Project S.T.A.T.I.C. Part 5: The Asylum

On the first floor of Murray’s asylum, Jake and Rebecca were still in the nurse’s lounge near the basement. The pair had searched the area for any clues or signs to figure out what was happening in this madhouse. Like many of the areas they’d been through thus far, they found the lounge to be in a state of disrepair and grime. It wasn’t anywhere near as filthy as the basement level they’d managed to escape, or even the kitchen they’d stumbled into before their trip downstairs. The appliances seemed to be in working order, and there were food items in the fridge that didn’t appear rotted and disregarded. They each agreed to take a moment to catch their breath before moving on.

Rebecca had taken several of the scattered and decrepit pieces of furniture and arranged them to block the door. She’d declined Jake’s offer to help in favor of exercising her telekinetic powers for a change. It was one of the few abilities that she’d managed to keep from her time as the Goth Goddess, but it was one that she hadn’t used much since returning to the land of the living. It felt good to use her more innate abilities without fear of being overtaken by the demonic force lurking in her soul. It also gave Jake the opportunity to search the room. She had never been above admitting that he was a better sleuth than herself.

While Rebecca was working to establish a blockade that would keep the guards and inmates out while also giving them a chance to quickly escape should things go south, Jake was searching the room. The only thing that had caught his attention had been an old, bubbleglass television that was sitting on the counter. The lounge, much like the majority of the hospital, was dated with the decor and some appliances, However, the television seemed to be older than the other pieces of furniture and appliances. There was a VCR that was attached to it with a tape sitting beside it. He’d seen it when they first entered the room, but he hadn’t put it into the VCR yet. 

He looked up at the camera in the corner that was locked on him and Rebecca. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that this was somehow deliberate. It was difficult to think that Murray could have planned and orchestrated everything, but the mad doctor was methodical and meticulous in everything she did. It might not have been meant specifically for him and Rebecca, but he was almost positive that this was meant for their group. Curiosity got the better of him despite the fact that every fiber of his being told him that the tape likely wouldn’t have to help on it. However, both of them needed some time to rest and regroup.

“Are you going to play the tape, or are we just going to stand here in awkward silence?” Rebecca asked, walking over and eyeing the tape in Jake’s hands.

“Yeah, sorry,” he shook his head, “I’m just lost in thought.”

“Is something the matter?” Rebecca asked.

“You mean besides us being stuck in an insane asylum full of murderous zombies, loyalist guards, and a sociopathic doctor?” Jake sighed, “No, nothing at all. Why would you think that?”

“There was a time when that sarcastic attitude would have earned you some discipline,” Rebecca closed her eyes, “It’s almost funny how much things can change when one loses their life and memories.”

“Hmph, are you sure that’s not just because we aren’t together?” he asked, stepping away from her and earning a frown from his former lover.

“Mm, so you do still have a spine,” Ashley mused from the corner, “I suppose I owe you an apology, my love.”

“Don’t start, Ash,” Jake shook his head.

“Why are you getting defensive?” Ashley asked, “I know how you feel about her, and yet you’re still trying to maintain some boundaries. All things considered, I count this as a win for us. Half of your heart may be all that’s in it, but that’s still progress all the same.”

Rebecca bit her tongue and looked away. There was still a part of her that wanted to lash out in defensive anger at Jake’s dismissive and almost hateful remark. However, she knew that lashing out would only push Jake further from her. There were still several things that eluded and evaded her with the way people socialized and carried on amongst themselves, but she was doing her best to learn day by day. Still, it did nothing to remove the sting from hearing someone she loved brush her aside like he was.

Jake glanced over his shoulder and sighed. “Oh for the love of…” Ashley groaned, “The hold this wicked witch has over you is beyond infuriating, Jake. Leave well enough alone, Jake, she doesn’t deserve kindness after everything that she’s done to us.”

“I’m sorry,” he shook his head.

“Or just ignore me as though I’m not here,” Ashley shook her head in frustration.

Jake ignored his other half and continued, “The longer we’re trapped here the more on edge I get. After that whole shit-show in the basement, it’s only getting worse. We’re no closer to finding the rest of our group, and we’ve been split up from Beth and Pam. That said, none of this is your fault.”

“Except the part where she charged in and tried to fight that gray-skinned freak,” Ashley scoffed, “You know, picking a fight with Anna’s guard dog.”

Again, Jake tried his best to ignore Ashley’s snide remarks and continue, “I owe you for back in the kitchens and the basement. I just wish that we weren’t back at square one with nothing to go on to get us out of this damn mess.”

Rebecca frowned and nodded. She could understand his frustrations, but she also knew there was more bothering him than what he was showing. It was the things left unsaid that stuck with him. She knew that he blamed himself for what had happened to Metropolis. He might not have said it aloud to her, but he’d always had a tendency to carry the weight and burdens of his beloved city deep in his heart. It was his love for his home, the passion he held for it, that she found so captivating with him. It was one of the many things that she adored about Jake. However, it could also be one of the more frustrating aspects of the man he was.

“Then play the tape, Jake,” she finally said, nodding at the tape in his hand, “Maybe it’s nothing, but maybe it will give us some insight into where the others might be. Either way, it can fill the void of silence that is yawning and dragging us down.”

Jake couldn’t help himself from smirking at her comment. “I guess that’s a fair point,” he shrugged and put the tape into the VCR, “Let’s see what kind of horror show Murray has for us…”

The screen flickered as the old, archaic piece of tech hummed and read the tape. A series of static lines drifted down over the screen before an image came into focus. The image on screen was a moving one. Somebody was carrying the camera in a haphazard manner down a nearby hallway. Whoever it was must not have realized that they’d switched it on. Their walk came to a stop in front of a thick, glass door. “Open the door,” Murray’s voice ordered from behind the camera, “Let’s have a look at today’s subject.”

“Yes, Doctor,” a gruff male voice replied.

A man with a defined hunch in his shoulders walked into frame and swiped a card through a reader outside of the door. The fogged glass and the uncaring camera angle made it difficult for him to see who was behind the door, but he caught sight of mangled and matted auburn locks of hair and bronze skin. The woman’s head was hanging down, but Jake recognized the shape of her jaw, the color of her skin, and the toned, albeit slimmer, arms. It was Kaitlyn, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind. She looked like she was exhausted beyond any coherent measure that Jake could think of. He could see a number of track marks, injection sites, on her left arm. He guessed that they’d been sedating her repeatedly. That was one thing that he could certainly believe given how volatile Kait could be.

“Carry her, Hans,” Dr. Murray commanded, “Try not to lag behind this.”

“Yes, Doctor,” the man responded in an almost automatic tone.

Once again the camera moved in a manner that was haphazard at best. Whoever was carrying the camera was doing their best to focus on keeping pace with Dr. Murray. Jake could see her high-heeled shoes clicking along the tile floor ahead of the camera person, Kaitlyn, and Hans. The walk didn’t last long, but Jake tried to take note of everything he could. It was difficult to see because of the way the camera was being held, but he noted the different shades of color on the floors. Black and white alternating diamond patterns made up the floor. There were gurneys, wheelchairs, and IV stands that were scattered around outside of various rooms, but that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. The windows he saw had bars on them, but he noted that he couldn’t see the ground from the brief seconds that the camera person flashed to the camera. His best guess was that they were on the third floor.

The sound of a squeaky, heavy door opening could be heard off screen. The area changed as the camera panned around. Jake took note of a few things in the seconds before the picture became clear once more. There was a sign on the opposing wall with a couple of figures on it. He couldn’t make out the writing, but he made a note of the still image and orange and white colors on the sign. The room they’d entered came into focus. 

One of the first things that he noticed was the color of the floor and walls. The floor was a dusty gray and there were clear stains of dried blood and other fluids on the ground. There was a large steel table in the center with leather restraints on it, and an IV stand resting beside it with a bag of fluid dangling from it. A tray with several tools and syringes on it was beside the operating table. There were cabinets that were locked and various jars on the counters in the distance. What really caught his eye was a television monitor sitting off in the corner. 

“On the table, Hans,” Dr. Murray commanded, “And make sure you secure her this time. Ms. Kaitlyn may not be the conqueror that she once was, but I would rather not have to sew you up a second time.”

“Yes, Doctor,” Hans replied as he practically threw Kaitlyn’s body onto the table.

Jake felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as he watched Kaitlyn’s listless body practically flop onto the table. The woman that he’d fought with and against time and again seemed almost entirely lifeless. She never tried to break free, to resist, or even curse as Hans made his rounds and fastened the straps to her wrists and ankles. It was completely unlike the woman that he knew. It was a testament to the effect that Murray could have on people regardless of how strong they were physically or mentally.

“Hold the camera steady, Sandy,” Murray said as she came on screen, “I want to make sure that we preserve this for posterity. Now, how are we feeling today, Kaitlyn?”

The question was moot. It was clear by more than just the tone of Murray’s voice. Kaitlyn couldn’t be bothered to respond. At least that was what Jake hoped. In the back of his mind, he was worried that she couldn’t respond. There was no way of knowing how long she’d been here at this point in the video. Her muscles weren’t anywhere near as defined as they normally were, but he could still see some in her upper arms and what little bits of her legs he could see hanging out of her filthy gown. The most that Kaitlyn seemed able to muster was a weak shake of her head from side to side.

“Still not feeling talkative, hmm?” Murray asked with a sadistic grin, “That’s such a shame. Although, this is yet another example of how fascinating the human mind can be. When you first arrived here, I remember how you would hurl insults and threats at every single chance you got. You and that overweight vermin Sally were so quick to run your mouths while that other one was so quiet and shy. However, now it seems that the roles have been reversed. I find myself having to sedate her more regularly than I do you or that walking dumptruck.”

“A-Addy,” Kaitlyn faintly whispered.

“Yes, Adelaide,” Murray said, rubbing the back of her hand across Kaitlyn’s cheek, “The girl has a fire inside of her that rivals your own. You left quite the mark on her from the way she carries on. I’d have thought that she’d be the first to give in, but it seems that the longer she’s here the more spiteful she becomes. I’d have cut out her tongue to quiet her down weeks ago if it weren’t so entertaining. There’s not much that I find more amusing than watching my pets cling to what they believe to be hope. I find it truly fascinating to see what people cling to in times of stress and strife.”

“Where…where are they?” Kaitlyn asked in a weak voice that sounded like a shell of her usual self.

“In their rooms, safe and sound,” Murray replied, pulling away and reaching over to grab one of the syringes beside the table, “Your little friends should be sleeping after their last treatments. Tell me something, Kaitlyn, what is it that you fear, hmm?”

Dr. Murray lifted one of the syringes filled with a green liquid in it. Jake’s frown became more pronounced as he watched his former enemy turned friend suddenly begin to fight against the restraints and straps holding her in place. “No, no, no, no!” Kaitlyn cried in a futile attempt to stop the psycho masquerading as a doctor, “Please, no, not again!”

“Ah, ah, ah, that’s enough,” Murray chuckled and inched the needle closer to Kaitlyn’s neck, “Hans, hold her head. My dear, Kaitlyn, I simply want to know what you see. The world needs to know, and the sooner you tell me, the sooner we can move on to the next phase of your treatment. Now, hold still or else I might miss again.”

Jake watched in disgust as that hulking, hunchback grabbed the sides of Kaitlyn’s head and held her in place. He couldn't remember ever seeing the famed conqueror tear up and cry, yet that was exactly what was happening on screen. It was absolutely heartwrenching and shocking to see, but more than that it was infuriating because he knew there was nothing he could do to stop whatever was happening. The needle broke through the skin on her neck and he could see her body begin to seize up and writhe in response to whatever was in that syringe. 

“Turn it off,” Ashley shook her head, “There’s nothing useful on this, Jake.”

Jake didn’t verbally respond to his other half. Instead, Jake wordlessly reached up to switch the television off. “Don’t,” Rebecca stopped him with a single, pleading word, “Turn away if you have to, but do not turn it off, Jake.”

“You want to watch this?” Jake asked, gesturing to the screen as Kaitlyn began bucking and thrashing in absolute terror and shock, “What is this to you? We should get moving. There’s nothing on here that we need to see.”

Rebecca shook her head, “That is not true. No, this is not something that I want to see, but I do not believe there is nothing on the tape. Turn the sound off and watch. What is that off to the side? That thing near Kaitlyn?”

Jake frowned and shook his head. He didn’t like having to watch more of whatever sick documentary Murray had left for them, but Rebecca was right that there could be something useful hidden beneath the torture. As sick as it made him to watch, he forced himself to look. However, he had no problem muting the television. The less he had to hear Murray’s depraved voice, or Kaitlyn’s panicked screams, the better he’d feel. He focused on what Rebecca had pointed out. There was some type of centrifuge or something beside the operating table and near the IV stand.

Jake could see Murray’s lips moving and watched her point at Hans with another order. The safe bet was that she was mocking Kaitlyn and ordering her lackeys around. Hans circled around Kaitlyn and grabbed the end of the IV. He held her in place with one hand and roughly jammed the needle into her forearm. The man was either surprisingly skilled, or he was one lucky brute. Whatever the case, Hans stepped aside and flipped a switch on the IV stand. Jake watched as the hose leading from her arm started to fill with her blood. 

“What is she doing?” Ashley asked, appearing beside Jake and suddenly interested in what was happening.

“They’re drawing blood,” Jake frowned, watching as the bag dangling from the stand started to fill, “Given what we’ve seen, what she said, and how Kait is reacting, it’s a safe bet that it was an injection of Courtney’s toxins. The question is why.”

“Do you think this is more than just sadism?” Rebecca asked, “A woman like that is difficult to read; she is a mix of calculating and cruel.”

“That’s an accurate understatement,” Jake shook his head, “But yeah, I don’t think this is just a tape meant to shock and scare. That’s just an added benefit. She’s a sick woman, but she wouldn’t record this just to relive a moment she’s clearly done multiple times.”

The sound was still off on the television, but the images on the screen suddenly shifted. Kaitlyn’s panicked state turned to a wild frenzy as the IV bag continued to fill. Jake was still trying to piece together what the point of the video and this experiment was when Kaitlyn suddenly snapped the restraints holding her down. Her arms were the first to be freed. She reached down in a terror-induced rage and ripped the straps off of her ankles. She swung her legs over the edge of the table and shot up in a fear-fueled state of flight. It confirmed Jake’s suspicion that Murray was using Courtney’s toxins. If it were anything else, he was sure that Kaitlyn would have tried to fight first and escape second. However, her prerogative seemed to be making towards the door.

Kaitlyn shoved past Hans who tried to stop her. She threw a wild punch at his jaw that knocked him off his feet. It was sloppy compared to the carefully calculated fighter that Jake knew from years past, but her strength was still there. Jake flipped the sound back onto the television as Kaitlyn tried to barrel her way past the orderlies and Murray. The sounds of crashing, clattering, and disjointed shouting could suddenly filled the room. The camera panned around and tried to focus on what was happening between Kaitlyn and the rest of the staff.

“Must I do everything myself?” Murray’s exasperated voice asked, “Honestly, it is a wonder that any of you can find your shoes and tie them without me.”

“No, get away from me!” Kaitlyn screamed as she tried to make it to the door.

Whoever was operating the camera was keeping the lens centered on Kaitlyn as best they could. Jake heard something that sounded like a silenced pistol in the distance. He almost thought that it was something or someone in the distance causing it, but then he saw a needle imbed itself in Kaitlyn’s right shoulder as she approached the door. Her panicked and terror-stricken struggles and escape attempt quickly began to fizzle out as whatever was in the syringe entered her system. She had made it to the door just before she started to wobble and fell forward with an audible crash.

“Kaitlyn, sweet, Kaitlyn,” Murray said as she walked on screen carrying an unusual looking handgun, “Just once I’d like for us to have a session where I can observe your behaviors while you're awake. That cow Sally, and that little spitfire Adelaide, have both allowed me the chance to study them, yet you continue to elude me. I suppose that we’ll just have to try again another day. Hans, grab her and hook her up to the scanner. We’ll finish drawing another sample for Ms. Eva’s pet project before we conduct another brain scan. Such a shame, Kaitlyn, I do so often wonder what causes a woman as supposedly mighty as yourself to act with such blatant, pathetic, cowardice.”

The remaining moments of the video consisted of the hunch-back brute doing as he was told and Dr. Murray walking off screen once again. The camera feed went dark shortly thereafter, and Jake and Rebecca were left standing and staring at a blank screen. “I-I am sorry,” Rebecca shook her head, “I thought that we might glean something useful from that, but-”

“It wasn’t a total wash,” Jake interrupted as he rewound the tape, “We might not have gotten a whole lot from it, but there’s a few things that stand out. The first is that they’re on the upper floors. Kait’s cell was on the same floor as that operating room, or whatever it was supposed to be. Second is that she’s been taking blood samples for something, and whatever it is was commissioned by Eva so it can’t be good. That thing off to the side was a centrifuge, but I”m not sure what they’re trying to separate. Lastly, Murray’s got some kind of syringe shooting gun. It’s not much, but it’s something we can take stock in.”

“Ever the little detective and optimist," Ashley smirked from the side, “All of that from a few snapshots and a mild horror show. Now, what do you say we stop wasting our time and get moving once again. We’ve rested long enough, wouldn’t you agree?”

“She also has a level of control with her workers that rivals that of my own when I still had an empire to run,” Rebecca frowned, “It’s not hypnosis or mind control, but it has to be something more than respect; conditioning, fear, chemical control, there are a myriad of things it could be. Whatever the case, I don’t foresee us being able to negotiate with the staff here. Their loyalty is paramount.”

“I”m not here to negotiate with anyone,” Jake shook his head, “Between the so-called patients, her messed up staff, and the psycho in charge, I don’t exactly have high hopes of cutting a deal for any kind of peaceful surrender. It’s just…”

Jake trailed off and closed his eyes. Despite everything that had happened, he still had his morale code against killing. It was a line that he’d crossed only a handful of times, but each time had weighed on his soul and mind. He had been able to rationalize it with the infected and the undead, but sooner or later he was going to have to deal with one of the staff or even Murray herself. He could justify it, sure, but it still didn’t sit right with him. Part of the reason that he’d been so accepting of Beth's change besides their long-standing friendship had been because she carried the burden that he couldn’t. He’d never said it aloud, but he knew that it was an understanding between them. 

“You hope that Elizabeth would be the one to pull the trigger,” Rebecca finished, sensing his discomfort.

“It’s selfish,” he sighed and shook his head, “But yeah, yeah, that’s what I was hoping for. Of course, now we’ve got to worry about finding her, Pam, and the others on top of everything else. We really stepped into a shit-storm, as Beth would call it.”

Rebecca was quiet for a moment while she processed what Jake was saying. After a tense moment, she nodded and approached him. She placed a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to offer some comfort without overstepping their unspoken boundaries. Half of her expected him to pull away at her touch, but she was relieved and thankful when he simply looked over at her hand in confusion. “We will find them,” she assured him, “And when we do, I will put that woman down myself. This is something that you do not need to fret over. One way or another, we will get through this.”

“There’s no way to avoid it forever,” Jake shook his head, “But…thanks all the same. I know we’ll find them. I just…it’s hard when it feels like we’re taking one step forward and then two back.”

“Which is why we should cut our losses with the giant corpse we’ve been tagging along with,” Ashley rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, “She’s done nothing except cause trouble for us since we arrived. I will remind you once more that she was the one that caused us to get separated from the others.”

“We do this together,” Jake said in response to Ashley, “I don’t like it, and I hate having to double back, but we can’t give up now. You and me, let’s make this happen, but let’s, uh, try not to draw more attention than we need.”

“You mean that thing that tried to finish us,” Rebecca said, referring to the hulking titan that had surprised them, “I stand with you, Jake, and as difficult as it is, I will follow your lead.”

“Heh, I wish I had that on video,” Jake chuckled for the first time in what felt like an eternity, “Alright, I think we’ve wasted enough time here. I’m rested and ready, how about you?”

She nodded and took a step back. Jake smiled and walked towards the barricade that Rebecca had erected. They’d managed to catch their breath and were ready to step back into the nightmare that was the asylum. They worked in tandem to dismantle the blockade of tables and chairs blocking the exit. It didn’t take them long to clear the doorway, but they took a moment to listen for any signs of commotion or trouble from behind the safety of the door. The last thing that either of them needed was to charge into trouble with a blind-eye. The only sound was the eerie groan of the pipes in the distance.

After a few short seconds, Jake pushed the door open and peered out into the narrow hallway. He looked back the way they’d come and thought back on the strange glowing fungus and those stranger than usual infected. He hoped that it was limited to the basements, but knowing what he did about Murray he doubted that was the case. It might have been more prevalent in the lower levels, but given what he’d seen so far he’d be surprised if she hadn’t been conducting her own twisted tests. Still, he took some comfort in the fact that they were leaving that portion of the nightmare behind.

He motioned for Rebecca to follow behind him as he pushed the door open and stalked down the hall at a slow pace. He knelt low, and thankfully Rebecca did the same. She was true to her word and tried to follow him closely. He glanced up at the camera and shook his head. Rebecca, as though sensing his concern, raised her hand at the camera and slowly closed her fist. Jake watched with a curious frown as the circuits sparked inside the casing and the light went dead. He glanced back at Rebecca who offered a confident smirk.

“My powers may be limited, but I can at least remove prying eyes for a moment,” she whispered, “Sadly, I won’t be able to stop them all, but it is better than nothing.”

Jake tilted his head to the side. He wouldn’t argue against that. It wouldn’t stop Murray from finding them, and he knew there were bound to be more cameras than they’d be able to spot, but maybe they could gain enough time, create enough blindspots, that they could gain some type of advantage. He could hope, at least. He didn’t reply outside of the eventual nod. Jake turned his attention back to making their way down the hallway. He could see an opening into a larger space up ahead. There were no signs for him to see where they were going, but he hoped that maybe they could find a stairwell before long.

They passed by several closed doors with bars and locks keeping them shut. The few that he peaked into were empty. They were living quarters, but he couldn’t tell if it was for the staff or the inmates. Although, at this point he wasn’t so sure he could tell the difference between them anymore. The inmates were running the asylum. Jake reached into his utility belt and grabbed one of his birdarangs to be safe as they got closer to the end of the hallway. They hadn’t encountered anyone yet, but he had a feeling that their luck was going to run out sooner rather than later.

There was a loud bang that sounded as they tried to continue sneaking past the doors that caused him to back away from the wall. A large, bald man with a number of scars and stitches along his face and head appeared at the window to one of the doors. The red light above it indicated it was locked, but his sinister smile was unnerving as he locked eyes with Jake. “Hello, hello, come in, come in,” his voice, unnervingly relaxed and smooth came through the door, “It has been so long since I had a visitor…let me in, let me in, or rather, let me out, let me out…”

Whoever he was had to be nearly as tall as Rebecca. Jake shook his head and took a couple of steps back. He was thankful that the locks were still active, but he quickly found himself cursing as the red light flickered to green. The buzzing of the security system unlocking gave way to a pit in his stomach as the door swung open. The man, scarred and stitched like some sort of frankenstein freak, stepped out and let out a mad laugh. Jake took two more steps back and decided to abandon his stealthy approach. He looked over to Rebecca who seemed to understand his unease.

“Run,” he said as he turned and took off in a sprint to the end of the hall.

Neither of them knew what was waiting for them, but they needed to act fast and get away. They could deal with whatever it was and whoever this was in time, but they needed to survive first and foremost. To do that, they needed to put distance between them. Rebecca was quick to follow his lead and charged behind him. The mystery man, hulking and maniacal, let out another unnerving laugh that echoed around the halls as he chased after them like a child after a wild animal in the woods; like a hunter after their prey.