Dr. Happy Presents A Night at Asylum 77 (Book 2)

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 Dr. Happy Presents:

A Night at Asylum 77

By Ray Bush

“Man, I can’t believe you talked us into this goofy shit,” Braxton told Jayden but both were smiling. “We should be out getting girls, instead we are four twenty eight year old single men and we are at a haunted house.”

“Tucker you’re down right?” Jayden asked, “I stayed sober and drove so I get to choose what we do. Ryan you’re down too, right?” They had agreed but that was before they split that bottle of whiskey, and this place was much more scary than they thought it was going to be. “See dude,” Jayden was again talking to Braxton, “They aren’t being chickens.” 

“But when you said haunted house I wasn’t expecting to come here,” this was Ryan and he was very concerned. “You didn’t tell us that we were coming to the asylum, Why would you think this was a good idea?” 

They all looked at the scene from the parking lot. Above the ticket sellers was an arch with a clown at its peak. That had to be Dr. Happy, but   Dr. Happy did not look very happy. His eyes were blood red matching the dreadlock ponytail growing out the top of his head. His face was painted white with a thick red lightning bolt painted over his left eye giving him a truly evil look. The eyes looked deep inside Ryan’s soul and he could feel Dr. Happy  in his mind searching his thoughts for Ryan’s fears. He was convinced that it was not just a sign, or maybe He was just losing his shit. 

“I looked this place up on the way here,” Ryan said nervously, “We all know what people say about the asylum but have you ever heard these Dr. Happy stories? He makes people disappear. Are you sure about this, bro?”

Jayden was sure, he was so sure that he paid the hundred bucks to get them all in. The asylum was a two story brick building built in the 1930’s but had been updated over time. Bars cover the many windows on the front of the building and Braxton guessed on the sides and back also. Jayden did know the rumors of this place and he guessed the new owners would prefer to keep them locked inside. The windows felt like eyes staring as deep as Dr. Happy’s pierced them, but not as deep as the mostly dark tunnel they were staring into. Ryan wondered how the lights were so damn dim, like a light covered in grime. Ryan had never before seen dim lights, it sounded weird just saying it.

The walkway that would normally have led to the front doors of the facility, gave way to a mostly dark tunnel. Escaping from this tunnel were fake cartoony ghost sounds like on shows from the eighties. 

“Holy shit dude,” Ryan said, he had fear in his voice that he in no way tried to hide. “I think I’m gonna wait in the car.” 

“No way man,” Jayden told his longtime friend, “It’s all for one and one for all right? I don’t think they will even let you go out that way. There might be a way to get back at the end of the tunnel but we aren’t letting you off that easy.”

“I wouldn’t have got so damn drunk if I knew we was coming here,” Tucker said. “This place is jacked up and we haven’t even stepped in the tunnel yet.” 

Braxton was the first to enter, Jayden followed, then Tucker, reluctantly Ryan entered the tunnel last. The tunnel was dark but not black. Ryan almost bumped into Tucker who was stopped at a fish tank mounted in the wall watching several fish swimming. It took Ryan a minute to realize that the fish didn’t have heads. Ryan’s mind could not register what his eyes were telling it. 

“How do they make these fish look headless?” Tucker asked, his face told Ryan that Tucker was now also having second thoughts. However, Jayden did spend a lot of money for the four to be here. “It has to be some kind of projector or mirrors or something right?” 

“Dude stop looking at the stupid fish,” this was Braxton, Ryan thought he could hear a hint of fear in his friend’s voice now. Was it because of the fish? Or is there something even worse ahead? “You guys gotta see this.”

“Great,” Ryan said and Tucker couldn’t tell if Ryan was talking to Tucker or himself. “This place sucks,” Ryan walked forward leaving Tucker to wonder who Ryan was talking to. 

When they reached Braxton, Jayden was nowhere to be found. “Look in this mirror,” Braxton told Ryan, “ I know you are nervous but this is pretty cool.” 

Ryan looked at Braxton with distrust and anxiety in his eyes. “Do you really expect me to believe you?” Ryan asked. “Where the hell is Jayden?”

“I don’t know, he took off ahead somewhere” Braxton answered and Ryan thought he was being honest. “We’ll find him. But for real, look in this mirror.” 

Ryan made no move to look in the mirror, he glanced at it with a side eye, it looked like a regular mirror. He didn’t see the eye contact between Braxton and Tucker, so he also missed the wink.

“I’ll go first,” Tucker offered, “I promise bro, if it’s too fucked up I’ll really tell you.” Ryan believed him. Tucker looked in silence for a minute then he smiled wide, “Holy shit dude, that’s pretty badass.”

“Are you being serious?” Ryan asked Tucker, honestly right now Ryan trusted none of his friends. “I’m already freaked out, don’t mess with me. I’ll get pissed.” Tucker only nodded. Ryan looked in the mirror when nothing happened he got closer. Still nothing happened so he got even closer. 

Jayden jumped towards Ryan from behind the mirror making Ryan stumble back into the wall behind him. An actor that was hiding in the shadows wrapped its arms around Ryan. Ryan screamed and struggled to break free from the bear hug. His friends were laughing hysterically, Ryan was furious. From the darkness Jayden emerged, he must have been behind a sheet or wall that was hard to see. 

Ryan broke free from the grip of the worker but before he could take a swing, which he completely intended to do, Braxton grabbed Ryan. “Wow dude take it easy,” Braxton said laughing but Ryan thought none of this was funny.”You can’t just be hittin people.”

“Don’t worry asshole,” Ryan was very pissed, he never would have thought he could be this angry with his long time friends. “I’m kick all your asses. That was a real dick move.” Ryan was done with this place, he would not go through the haunted house. He actually wanted to fuck all three of them up. “You guys need to leave me alone for a while, I am gonna start handing out ass whoopins like an old lady handing out Halloween candy.”

Ryan kept his head down, He was dumb to agree to come here. He really hated haunted houses, and his friends behind him. He missed the much too realistic skeletons in the room on the right. He also missed the giant man behind the glass that looked a little too much like a real life Frankenstien named Regor. There were women drenched in blood banging on the glass on the right towards the end of the tunnel. The plaque said their names were Miranda, Alyssa, and Elora. They looked very disturbed. Behind the glass at the end of the tunnel on the left was a hunched over old woman with what looked like her granddaughter. The little girl was wearing a hideous mask that looked like it could be made from human skin, the hair was for sure human. Ryan saw none of this, he refused to look. 

Ryan came to the end of the makeshift tunnel first, he had no concern for his friends. He immediately wished he would have turned back. He was greeted by a clown standing at least seven feet tall and as skinny as slenderman. The fluidity with which he moved was creepy as hell, Ryan just wanted to go home. Next to the clown was an equally impressive man just in a different way. He was much taller than Ryan, probably around six foot six, and as wide as a brick wall. He was dressed like a mob boss in a five thousand dollar suit. The clown was a painted orc with a red ponytail coming out of the top of his head. That had to be Dr.Happy. 

“Holy shit,” Jayden said from behind Ryan, “Who the hell is that guy?” Despite his length the clown had no trouble moving and now he bent awkwardly to stare into Ryan’s eyes.

Ryan stepped away from the lanky clown. “Don’t worry about Dr. Happy,” the suited man said. Ryan realized he wasn’t a man, he was younger than him and his friends. “He is harmless. Welcome to Asylum 77, we’re happy to have you here.”

Ryan wasted no time, “Is there a way for me to get back to the car?” Dr. Happy was staring Ryan right in his eyes. “I don’t need a refund or anything like that, I just want to wait in the car.”

“Dr. Happy,” the mafia man sounded irritated and on the verge of angry, “Give this kid a break. Look at his face, we need to ease him into it.” The wide man stepped between Ryan and Dr. Happy, “Why would you want to do that? This place isn’t scary, c’mon man how old are you? Twenty five.” His mocking tone was not lost on the group, Ryan would have said something but the kid literally looked like a mobster. 

“I’m sure you say that to everyone,” Ryan said, he was completely uncomfortable. “Please man I’m close to a panic attack.”

The big kid smiled, “Seriously? Don’t you think that’s pretty silly.” Dr. Happy was holding his stomach and bouncing in mock laughter, he looked like a mime. “I’m the manager of both this asylum and this event. How about this?” The kid sounded reasonable, “I’ll personally walk you through and if it gets too intense then I will shut shit down and get you out of here.” 

Ryan considered it for a long moment. How was this kid the manager of an asylum? Ryan was almost sure that a person would have to have some kind schooling for a job like that. He didn’t even know if asylum’s had managers? He never thought about it before but he guessed that they would. 

“That doesn’t make me feel better,” Ryan said, “I bet this guy is a manager of the event or the carnival or something.” Ryan jerked his head towards Dr. Happy, “and he is creepy as shit.” 

“For reals man,” Ryan had forgotten that Braxton was here until he spoke. He patted the giant kid on his rock hard shoulder. “You think anyone in there is going to mess with this tank.” 

Ryan did have to admit that was a good point but he heard the stories about this place. If he was a manager, did he have something to do with all the torture that went on in this place. “I still don’t know man, honestly you’re pretty damn scary too. No offense.”

“I like this guy,” the mob boss said smiling, “he’s like a scared little puppy. Trust me guy, you’ll be just fine. My name’s Tank, it’s good to meet you fellas.” Braxton wondered if he was just saying that because he was called tank moments ago. “Look guys, I am well aware of the stories about this place, but they’re not true.”

“If I was you that’s what I would say,” Ryan didn’t like this place, “We all know what goes on here.”

For a split second the big guy's face turned furious, Braxton barely caught it but the look was there. “Let me tell you the quick version of my story. I checked myself into this place at the age of sixteen and was here until I was nineteen. I’m only twenty now. I was a very angry kid on the verge of becoming extremely violent. It wasn’t quite a problem when I checked in here but it would have been within weeks or maybe even days. I know it sounds cliche but I am Tank and this place saved my life. It has also saved the lives of countless others.  

“See dude,” Jayden said and put his arm around Ryan, “Does Tank look like he would lie to you?” Ryan thought Tank would lie but didn’t want to insult a man of Tank’s size. Tank was not jacked in the gym sense of the word, he wasn’t particularly toned but he was big and as solid as a brick wall. “C’mon man, how often do you think this guy does private tours.”

“Can we skip the haunted house part and just take a private tour?” Tucker had always been fascinated with asylums, hospitals, and most abandoned places. “That would be cooler anyway. Would you do that Ryan?”

Tank’s face lit up with excitement, he looked like the kid he must have been before the violent thoughts took over. “What do you think Dr. Happy? Should we give them a private tour?’

“Does he have to come with us?” Ryan asked Tank, Dr. Happy mocked hurt feeling and even wiped fake tears away from his eyes. “He makes me very uncomfortable.”

“We can’t leave him behind,” Tucker said, “this guy is cool as hell. And this will be the story to brag about, that we walked through the asylum with Tank and Dr. Happy. There is nothing in there scarier than these two fuckin guys.”

“He’s right,” Tank said, “There’s nobody in here that is going to mess with you with us by your side.” Dr. Happy nodded in agreement, he was so damn creepy but Braxton thought it was the cool kind of creepy. “Whadya think Ryan? Just come in the lobby with us, if you don’t want to go any further we will take you back to your car. But if you want to have a memorable night then follow me.”

Tank held the door for Dr. Happy who duked awkwardly through the doorway. Ryan couldn’t decide if the man was playing a part or if he was really a weird tall skinny dude. 

Tucker entered after Dr. Happy followed by Braxton, Jayden stood in the threshold and looked back at Ryan. “You know if you don’t come you will regret it forever, you know I’m right.” The bad part is that Ryan knew Jayden was right, if he went back to the car would never forgive himself. Reluctantly, Ryan walked through the doorway and passed a smiling Tank into the lobby of the asylum.

The air was thick with tension, fear, and torment that could only come from years of suffering. The receptionist was a pretty young woman, probably around Tank’s age, dressed like a witch. Braxton smiled at her and hoped he looked cool and not the drunk fool he felt like. 

“What’s your name?” Braxton asked, making her smile. It brightened her face and showed the true beauty of this tormented soul. He hoped she was interested but her eyes were full of terror.            

“I’m Bryli,” she said, the scared look was multiplied by ten, Ryan thought it was the angry look on Tank’s face. She looked down at her desk and shuffled nervously through a stack of papers. 

“Sorry fellas,” Tank said, “She’s not supposed to break character. What if someone else came through the door and saw that?” Tank asked Bryli, “We have to keep things authentic.” Jayden thought Tank overreacted but he guessed he understood.

The lobby was decorated like a million offices in the world during October. The lights covers had been changed to green, giving the room a strange look. There were paper decorations, mostly pumpkins and ghosts, hanging all over the wall. But there were also some drawings, presumably drawn by the patients. Tucker wished he had more time to look at them, maybe he would make time to come back and have a look. Black and orange balloons covered the floor, probably also blown up by the inmates. There were two doors in this room, one was on the opposite wall from the group and the other was beside Bryli’s desk. Dr. Happy stood next to the door on the far wall, next to the door was a sign that said Patients and staff only. 

Dr. Happy opened the door and that turned out to be the final straw for Ryan. He was not going through this place. It sounded like someone was playing an old record of Halloween sounds. Wolves howling, chains jingling, whatever you call the sound a ghost makes, doors slamming and much more. People were screaming, but these didn’t sound like normal haunted house screams. These were screams from haunted minds. Some of those minds were probably demon infested. Ryan watched Dr. Happy watching Ryan, he felt there was something seriously wrong with Dr.Happy. Tank was scary but more in a smack you around if you get out of line scary. Dr.Happy Was something different, he seemed demented and directly from the pits of hell. The way he moved, the way his black eyes pierced in your soul, and the way that painted on smile made him look. He looked like the kind of clown that would cut your heart and eat it for breakfast. 

There was obviously a strobe light in the hallway somewhere, the blackness flashed blue a couple times every second. There was a distinct sound of a woman screaming from being tortured, and from the sounds it was the worst torture a woman could endure. There was a crazed man banging on a door and yelling insanely. It sounded like the door was going to give at any second, and when it did give out. What would that man do to everyone? Ryan looked at Tank and felt a little better, the man behind the door better be something ferocious if he planned on taking on Tank. From the hallway a crazed clown laughed crazily, the laugh sounded like Dr.Happy looked. Ryan began to shake and back towards the entrance.

 “Wow, Where you goin little fella?” Tank said and put his hand gently but firmly on Ryan’s back stopping his retreat. “I’m here with you, nothin gonna happen.”

“I, I, I, I don’t think I can do this,” Ryan’s shaking intensified, “Guys don’t make me go in there, I can’t go in there.”

Ryan saw the flash of anger on Tank’s face again but the fake smile replaced it quickly. “Are you sure?” Tank asked, “You’re gonna miss out. We’re gonna see some pretty cool shit.” Ryan shook his head and watched Tank with frightened eyes. This would be a test for the asylum, if they let Ryan leave then maybe the rumors were not true. Ryan hoped they were not true and he could go home. “Alright,” Tank said, he was disappointed, “you can’t go out that door. We don’t want to have people see you leaving, they might get the wrong idea. You can leave through that door, there is nothing back there. I will have someone come grab you and let you out. Bryli, will you get Nat down here and escort this man out please.” 

Ryan had never been more relieved in his life, maybe all the stories were just stories to scare people. “Thank you,” for the first time since they got here Ryan smiled. His friends tried to talk him out of leaving but they knew it would do no good. “Sorry I can’t take the tour with you, but it was very nice to meet you.”

“It was nice to meet you too,” Tank said, “Come back sometime during the day. I’ll still give you a private tour. It will just be without his gangly ass,” Tank jerked his head towards Dr. Happy but Tank was smiling. 

Ryan thanked him for the offer but didn’t tell Tank that he would never come back to this place again. Before they disappeared with the giant man and the crazed clown, Ryan told his friends he would meet them at the car. His heart filled with dread. After a moment the door by Bryli opened and a tall man came in. He was wearing a cloak and a seventy style hockey goalie mask painted with a yellow skull. 

“Hey buddy,” the man said cheerily, Ryan wondered how he was already here when Bryli never picked up the phone. “My name’s Nat, I’ll get you out of this place, I really don’t like haunted houses either.” Ryan followed him through the door.

Ryan walked next to Nat down a darkish hall towards what Ryan hoped was the exit. “I know you don’t want to walk through the asylum, but do you want to see some of the rooms through the surveillance cameras?” Nat asked and Ryan actually thought that sounded pretty interesting. “Do you smoke weed?” That also sounded interesting to Ryan. 

“If I say yes are you going to lock me up in one of these rooms?” Ryan was only half joking, he didn’t know what this asylum had the ability to do. 

“Man do I look like a cop?” Nat, for the first time, showed a bit of frustration. “We are in the psychiatry business not the law enforcement business. I have two joints in my office, you can have one of them, and we can watch your friends get the hell scared out of them.” Ryan thought this might be a good night afterall, he didn’t have to walk through the haunted house but he still got to watch his friends look like jackasses. 

“Are you going to keep wearing that mask?” Ryan was hopeful but also doubtful, “”It’s pretty creepy and will be worse after the joint. 

“Any other day I would buddy,” Nat answered “But you heard what Tank said to Bryli, we all have to stay in character. Could you imagine what he would do to me if he came in here and I was smoking weed with you and had my mask off?” Nat let that sink in, “None of us like to piss the big kid off, he gets fuckin terrifying. And Dr. Happy, screw that guy, I hate being anywhere near that son of a bitch.” Ryan couldn’t have agreed more, Dr. Happy was a freak.

“I’m glad someone else thinks so,” Ryan said, the more Nat talked the more comfortable Ryan felt. “I don’t know if he’s your friend or what, if so I’m sorry, but he really sucks.”

“Naw man,” Nat responded, “Like I said I don’t like being anywhere near him. His ass has been here all week creeping out our staff and he really scares the patients. He gets along well with Tank but the rest of us can’t wait for him to leave.” 

“Oh hell, I didn’t even think about that,” Ryan felt sorry for the people in the asylum dealing with real issues and trying to get better. Then you add in a seven foot lanky creepy damn clown, these poor lost souls. “There is no way I could have walked around with his ass for an hour or however long it takes to get through this place.”

Nat unlocked the door into a very nice office with an expensive looking desk and chairs. It looked like an office in a movie from a highrise building in New York or LA. Behind the desk was a large bookshelf full of books, of course. The office was lit by a small desk lamp and the light from the large screen playing several windows, each with a different view. There was a door on the right of the room which Ryan thought would be a private restroom, he was right. Ryan looked closer, the TV had nine windows, one showing Tank, Dr. Happy, and Ryan’s friends. 

“Have a seat,” Nat said, Ryan sat on one of the guest chairs. It was by far the most comfortable guest chair he had ever sat in. Nat walked around the desk to his chair and picked up a remote. Nat switched the view so the TV was now just his friends full screen. Ryan thought he saw some disturbing images before Nat switched the view. There was a woman peeling wallpaper off the wall, it made Ryan think of a story he heard in high school. There was a man in a room with smoking clearing out through the vents in the two corners of the room. “I’ll turn on the sound too so he can hear em scream.”

His friends were in a long hallway with white walls flashing blue with strobe light. The volume was full blast making Ryan flinch, Nat turned it down quickly. “My bad,” Nat said, then lit a joint and handed it to Ryan, “That one is just for you buddy.” Nat lit another for himself, “Just be careful, this is some put you in a coma for a week shit.”

Ryan laughed confidently, “I’ll be alright, I’m a daily smoker.” To prove his point Ryan took in a huge hit without coughing, held it in for a good thirty seconds, then blew the large cloud out slowly. Nat was right, the effects were immediate. Ryan’s vision blurred and darkness circled around the blur until he only saw a small dot. He blinked a few times until the world came back to him, “That’s some good shit.”

“I told you my friend,” these two were getting along better than Ryan got along with his three friends walking through the asylum. Ryan liked Nat ten thousand times more than either Dr. Happy or Tank.

Ryan took a second hit, but this one was much softer; he didn't want to over do it. He was comfortable with Nat but he still knew where he was, he would hate to pass out. A door exploded open from the right side of the hallway, everyone that didn’t work in the asylum jumped out of their skin. Everything went black and the Halloween record went quiet. Ryan blew out a puff of smoke while he watched the black screen intently. It sounded like someone fell hard to the floor. Tucker screamed. Ryan was so focused on the screen that he didn’t notice his legs going numb. When the lights came on it was not the strobe light, it was the white overhead lights. Tucker had something long and thin wrapped around his ankle, it was coming from the darkness of the room. 

“What the hell is that?” Ryan was panicking despite believing that this was all part of the show. The lights went back to the strobe setting and he watched Tucker being pulled into the room while he clawed at the floor and begged for help. The door slammed shut and Tucker’s three friends watched in stunned silence. 

“Don’t worry, that was just some of the very expensive special effects that you’ll see tonight,” Nat could easily tell that Ryan was freaked out. “We spared no expense when we planned this event. The owners want to clean up the asylum's reputation and this is a fun way to let people see what goes on in here. I’m sure you’ve heard the stories, or more accurately lies, about this place.” Nat looked very serious now, “They act like we’re monsters that live to torture innocent people, it’s disgusting and honestly hurtful.” Either the stories were lies or Nat should be acting in movies. He was truly convincing.

The door flew back open and Tucker ran out so fast that Tank had to stop him from crashing into the wall across from the door. The music still had not come back on, Tucker was breathing loudly. 

“What the shit was that?” Tucker asked and tried to push himself away from Tank. For just a second Tank held Tucker tight. Ryan thought it was a gentle show of force from the big kid. He let Tucker know that Tank didn’t have to let him go if he didn’t want to, there would be nothing Tucker could do. “Don’t tell me that shit wasn’t real or a costume or some bullshit like that. Where the hell did that thing come from?”

“It came from a company that makes high end props for movie studios,” Tank answered reasonably. His smile was so charming that Tucker almost believed him, “Don’t tell me you’re going to go all Ryan on us and puss out.”

Ryan was pissed, but was even more pissed when Jayden and Braxton laughed. “Yeah Tucker,” Braxton said, “Don’t be a Ryan.” Jayden laughed harder. 

“Damn buddy,” Nat said, Ryan thought the smile in his voice was meant to convey sympathy. Instead he sounded sinister. “What’s up with your friends? Are they always dickheads or what?”

“Fuck man,” Ryan was truly hurt, “We have been friends since we were kids.” Ryan looked at Nat’s eyes under the mask, then looked at the way Tank was looking at Tucker, finally the way Dr. Happy was fake laughing. The realization that him and his friends may be in trouble hit him like a wrecking ball. He set the joint that had burned out on Nat’s desk, “I think I want to go to the car now.’ Ryan tried to stand but his legs didn’t obey, “What’s wrong with my legs?”

“I don’t know whatcha mean buddy,” Ryan could hear the laugh hiding behind the words. “But I don’t think I should take you to the car. This weed is really strong and I don’t want to leave you by yourself. You’re already starting to trip man. Imagine being in the empty parking lot by yourself. You would freak out.”

“You can’t just keep me here,” Ryan’s mind was going in twelve directions at once, “What the hell was in that room.” Ryan ignored the screen, but he missed nothing. Tucker was having nearly identical conversation with Tank. “That was something fucked up like a tongue or a tentical or something.”

“The company we work with spends millions or billions designing machines and creatures to give studios an alternative to special effects,” Nat explained. “They really know what they’re doing, that shit looks real, right?”

“What’s wrong with my legs,” Ryan asked again, he really wanted to get out of this office and away from the TV screens. “I can’t stand up.”

“Seriously buddy, I think you just need to breathe,” Nat did sound concerned. “I smoke the strongest weed that there is, if you aren’t used to it, this shit will really mess with your head.” Nat still sounded friendly and reasonable, which did help to calm Ryan a little. “I work closely with the government so I’m able to get the shit that will knock your dick in the dirt.”

“Maybe,” Ryan said, disbelieving. He smoked since he was sixteen and never had any weed that made him feel even close to what he was feeling now. He was thinking that Nat laced his joint with something much stronger. “I’ve never had weed make me lose the ability to even stand up. And seriously, what the hell is in that room? What grabbed Tucker?”

Nat laughed, “C’mon man, you have the ability to stand up. I think you’re just trippin pretty hard right now. I really think you need to take some calming breaths and realize everything is just fine. You should enjoy this magical feeling, you may never smoke weed this good again.”

Ryan leaned over in his chair, he put his elbows on his knees and his palms in his eyes. “Relax man,” Ryan told himself “You are gonna be just fine, everything is gonna be alright.”

“That’s it buddy,” Nat said, Ryan didn’t see Tank and his friends move on while Tucker still questioned Tank. “I’ll get you through this, I can promise you that everything is gonna be just fine.”

Tank was still laughing, it was a deep laugh that was also full of pure joy. Tank was enjoying himself very much. “You should’ve seen your face,” Tank said, laughing. Dr. Happy was holding his stomach and hunched over while silently laughing. “Did you see that Dr.Happy? I seriously thought he was gonna cry.” Tank put his heavy arm around Tucker’s shoulder and was poking Tucker in the stomach. Tank and Tucker were two men that were awkwardly despising each other.

  “That’s pretty jacked up man,” Tucker’s eyes were wide and his pulse was pounding on the right side of his neck. “I don’t care what you say, that wasn’t a movie prop or whatever you said was in there. That was a monster plain and simple, there is nothing like that in anyone’s imagination. 

“What did you see,” Tank was fighting back against the laughter, he had to stop now or he may never. Maybe he wasn’t such a nice guy after all. Maybe Ryan was right and the whiskey and pride had clouded their judgment. 

“I think I want to go wait at the car with Ryan,” Tucker said. “ I really don’t think this was a good idea. I don’t know what we were thinking. I’ll wait for you guys there.” Tucker turned to Tank, and the group stopped again, “Is the exit this way?” He pointed in the direction they were heading. 

“You don’t want to go wandering around this place by yourself,” Tank became very serious. “We have some of the most unstable people in America, some are even from other countries. They know the stories too but we show them that they are untrue. I don’t think you realize what would happen if you walked in the wrong room. These thi…, people in here would tear you apart.” Ryan wondered what Tank was talking about.What things could they have locked up in here. 

“Was you gonna say things?” Tucker’s voice was full of  anger as well as terror. “What’s in here? The stories are true, aren’t they?”

The anger flashed across Tank’s face again, it was a little longer this time. “Extremely sick people,” Tank’s voice was as cold as a glacier. “I don’t think I need to tell you that extremely sick people can be very dangerous. Some of these people don’t know what’s happening until it’s too late. They would kill you before they even know what’s going on.

Dr. Happy bent down to look Tucker directly in his eyes, it made Tucker a little uncomfortable. “Weren’t your eyes black before? They are blood red now,” Tucker said pointing down the hall, “ I’m serious, Do I just follow that hall to the exit or what. I can’t imagine it would be too hard to get out of here.”

“That is the way out,” Tank answered, “But I really think you should listen to me. There is nothing good that will happen from you wandering around here alone. You are in a very dangerous place full of very dangerous people.”

Tucker stepped back from Dr.Happy so he could get a good look at Tank. Tank was looking back curiously. Tucker bolted down the hall expecting one or both of the men to chase him. Neither did. Tank watched with a smile and Dr. Happy bounced in his creepy silent laughter. Braxton was stunned as Jayden then they both laughed. 

“What the hell is wrong with your friends?” Tank asked, he was still staring at the spot where Tucker disappeared into the darkness. “Wasn’t it his damn idea to come on this private tour with us? He took off at the first door before we even showed you guys anything. That’s freakin crazy.” 

“I don’t know,” Braxton answered, “Tucker is normally alright. He’s done some pretty crazy shit with us. Ryan has always been a bit of a sissy.” Ryan couldn’t believe that his friends would talk about him like this. Jayden would of course stick up for him.

“Yeah,” Jayden added laughing, “That pussy has bitched out of so many different things. Do you remember the haunted house in high school when he pissed his pants.”

Ryan was furious, he asked Nat to relight his joint. This was a whole lot of information to process, he thought they were all close and would always have each other's back. Ryan hit it hard. His angry eyes were locked on the TV screen, and more accurately his two backstabbing friends. He wanted to hurt them. He wanted them to feel the pain he was feeling in this moment. 

Tucker ran nearly blind through the darkness that was flashing blue. It was hard to focus on anything with those damn lights strobing. There were faces periodically on both sides of the hallway, Tucker didn’t know if they were people or maybe manikins. None gave chase so he guessed it was the latter, they were most likely fake. Tucker hit a wall that forced him to turn left, then he hit a temporary wall that forced him to turn left again. A door opened in the center of the temp wall. Tucker upped his speed, there was no telling what madness would come out of that door. Then came the unmistakable sound of a chainsaw motor coming alive. Tucker always hated the chainsaw guy, it would be so easy for a murderer to get a job at a haunted house and leave the blade on the chainsaw. The scary part is that for a while people would think it was just part of the show. Then he could sneak out before anyone could identify him. 

Thankfully Tucker was fast and the chainsaw guy was very big and pretty slow. Tucker thought he was going to be just fine. As if in answer to his ease a chainsaw fired up from the darkness before him. Tucker slid to a stop on the thin carpet, like elementary school carpet. He looked right, something must have sensed him. It banged against the door hard enough that Tucker thought it would break out of the frame. Tucker looked to the left, next to that door was a placard with two names on it.Jenna and Jemma. Tucker thought two girls with names like that wouldn’t be very scary at all. 

 The room was dim but not to the point of darkness, but at least the lights weren’t flashing. His brain relaxed a little, then relaxed a little more when he saw the decor of the room. There were bunk beds on the wall opposite the door with pink bedspreads, pillows, and several different colored stuffed animals. The walls were lavender with clouds, rainbows, and unicorns painted sporadically. It looked like every little girl's dream room. He was at complete ease when he saw the little girls. They were probably seven or eight and the most beautiful little girls he had ever seen. Their skin was brown, probably of a Latin descent, and their faces were adorable. Tucker wondered what these innocent looking dark eyed girls could have possibly done to get locked up here. Tears formed in Tucker’s eyes.

He was overwhelmed with sadness thinking about what these girls must go through on a daily basis. Tucker was sure Tank was lying about the rumors being lies. Tucker now believed everyone that he ever heard, and was also sure that Tank was part of the problem. His heart was heavy and he wanted nothing more than to save these girls from the nightmares they must suffer. He meant to speak but before he could his mind filled with images of his grandma.

More specifically the last day before she passed onto the next world. Tucker was very close with his grandma so there was no way he would let her leave this world without him by her side. She was ninety six years old and the woman lived a good life full of joy and love. She was in the hospital for the last week but she requested home care so she could die in her own bed. Tucker was sitting next to her bed holding her hand while playing her favorite record, this was day three. Tucker was exhausted. He didn’t notice Jenna and Jemma smiling. The time between breaths was getting longer and longer, Tucker knew that the time was close. All of the good memories of his grandma began cycling through his mind. The time she came over because he didn’t like the babysitter. All the times he walked around the store shopping and carrying the heavy stuff. She always bought him something no matter how old he got. He was smiling but also crying at the same time. 

Grandma opened her eyes and took one deep breath, “I love you Tucker.” Her eyes closed, she breathed in and out ten more times, then moved on from this world.

Tucker came back to the moment, his sadness was now becoming painful. His neck was cramping, his legs were getting weak, and his stomach was gurgling wildly. His vision was blurred from the tears welling in his eyes then streaming down his cheeks. Through his blurred vision both of them began to resemble his little sister, sweet little Mia. She was only seven years old when they lost her and his whole life, Tucker took sole responsibility for the accident. He suffered the consequences of that day almost every day since.

Tucker was running back and forth around the lawn while his sister tried to tag him. He was two years older so the only time she caught him was when he let her, which he did often. Her laugh echoed like a beautiful song off every house in their neighborhood on that warm afternoon. They were playing tag just like they had done a thousand times before. Tucker faked left then went right and darted across the street without watching for cars. He never left the yard, he never understood why he did that day. He never expected her to follow. Their mom screamed as Mia ran towards the road and the truck closed in. Tucker now saw the truck also, he wished he looked before he crossed the street. Tucker was now screaming at Mia also, the girl paid no attention to him or their mom. The truck never had a chance to stop. Tucker blacked out from the shock of that immense trauma. When he came to, he was in a hospital bed and his baby sister had moved on to the afterlife. 

Tucker’s legs gave out and now the twin girls were laughing. They sounded echoey and musical like they were straight out of a horror movie. Tucker was laying on the floor in the fetal position balling his eyes out. His stomach was cramping painfully. He couldn’t even wipe his eyes because his arms hurt so bad that he couldn’t even move them. The girls walked over to the weeping Tucker and looked down on him still laughing. 

“What’s wrong with him?” Ryan asked Nat, he was very concerned for his long time friend. Tucker seemed to always have his back. 

“Jenna and Jemma are a vampire of sorts, or maybe soul sucker would be more accurate,” Nat answered. “They feed off the sadness of others. They project or send, I really don’t know the right word. Your friend is seeing what they want him to see.  Thankfully, I have no idea what images are in his head but you can bet it’s the saddest things your friend has dealt with in his lifetime. They will feed off him until he is an unrecognizable shell of the man you know.”

“Well fuckin stop them,” Ryan was angry now, he tried to stand but his legs still wouldn’t work. “Why are you letting them torture him?”

“Because I couldn’t care less about whatever his name is,” Nat answered. “However, Jenna and Jemma are in my care and my girls need to eat.”

“He’ll be alright,” Tank assured Braxton and Jayden, “That’s the way out. He’ll get some jump scares but eventually he’ll puss out with Ryan in the parking lot.” Just then a chainsaw came to life and Tank laughed, “Hopefully he’s not scared of the chainsaw guy, because there’s another one. Once he gets past them he will find the exit no problem.” Another chainsaw fired up, this one was further away. 

“I can’t remember if Tucker is,” Jayden answered, “We all know that Ryan’s goofy ass is. Of course that’s not saying much. He might as well be scared of a butterfly.”

“For reals,” Braxton added with a laugh, “His punkass is scared of his own shadow. I kinda think Tucker doesn’t like the chainsaw guy either.”

“That’s perfect,” Tank said, “on our way out we can stop at the security room so we can watch him on the cameras.” Tank was smiling as Dr. Happy stood towering over the group with his lanky self. “It won’t take us long to get through here. The good thing about haunted houses is people love scary stuff. If you can pack a lot of scary into a short amount of time people will pay big money.”

The volume of the soundtrack was lower and the lights were no longer strobing blue. It was a dim soft white light coming from about every third overhead light. The lights must have been connected to a dimmer switch, there was not very much light in the hallway. It was extremely creepy. Shadows darted across the hallway just inside the final sight line of the group. They looked like shadow people running around this side of the darkness, but Braxton guessed it was because of the low light. The chainsaws both shut down. 

“So are you guys sure you’re still cool to hang out with us?” Tank asked, Jayden thought Tank sounded like his feelings were truly hurt. “Your friends didn’t seem to like us very much.” Dr. Happy mimed wiping tears from his eyes. 

“Seriously man it’s not you,” Jayden comforted, “Ryan didn’t want to come here and apparently Tucker is almost as big of a dumbass as Ryan is. You’re one of the coolest dudes I’ve ever met,” Jayden reached out his hand and he and Tank shared a bro hug. Ryan wondered what the hell Jayden was talking about. Jayden was very charismatic, clearly Tank was as well so of course the two got along well. But how could he not see through the bullshit of how terrifying Tank really was.

“Well thank you my friend,” Tank looked genuinely touched, “Since you two are so chill I’m gonna take you to see someone very special to me. He was my second doctor in this place after my first one abandoned me.” Tank looked hurt for a split second. “My first doctor was good, but this second guy changed my life. I would not be the man you see without him.” Tank smiled but it was not a happy smile, Tank looked angry. 

“That would be cool,” Braxton said, “I’d like to see who’s responsible for creating this beast of a man.” Braxton patted Tank on his rock hard shoulder. Ryan couldn’t believe how much ass both his friends were kissing, one on each of Tank’s cheeks. 

“That was the HGH, steroids, testosterone, and a huge amount of meth,” Tank laughed and only Ryan could tell that he wasn’t joking, “I’m just fuckin with ya, well about the meth.” Tank looked at the camera in the top corner of the hall and gave the camera a wink. “They gave me all the good drugs while I was checked in, I have been high for about a year straight now. I can have someone bring you some weed or shrooms, even acid.”

“Is he serious?” Ryan asked Nat, “Were you a patient here too?” Ryan wondered how much of what he was told tonight was true and how much was bullshit. HGH, testosterone, steroids, meth, acid, and shrooms sounded like torture to Ryan. 

“Naw buddy,” Nat answered, it was crazy to Ryan how you could hear the smile hidden by the mask. “Well as far as I know he’s kidding, I don’t think doctors give people meth. Probably steroids in some cases, but only if it’s medically necessary.”

“I would hope not,” Ryan didn’t believe Nat for a second, this is the place from the stories. They were trying to clean up their image but that would only be a front, the torture would of course continue. “You gotta know the stories right? They are pretty wild, and they are starting to seem true, No offense.” 

“I think Tank likes you,” Nat said, “I’m pretty sure he just winked at you. He’s scary but he can be a bit of a joker when he wants to be.” Nat was completely avoiding the question. “I don’t think you saw it but I know how he is.”

“I saw it,” Ryan answered, “I just don’t think that guy is funny at all. How come none of you will answer us when we ask about the rumors? I think I need to go wait in the car, this place is really starting to get to me.”

“I’m telling you buddy it’s just the weed,” Nat was still smiling with his voice. Ryan had been right about the mask also, after smoking that joint the mask danced and squirmed. It was a nightmare. Ryan again tried to stand but as before his legs would not obey. It was like they had been cemented in place. “You just need to relax, plus the show is just getting started. You’ll miss out if you don’t stay for the doctor, him and Tank’s story is truly inspiring.”

“I really don’t want to stay here anymore,” Ryan said, making no effort to hide his fear. “Why can’t I stand up?”

“Well I’m gonna tell you what my friend,” Nat said, the smile was gone from his voice. “You’re not going anywhere and neither are your friends. I can’t believe we can still get people to come here. You knew the stories, your friends did too. Dr. Happy is all over social media in the creepypasta’s. All the truth is everywhere, but we put a halloween spin on this place and you idiots line up with handfuls of cash.” 

“Are you fuckin serious?” Ryan’s stomach felt like it was on the Jet Star roller coaster. 

Nat laughed hard, “Nah buddy I’m just fuckin with ya.” He laughed harder, “You really need to learn to calm down. If you’re with me you’re safe.” Nat looked at the screen, “They’re outside Lori’s room.” Nat picked up the remote and clicked a button. The view changed to a room with a single chair in the center occupied by a younger woman. At most twenty one. 

Lori’s behavior was very erratic, she was swiping at her hair like she was being swarmed by invisible bees. Her hair flipped with each swipe, at first Ryan thought it was because of Lori. Then he saw the transparent, not quite invisible, shapes floating around the young woman. Their shapes were non-distinct, but they did look to have a  human-ish shape. 

“What are those things?” Ryan asked, “Do you see that too? What the hell is that?”

“I don’t see what you’re talking about buddy,” Ryan didn’t understand how Nat could be such a happy person in this castle of despair. “Lori is bat shit crazy. She’s been here for four years and has been like that since she got here. She says there are demons chasing her around but none of us have ever seen anything.”

“I think you’re full of it,” Ryan said, frustrated by Nat’s fake innocence. “I can see them right now, there’s two of them flicking her hair and her shirt.”

“What are you talking about?” The smile was back in Nat’s voice, “She's been in there by herself for the last six months. We don’t even send doctors in there anymore, she gets too violent. They video chat with her now, her last doctor quit after she put claw gashes in his face. It was awful, she got his eye so it looked like he was crying blood. Someone dropped her off outside our doors with a note pinned to her shirt.” Ryan momentarily forgot about wanting to leave, Lori’s story seemed fascinating. “It said they found her in a basement in an abandoned house. Her boyfriend was upstairs stabbed to death, I think his best friend was also found dead, but don’t quote me on that. She was covered in blood, she hasn’t said a word for three years. 

Lori stood suddenly then ran to the corner of the room. Her run looked choppy, like the music on a scratched CD. Lori looked into the camera, she no longer looked young. She had the look of an old woman who suffered a thousand years torture and torment by Satan himself. The not so invisible things followed right behind her, Ryan was sure that Nat could see them also. Something yanked on her hair, her hands were nowhere near her head. It couldn’t have been Lori.

“See,” Ryan couldn’t believe what he was seeing, “I know you saw that shit. Are there really demons in there, I know you fuckin know man.” Ryan tried to stand again, he really wanted to help the girl. His legs still would not work. “Dude! What the hell is wrong with my damn legs?”

“C’mon buddy, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Nat was so nice that he was almost believable. Ryan now knew for sure that the remaining three would suffer the same fate as Tucker. This weed was so potent that he completely forgot about Tucker until just now, this stuff had to be laced with something. “You’re just trippin, it’s gettin pretty old man. You really need to  calm the hell down.” 

The girl ran to the diagonal corner and the camera followed, both moved very quickly. The things were just as fast if not faster than Lori. Something grabbed her and through her hard to the ground, her silence was the creepiest part. She didn’t even get the wind knocked out of her when she hit the floor. The other thing grabbed her hair and used it to pull her across the floor. She still didn’t cry out, the only sound was her skin squeaking on the tile floor. Something launched the chair so hard into the far corner. Two of the legs bent and the other two snapped off. 

“Dude,” Ryan was terrified, “What the fuck are those things? Don’t even try to say you didn’t see that shit.” 

“Ok,” Nat answered, "the stories are true and you will die here just like Tucker and whoever those other two jackasses are.”

“Stop with that,” Ryan was getting frustrated, “You already pulled that shit on me. I’m not falling for it again.”

“Haha whatever dude,” Nat was enjoying himself, “This weed gets to me too. I meant the stories are true about Lori. I see the demons, I have seen them since she got here. I even know their names, they are ancient demons from a place called Spirit Lake. Her and her friends brought them back with a Ouija board. Way to go man, we missed the walk to Drew’s room.” Nat clicked a button on the remote and the view switched.

Ryan looked at a room that looked like what he pictured a jail bedroom looking like. Instead of bunks there was a single bed, on the wall furthest from the door, with two men spooning. The big spoon was significantly bigger than the small spoon. There was a picnic style metal table in the center of the room, Ryan could see it was bolted to the floor. There was a tiny toilet in the corner with a sink where the toilet tank should have been. There is no way that was hygienic, it disgusted Ryan to think of drinking from that sink. Ryan took a closer look at the small spoon’s face, he was very roughed up. He had two black eyes and his lips were cut like they were extremely chapped. Ryan knew better, they were busted up from taking an ass whoopin by the big man for sure. This looked to be a Bubba situation. 

“This is Drew,” Tank said, “Well it’s Drew and his companion Deimos. Drew is an interesting case. His wife was brought here early one morning, he was mad and fought the cops so he got arrested. That’s where he met his new life partner Deimos. Drew faked a mental illness to try to save his wife from here. Which is weird that he would want to save her from getting the help she needs. Deimos lost it after Drew left so we brought them here and let them be together, Deimos seems much better.”

Deimos opened his left eye a slit like a snake waiting for the perfect second to strike. He immediately made direct eye contact with Braxton then kissed Drew softly on his ear. If it wasn’t for Drew looking like he was taking daily beatings they would have looked like a happy married couple. Drew’s eyes fluttered open and filled with terror. To his own surprise Braxton found himself starting to enjoy the perceived torture. Deimos pushed Drew hard off the bed making him slam awkwardly into the lunch table.

“It’s time to wake up sweetheart,” Deimos stood wearing only his boxers. “It looks like these young men would like us to put on a little show.” Deimos was covered in prison tattoos as well as prison scars. Drew stood and swung wildly at the big man, his efforts were pointless. Judging by Drew’s face and the bruises covering his naked body, he lost every fight in this cell. “I think this one may even want to join,” Surprisingly Braxton kinda did, this was a completely new feeling for him. 

“If you fellas wanna stay and watch you can,” Tank said, “But I’m going to move down the hall. Deimos and Drew are too much for me.”

The group walked away with Dr. Happy leading the way. ”C’mon guys,” Deimos called after them, “This shit was just about to get good.” There was a hard slap and Drew cried out, Braxton got butterflies in his stomach. “Don’t worry baby, I will still take care of you.” Deimos landed a couple very audible punches, Drew screamed in a mix of anger and pain. Deimos chuckled. 

Ryan had already turned his head away from the screen before Nat clicked the remote back to the hallway view. The sounds were awful. They turned left at the end of the corridor then there was a temporary wall forcing them to turn left again. A man burst through a door then brought his chainsaw to life with a tug of the cord. The man looked at Tank then Dr. Happy, he hit the kill switch. 

“Get the hell out of here idiot,” Jayden was glad he was not on the receiving end of Tank’s anger. “And get on the radio and tell your dumbass friend if he even looks out the door I’m gonna pull him through the peephole by his eyelashes.” 

The man ran back through the door in the temporary wall, Tank had these people completely under control. Tank did get a bit agitated at Jayden when he continued to ask to see Jenna and Jemma. 

“They're just babies,” Tank said, “Not literally, they are seven or eight but they are not gonna be on display for the likes of you. Out of all the thin….. people we have here, they’re the ones that break my heart into a million pieces.” Braxton believed Tank but Ryan knew that Tank didn’t want them to see Tucker. “They remind me of my friend's little sister,” Tank was laying it on thick, “She was only a single girl but she had enough crazy and anxiety for at least three adults.”

The group stopped at the next door, it looked just like all the others. Nat again clicked a button and the view switched to a room just like Lori’s. Except this one had a TV on the wall and a middle aged brunette staring at the screen horrified. Her hair was greasy and  her hospital gown looked worn to the end of its life. Just like Lori, this woman was sitting on the single chair, which was the only furniture in the room. Ryan thought she was lucky to at least get a TV until he looked and saw what was on it. Drew seemed to be trying to fight Deimos for dominance of the cell, he was losing very badly. 

“That’s Miranda,” Tank said, “Do you see what’s on her TV?” Braxton did, and found himself enjoying the violence, “This is Drew’s wife.”

“I’ve seen enough man,” Ryan was trying with all of his will to stand up, but still nothing was happening. “I need to get the hell out of here man, you’ve had your fun with me now just let me leave.”

Nat ignored Ryan, “That TV is hooked to a live feed camera in her husband and his new life partner’s room. We also pump the room full of meth smoke for about thirty minutes four times a day, she hasn’t slept for nine days.” Nat paused, “because that would be way too long.” Nat laughed hard, “That’s a joke from one of my favorite comedians of all time. Anyways, she doesn’t sleep and spends her life watching her husband get tortured by a maniac. The best part is that he wanted to save his wife so badly that he brought himself here without any work on our part.”

“So you really were telling the truth right?” Ryan was full of dread, but Nat said nothing. “You drugged me. So what do I have to do to get out of here?”

“Don’t put the cart ahead of your horse,” Nat answered, “But yes the stories are true. All I can tell you for sure is that two out of three of you will never leave this asylum again. There are two pluses for you, one is that I genuinely like you and that will give you some bonus points. Two is that if you have to do,” Nat paused for a breath, “let’s just say do something to friends, they really don’t seem like they give two shits about you. All they’ve done is say bad stuff about you.”
“They’re just tryin to be cool for Tank for whatever reason,” For the first time Ryan wanted to punch Nat. “We have been friends almost all of our lives.”

“Yeah,” Nat said, Ryan knew he was wearing a sarcastic smile under that mask, “It shows.”

“What did you do to my legs?” Ryan needed Nat to answer this question. “This is fucked up man. What are you going to do to me?”

“Stop sniveling,” Nat was irritated now, “Being weak is the quickest way to get yourself locked in one of these rooms. If you are gonna make it out of here you need to be strong. Right now my money is on Braxton. I’m hoping it’s you but you have been nothing but scared since the second you got here, no offense kid. I’m gonna give you something to give you an advantage, but it’s not gonna help you if you’re weak. Tank already doesn’t like you, you remind him of who he was all his life. Nothing shames him more than his weakness and nothing makes him more angry than seeing others be weak.”

The severity of the situation finally sunk into Ryan’s brain. “So what do I have to do to them?” Ryan sounded much weaker than he needed to be if he was to survive this night. “What do I have to do to get out of here?”

“We’ll go over that in just a minute, you overachiever,” Nat had his good cheer back. “If you are going to understand Tank, this is a moment that you’re gonna need to see. Doctor Taneli took Tank three levels below hell. Tank began as a frightened little boy named Arthur, but do not ever call him that, now he is that beautiful beast we see before us.”

Nat told Ryan about the snakes and spiders while Tank lay in his plexi-glass coffin. He told Ryan about Tank’s not-parents beating the hell out of Tank while Tank was coked and methed up. Nat told Him about the beatings Doctor Taneli and his stooges dished out to Tank on a daily basis. 

“How did he get out of here?” Ryan felt like he needed to know this if he were to escape torture himself. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life here?”

“I don’t blame you buddy,” Nat said, “I wouldn’t either. The only advice I can give you now is don’t be weak. Now watch.” Nat clicked a button, the view changed to a room with a bed and a metal picnic table. Just like Drew’s room. Ryan gasped in disgust when he saw the thing in the bed. He couldn’t believe that the thing on the screen was once a healthy person. 

“Open up,” Tank said probably to the camera then the automatic locks disengaged. “You guys stand back, he looks broken but trust me he is very dangerous.” The severity of the danger Jayden and his friends were in hit him like a left hook. Tonight was going to be the worst night of his life. “This is my doctor. Dr. Taneli, say hi to our new friends.” The thing grunted and moaned but said nothing coherent. Tank laughed aloud and for the hundredth time Dr. Happy mimed laughing. Braxton was not oblivious to what was going on, but he was embracing the fear. 

“What the hell happened to him?” Jayden asked nobody in particular, “He’s so pitiful.”

“He faced consequences of his evil actions,” Tank said as he walked towards the bed. The once man flinched, “You have no idea what this man and I have been through together. I won’t get into the details but he changed me.” Tank sounded distant, “He made me strong, he made me a fighter. Honestly he probably made me too strong. He made me too angry. Then my good friend Nat set me free and gave him to me as a present. Stand up maggot.”

The man stood on legs that looked too skinny to hold up his equally skinny body. His skin was grayish white and wrapped tight around his skinny muscles. He only had a few patches of thin wispy hair hanging around his face. Its black eyes were oversized giving him the look similar to the infamous Rake. They said this creature ran purely on animalistic instincts. Also that it knew that Tank was the alpha in this, and probably every, situation. The thing was taller than Braxton but not as tall as Tank. The eyes also had a predatory quality.

“What we do here is take weak things and make them strong,” Tank informed them. “I came here as a weak little boy named Arthur but now I stand before you as Tank. And in a fucked up way this sickly bastard gets a lot of the credit for my new life. Do you want to see what he can do?” Tank had a laugh hiding behind his voice but he fought it back, he looked so excited. 

Ryan was not surprised when Jayden shook his head but was surprised when Braxton said, “Hell yes I do. Wait, what do you mean?”

“I mean,” Tank looked at Jayden’s nervous face then Braxton’s excited one. “I mean, you know what. You guys are cool so I can tell you. No that sucks, I will show you.” Tank looked at the camera in the top corner of the room next to the door. “Nat, will you have the two jackholes with the chainsaws meet us in the gym? We’re going to have some fun tonight. The good old doc hasn’t had a good test in a while.” The thing was growling low in its throat, like an angry purr from a cougar. 

Nat picked up his phone then pressed three numbers, “Will do buddy,” Ryan heard it directly from Nat’s mouth and also from the TV. Tank gave the camera a thumbs up and a smile then walked to the closet. Braxton smiled and even waved at the creature while Jayden cowered behind him under the intense gaze of the monster. Nat hung up the phone then picked it back up to his ear. He dialed three more numbers, “Hey buddy, will you grab the other guy and meet Tank at the gym.” There was a muffled reply that Ryan couldn’t understand then Nat spoke again, “No, you won’t need them. Tank just wants to talk to you guys real quick.” Nat hung up the phone before the other had a chance to speak.

The doctor monster drooled like a psychotic wolf and growled deep like a motorcycle.”What’s gonna happen to those guys?” Ryan asked as he watched Tank loop a rope around the doctor’s neck. “What’s Tank gonna do to them?”

“Tank?” Nat questioned, “Tank isn’t going to do anything to anyone. The doctor maybe but not Tank. Honestly I think Tank really likes you guys, well at least he likes your friends. When he came here he was a nervous, friendless little boy so he had very limited human interaction. Now he is an intelligent, confident man. I think he’s really liking hanging out with people of similar age. I’ll bet he would love to have some friends.”

“I don’t know why you’re trying to make me feel sorry for that damn guy, it ain’t gonna work,” Ryan said, he thought he might be getting a tingle of feeling back in his left foot. “We all make our own choices, he had a shitty childhood, well he’s an adult now. He is a shitty person because he chooses to be a shitty person, he could extend a kindness to people that he never got in his life. Look what he did to that doctor, I can’t even imagine what y’all did to that poor guy to make him look like that. And even more, I don’t want to. The point is that Tank made a conscious decision to torture another human being, that someone that’s deserves a bullet, not pity.

“Zip your ass with that shit,” Nat was mad now and that was clear in his voice. “It’s easy to judge from your perfect little life where mom cooked dinner every night, your dad asking how school went because he just genuinely cared about you. Hell your worst punishment was a three minute timeout. Tank has been fist fighting a grown since he was eight years old. While his mom, the one woman in a person’s life that should always protect their child, watched and laughed like a crazy person. Sometimes she even joined the fun.”

“We all make our own choices,” Ryan repeated, “Him having a shitty life makes it even worse that he is a shitty person. He knows what it’s like to go through what he puts people through, that makes him an even shitter person. He has felt the loneliness and sadness that comes from being abused and he still chooses to do it. Ryan looked around the office making sure the two were still alone, “Fuck Tank.”

“Watch your mouth kid,” Nat’s voice had a threatening quality, like he was ready to pounce. “I’m not gonna let that shit slide again.” Ryan didn’t want to test Nat on this one, Nat had probably done some crazy shit in this place too. Besides how could Ryan defend himself, he was not even able to stand.

Tank walked in the asylum gymnasium behind Braxton and Jayden with his monster on his heels. Dr.  Happy ducked through the door last. The men and the monster stood in a circle like hippies passing a joint. To his dismay, the monster never broke eye contact with Jayden. 

“I can’t wait to hear what happened when Tucker ran into these guys,” Tank was laughing with Braxton and Dr. Happy while Jayden wished he was anywhere else in the world. “I’ll bet he shit his pants when the second one jumped out, nobody ever expects the second one.” Dr. Happy was behaving in a peculiar way, more peculiar than the average seven foot demon clown, he was not even pretending to laugh. Jayden hoped it didn’t mean something bad was going to happen. Tank asked, “Jayden, are you alright my man? You’re not looking so good.”

“Yeah man, not really,” Jayden answered, “But I’ll be good when I can get some fresh air. I don’t like the way this place smells.” He couldn’t put his finger on what the smell could be, Jayden just hated it. 

“After this we will get you out of here,” Tank lied, Jayden was hopeful but he knew Tank was lying. “Braxton really wants to see this. You don’t want to take that away from him, do you?”

“Are you really trying to comfort me?” Jayden was pretty fed up with everything, “You have a monster on a rope that won’t stop staring at me. I think we are past all the lies, you’re going to kill us.”

Tank laughed, “Let’s tell the truth now, people would like you to think I’m gonna kill you. If I wanted you killed then you would be long dead. You’re probably never gonna leave here again, but no I’m not going to kill you.” Ryan wondered what Jayden was thinking when he stepped aggressively towards Tank. 

Just then the door opened and two average looking men came in, one chubby one skinny. Both men were wearing blood stained coveralls, and both looked terrified. Jayden understood why, it must be terrible for these men to work here under the madness of this staff. Tank was forcing these men to answer to him and Dr. Happy, Ryan did not envy their position. Jayden broke for the door, but Tank was much quicker than he looked. Jayden lost his breath and stumbled back when he hit Tank’s wall like chest.

“Where you goin little buddy?” Tank asked as his monster snarled and growled at Jayden. Tank swatted the thing firmly but not painfully on the snout. “Knock that off, he’s not for you.” Tank removed the dirty rope from the thing's neck. For a monster it was very well behaved, it did not make a move towards anyone. “Nat door please,” the door swung shut then locked immediately. “But they are,” Tank pointed to the chainsaw guys and his wretch charged. 

  The men both screamed and tried to run, each tried to run in the opposite direction. It didn’t give them a chance to even take a step before the creature was on top of them. It’s long skinny arms were much stronger than they looked, each held one of the men in place. Tank snuck the rope around Jayden’s neck while he watched in horror. The wretch started with the face of the man on the left. Its mouth was abnormally large, like a snake that dislocated its jaw. He took off most of the man’s face in one bite. Only a screaming bloody skull was left, all the skin, the eyes, and nose was being chewed in the wretch’s mouth. The one on the right tried to wriggle free but the thing bit into his side. The bite was almost big enough to have come from a mountain lion. 

“What the fuck?” Ryan yelled. “Get them out of there, please dude get my friends away from that thing.” Ryan was begging Nat.

Nat was laughing along with Tank, Dr. Happy was as well but his was the usual silent movie laughter. “Trust me buddy, they have nothing to worry about from that thing. Tank has him very well trained. We’ve had plans for all of you since the first second we laid eyes on you. Actually what happened to Tucker was unplanned but I’m sure Jenna and Jemma are enjoying his visit. No buddy you’ll get to be reunited with your boys. We are going to see which of you are the strongest.”

Ryan barely heard Nat, he was mesmerized by the disgusting site. The monster was tearing the men apart like a lion on a zebra, the screams were dying out. Blood was pooling on the floor around the limp bodies. Braxton was laughing and clapping wildly like someone who’s mind had been gone for years. Ryan couldn’t believe the rapidity in which Braxton became deranged. Braxton was always calm and level headed, Ryan wondered if they were drugged somehow like he had been. 

“Personally I think Braxton is gonna take all of you out,” Nat said sadly, “But I still have high hopes for you buddy.” Nat opened his drawer and pulled out a syringe then walked around the desk and jammed the needle into Ryan’s leg.

Heat coursed through his veins all over his body until a strange energy filled his mind. He felt anger like he had never felt making all his muscles tighten until they felt as if they must tear. Ryan felt the urge to murder everyone on the planet, he screamed in anger. Hate for the world took over his thoughts. Ryan looked at the screen and rage exploded in his mind like a firework. The things Jayden and Braxton said replayed in his mind. The way Dr.Happy leaned down to look creepily into Ryan’s face. How Tank talked down to and mocked Ryan infront of his friends. It’s no wonder why his friends were comfortable talking about him like that. Tears of anger filled Ryan’s eyes. 

“Take me to them,” Ryan said and for the first time in a long time his legs worked when he stood up. “I’m gonna kill all those assholes.”

Nat had a laugh in his voice , “Woah buddy, take it easy. Just worry about your friends, if you try to get crazy with anyone else it will not go well for you. Whatever you do, leave Tank out of it, he is the most dangerous person I have ever been around. His strength is unmatched by anything we have created here.” Ryan said nothing as Nat walked to the door and opened it for Ryan. As Ryan walked out the door Nat said, “Seriously buddy, don’t try anything with Tank.” Ryan still said nothing as the two walked almost side by side down the hallway, Nat had a slight lead. 

Jayden tried to run but Tank yanked him to the ground using the rope Jayden didn’t realize was there. “I told you dickhead, you’re not going anywhere.” Tank bent down and wrapped his Frankenstien-like hand around Jayden’s skinny throat. He picked him up so Jayden was looking eye to eye with the giant young man. Jayden was clearly having trouble breathing, “Now just calm the hell down and enjoy the free show. This is way more scary than the haunted house you thought you were going to.”

Jayden looked to Braxton for help, Braxton was standing next to Dr. Happy and both were laughing hysterically. Dr. Happy had his arm around the much shorter Braxton. 

“Please,” Jayden begged weakly with eyes full of tears, “Tank please. Braxton help me.” Neither obeyed.

Braxton finally opened his mouth to speak but before he could the door flew open. Nat stepped through with Ryan on his heels. “Put him down ya big bastard. If you’re gonna fight someone it’s gonna be me.”

Tank laughed and Nat said, “Buddy do you remember what I told you?” Nat was worried about Ryan, “Tank put him down big fella, remember the plan.” 

Tank dropped Jayden who crashed to the floor in a heap, then unlooped the rope from Jayden’s neck. Tank never broke eye contact with Ryan, “I didn’t think I was gonna get to hurt anyone today, but apparently your balls just dropped. Guards,” Tank called to someone outside the door. Two suited men stepped in without a word, or even a sound. Tank threw the rope to them, “Take him back to his room.” He then looked at the creature, “Be gentle and go to your room.” The creature followed the suited men out of the gym. Jayden fought himself back to his feet and looked Tank in the chest. “You better watch it kid,” Tank said to the older man. Jayden looked up so he looked Tank in the eyes, “I’m the kinda trouble that you don’t want any part of.”

Nobody saw Dr. Happy pull the sharp hunting knife from the back of his pants and hand it to Braxton. Silently Braxton snuck up on Jayden and buried the knife in his back. Tank laughed hard when Jayden’s eyes bunged out of his head in surprise. That was the final straw for Ryan, he charged and tackled Braxton to the ground. All three friends hit the ground at the same time, one was dying. Braxton’s head made a dull thump when it hit the ground, again Braxton laughed. It was a lunatic laugh. 

“You’re dead you chicken shit little bastard,” Braxton snarled, Ryan was trying to dig his thumb into Braxton’s eye. “You better not fucker.” Braxton wrestled until he was on top of Ryan. 

“Get off me dick,” Ryan spat back, he wiggled out from under his long time friend. Rage was pulsing through Ryan’s veins, he screamed loudly and it echoed through the gym. All of Ryan’s senses were heightened, he felt strong and fast. Both men got back to their feet. 

“You’re dead fucker,” Braxton charged but Ryan was to quick. He side stepped then pushed Braxton to the wall. Braxton bounced off and fell hard to the floor. 

Ryan was standing next to Jayden’s lifeless body. “You think I’m scared of my own shadow,” Ryan was breathing deep and hard. “Why would you talk about me like that? We were supposed to be friends.”  Ryan pulled the knife from Jayden’s back then walked towards Braxton. Braxton was bleeding from his ear and having trouble getting to his feet. Ryan flipped the knife in his hand so he was holding the blade between his thumb and pointer finger. Braxton settled sitting with his back against the wall so he could look at Ryan with his crooked dizzy eyes. The two were roughly ten feet apart. “I’ll give you a chance, you know we have never thrown knives before. If I can stick it anywhere in your body then you have to sacrifice yourself. If I miss, then I will.” Ryan was lying, Braxton would die no matter what happened. 

Ryan didn’t wait for him to answer, Ryan flung the knife. It spun once, then twice, then a third time. The knife stabbed Braxton directly in his left eye. Ryan walked to his screaming friend, he pulled it out of his eye, then used it to cut Braxton’s throat slowly.

“Who’s the bitch now?” Ryan said then dropped the knife. He turned towards Tank slowly, “And you asshole, it’s your turn.”

“Really?” Tank questioned with a smile, “That’s what we’re doing. If I were you I ‘d just back off and enjoy the fact that you’re still alive.”

Ryan walked straight to Tank and bumped his chest into Tank’s stomach. Tank laughed again. Ryan tried to push Tank but wound up pushing himself backwards, Tank didn’t budge. 

“Now, now boys,” Nat was truly enjoying himself, “We’ll have none of that.” The two didn’t back away, Nat looked at Ryan then Tank. “I said knock it off,” Ryan was surprised by the sternness in Nat’s voice. “You two are going to be working very closely with each other.” Tank and Ryan were still locked in an intense staredown. “Tank,” Nat was very firm with the big man, “Please go wait in your office, I need to have a chat with our newest employee.”

Tank left and Nat looked at Ryan, “Holy shit, Sorry I doubted you buddy, you more than proved yourself. So what is it going to be, are you going to start your treatment with us or am I locking you in the room with Deimos.”

Ryan thought but not for long, “Show me to my room.”