1 To New Beginnings

"Finally I'm free!"

Just outside of New Hope Mental Institution stands a rather plain-looking youth with seemingly no remarkable qualities. This 18 year old youth is Daniel Moore, a former patient of New Hope Mental Institution, and recently 'reformed' whack job.

Just six months ago Daniel stood before these very doors and willingly checked himself hoping to get better, but that would've been too much to ask for. Even with all the pills and the therapy things never changed. The visions never stopped and the voices were as loud as the day he first came in. The only thing that's truly changed for Daniel is the date and time. No amount of talking ever helped Daniel, and after six months he decided that enough was enough. The discharge itself was rather easy since no one thought he was any danger to himself or those around him, and so all Daniel had to do was sign some forms.

With arms wide open Daniel took a deep breath and savored his newfound freedom. Even though New Hope was not a bad place, and some part of Daniel felt like he was even going to miss the place, there were just too many things that he couldn't do or have while in he was a patient. One of the things Daniel missed the most was good food, not to mention how hard it was to have a normal conversation. With renewed vigor Daniel walked towards the parking lot where his cousin should be waiting to pick him up.

Walking past the mostly empty parking lot Daniel spotted a tall fair-skinned beauty leaning against the side of car. With her long brown hair laying gently to the side, the woman whose features were both feminine and heroic stands up and waves her arms beckoning Daniel to come closer. "Hey, Dan over here!"

Daniel picks up the pace and stands before his cousin awkwardly as he waits for the inevitable scolding he was about to get. In all of his depression and anxiety, Daniel had fogotten to tell his cousin about his decision to admit himself into New Hope and in all these 6 months she's never once visited. However, against all of his expectations she hugs him tightly.

"God how I've missed you," She holds him tightly almost as if she were afraid he'd leave again.

"Janet I'm so sorr-," before Daniel could finish his sentence, Janet's fist had firmly lodged itself against the side of his stomach

"Dam right you're sorry! Do you know how worried I was about you when you suddenly disappeared. If it wasn't because I recieved a call from my dad, I would've still been out there looking all over the place for you," though Janet was yelling at first it was slowly turning into a sob.

Feeling guilty Daniel lowered his voice in an attempt to coax her. "hey come on don't cry. Listen I'm really sorry. I promise it won't ever happen again," Even though he was in pain Daniel also felt warm knowing his cousin was truly worried about him. As his cousin, no as a man, Daniel couldn't allow himself to let her stay sad.

Daniel and his cousin have always mantained a good relationship with each other, since their parents were on great terms they would often visit each other. This meant that while Janet might be his cousin she was also his childhood friend, and he couldn't bear to see her crying. Daniel was now filled with self-loathing over having made such a hasty decision, and he realized how selfish he was acting back then.

"come on don't cry. I'm really truly sorry for not telling you before I left. Why don't we head back home and you can yell at me all you want," while trying his best to give her a gentle smile Daniel extends his hand.

"This... Daniel there's something I have to tell you," It was clear that Janet was nervous as she couldn't even look at Daniel.

"Whatever it is why don't we wait until we get back home first," Daniel had just left the hospital and felt that there was nothing that could bring his mood down at this point so he didn't really take her words to heart. It was only a few hours later that he realized how wrong he was.

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"This must be a joke," shocked, Daniel was standing in front of such an old house that if it were inspected would surely raise some safety concerns.

While they were in the car Janet told Daniel what happened since he left. For one, his uncle had sold his house after the accident and moved to Europe, forcing his cousin to move into her college dorm. Daniel however had been left without a home and there's no way he could rely on the rest of his family, not after what happened. Unfortunately this was not the end. According to his cousin, his uncle had made an agreement with an old friend of his, who owned an amusement park. If Daniel were to leave New Hope then he was to come and take over the haunted house, and in return he would be allowed to live in the staff breakroom as well as minimum wage, which leaves us to our current situation.

Standing in front of the haunted house, Daniel was unamused at just how drastically things have changed. "This must be a dream," Daniel sighs in despair knowing that he can no longer rely on his rich uncle for support.

"I'd say this is just desserts for leaving," His cousin, still a little angry from before, pouts as she remembers his sudden departure six months ago.

"still isn't this a little too much," Daniel complained but nothing could change the current situation. Whether he wanted to or not, Daniel was left with no choice but to take over the haunted house.

Perhaps feeling a little bad from the current situation, Janet tried to cheer him up "I mean it's not so bad. You have a place to live and you're getting paid. The owner was even nice enough to give you a full week before you have to start working."

Daniel considering how he could make homelessness work did not even hear what Janet said. Even if his uncle was eccentric at the very least he had always doted upon him and Janet. This move truly surprised him, and even now he can't possibly hope to comprehend what the old man was thinking.

"Whatever I just want to sleep. I don't even care anymore just point me to my room,"

"Daniel I have to go now, if I don't leave now I won't make it before they close the gates at my dorm. It's already Sunday and I have classes tomorrow, but I promise I'll come back to help you out Friday when I'm free." Feeling pity for Daniel, Janet handed him $50 along with the key to the house, before rushing to her car and driving away.

Depressed and with no energy to spare Daniel slowly walks into his new home and opens the door. If before Daniel was just depressed then now he's truly given up hope. The haunted house is littered with props laying across the floor and it's clear that some of there are even broken. Daniel now realized why the owner had given him a week before he started working.

Not to mention a week, I'd need a whole month if I wanted to get this place in working conditions

Crying silent tears Daniel heads to the staff room, where upon opening the door he is greeted by a rather moldy smell. The room itself is simple with two windows on the far end, a bed on the right corner and a small table with a couple of old wooden chairs arround it. Facing the peeling white wallpaper Daniel walks to the bed as tried to get used to the idea of living here.

I've truly hit rock bottom.

Looking at his watch Daniel realized that it will soon be midnight.

Things are just getting worse and worse

Deciding that he was too tired, Daniel thought that it was better to sleep now and leave all problems for future Daniel to fix, and so he jumps into bed causing a cloud of dust to float up and fill what little fresh air was left.

Think happy thoughts Daniel. You'll sleep now and when you wake up tomorrow it will all be better.

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Suddenly the sound of rushing water could be heard from the bathroom. Daniel, still half asleep, slowly rose up from the bed and limped into the staff bathroom only to find the faucet was letting out a jet of water. Normally this would've been a common occurrence in any household, but Daniel was supposed to be alone in a haunted house. Feeling a chill creep up his back, Daniel was now fully awake and the first thing he noticed was that the handle for the sink was untouched. No one had moved the handle but the water was still steadily crashing against the base of the sink.

"you're back again," Daniel sighs as he looks at the mirror where hiding in the far corner he can see her. A girl about 14 years of age whose entire body is soaking wet. Her feet bare as her white sundress sticks closely to get body.