerie green slits for windows and normal silver poles for handles. But on the inside was something darker, something much more sinister than any horror movie could portray. Walking into the building, patients are scattered about, naked, screaming, and filthy. Their faces would be covered in dirt, blood, feces, bruises and scars. Their bodies were in worse condition. Slash marks from whippings mapped out across their stomachs, various superficial and deep cuts covered their shoulders, wrists and ankles, and broken bones were visible, almost tearing their way through flesh. However, as painful as it looked, the seemingly tortured patients did not seem to mind. It is believed that they had their own--inner demons to deal with. Observing the activity of the patients, one would see them talking to nothing, laughing uncontrollably, or screaming as loud as they could. In each presented scenario an emotion would cover their features, sometimes not matching the action that was taking place. The patients who would laugh uncontrollably had horror stricken expressions blanketing their faces. The ones who would scream had sick, menacing smiles stretched from ear to ear. Most horrifying though, were the ones who were talking to no one. Their expressions were concentrated, strained, and concerned, like they were actually engaged in a conversation with someone. The patient always engaged in this activity was 26 year-old Elizabeth Dennis. Each day she would sit in the same corner, facing the wall, talking and listening to no one. Outsiders who saw her do this came to believe the hospital was haunted and plagued by evil only Ms.Dennis could communicate with. This theory led to many patients and staff becoming too afraid to interact with Elizabeth, causing her to spiral into a state of deep depression. While in her depressive state, Elizabeth became more and more aggressive. She refused any treatment by staff, neglecting her medicine and personal hygiene. Staff or patients who tried to help her were greeted by the same violent outbursts, being punched, kicked, and bitten by Elizabeth. The thing that led to the closing of Belladonna, besides poor treatment of patients, was due to Elizabeth murdering three staff members and injuring fifteen patients. The coroners report was the same for each staff member. They were all missing their eyes and their throats were slashed right at the jugular. The ultimate cause of their deaths was loss of blood. The patients who were injured were the witnesses to Elizabeth's violent act. She stated that by hurting them enough, she could scare them into keeping quiet about the incident. When asked why she murdered those three staff members, Elizabeth smiled evilly and said,"I was told by them to portray each one's worst nightmare, then take away their sight, then their lives. One by one, each would slowly perish, traveling down to the underworld. They would then join their creator. The true almighty. Lucifer himself." Shortly after she said this, Elizabeth took her own life and Belladonna would be closed down for good, the only remaining signs of life left being the spirits who haunt the asylum's halls.

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© 2017 Marissa Carter

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Reviews

Dandelion

This is incredible writing. So chilling. You are very good at detail. I do not know what to offer as a suggestion. I will read on some more as I have time. These kinds of stories scare me but I'll keep reading!!! :)