#riverwell psychiatric

[rwprincess]

Room for One More: Chapter 16

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Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Reader-Insert

Word Count: 1.9K (She smol)

Synopsis: On edge, you argue some with Stella and Auggie, but you’re resolved to make a plan to bring Chuck home.

CW: swearing; arguing; voluntary commitment to psychiatric facility

November 11th, 1968, night

Auggie’s parents were, of course, thrilled by his homecoming. You, Stella, Ruth, and Mr. Nichols had watched from afar as Auggie staggered toward them at the fireworks show, claiming that the patriotic flashes of light were what led him home. His mother held him and just sobbed, and Auggie even allowed himself to be embraced by Jeff, turning over a new leaf in their relationship. Tears welled in your eyes at the scene. Now that you had been successful in both of your attempts to get the boys back, you tried to urge Stella to put a plan in motion faster for Chuck. Your determination had only grown, fueled by the likelihood of winning him back increasing. You and Stella exited her father’s truck outside your home that night, after getting Auggie safely to his family. You had asked to talk to her alone, and now you were arguing with her about the plan.

“I’m tired of waiting, Stell. We know it will work.”

“It’s not like we can get in tonight, Y/N!” She huffed.

“Why the hell not? It’s not like we can just waltz in there, broad daylight anyway.”

“It’ll take over an hour to get there and we already took Ruth home. Don’t you think she should be there to get her brother back?”

“So, we go and get her. I’m sure she and her parents would be fine with a late night trip if it means getting him back sooner.”

“It’s just not practical right now, I’m sorry. I think we need a solid plan. And I’m still not sure that two would work on the same night. We can’t risk blowing our chance on this one. I don’t think there will be another access to the hospital if we get caught. We have one go at this. I know how badly you want him back, Y/N.”

“Do you?” You cut her off, “Because I don’t think you do, Stella. I would do anything and just waiting and waiting...another day of him being trapped who knows where? It’s killing me, Stella. It’s gnawing at my insides and I feel constantly sick and I just can’t wait any more. Please.” You begged her.

“As soon as possible, I promise. Think of some plans tonight, we’ll talk with Ruth and Auggie tomorrow. We’ll figure it out.”

“Fine. It’s not like I’ll sleep anyway. I’ll plan it out.” You turned on your heel and quickly entered your house, shutting the door more harshly than you meant to, alerting your mother that you were home. You told her the good news that it had worked on Auggie, just as it did with Tommy, and another family was reunited.

November 12th, 1968

Like Stella said, you likely only had one shot at this. How would you best be able to get past the front desk again and get into the facility? The worst answer was also the simplest: become a patient. You knew instantly that your mother would hate the plan, but as you told Stella, you would do anything to get Chuck back. You and Ruth had legitimate reasons to be behind those doors and in the hospital, and you were sure you could rig that reentry. While you hated that this plan was more of a long-con and would not provide instant relief of having Chuck safely with you once again, it was also your best shot. You mulled over every other idea that popped up, but this one seemed the most solid. In the early afternoon, you met up with the other members of your party to discuss this option. Auggie was, understandably, not ready for school yet. So, as soon as the final bell rang (you all had to go about your normal daily business, after all. Keep up appearances or whatever. None of that really mattered to you but it was a compromise to your mother and it would keep the town from becoming too suspicious about all of the goings-on), you rushed to Auggie’s house to sit down and talk with everyone.

“I think I have an idea. It’s a lot, and it requires risk. If you think I can do it alone, I will do it alone. But, and I think Stella will agree, there’s strength in numbers. I think we all have to be there.”

“You want me to put myself back on the line?” Auggie asked in disbelief. “I just got home, Y/N.”

“Chuck was willing to do whatever it took to find you on that first day, Auggie. He put himself in danger to find answers to save you.” You snapped. “And that was when we didn’t even have a solution. We know this will work. We know we can get him back, but you’re not even going to try?!” You had never fought with Auggie before. The two of you were usually on the same page and were both fairly quiet and reserved and picked on Chuck instead. But you couldn’t believe what you were hearing; you understood that Auggie was scared and that he had just finally found some peace at home, but would he really abandon his best friend at his time of need? He hadn’t even heard the plan. You were willing to commit yourself to a psychiatric hospital, but he wouldn’t even leave his house? A red flush crept up your skin, infiltrating every pore with irritation. Stella put up a hand to stop you and calm you down as you glared at Auggie.

“Auggie,” She started, “We know it’s a lot to ask, but Y/N is right. It works better if we’re all there, I think. And if he comes back and you’re not there, he will wonder why. We know what we’re doing now. We’re not going to put you in danger.”

“I--I don’t want to go back there.” Auggie’s voice broke and tears welled in his eyes. “I can’t.”

“You won’t.” Stella promised.

“How can you be sure?” He whispered.

“We’ll stay together. There’s strength in numbers. And so far, nothing bad has happened. We give our blood to the book and that seems to be enough of an offering.” Stella told him, but Auggie still stared on, unsure.

“Please,” Ruth started, reaching out and placing her hand on his, “help me bring my brother back.” And of course, with that, Auggie was done for. The combination of doing it for all of you met with Ruth’s touch and he nodded in agreement, allowing himself to become a part of your plan. “So, Y/N, what are you thinking?” Ruth asked you, so you could detail your plan. You bit your lip and looked at her. She would also be making a big leap of faith, but it was for her own flesh and blood, so you were sure she would do it.

“It’s going to require a lot from you and me, Ruth.” You began, “I think...I think to be able to get access to the hospital, we have to become patients again.” Ruth’s eyes went wide with terror, thinking about being back within those padded walls and the memories of the spiders wriggling on her skin; but she gave you a resolute nod anyway. You took a deep breath and continued. “Maybe yours could just be a follow-up appointment, I don’t know. Or, I guess you could just come with Stella, her dad, and Auggie to visit me. But it would probably be easier to coordinate with the two of us on the inside. I’ll...I’ll get my mom to readmit me, to say that it’s getting worse now that others are being brought back, that it’s fueling my ‘delusions.’ Once on the inside, I can scope out a time and location for us to be in that hallway where you found his pen, Stella. That’s where he had to be taken from. We’ll meet there and do what we’ve done. We’ll write his second story. Your dad can keep watch and distract people if need be. Maybe...maybe even your parents, too, Ruth? I don’t know. I know they’d be willing to help, but I don’t know if that would make everything too obvious or not. I hate that it means waiting longer. But, I think it’s the best shot we have. Stella and I talked last night and she said we probably only have one go at this. I think she’s right. We cannot blow this. If we get caught, I don’t think we’ll ever see him again.” Your words were strangled off in your own throat by a sob. You couldn’t picture missing your one opportunity to get Chuck back. You couldn’t live with that level of a mistake and never seeing him again.

“Yeah, I think...I think we should have it planned out. Entirely.” Auggie agreed. You gave him a small smile, feeling reassured that the most rational and logical of you agreed.

“Do you think it will work?” You asked, after clearing your throat, “I was up all night and no other plan really stood up to this one. But if someone else has something, I’m all for it.” You looked around your circle of friends and saw that none had a better solution. “I guess that’s what we’re doing, then. I’ll talk to my mom tonight and try to get in either tonight or tomorrow. Ruth, do you think your parents can make a similar appointment for tomorrow? I just...the sooner the better.” She nodded vigorously in agreement, but also to say that she and her parents would both be onboard.

As you had expected, your mother resisted at first. She did not want you going back to the hospital at all, let alone become a patient again.

“Mom, it has to be wherever they were taken. We brought Tommy back in his field and Auggie back in his room. We have to be at the hospital for it to work. I know you know we can’t just break in, that that’s too dangerous. But if I’m already there...it’ll be a lot easier. Ruth is having her parents do the same. It means a lot to all of us. We all have to make this work.” She gritted her teeth, but you continued, “Think about how many times the Steinbergs have had me over for dinner so I wouldn’t be alone while you worked. They treated me like family, we owe them.”

“Y/N, not to the point of risking your safety.” She responded, bluntly.

“I know, mom. But...I don’t think I would be unsafe because of the book. I think the only risk is in being caught. I’m sure as heck not going anywhere near any of the elevators.” You tried to joke and laughed dryly.

“Then I’ll be working with you to make sure that doesn’t happen.” She surprised you with her intense, determined response. “Oren isn’t the only one who can keep a lookout.” It meant the world to you that your mom was willing to take the risk, too. So, that night, you discussed all the details of the plan. Your mom brought up possible obstacles and you brainstormed how to get around them. The next morning, she reluctantly had you recommitted to Riverwell.

Next (Chapter 17)

[rwprincess]

Room for One More (Chapter Thirteen)

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Masterlist

Next (Chapter 14)

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Reader-Insert

Word Count: 3.2 K

Synopsis: The aftermath and fallout from your excursion to the hospital and yours and Chuck’s stories being written. 

CW: Psychiatric Hospital location and commitment (involuntary); ableist language toward the mentally ill, particularly fitting of the 1960s; Angry mother/tumultuous parental relationship; Vietnam war/military

November 3rd, 1968, evening

You were a mumbling, raving mess by the time emergency services found you. You had been trapped for over an hour in the broken elevator, with nothing to occupy you but your thoughts. When the red lights became yellow again and the alarms stopped, you didn’t feel relief. Somehow, you knew he was gone. You could feel Chuck’s absence and you were sure of it. You hit the alarm button on the elevator several times before it seemed to finally register, but it didn’t matter, you were too late. It was cruel of Sarah to just leave you behind, now; to give you that experience but not take you away, too. Now you would be able to stew in your guilt and heartbreak instead. Since you had been in silence for so long (other than talking to yourself), when the doors started to open, you screamed and shrieked, thinking Sarah had finally come back for you with the help of the old lady and all the other lost souls of the morgue. However, it was a small group of firemen, a doctor, and two nurses. They dragged you out of the elevator, crying and screaming, asking fervently about Chuck, but of course they had no clue what you were talking about.

Your insistence that the witch had got him, that the fat pale lady must have taken hold of him in a red room during the alarm did nothing to help your situation. Being in a psychiatric facility already, they were quick to assess you and welcome you to the loony bin. Perhaps this was what “room for one more” meant...to be trapped here at this facility forever. To have everyone think you had gone crazy and were out of your gourd while you exhaustedly begged them to hear you out, to listen to what you knew to be the truth. They listened to you long enough to verify your information, though, and called your mother. When she arrived, she sternly asked you what the hell you were doing there in the first place. You tried to explain, but your explanation just made you sound like more of a kook and brought tears to her eyes. The doctor took her aside, but you could still hear them speaking.

“Ma’am, your child was trapped in an elevator shaft within the morgue for a very long time. We think that it has left them somewhat...unhinged. As you can clearly see, they have been affected by the experience and we would like to commit them for observation, at least overnight. It was quite a traumatic event and we’re still trying to figure out what happened and how they’re going about interpreting all this. We will try to convince them of the truth once we have it and bring them back to this reality, but for now…well, as you can see, they have some fantastical explanation built up instead.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” Your mother asked, heartbroken.

“Then we may have to commit for a longer stay. Much longer. And work through some therapies or medications. I must warn you, ma’am, your child might never come back from this.” You could hear your mother sob at this news. You were all she had left, and while you weren’t crazy, you didn’t know how to explain the situation without sounding like it. 

You contemplated how best to go about getting out of here. While you wanted to beg them to look out for Stella and Ramon’s safety, you knew that wouldn’t help your case. Piling on that they would be ‘the next,’ would only sound like another fabrication. You overheard some hospital staff talking in hushed tones about you and your situation when they thought you were asleep. Stella and Ramon had been arrested for infiltrating the hospital, if you hadn’t seemed like a nut to them, you probably would have joined them too. The whole security staff and some of the police force had searched for the last member of your party, but still hadn’t found him; this confirmed your worst fear: Chuck had had his story written and now he was gone. Silent tears rolled down your cheeks at this confirmation, but they also helped regenerate the resolve growing inside of you. You had to get out of here as soon as possible and try to help Stella and Ramon. Or, if you were the only survivor, you needed to get out and find a way to bring everyone back.

November 4th, 1968, morning

Even though you knew what you had seen was real, and that each story in the book had been real too, you vowed to choke that all down and not speak of it. The truth only made you seem crazy; ironically, lying about it would set you free. In the morning, you told the doctors and the police the same story you had concocted during your sleepless night: The four of you were trying to one-up each other about these scary stories and find some proof about Sarah Bellows’ existence, and found out that this hospital may have records of her. You had split up to make more headway and the elevator had broken, dropping you into the morgue. Just being around those dead bodies was what had scared you so badly. No, you didn’t know where Chuck could be; maybe he had run off and was hiding, you all knew there was risk in getting caught. You originally had said what you had because you were so worked up about the legend and then being dropped like that, thinking you would die, and ending up in the blackness with only the shimmering glints of dead-people freezers to guide you scared the hell out of you, but you’d regained your wits since then. Given that you were consistent in your stories and you made a point to show them how ‘normal’ you were now, they called your mother to discharge you.

When you were released, you were informed that Ramon and Stella had been freed as well, but Ramon was being sentenced to the military draft he had tried to run from. Of course, you wanted to see them immediately, to find out what happened, and to try to stop their stories from being written tonight. However, your mother was filled with rational anger at such a request. “You know, Y/N, normally I would be glad for you to see your friends. But they clearly have not been a good influence on you. Breaking and entering into a hospital? I know you know now how dangerous that was!” She alluded to your encounter with the elevator. “The Steinberg boy still hasn’t shown up at home and his parents are worried sick, with what happened to their daughter as well. I’m sure you heard about that. She wasn’t as lucky as you, Y/N. She still hasn’t come around and will likely be in the hospital for a very long time. What were you thinking?! Kids have gone missing and you thought it would be best to play hide and seek in a hospital? What is wrong with you kids? No, I think it’s best you stay home for quite some time. You’re lucky to have been discharged and that you weren’t arrested promptly after, like your other friends.”

“Mom, you say that like they’re hoodlums. You know my friends. Do you think Stella of all people is really like that?” You tried to remind her that she knew little mousy Stella, that she’d spent nights at your house and vice versa.

“I’m not sure what to think anymore.” She huffed in response. “It’s my understanding that some older boy from out of town was with you all. Maybe it was all on him, you just fell into his trap.” You hoped the police weren’t pinning this all on Ramon like your mother was. But then again, they had let him go or dropped the charges or whatever, so he seemed to be out of the woods. When you arrived at your house, your mother sent you straight to your room. She needed to be able to process this and reflect without your presence. This definitely hurt, since you’d been separated from her for so long and were losing the people closest to you in horrific ways. But you couldn’t explain any of that truth to her, so you just complied. While in the sanctuary of your own bedroom, you had an idea and shuffled around looking for your walkie-talkie hoping that Stella had hers charged up and was around to hear it.

“Stella? Stella, come in! Stella?!” You said urgently in a tone you hoped was quiet enough for your mother to not overhear. Silence greeted you from the other end. “Goddammit.” You whispered to yourself, feeling utterly alone, but tried again. “Stella? Stella, if you’re there, please pick up!” You implored. There were a few more seconds of silence and tears began to sting and prick in the corners of your eyes before you heard an electric crackle.

“Y/N? Is that you? You’re all right?!”  Stella answered, overcome with relief from the other end.

“I don’t know if I’d exactly say that, but...I’m alive and I’m home.” 

“Y/N, Chuck is...he’s gone.” She regretted to inform you.

“I know.” You suddenly hoped his walkie wasn’t on in his room, his parents able to hear this conversation. “Stell, change to the other frequency.” You had picked another frequency for more private conversations and as a backup, just in case. You couldn’t imagine ever using it for this reason, though. When she did and gave a test call, you explained, “I just didn’t want Chuck or Auggie’s parents to hear...just in case.” 

“We beat her. It’s stopped.” She told you, quickly. You blinked a few times in disbelief.

“How? How do you know?”

“She came for us last night at the police station, but we figured it out. It’s a long story, but it’s over. I really think it’s over and she’s let go, Y/N.” 

“Then why aren’t they back?” You asked in a broken voice. To you, it would only be truly resolved when you got back those that you loved most. Auggie’s story didn’t say he died and you all were pretty sure that Tommy now resided in his own field as a scarecrow. They had to be somewhere, not just dead.

“I...I don’t know. I’m working on that. I think there’s gotta be some way. The book-”

“You still have that damned thing?!” You tried not to shout and have your mother hear, but you were livid. It caused all of these problems but she still wanted to use it?

“It’s hard to explain. Like I said, it’s a long story. Can we meet in the park? Or you can come to my house?”

“I’ll be lucky if my mom ever lets me out again.” You replied, coldly. “She’s not too happy with everything. Obviously.” You scoffed. It was silent for a moment, neither of you sure what to say.

“What happened to you?” Stella finally asked.

“That’s also a long story.” Then you thought about it, and added, annoyed, “I’m sure you can read all about it in your book.”  She hesitated again on the other end.

“I...I know what happened during. I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened after, or how you got out. I didn’t know...I wasn’t sure if you were alive or around or whatever with the way it ended. Not until the sheriff told us that you had survived, but…”

“But what?”

“But you were much like Ruth.” The memory of being at the hospital stung you with her words. The walkies were really failing you for communication, and this other frequency was a little less clear than your main one, too. So Stella said, “I’m coming over.”

“I told you, my mom is not going to be happy about that.” 

“You don’t have to come out. I’ll sneak in. Or stand outside. Or whatever.”

Stella was true to her word and showed up below your window about twenty minutes later, throwing pebbles softly at it so you’d know she was there. You lifted the window open and peered out. It still probably wasn’t best for her to be standing out there where she could be seen, and your mother was sure to hear you both if she spoke to you from down there, so you beckoned her to come up. She scaled the tree outside your window and cautiously shimmied across one of the branches that was becoming barer by the hour. You helped get her inside and she surprised you by hugging you tightly. You felt most of your anger at her melt away in that instant. She pulled back, tears threatening to fall as she whispered, “I’m just so glad that you’re here, that you made it. I’m so, so sorry.” You knew she meant for everything. Stella had been the catalyst, after all. It was even her ‘fault’ that day one, she picked you up and brought you into their friend group. Then she had brought you all to the Bellows’ house and had taken the book, which Lulu told her she shouldn’t have done, that it unleashed the rage...and you knew she felt guilty that she couldn’t save any of you, because it was the same hopeless feeling you had while trapped in that elevator knowing that the red room had come to Chuck. 

“I know.” You said simply, trying not to dwell on it, ignoring your own tears. “Just, tell me, what happened. While we have the time. And, what are we going to do?”

She filled you in that she and Ramon had been at the police station when the sheriff told them another story was being written, Ramon’s. She hated to relive what happened, but she hadn’t brought the book for you to see for yourself. They barely had escaped some dismembered corpse that had the ability to put itself together over and over, with no way to seemingly defeat it. Ramon had called it ‘The Jangly Man’ and said it was a campfire horror story that his brother had told him when he was little. Ramon took one of the police cars and tried to lead it away, while Stella ran for her life to the Bellows’ house. Her story started to appear, The Haunted House. In it, she was able to witness Sarah’s life from her eyes. She was dragged by her own family and tossed about, it was awful. But, somehow, she could hear Ramon calling to her to tell Sarah the truth. So, she began to tell Sarah her own story and shared her empathy. However, she told Sarah that it had to stop and she had to let go of the rage she’d felt for decades, the rage that had consumed her. Stella told her she knew what it was like to hurt, that Sarah had taken the people she loved most, but that was no longer an excuse, and that she would tell Sarah’s story to the public and clear her name. She never murdered any children; her family had tainted the water supply and were trying to cover it up. Sarah was going to expose them all, so they had her committed and her own brother performed electroshock on her.

“She had me begin her story with my own blood. I think that’s the key to having it come alive, to come true.” Stella said. “I’m not really sure, though. She let it go and I think she’s finally at peace. She disappeared and Ramon said The Jangly Man just faded away and nothing has happened since.”

“But it’s a new night tonight.” You pointed out. Sarah could always come back tonight, even though she seemed to have ramped up yesterday. 

“I know.” Stella replied, “But I’m hopeful. I really feel like it’s over. I...I don’t feel that same feeling of dread. I think it’s really changed. I...I heard Ruth is also being released from the hospital soon, that she’s calmed down a lot and isn’t so worried about the bugs anymore. I think that’s another sign that Sarah’s gone. That her influence is gone, or waning.”

“Is Tommy still a scarecrow?” You asked, unsure if she’d heard any news on that front. It seemed that, if Sarah’s influence were off of Ruth, it should be off of him, too. He didn’t just disappear like Chuck and Auggie, he was still around in another form...best you could tell, anyway.

“I’m not sure. I haven’t really heard anything about him yet. Maybe we can go to the field and see. I don’t know if, because his story wasn’t interrupted like Ruth’s or Ramon’s, if that makes a difference or not.” You nodded in reply, not sure what to add verbally. “I think the book is the key, too. I think maybe we have to go where they were taken and write a new story to bring them back. I’m not sure, but...I want to try.”

“That’s going to be a hard sell on our parents. Especially the hospital, since we have y’know, criminal charges there.”

“Well, you see, the weird thing is...my dad believes me. I called him from the police station and just told him that if I never came home, it wasn’t my choice. That I’d never leave him like that.” The tears fell freely now. “So, when I came home, he believed what I had to say. I showed him the book, Ramon backed me up, and I don’t know. Maybe at first it was because he was just happy to have me home. But I’m starting to think he actually believes it. He said he’d talk to your mom and Mrs. Steinberg, try to get them to see it’s the truth, too. I think I’m going to need your help and Ruth’s to solve this.”

“What about Ramon?” You asked. It seemed like he should be equally invested. However, Stella just released a shaky, tear-soaked sigh.

“Ramon was here in town because he was drafted. He didn’t want to go after his brother was brought home in a coffin...so he dodged the draft. They’re sending him back. They’re probably going to ship him off to Vietnam. Although, he said with the things he’s seen here, he’s a little less afraid now.” She finished, somberly. Then waited a moment before asking, “What happened to you? After?” You delved into your own story, telling her how they had found you, and how you clearly made no sense to them, so they admitted you. About how you determined it was better to lie and get out than tell the truth and stay, that you were worried about her and Ramon. 

“I also wanted to get out to fix this, if I could...if we can. I’ll do anything to have him back, Stell.” You told her. “I’ll try whatever you think needs to happen.” 

Next (Chapter 14)

[rwprincess]

Room for One More: Chapter Twelve

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Masterlist

Next (Chapter 13)

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Reader-Insert

Word Count: 2.4K

Synopsis: The Red Room is ever-looming, but can you save Chuck from his own story?

CW: Claustrophobia; Falling from heights; Psychiatric hospital setting; Scary old lady; Morgue setting; Zombies/undead; The whole Red Room situation

A/N: This, Chapter 10, and Chapter 7 (Halloween), are probably my favorites.

November 3rd, 1968

You had to go upstate to Riverwell Psychiatric Hospital, and there was no way you were walking there, so you boarded the next bus out of town. It would be a long ride, and you encouraged Chuck to lay out and put his head in your lap. You stroked his hair and looked at Stella and Ramon daring them to question it, but they quickly looked away and sat next to each other instead. Chuck fell into an un-tormented sleep at last and you felt relieved that he finally could have some peace. Looking at him in this state made everything feel normal for a fleeting second. You wished just taking the bus somewhere far away would solve all of your problems. As if you could just run away and never return to Sarah’s territory and she’d leave you alone. Start a new life somewhere else with the boy you loved, call your mother and invite her to join you, to get out of that cursed town...Ramon and Stella could have a fresh start where no one knew their pasts...but it wasn’t that simple. Nothing ever was. 

The bus let you out at the gargantuan, looming white building with its immaculately-kept sterile lawns. Just looking at it filled you with dread and foreboding. As much as Chuck thought that his story was next, just being in this building’s presence made you feel as though you would be next instead. You were almost sure of it, and didn’t want to proceed, but knew you had to. Chuck took your hand in his. You both were tempting the fates with this journey, and needed to rely on each other for strength. You all approached the receptionist’s counter and let Stella do the talking. It seemed like she was going to be a hard sell, that you wouldn’t get those records. An orderly in the background seemed more open to assisting though, and told the receptionist, “I think they put the files from the old hospital in the R.E.D. Room.”

Chuck audibly gulped and you flinched. In his dream he described an entirely red room, and now this man was so kindly and jovially telling you that the red room existed. You couldn’t bear to entertain the thought that this might be Chuck’s dream coming to you live in technicolor. You quickly glanced around for any large pale women, as Chuck asked, “The r-red room?” Stella and Ramon cast him a regretful look. The receptionist handed over a clipboard and told you that processing the request would take six to eight weeks.

“Two months? We don’t even have two days!” You hissed as you all turned away from the counter.

“So much for that!” Chuck shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant but you could tell that he was secretly happy that it meant avoiding the red room. Meanwhile, Ramon looked around shiftily and noticed an open door where doctors and other men in suits were exiting. He looked meaningfully at Stella, nodding at the opportune interest and you wondered who he had been in another life, before he met all of you. He had a lighter, a knife, expert lockpicking skills, and was always looking for the advantage. He was definitely a survivor. 

“Come on!” Stella grabbed Chuck’s arm, but he tried to pinwheel back. You knew he didn’t care about the breaking-and-entering aspect. She pulled him along again and he acquiesced, the four of you sliding past the adults exiting the locked door and entering the hallway within. You immediately had to dart down connecting hallways to avoid being caught.

“We are not going to the red room.” Chuck growled when Stella announced her plans to find it. 

“No, we are going to the red room.” Stella urged back

“No, I’m not!” Chuck protested, and Stella snapped her fingers in an orderly fashion and yanked his arm to lead him down the hallway. In any other scenario, it would have been funny. Even at a time like this, she still had that motherly connection towards Chuck. But, since he reasonably feared his own demise, all of the fun was sucked out of your observation. You knew that you needed answers, that that was the best chance you had, but you hated to see him dragged along or to push him when he was so clearly frightened out of his mind. It crushed your heart to hurt him this way, to go along with it. “I told you about my dream! I don’t want to go,” he whined as you rounded another hallway.

“It isn’t actually red.” Ramon said, with a pleased smile, nodding to a sign on the wall, “Look.” The sign read: R.E.D. Records & Evaluations Dept.

“It-It’s called a ‘red room’ it doesn’t actually have to be red!” Chuck reminded them, not put at ease one bit. “No, no! I can’t!” He leaned against the wall, on the other side of an archway and gave Stella his best puppy-dog look, begging her not to make him do this. She finally took pity on him and agreed.

“Fine. Stay here. We’ll be quick, okay?” She used a calm, quiet tone as if he were a small child or an injured animal. Chuck fidgeted and stamped his feet nervously, trying to figure out if he should forge ahead or be left alone...and which would be worse. 

“I’ll stay with you,” you offered. You truthfully didn’t want to leave him either. Maybe there was safety in numbers. No one had been taken or attacked before when they weren’t alone, so you remained optimistic. He looked at you with palpable gratitude.

“Just don’t get caught.” Ramon whispered to you and you both returned an expression as if to say ‘Duh!’ then he and Stella hurried down the hall, Stella periodically looking back at you two. Chuck leaned against the wall and sighed, sweating with fear. It didn’t take long for him to try to convince you to leave.

“We need to get out of here. I need to get out of here. The shit’s about to hit the fan, I can feel it.” You tried to take his hand in yours and rub your thumb over his knuckles comfortingly, but he was not having it. “You believe me, right? You trust me? Please, please. Let’s get outta here.” You hated the idea of abandoning Stella and Ramon, of them not finding you when they returned, but you hated the idea of betraying Chuck more. You couldn’t force him to stay and your heart wouldn’t allow you to let him go alone. You gave him a hesitant nod, and he gripped your hand harder and rushed you down the hallway lightning-quick. Unbeknownst to you, your story was being written that moment in the book within Stella’s bag. Just as Tommy’s story appeared fresh, but unread as it was unraveled, your story would be there in blood-red the next time Stella opened the book. 

Chuck took you down the bends of a couple of corridors before spotting an elevator. “I just...just need to get away from the R.E.D. room,” he explained, “just put some distance between me and it.” He punched the buttons to the elevator, and it happened to call an ascending lift. He didn’t seem to mind, since he just wanted to get away, it didn’t matter to him if it was up or down. The elevator dinged open and a small elderly woman was standing within. Immediately, she gave you the creeps. She felt like an other-worldly version of your neighbor Mrs. Steuben...as if she were already dead. She had sallow skin that clung to her facial features in gaunt strips. 

“Sorry, we can wait for the next one,” you told this specter of a woman. She was dressed in a long black gown and a broach, as if this were the 1920s. 

“Oh, don’t worry dearie, room for one more,” she croaked hoarsely, her voice even more unsettling than her appearance. It also seemed odd to you that she would say such a thing. There was no one else in the elevator with her to crowd it, and there were two of you waiting to get on, not just one.  You gulped and looked uneasily at Chuck. As much as he wanted to get away, you did not want to set foot in the elevator. However, as hospital staff were coming down the hallway and you would surely get caught, he urged you to take this elevator. He bustled you into the elevator and frantically hit the number 3. As the doors slid shut, you realized that none of the buttons had been previously lit. This woman wasn’t already going up and she didn’t exit at your floor. You kept your eyes locked forward, afraid to look at her, ready to leap out of the elevator the instant that the doors chimed back open. You were still holding Chuck’s hand, but your own palm was becoming slippery with sweat. You bit your lip as the ride seemed to drag for an eternity. You could hear every churning gear of the elevator and its shaft, hiking you up and up. You started to breathe out in relief as the third floor light illuminated above the door and you heard the ding. You were already pushing Chuck towards the door, making sure that he wouldn’t linger a nanosecond longer than you both had to. 

As the door slid open, the old woman’s froggy voice crackled again, “Ah, young love. It’s a pity...there’s room for one more.” Chuck had already stepped out of the elevator and was about to pull you along when this old woman lunged out with gnarled, claw like hands and grabbed your arms, harshly pulling you backwards and making you stumble. You screamed Chuck’s name as you reached back out for him, and you could hear him calling for you as the door slammed shut much faster than it had ever opened or closed before. The entity that had you in its grasp said, “Room for one more,” another time, in a taunting tone...then the elevator dropped.

You were suddenly hurtling through the shaft downwards, contained in the box of the elevator; the mysterious old lady had disappeared and you were all alone. You screamed at the top of your lungs, a final death scream, you were sure. Your mind raced with thoughts of your mom being left on her own, of Stella never being able to find you, of Chuck blaming himself...of you never seeing his beautiful face and sweet smile ever again. The cart careened to a stop, several floors down and the doors chimed once more. They opened to a pitch-black void of a room. You panted, still trying to recover from both the shock of the fall and that you were somehow still alive. You hesitated to go into this inky unknown, but you certainly did not want to be in that broken elevator, so you stumbled out, hoping you could find some help. As your eyes adjusted to the darkness, you could see metallic glints coming from the wall, but a familiar hoarse whisper stopped you in your tracks.

“Room for one more.” The old woman was somewhere trying to lure you with her singsong tone. You started to fumble backwards, trying to get away from the direction of her voice, but it started to pop up from other directions and soon enveloped you. You were now about ten feet away from the elevator and into the room, but you felt completely disoriented by the blackness and the cacophony of gruff elderly murmurs.

“No, no no no!” You chanted to yourself as you took two steps back and the lights flickered, but didn’t stay on. “Stop! Stop it!” You yelled as she was joined by more voices, coming from all angles around you, but all saying the same thing. You backed up another step and the lights came flooding on, the voices ceased. In the stark, bright contrast, you had to blink back to reality and gasped at what you found. You were in the morgue. Somewhere in the bowels of the hospital, you were in a room of endless cabinets filled with dead people, with the exception of one drawer that was pulled out and empty. Even though it was a few feet in front of you, you could see the tag on the end had your name written on it in red ink. 

Directly behind your ear came one final whisper, “Room for one more,” inviting you to join the drawer. You launched yourself back towards the elevator, sprinting. Inside, you slammed all of the buttons as quickly as you could, repeatedly pressing the “door close” function. The metal doors slid shut as shambling corpses made their way towards you, beckoning you to join their ranks. The elevator, however, did not move. You were trapped. Suddenly, the light flooded to a red hue and you could hear klaxons sounding within the elevator and on the other side. You wondered if hammering all of the buttons on a broken elevator triggered some kind of alarm. For half a second, you felt relieved. If there was an alarm, an alert for the elevator, maybe someone would find you in time. Maybe the undead wouldn’t claw the doors open. But then the crimson color struck you. 

“Chuck.” You choked out as you realized that if the alarm wasn’t just in the elevator, if it was in the morgue too, then all the rooms of the hospital could be the red room right now. “No. No!” You screamed and kicked the broken door, dropping down in sobs. You couldn’t help him now.

Next (Chapter 13)

*~~*

A/N: I spent...an exorbitant long time trying to figure out which of the OG Scary Stories could fit into this one and whether the reader would experience one or not, and if they’d survive or not. But, it always came back to the fact they wouldn’t abandon Chuck if they had a choice. I also feel like Sarah starts escalating at this point in the movie. Chuck goes during the day, which is unheard of, and then both Ramon and Stella read their stories that night. So, I figured it wasn’t too odd to have this one and Chuck’s back to back. But, now you know why the series has been called Room for One More. ;D

[rwprincess]

Room for One More: Chapter 17

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Masterlist

Next (Chapter 18)

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Reader-Insert

Word Count: 1.8K

Synopsis: You’re not wasting any more time, you’re on a mission to bring back the one you love.

CW: swearing; Psychiatric hospital setting; voluntary commitment to psychiatric facility; claustrophobia; minor self-injury (finger pricking); slimy goo; touch-aversion

November 13th, 1968, morning

First thing Wednesday morning, your mother drove you to Riverwell Psychiatric Hospital. She followed your script and told them that, because Tommy and Auggie had returned from missing, you were beginning to believe your earlier fantasies again and were lost in a pit of self-deception. That, because they had been returned, you must have been right about the witch and everything else, so she wanted you reevaluated. You played the part and toed the line, not wanting to suffer from them charging ahead with any treatments, but also not wanting to be dismissed. You brought back your original ramblings, that the spirit of Sarah Bellows had taken your friends, and now they were coming back one by one, that you were right all along. Of course, it was the truth, but to these rational outside parties, these stories were the ravings of a mad person. Similarly, later that morning, the Steinbergs checked Ruth in for a simple follow-up observation, even though they made sure to tell the doctors that she had been doing well overall, but the stress of her missing brother was making them worried that she might relapse. So, they agreed to take her in for an overnight watch and some tests. In the later afternoon, you were able to meet up and compare notes in the common room. You talked softly and dully, to avoid any suspicion. Mr. Nichols would be bringing Stella and Auggie by to visit soon. Maybe an hour or two, near the tail-end of visiting hours. You and Ruth had observed shift and station changes and determined some semblance of schedules. It seemed that around 5 pm, the staff would largely change over, with the daytime folks headed home and the night time workers coming in. Visiting hours ended at six, and there should be a station change near 5:30 that would leave the hallway you needed more or less unsupervised. Coupled with your mom and Oren keeping watch, you figured that you would have just enough time to do what you needed to do; if not, they could buy you a little bit of time. It felt like plotting some big heist, but it was the most solid plan you had and you really did not want to wait another day, nor did you think they would continue to keep Ruth longer than overnight. Shortly thereafter, you went your separate ways and waited for all of the pieces to come together.

Stella, Auggie, Mr. Nichols, and your mother all came into your room at 4:45 pm. You explained to them what you and Ruth had found out. Stella was the only one who knew exactly where to go, so at 5:27, you followed her down the hallway, touching the smooth white-and-yellow tiled walls as you crept along silently. Luckily, the adults with you made you look less suspicious and Auggie and Ruth stayed a few paces behind, looking like they were in an unrelated visit. As you approached the spot in the intersecting corridors where Chuck had vanished, your heart thudded violently in your chest. You were extremely nervous about doing this right. Everything was riding on this; it felt like you were in a spy movie and you were being forced to defuse a bomb. One small mistake and boom, your life would be over. Stella directed your parents on where to stand, and what kind of signal to give if anything went awry. The four of you settled into a square, each sitting cross-legged on the floor. Stella started to pull the book and the blood-pen from her satchel. She placed them on the floor and was about to open the book when you said, “Stella, I think it should be me.” You had read and reread Chuck’s story a hundred times within this past week, scrutinizing every detail as it was the last tangible link you had to him. You constantly thought about his story and how it occurred and had had plenty of nightmares envisioning it during your rocky, fitful nights. Stella handed the materials over instantly. You looked around at the group and poked the pen to your finger, cursing quietly at the sting as you filled the chamber with your blood. Your eyes shot down and found the blank pages sitting before you, and you quickly got to work.

The pale lady had warned Charlie to run while he still could. But even running didn’t allow him to escape her or the evil red room. Everywhere he had turned, she slipped silently nearer and nearer to him until she embraced him and took him into her being. For days, he was kept safely within her, as a piece of her. However, it was time to leave and to heed her advice once more and to run. With Sarah’s blessing, the pale woman returned to the hospital corridor to return the boy she had grown so fond of. You gulped. You hadn’t told the others that you were going to summon her, but you couldn’t think of any other way for him to appear. You had had to use the scarecrow with Tommy inside, and you were able to bring back Auggie from the hole in the wall, but there wasn’t a magical place for Chuck to just appear from...except from within the pale lady herself. You didn’t look up as you heard Ruth whimper and Auggie breathed out, “What the hell is that?!” You knew she was there, you could sense it. But that meant it was working.

The pale woman reached into her milky stomach and slowly drew out an arm that was not her own. One that still had gray and blue plaid clinging to it, just as it had the day she had taken him. While those that loved him most looked on in fear and disbelief, she began to retrieve more and more of Charlie, and to place him back where he belonged. Now you stole a glance up. She was utterly horrifying. She looked bloated, as Chuck had said. Her eyes looked like small pebbles and her hair was matted down like she had drowned at some point. She was even more astonishing because she had extra limbs poking out of her, but you recognized the clothes instantly. You remembered Chuck exactly as he was that day, the image burned into your mind. You fervently continued writing, She pulled out the remainder of him with a pop from her own body and set him down gasping for breath. She meant him no harm, but her job was done, so she turned around and sauntered out of their lives, never to return. As soon as she disappeared, his family and loved ones rushed to his side to welcome him home. You gulped at the final sentence, adding the last period and closing the book. Just as you had written, the Pale Lady gave a close-lipped smile, blinked her dead eyes, and began to waddle away. She slowly became hazy and disappeared, leaving behind Chuck’s body which was wracked with shaky breaths. You scrambled to your feet and rushed down the hall, dropping down once more beside him.

“Chuck! Chuck, honey, you’re back!” You cried, taking his hand into yours, ignoring the slime that was still coating his body from being within that entity. Ruth plopped down on the other side of him, tears streaming down her face and Stella and Auggie quickly joined. Chuck coughed some more, but finally started to open his eyes. “Y/N? Ruth?” He looked between you two, and Ruth threw her arms around him, trying to scoop him up into her embrace. He started panicking and peddling his feet backwards weakly. “No, no no!” He muttered quickly and you pulled her back.

“Ruth, I don’t think...give him space.” She let go and he pushed back from you all, staring wide-eyed in disbelief, completely covered in a sticky, slimy substance that you felt it was best not to think about. Stella quickly went to gather your parents, to let them know that your work was done and they’d have to prepare to smuggle Chuck out and get him back to his folks. Auggie crouched down next to Chuck and was talking to him softly, sure to keep his distance. He knew how disorienting this experience could be. Meanwhile, you turned to Ruth. “Ruthie...I think he’s going to be afraid to be touched or hugged for a while. Remember, he was basically smothered and kept like that for days. It’s going to be hard to get over.”

“I understand.” She said, looking away with a glassy stare and you knew she was recalling how it felt to have the spiders upon her and how certain touches of fabric or brushes against something could still set her off. With that being settled, you two returned to Chuck’s side. He was now sitting upright, looking around, not sure what to make of being in the hospital hallway again.

“Hey, you’re safe now. We got you back. We solved it. See? Auggie’s back.” You gestured to him and he nodded numbly.

“It’s real, pal. We’re back.” Auggie backed you up.

“Why...why are you and Ruth dressed like that?” Chuck asked, noticing your hazel hospital gowns.

“Long story. Stella will fill you in. They’re going to take you home, okay?” His eyes glimmered with hope at your words.

“Home?”

“Yeah.” You said, trying not to audibly sob but tears leaked from your eyes anyway. “Ruth and I have to stay here for now, but we’ll see you tomorrow.”

“No, no, come with me. Please.” He said, placing one of his hands on yours and the other on Ruthie’s. “I don’t want to leave without you.”

“You have to. Just for tonight. Mom and dad will be with you and they’ll come get me first thing in the morning.” Ruth told him, and he looked desperately to you.

“It’s okay, I’ll be there too, look, my mom is here now.” You nodded to her as she approached. “She’ll come and get me as soon as she can tomorrow, right mom?”

“Of course.” She said, her own eyes glistening with tears.

“But you’ve got to go before we all get caught. It’s just important that you’re here now, okay? You came back to me. It’ll be okay.” Mr. Nichols and Auggie helped Chuck to his feet and started him down the hallway. Stella came rushing up with a blanket she had stolen from one of the rooms, to make Chuck look a little less odd amongst them, to cover whatever gooey substance was coating his skin and clothes. You and Ruth didn’t want to let him go, but you knew you had to. You tried to find comfort in your own words, that his being home was all that mattered.

Next (Chapter 18)