OCC: I know this isn't a diary reviewing the previous chapter through Vic's eyes and so may not be worth an experience point but this is what came to me so I figured I should post it anyway.Hamilton Downtown - Outside an Apartment Building
Morning August 1987
God... It was too easy "Yes ma'am, I understand. Sarah here will clean the apartment top to bottom twice a week and groceries will be delivered every saturday."
They thought they were helping their daughter develop independence after her release like the doctor suggested. "Yes, if there's any problems with the Apartment or Claire I'll call right away"
In truth they were just handing their loved ones over to a predator and paying for it on top "Not to worry ma'am we're a full service company and we specialize in cases like this." The concerned parents handed over keys for the apartment and a cheque for the first months service and drove away.
Turning to Sarah, Vic handed over 10 bucks "That's it for today so your off but I need you tommorow to meet the wilson's." Sarah took the money, smiled and headed off.
Sarah.. She had been a good find, A street kid 17 years old with a face still innocent enough looking to put people at ease, who was more than willing to help deceive the famalies in return for a roof, food and some spending cash... she'd had to do more for less before Vic turned around heading into the apartment building, there was time to have some fun before work. Besides Claire had to be shown what was for the best.
They always came around either because they were just glad to be accepted, to have a boyfriend, to be treated as normal even if it had to be kept secret or because they feared going back... to the asylum.Hamilton Mountain - Hamilton Asylum
Afternoon February 1988
Moping the floors Vic overheard a doctor informing a gentleman that his sister was ready for release but that she would need help adjusting to life outside or else she may end up returning...
It was never hard to find people who were just the right kind of desperate, and a quick change and his hospital ID was usually enough to get there trust Vic sidled up to the gentleman, dressed in his only suit with his ID pinned to the jacket, as he was leaving. "Excuse me I overheard your conversation with Doctor Fuller, I run a business helping clients adjust to life outside of the institution" Vic handed him a business card "I can give you references if you'd like" Vic spoke with authority and confidence, shaking the gentleman's hand
"John Sheridan... the Donavan's told me I should look you up, they say your taking excellent care of there daughter Claire"
"Ah yes Claire, wonderful girl, if you'd like we can arrange a meeting with the young lady, Sarah, who'll be the primary caregiver"
"I'd love to be able to do it myself but I'm working two jobs just to make ends meet..."
Feed enough rope... "Sir, it's OK, I'm sure your doing everything you can. I know we can work something out."
Hamilton Downtown - Inside Apartment
Early Morning June 1988
Vic rose naked from a bed, a 20 year old girl curled up crying still in the bed. "Look Claire, you like being out here don't you? Do you want to go back? cause you know one phone call..." the girl whimpers "well then..." Vic pours himself a glass of water "Did your parents leave your spending money yet?" Vic picks up an envelope from the counter " ah here it is, and you better clean up in here we wouldn't want complaints now would we...?"
Hamilton Mountain - Hamilton Asylum Grounds - Wooded Area
Late evening June 1988
Vic was walking through the woods. "Oh my god, this city is going crazy... Gang wars breaking out... People reporting all kinds of crazy shit... They're rounding up all the people released from the hospital within the last year. What if they grab Claire? What if she talks? I can't let that happen... with all this chaos no one will question one crazy girl killing herself..."
A voice out of the night called Vic's name. Vic jumped his heart beating like a drum in his chest, while he frantically searched for the source of the voice "You have a lot to pay penance for" Vic spun around to see a stooped and hooded figure appear as if out of the very darkness. The hooded figure raised a deformed hand and pointed at Vic "you shall spend eternity paying for your misdeeds" it was then that a snake rose from the grass and bit Vic, as the night faded to nothingness he heard the figure continue "and making others pay as well"
3x3 cell - Unknown location
Some time later
Vic awoke naked chained to a wall, the sounds of hissing and clawed feet on a stone floor coming through the cell door, he was wracked with pain. His skin felt like it was being stretched to tightly over his body and he could feel it tearing with the slightest movement. Panic began to rise in Vic as the gravity of his situation began to hit him, it was then that he realized he wasn't breathing... his heart wasn't beating...
The door to the cell opened, revealing the hooded figure "I see you've awoke and the change has begun, we can start when its done" Vic began screaming, whether to curse his captor or beg for mercy could not be told as Vic's screams turned to wails of suffering. As his movement caused more of his skin to tear, every wave of pain causing his body to convulse leading to even stronger agony until eventually consciousness fled him.
Vic once again opened his eyes to the light, he could still feel the intense pain of his taut skin but different, more like a background hum, a constant ache that with concentration he knew he could function with, though it combined now with a hunger as he'd never felt before. And once again, as if on cue, the door to the cell opened and the hooded figure shuffled in, carrying a length of knotted rope, "It's time to begin... First you'll learn to recite the litany of your sins, from your earliest recollection, and don't leave out any no matter how inconsequential. You must pay penance for all your sins in measure" Vic began begging for his life, his freedom; offering anything, everything. As the first sentences left his throat the figure began to beat him with the rope, the beating continued until once again darkness engulfed him.
The next time Vic awoke there was a wooden bowl within his chained reach, the smell of the blood in it overwhelmed his senses and before he was conscious of his own actions the bowl was empty; what he hadn't drank, he now wore. The ache of the hunger receded but did not leave altogether, instead it joined the chorus of continuous pain from his body. Vic's head became clear enough to be aware that he was not alone, the hooded figure was in the doorway "It is time to begin... recite the litany of your sins" As the memory of the previous beating and the beginnings of this one washed over him Vic began to cry out all the wrongs he could recall from the most heinous he had committed upon his victims from the asylum to the hunting knife he had stolen from his father as a child until once again darkness claimed him.
Vic could not tell how long this continued; weeks, months, even years but as time passed his world collapsed to just Death , Pain and his sins and he began to change; the cries of his sins became a mantra, an oath of change, of penance for himself and the world. The pain changed from something he fought through and against to something he welcomed, a path he walked toward redemption and the hooded figure changed from his captor to his master...
Vic woke once more in his cell and drank the bowl of blood, and awaited the arrival of his master, when something that had never happened before occured... he heard voices... one obviously belonging to his master but he did not recognize the other one...
Unknown "What have you done Burke, we gave you the information about the Sabbat and Dimitri's own machination's for you to pass on to Ganesh, Andrew and the other elders to avoid this war."
Burke "Why avoid this? through the pain of this time they shall move closer to redemption"
Unknown "That is not our way, we only bring pain to those that act against the path of redemption and death only to those that are beyond redemption."
Burke "Ah, but all non-believers act against the path and those who died WERE beyond redemption or gave there lives FOR the path even if they didn't know it"
Unknown "You've gone mad Burke but that is irrelevant now. You defied the will of the trinity and in so doing endangered the entire order. The trinity has decided that your path has ended!"
Burke "You can't do this... What about our plans for this city... what about Dimitri... You know what happened... I can..."
Unknown "The trinity will decide what's to be done about him, it is no longer your concern. RESTRAIN HIM!"
The sounds of a brief struggle reached Vic's ears and then the unknown voice spoke once more.
Unknown "Who is in the cell Burke?"
The cell door opened and Vic could see his master being held by two other creatures as deformed as he was and a third, the owner of the unknown voice...
Unknown "YOU MADE A CHILDE!! WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE ORDER? Does your arrogance know no bounds?"
Turning to Vic the creature approached, his fetid stench filling Vic's nostrils.
Unknown "Has he been indoctrinated?... we will see"
The creature reached out, taking hold of Vic's chin and staring deep into his eyes...
Vic felt the creature sifting through his mind
Unknown "...... You haven't even told him what he is now, Our ways, Our laws...... But you chose right, this one is in need of redemption and is... open to direction towards the path...... Rest Now, All will be explained"
At the command to rest he felt the darkness enveloping him.
"Wait..." the voices sounded so distant, barely perceptible "Does he know? Did you tell him?" the darkness claimed him before he could here the rest "She is pregnant... with his child..."
"Burke you endangered all of the orders plans for this region and risked exposing us to the rest of the Nosferatu and the other clans" speaking to the other, seen and unseen "Destroy him but leave the haven intact and bring the childe, maybe we can yet salvage our plans for this city" with that the unknown creature faded from sight.
TO BE CONTINUED