Chapter 78

The elevator ride up was quick. Sonic had always wondered why the mansion looked so tall when before, all he really needed to explore was one floor. Looks like he was about to find out.

Ding.

The elevator had reached its destination. The second floor. The doors slid open, revealing a dining room of some kind. Tattered wallpaper with diamond shapes on it strewed the walls and floor. Some was even patched up on the ceiling with tape.

Sonic walked out of the elevator, sure the coast was clear. There were blacked out and boarded up windows, letting very little light trickle through the barriers. There was no overhead light, so the room was very dark.

Pico began to whimper due to the scary room, but Sonja gave him a kiss on the forehead. He calmed down after that. Luckily, there was nothing in here. Sonic turned the corner, and it looked like there was now a kitchen. Knives and other silverware littered the counter, there was an awful smell coming from the fridge, and the cupboards that should have been attached to the wall were now just heaps of broken wood on the counter. Glass that Sonic assumed was from the dishes was sprinkled onto the tiled floor.

Then, there it was. An elevator! Sonic breathed a sigh of relief when he reached it. He pressed the button, and there appeared a lit up elevator. Piling in, Pico danced in Sonja's arms, happy to be away from the dark if only a little.

The next elevator ride took longer, giving Sonic time to think. He was heartbroken seeing Pico be so scared. Sonic then realized that Pico had been living in fear his whole life. First, the predators in Green Hill. Then, all the monsters and mutants that roamed South Island. And now, a dark room.

Sonic meant it when he said he would make sure that from the time this was over onward, Pico would grow up happy. Sonic thought about all the great times they would have. And all the new experiences Pico would get to have with Sonic and Sonja. His first visit to the toy store... his first real meal... his first good night's sleep in a safe, warm crib. Later, maybe his first fun-filled, bright-skied adventure with Sonic and company. One not quite as traumatic and horrible as this one. Sonic smiled at these warm, lovely thoughts and picked up Pico from Sonja's arms. He let Pico hug his forehead and feel safe and loved. Like he deserved to be.

Ding.

The elevator doors slid open again. This time, the room was similar to the one where Marilyssa had killed Christina. The happy thoughts and serenity quickly left Pico. He began to squirm and grouse as Sonic struggled to keep ahold of him. Pico recognized this place, and he already had bad memories of it. So it was best to keep their visit here short. Although as Sonic ran for the elevator at the side of the room, he noticed two things.

One, the cages were empty. No strange creatures to be found.

Two...

The vault room was empty. There was a large hole in the wall that somebody could climb out of. Strange.

Being in the room where you know someone died, even long ago, is terrifying. It feels like no matter where you go in such a place, the thought follows you that somebody met their end there. It doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel safe. Like the same fate could await you. As irrational as it may be, that's just how it feels. Everyone was subject to this feeling as they ran for the elevator.

Many elevator rides followed this one, to rooms that were commonplace in any house with nothing to note in them. But then, they reached one floor. One floor that was not commonplace at all. One very strange. One full of mirrors.

Continue to Chapter 79