The Asylum

The Asylum

By C.J. Gibb © 2018

All Rights Reserved

 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?" Mark asked his boyfriend Sean.

 

“Why wouldn't it be babe?" Sean replied looking over at Mark quickly then he turned back to look at the road ahead of him. 

 

“I don't, know it's just, you know what happened last time we checked out an abandoned building," he said

 

He was referring to when Sean fell and cut himself on something they didn't see. Even though they did go to the ER that night, the cut got infected and he had to be placed on antibiotics for a month.  Looking quickly over to Mark he said. "We will be careful this time, we have the headlamps and everything."

 

 They were driving on a two-lane road, they had stopped for gas and snacks about an hour before. They planned on staying in a motel once they were done exploring the abandoned asylum.  A few weeks back Sean was looking for somewhere to go check out during spring break.  The day before they had left their apartment near the college starting their spring break weekend.  They both had been into abandoned places and paranormal stuff since before they met during their freshman year in college.  

 

As Sean drove Mark looked at the map they were using to locate the site where the asylum was supposed to be.  Before they left for their trip they looked it up on google maps but they got a map of the area and marked on the map where the site was just in case there was no phone service. 

 

“Looks like it is really close by," Mark told Sean "So slow down and let's look for a turnoff."  Sean tapped the breaks to turn off the cruise control and let the car slow its self down.  Mark was peering out the windshield looking closely to find the turnoff.  When he saw the turn a few yards away he pointed and said "There on the right." 

 

Sean looked to the right and saw the turn. He slowed down and turned the SUV onto the dirt road that leads into the trees.  He drove for about 2 miles off the main road before they saw the huge dilapidated building.  As it came into view both of the young men got chills down their spines. 

 

Sean pulled up to the building and put the vehicle in park.  He turned to Mark and put his hand on Mark's then said

 

“Hey if you really don't want to do this we can leave right now.”

 

“No, its okay I just worry about something happening again I don't want either of us to get hurt, you know that," Mark replied nervously

 

“Yeah I do, I understand."   Sean continued   "Okay let's get our stuff ready."

 

They got out and headed to the back of the SUV then Mark opened up the back. Inside, there were backpacks with snacks, extra batteries for their headlamps and go pros with additional lighting, backup flashlights, glow sticks, water etc.  They each put on a backpack and go pro headgear. Sean grabbed the step ladder in case they needed it. Once they got everything ready Sean closed the back, clicked the alarm on the SUV and put the keys in his right front pocket. 

 

Long ago when they started exploring abandoned places they put rules in place in case anything ever happened.  Whoever drove kept the keys in their front pocket after the alarm was set on the vehicle.  Mark kept the first aid kit in his backpack since he was the one studying nursing. He also kept the snacks and extra water.  Sean kept the extra batteries for things and flashlights and cameras also additional memory cards.  They were not to separate under any circumstances.  If one had to pee the other stayed near them no matter what.

 

They walked away from the SUV after turning on the cameras. They walked around the building going around debris, over dead branches, things that collected there over the years. The air was sweet like any spring afternoon.  The plants were green and flowers bloomed. Chirping birds and the rustling of the trees could be heard. 

 

Once they found a safe place they could enter they placed the small step ladder they brought with them up against a window so they could safely climb in.  They then turned to each other hugged and kissed deeply. They did this every time they entered a place to explore, it was never made a rule they just did it without thinking about it. Mark stepped up the ladder peeked in to make sure it was safe. It was so he climbed in then Sean followed him in. 

 

The room they climbed in was quite small. 

 

“Looks like it used to be an office." Mark thought aloud. 

 

“Yeah, look at that poor desk," Sean replied.

 

It was an old metal desk with peeling Formica top. The top was a dark brown color so they assumed it was once a wood design.  They continued walking around the empty building. They explored some rooms, others they just peeked into then moved on. The smell inside was very moldy and dank unlike the fresh spring air outside. 

 

As they moved around the building they heard noises like creaking and groaning which they expected in an old empty building like this.  The walls were covered in peeling paint and green moss. But very little graffiti which surprised both boys, most old buildings like this were covered with graffiti in some way or another.  They took pictures with Sean's camera when they saw something they wanted to document beyond just with the go pros mounted on their heads.

 

At a  bout six o'clock they came across a huge room on the third floor. They walked around it and Sean took pictures of some of the beds and other things like a wheelchair. He had always been an amateur photographer so when he started college he started taking photography classes, art classes etc. When he saw something he thought would make a great subject he took his time found the right angle and lighting then snapped off a few shots. 

 

He took a few shots of the yard below then turned and saw Mark kneeling down looking at something. He quickly snapped a few pictures of his lover. 

 

“You're not taking pics of me again are you?"  Mark asked with pretend annoyance but not turning around.

 

“Of course I am, you know you're my favorite subject."  He replied smiling to himself. Mark just shook his head. Sean kept looking at the love of his life.  He loved Mark's bright blue eyes with his long black hair.  Mark didn't really like having long hair but he knew how much Sean loved it so he kept it long but never past his shoulders. 

 

Mark got up then carefully sat down on one of the old spring beds.  He checked his phone to see what time it was. Putting the phone away he said, "Hey hand me a battery and mem card will you please?"  

 

“Yeah, just a sec,” Sean said pulling off his backpack. At the same time, Mark took off his go pro and pulled out the memory card and battery.  Mark, in turn, watched his lover as he opened one of the flaps and pulled out a battery and a memory card. The memory card was in a clear case that was in a tiny Kraft coin envelope, he handed it to Mark. 

 

“Here you go, oh and here is a pen too.”

 

Mark took the tiny envelope, pen and battery he then replaced the battery then he took the case out of the envelope. He opened the case put the memory card in the camera. Once that was done Mark put the used memory card in the plastic case and the case in the envelope, then he wrote the time it was and his name on the envelope.  The whole time Mark was doing this Sean was doing the same thing. 

 

When Mark was done he handed the used memory card in the envelope, the pen and used battery over to Sean. Sean put Mark's in the largest pocket of the backpack then his own. 

 

After they got everything put away. They decided to take a break and eat. Mark took off his backpack opened it and started handing things to Sean that he knew was his.  Then Mark pulled out his own food.

 

They sat and talked while they ate.   “Are you glad we came in?" Sean asked.  

 

“Yeah I am, you know how I worry about shit like us getting hurt or something. Especially when we are in an area without cell service so far from a town.”  

 

“Yeah, but we know the next town down the road isn't all that far away. It's like what 10 miles?" 

 

“Uh, yea from the turn off at the highway it's 10 miles but we are an extra 2 miles from there in the middle of the woods. And that road isn't in the best of shape.”  

 

“Okay you're right as always," Sean replied. Sean knew Mark was right, he always is when it comes to important things such as these. They both look for places to go check out and the best ways to get to them. But it was always Mark that looked for the nearest town and the nearest hospital near the location they were going too. Mark also looked for the best places to stay and dine as well.

 

When they were done eating Mark gathered up the wrappers and anything that wasn't eaten and put it back in his backpack. He got up

then sat next to Sean on another bed. Sitting at Sean's left, Mark draped his right arm around Sean and laid his head on his shoulder. “You okay babe?”  Sean asked tenderly taking Mark's free hand. 

 

“Yeah, I'm fine just wanted to be near you."   Sean rested his head on Mark's and wrapped his left arm around Mark. They sat there quietly listening to the rain outside that had started coming down while they ate.

 

They both dozed off until a loud clap of thunder woke them with a start.  "The fuck was that?" asked Mark with a chill going down his spine. 

 

“Just thunder I'm sure," Sean replied offhandedly.    

 

“If we were at home, yeah, but here I don't know if it was actually thunder,"  Mark said feeling goosebumps all over his body.   

 

“Relax, it's been raining since we started eating and look,”  he pointed outside. “and now it's pouring.”  Sean noticed how dark it had gotten due to the dark clouds.

 

“Yeah I guess you're right about that," Mark said shyly, but deep down he didn't really think it was thunder.  What Mark didn't know was Sean wanted to believe it was thunder but deep down he had his doubts as well. 

 

“Come on let's attach the lights to the cameras and turn them on, with how cloudy it is out there we will definitely need more lighting."

Sean said standing up. 

 

After they got everything ready they started heading down again to explore places they had put off until after they had reached the third floor which was where they stopped and had their lunch.  With their go pros and lights on as well as flashlights with fresh batteries, they headed out of the large room to explore more. 

When they decided to eat it was a quarter to six, they dined for about thirty minutes. When Mark sat to cuddle his lover neither of them was tired at all but they dozed off anyway.  When they woke up it was nearly eight o'clock all though to them they were really only out for a few minutes. Much like when they were exploring it only seemed like an hour or so, in reality, three hours had passed.

 

They were descending the stairs after checking out more of the third floor when they heard the same noise that woke them. They looked at each other and knew that time it wasn't  thunder but something from inside the building and in unison they said: "That was not thunder."   Though they were not able to tell where it came from whether it was from the third floor or from one of the two below them. 

 

Of course, it scared the shit out of them but that was one of the reasons they came and did this kind of thing.  Continuing down the stairs they came to the door to the second floor, while on that floor, they heard it again twice one after the other. Sean took Marks hand, to either comfort his boyfriend or himself he wasn't sure.  Feeling Sean's hand touch his he jumped but realized what it was.  He clasped the hand tight but not tight enough to hurt the comforting hand. 

 

They stood there scared for a minute then they kept going. This time as they explored they started hearing other noises. Doors opening and closing or slamming shut, louder creaking than before but they continued on, taking more pictures as they went. They called out to whoever or whatever was there but when they did all went silent again.  The later in the evening it got the more they heard. Screams, pounding, thudding, and voices. They even thought they saw some movement as well.

 

On the first floor again they heard a loud scream all around them then immediately after a very loud unearthly voice scream "GET OUT!"   That was enough for them and they felt it was time to go. They looked for the glow sticks they left behind as they entered the building to show where they had come from but there were no glow sticks. In such panic to get out and away from the voice, they just looked for the first open window and jumped but only after looking to make sure they wouldn't land on anything that could harm them.

 

Safely outside again they ran around the building each nearly falling in the mud. Sean took off his backpack tossing it off to Mark. Sean dug in his right pocket for the keys but they weren't there he checked the rest of his pockets but no keys.

 

“Where the hell are the keys god damn it?” He yelled

 

“I don't know you're the driver you are supposed to have them," Mark yelled back then checked his pockets. He found them in his left front pocket.  "Here I have them" he shouted and clicked the alarm as they rounded the corner and saw the SUV. There he handed them to Sean while taking off his backpack, opening his door, he tossed his and Sean's backpack in the back seat then got in himself. Sean jumped into the driver's seat.

 

Once Sean got the SUV started he put it in reverse and floored the gas peeling out in the mud and turning the wheel until he was facing the way they came from the road.  He put it in drive stomped on the gas, again peeling out in the mud, Sean was afraid they may get stuck if he wasn't careful but the SUV shot away from the asylum and the voices inside.

 

Though in a panic to get away from the building Sean was able to stay on the slippery road, well what was left of the road that is.  They finally reached the paved road even though it seemed longer than the 2 miles it was before. Without looking either direction Sean turned right onto the highway heading in the same direction they were heading when they were looking for the turn to their destination.   

 

Once on the highway, Sean revved the engine up to 120 mph.  He just drove following the road until he looked down and saw how fast he was going. He let off the gas in fear of crashing due to the still wet road at that speed or getting pulled over and getting an expensive ticket. Once he slowed down he looked at the clock it was now 11:11 pm. 

 

“What the fuck?” he said and slowed way down. “What? What is it” Mark asked looking out the windshield then at Sean.  Sean pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. 

 

“Look what time it is," he said pointing at the digital clock on the dash.  

 

“Eleven o'clock that's not right," Mark said pulling out his phone. It had the same time as the clock in the car. "The hell is going on here, mine says the same time,"  Mark told Sean.

 

Then Sean checked the clock on his phone as well. "So does mine," Sean said with a scared tone. They looked at each other with fear from not understanding what was going on then Sean sped away wanting to be off this road as soon as possible. He would have sworn it had only gotten dark a half hour ago. 

 

Several minutes later they reached the town they planned on staying the night in. It didn't take long to find the motel where Mark had made the reservation at. They pulled under the overhang in front of the office. Sean put the SUV into park and turned off the engine then sat quietly.  Once they felt they had calmed down enough they got out and went in.

 

The office was nice and clean with places to sit if you needed to wait. No one was at the desk so Mark rang the bell, while they waited for the clerk to return Sean looked up at the wall behind the clerk's desk and saw a large print of a black and white photograph, it was the asylum. He nudged Mark and said "Look"  pointing at what he just saw. 

 

“What," Mark said then noticed where Sean was pointing. "Oh wow, what are the chances of this place having a pic it." 

 

“I know huh,”  Sean replied

 

“Hello young men, how can I help you?" Said an older gentleman as he walked from a back room. He was wearing a brown sweater vest over a plaid button-up shirt. His voice was very warm and pleasant.

 

“Oh uh, I have a reservation,"  Mark told the clerk, he sounded unsure of himself.

 

“Okay what is the name son?” he asked looking at the computer screen,  “Morgan, uh, Mark Morgan.”

 

“Aw yes, I have you right here Mr. Morgan. Hmm, let us see here. I have you down for 1 room with 2 queen beds, and I see you prepaid that's good." 

 

Mark just replied, "Yes that's right." 

 

After several minutes the clerk handed Mark his key card and thanked him for his business, then the two got in the SUV and drove to their room.

 

Room 117, Sean again parked the car, they grabbed their luggage and gear then headed into their room. Sean opened up his backpack then dumped out all of its contents out on one of the beds.  He sorted everything into piles, memory cards in the tiny Kraft coin envelopes, the batteries, the rest of the glow sticks and a few other things they had brought. 

 

Once he had everything sorted, he took out the batteries and memory cards out of the go pros. Then he took his laptop out if its case, sat it on the desk, then turned it on. He then collected the memory cards and started loading the contents to the laptop. 

 

While Sean did all this Mark emptied his backpack throwing away all the garbage. He took a few granola bars for himself then gave the rest to Sean. They both ate them quickly due to their hunger from not eating for several hours.  When Mark was done he took the toiletries out of their luggage including their toothbrushes and put them in the bathroom for later. When he was done he stripped down to his underwear then went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and pee.

 

Sean was looking over some of the pictures he and Mark took while he loaded more pictures and videos on from the memory cards.  Some pictures that he really liked he copied them into another folder.  As the videos loaded on the laptop Sean put them in a folder named with the timestamp and name of who's card it was.

 

Sean was still going over them when Mark came out of the bathroom and stood behind Sean looking at the screen. Mark bent down and wrapped his arms around Sean's neck. He kissed his cheek then rested his chin on Sean's head. Sean reached up and rubbed one of Mark's arms. 

 

“The pics look, great honey, how many hours of video do you think we got?"  Mark said.  

 

“Um, I don't really know, I should of course but with the whole time jump, we seemed to have done, a lot more than we should. I will know more when we get back home and sort it all out."  

 

Mark didn't say anything, he just let go of Sean and sat on a bed. Being reminded of the unexplained missing time made Mark uncomfortable. Sean turned around to look at Mark. He had his head down and was playing with his hands like he always does when something is bothering him. 

 

“Mark sweetie?” Sean said getting up and sitting next to Mark, he pulled him into a hug. “Mark honey, are you okay?”  Mark leaned into Sean and Sean held him tighter. 

 

“I, I, I've never been this scared after checking a place out. Something just isn't right and I don't know what it is, something aside from the whole time thing."  Mark said quietly almost in a whisper.

 

“I know how you feel, I really do but I'm sure everything is going to be okay,"  Sean said trying to convince not just Mark but himself as well.

 

After a few minutes of silence, Sean said "Listen, why don't we take a shower then get some sleep, it's been a hell of a long day,"  Mark just nodded his head.

 

Sean stood stripped down naked tossing his clothes in the same pile as Mark's. He took Mark by the hand and led him to the bathroom and closed the door. Mark got everything ready by putting things in the shower, things he put in the bathroom from their bags. Sean brushed his teeth while Mark got everything ready.

 

When Sean was done he and Mark got in the shower, Sean turning the water on to the right temperature.  They took turns washing each other's bodies and hair.  They were in no rush so they took their time enjoying this intimate moment together.  When they were all clean and in a better mood they dried each other and left the bathroom.

 

Mark crawled under the covers of one of the beds while Sean finished things up with his laptop which took a few minutes.  Done with the uploading of everything off the memory cards, Sean closed his laptop got up, turned off the light and joined Mark in bed. Mark was laying on his left side so mark spooned him pulling him close while wrapping his arms around him.  He kissed Mark's neck softly smelling the shampoo and body wash mixed with Mark's own scent. 

 

They drifted off to sleep having unpleasant dreams. Both had disturbing dreams of the asylum and other haunting and abandoned places.  At three thirty they both woke up with a start terrified. At that time Sean was laying on his back with Mark wrapping himself against Sean's body and resting his head on Sean's chest.  When they woke they held tight to each other.

 

“The fuck?" they said in unison.  After a moment Sean asked, "What happened, what scared you?"   

 

Mark stayed quiet for several seconds then he said “That voice, it was that god damn voice screaming GET OUT,”  Mark got chills saying it aloud and remembering hearing it hours before and just now in his dream. Sean also got chills because he heard the exact same thing, that's also what woke him. 

 

They laid there in each other's arms. Terrified of the bad dreams, the unearthly voice and everything else that had happened earlier.  They were both covered in goosebumps, the hair on the back of their necks sticking up.  It took a long time before the two finally settled down, then they fell back asleep. This time with pleasant dreams, the kind they usually have.

 

They didn't wake up again until an alarm woke them both.  It was from Sean's phone, he had set it for 9 am when they were staying at the other motel. He reached over grabbed his phone and turned off the alarm. 

 

“What time is it?”  Mark asked groggily while stretching. 

 

“It is nine o'clock,"  Sean said sleepily while rubbing Marks bareback. 

 

“Ugh, why does it feel like we only got an hours sleep?"   

 

“I don't know babe I don't know"  Sean replied mindlessly then he kissed the top of Mark's head.

 

Laying in bed they talked, slowly waking up. They had two hours before they had to check out so there was no rush.  Once they felt like they were awake enough they got up and started getting ready to go.

 

Sean brushed his teeth and emptied his full bladder while Mark got dressed. Mark put their dirty clothes in the same plastic bag as their other dirty clothes were in. Sean, all done in the bathroom came out with their toiletries and he put them in his suitcase.

 

Mark took his turn in the bathroom while Sean got dressed, then he preceded to pack up everything he left out on the other bed and on the desk.  He started up his computer and went over the folder of pictures he liked the most. After a few minutes, he closed his laptop up and put it away in its case. 

 

Taking the keys he grabbed his luggage and laptop then headed out the door but not before putting something in front of the door so it didn't lock him out.  Behind the SUV he clicked the alarm off then opened the back, he put everything in there not noticing the step ladder they had brought with them. He closed the back then headed back inside.

 

Mark was putting his toothbrush away when Sean walked in. "You about ready?"  Sean asked

 

“Uh yeah, let's get going I'm starving,"  Mark replied looking to see if he left anything.  He had his backpack, suitcase, and phone on the bed. 

 

“Okay let's make sure we have everything before we go, though." 

 

They looked around and checked the bathroom again. Having everything in their bags they headed out of their room to the SUV.

Mark opened up the back and put his stuff in with Sean's, he didn't notice the step ladder either.  Having everything in the back they got into the vehicle. Mark drove around to the office and parked.

 

They both got out and went into the office finding the same gentleman from the night before.  The man was wearing a dark red sweater vest over a lighter red button-up shirt.  

 

“Ready to check out are we?” asked the clerk. 

 

“Yep, we are,"   Mark replied

 

“Very good, let me see here," he said looking at the computer screen.  

 

They chit-chatted while the clerk checked them out. He thanked them for coming, then they started to leave.

 

“Oh by the way,” Mark said turning around.

 

“Yes?” the clerk said

 

“Um, what can you tell me about that building in the picture there behind you,"  Mark said pointing to the picture of the asylum.

 

“Oh, that old place? Well, let's see" the man paused trying to remember all he had learned about it. "It was built back in the 1920's I believe. Took about 5 years to build I think. They opened it's doors once they had everything ready. It closed down in the 70's if I remember correctly staying empty and falling apart. Then the county thought it to be too much of a hazard and had it torn down. I'd say it's been about a year now.  Yes, a year." 

 

“But we just" Mark tried to say but Sean grabbed his arm and whispered "Don't, just don't" then looking to the clerk  "Uh, thank so much sir you have been most helpful. Have a great day"  He hurried Mark out to the SUV. 

 

“But" Mark tried to say but again Sean cut him off "Mark, shut the fuck up and get in and drive, right now."  Mark obeyed his lover and got in the driver's seat as Sean got in the passenger seat.  "Drive, don't think just fucking drive Mark."

 

Putting the key in the ignition Mark started the engine, put the SUV in drive and drove off quickly.  They drove out of town their hunger forgotten.  Sean had never in all their time together spoken to Mark like he just had.  Mark was scared to death not because of the way Sean had spoken to him but because of what the clerk had said. 

 

When Mark drove away from the motel he headed the opposite way than they had come into town, that was not planned though. Nothing would make Mark drive down that road again. Sean didn't say anything about the direction Mark was heading. In fact, he was grateful they were headed the other way.

 

Mark pulled over to the side of the road near a field where a farmer was driving in this tractor. Nearly a half hour had passed since either of them had said a word to each other since they had left the motel.  Mark put the vehicle in park and turned off the engine. 

 

He started to cry as did Sean. At the same time, they leaned over and held onto each other. In each other's arms, the young men in their early 20's held onto each other tightly crying. Not bawling but close to it.  If it was possible they were more terrified at that moment than they were when they ran from the empty building or when they woke with a start in the dead of night. 

 

They couldn't explain what had happened.  They knew they were at the asylum, they remember it clearly, they have pictures and video.  Although they never actually watched any of the videos, they saw the pictures, both of them did. The clerk had no reason to make up the fact that the building they explored the night before had actually been torn down just a year earlier by order of the county officials. They never told the man where they were coming from or what brought them to the area in the first place.

 

After ten minutes Mark drove away while they held hands. They drove straight home. They took turns driving but they didn't stop at another hotel like they planned. They only stopped when they were hungry or needed bathroom breaks.

 

When they got back to their apartment not far from the college campus they unloaded the SUV. That was when they noticed the step ladder, the same one they remembered using to step through the window into the building but forgot about when they ran to get away from the terrifying building. That was when they  truly believed what the clerk at the motel had said. How could a step ladder that they had forgotten about end up in the back of the SUV?

 

Days passed before Sean went onto his laptop again. That was when he had finally gotten up the nerve to turn it on.  When he opened it up and looked for the pictures they were all there in the folders just as he left them.  He transferred everything to his external hard drive and left them there.  Shortly after he looked up the name of the asylum that was in the photograph in the office of the motel, it matched the name given with the one he found on the site. The site even had two pictures of the asylum.

 

One was just like the one at the motel office and the other one, looked just as they had seen it when they pulled up to it.  Sean clicked on both pictures to look at them carefully. After looking at them both for several minutes he saw the date on both pictures. The date that was on both pictures were dated one year before to the day that they arrived at the asylum. The demolition of the dilapidated building had started the day after the second picture was taken.