Alea iacta est
By
Susan Waterflower Bell
Sequel to ‘The Sealed Room’

Susan took a deep breath as the brought her bike to rest next to a old tree. Reaching into the wire basket she pulled out a good length of chain. Quickly she wrapped the iron links around trunk of the tree and the frame of her bike. A good iron lock brought from the local hardware store would safety secure it. Quickly turning upon the heel of her shoes she came face to face with her main objective of tonight.

Her objective tonight was the old Saint Joan Sanatorium. A large gothic mansion settled in the heart of the rolling pastors and marsh’s of the country side. The Sanatorium was built by the  Jesuits around the turn of the century hence is very catholic sounding name of Saint Joan Sanatorium. Or SJS.

The Sanatorium held a special place in the minds of the population of Oshima. That special part of the mind that brings inhuman surgical experiments performed upon the ill in hopes of curing them from some mental dieses or physical affliction.  Or a place where wards where placed chained to steel bench’s and buckets of ice water where thrown at them in hopes of shocking the mental problem from there body. Such practices where often to common in the heyday of the Sanatorium movement.

“Oh bloody hell,” Said casting her eyes over the landscape. The fading red bricks seemed almost blood red in the light cast by the full autumn moon. She slowly shifted her sapphire pink eyes down the narrow gravel road that seemed to snake its way up the door of the decaying structure.

One more, one more haunted place to explore and you will become a legend. Already there starting to talk about you in the corridors . Some of the younger students even look up to. Thought Susan to herself as she pushed upon the old iron gate. The creaking of the old metal sent chills down the spine of her back.  And in the wake of the chills left a lingering feeling of dread.

“Allea iacta est.” Whispered Susan as she stepped toward the looming castle looking building.  In the pale moon light she could make out the countless small darken shadows that seemed to perfectly square. Slowly she took a deep breath and released it.  And then it happen as her body seemed to go into auto piloted. She traveled back to a meeting that took place earlier that day.

***

“Very impressive Susan, you will be a welcome member of the Supernatural Club. From what you have written on your report it says you have explored several haunted locations around the Parish. You have even explored the sealed doorway. It seems luck and courage is upon your side.” Said a young women looking up a piece of lined school paper. She smiled a pearly white smile toward her.

Going by the tailoring of her sailor uniform one could tell she was of the upper class. She had something of a mothers flare about her and her long flowing sapphire blue hair that framed her face gave her the looks of a princess from the story books she had read as a child.

“Yes you dome seem quite talented, Though you have no official records of your visit’s to such places. One can tell be looking into your eyes you tell no lies. Though I would like to test your courage.” Chimed in a young man that sat next to the women with blue hair.  His face was framed by long coco brown hair his face held the expression of a prince or a young untested samurai.



“Test my courage!” Said Susan rising for the first time from her chair. She blinked and felt her face flush with color. She could not really tell if the boy was teasing her or suggesting something. Once she felt her flush dye down a little she finally felt the courage return to her.

“What do you suggest then?” She said her titling her head to the side.

“Well, I do suggest that, you Miss. Bell go tonight and explore the old sanatorium. Think of it as a rite of passage. You will be required to snap several pictures of the building and the inside.” Said the young man smiling a little to himself.

Susan’s face paled a little as heard the news. The old sanatorium or better known by its proper name Saint Joan Sanatoriums was one of the possible most haunted locations in the whole parish. People that had seen the old train station in Bento and even walked among the blacken ruins of the Old Sakura would not dare to even venture near the old building.

“If its too much for you, I promise you Susan we will not make you do it. But if you do, I think since this is a little too much for a new member you shall be reward with something special.” Said the blue hair women  peering her eyes toward Susan. “

“Something special,” Susan taking a deep breath. She knew that becoming a member of the supernatural club came with its own little set of perks and privileges.

“Yes, I do agree with Keiko, I would suggest that upon completion of this task up be moved from member to accepted. And with that promotion will come the right to wear are ring upon right figure. A small silver band with your name engraved within.”  Spoke the young man again.

A little color returned to Susan face. And slowly a shadow of a smile could be seen forming upon her lips. Once more it seemed that fate was pulling her toward some old haunted place, though this time there would be a little reward waiting for her once she had completed this task.

“Then the matter is settled. “ Said Keiko with a small smile. Still wearing a small smile she reached for a piece of line paper and pen.  Quickly she inked a quickly message. Once the paper was signed she rolled it up and handed it her toward her.

“You can call this your official Letter of Marque.” She paused a little and then quickly added. “This offal states your under the orders of the Oshima Middle School Supernatural Club to look into  the haunting of Saint Joan Sanatorium. I warn you, it carries no legal weight but it does carry some weight with the student body.”

Slowly Susan stood up from her seat and walked over and with both hands she took a the rolled up letter. Once the letter was in her hand she stepped back and offered the two students a formal bow.

***



A sudden slap of cool autumn wind knocked her out of her day dreaming. It seemed her little flash back had carried her quite a ways. Quickly she reached into  the pocket of her light cotton costume. A sudden rush of panic flooded over her.  Quickly she pulled her hand out of the pocket and placed it in the other one. A few seconds later her pounding heart was slowly slowing down as her hand ran across the plastic surface of her cell phone.

Once here fingers where wrapped around the phone she fished it out. Susan always carried her phone with her. It was both a tool of safety and one of comfort. She knew if she ever felt afraid or scared her sister or mother would be one quick phone call away. Or she hopped.
Once her phone was in her hand she pressed down upon a side button that caused the screen to light up. Quickly peering down at the light up screen she frowned the time right now was ten fifteen. She had been gone exactly three hours. Two of those hours where her traveling time. The other hour and fifteen minutes could be counted as the time it took her to walk from the gate to door.

“Well,” She said taking a deep breath as slide her phone back into her pocket. “Best get this show on the road.” And with that  gave the old wooden door a push. Slowly as the door swung open upon its old rusted hinges a darken word was reveled.

Quickly she took a deep breath and stepped inside. Once inside she noticed something strange,  all around her where personal items. Records covered with a thin layer of dust lay scattered about.  The air too smelled thickly of decaying wood and wet paper.

A sudden chill ran down Susan black as she stepped further in. Now she could see the walls, the walls once white washed sheetrock had turned yellow with the passage of time. Quickly she raised her phone and took a brief snapshot.  One down four more to go.

This is just like Old Sakura or The Room. Thought Susan as she reached her hand up and placed it upon the old rotting wall. She took a deep breath slowly she turned her eyes to the right of her. A low shuffling upon the floor seemed to bounce upon the walls. A shadow crossed her heart and a chill passed over her. Wishing she had something other than a phone with her to use in her defense she pressed onward.

“Please come out, I’m not going to hurt you. I can help you.” Said Susan whispering softy into the darkness. She gathered her courage as the waited for her response.  If any response would come that is, a small part of her wished none would.

“No, but some will harm you.” A voice responded. Male by the depth and tone. The way the words where a man skilled at his trade and a holder of a high degree.

Several seconds passed before the glowing form of  man appeared toward the end of the narrow hallway. He was dressed in a white button down shirt tucked into brown trousers. Italian brown leather shoes covered his feet. A black tie and a white coat completed the outfit. The specter wore a worried look upon his face.

“I promise you, they will harm you if there given a chance.” Came the doctor again. And slowly he turned upon the heel of his shoe and peered over at her.  His facial expressions had changed now he sported a grin a grin that brought to mind a demonic being smiling toward a struggling angle.

Susan felt her blood turn cold as ice cubes as she took notice of the demonic expression. The air around her become heavy and the shadows that dotted the hallway seemed to take a life of there own.  Surrounded by shadows she could only gather her courage and press on. Courage would be her best weapon now, it was her only weapon.

And then she heard it and felt it. A loud cackle that filled the hallway. And soon the tall lean figure of a man appeared before her.  Slowly the arms took on shape and so did the legs. And then a head appeared. Soon a set of orange and yellow eyes a slit soon appeared in the middle of the two glowing orbs.

Susan blinked and quickly raised up her camera and snapped a picture. Of the forming form, never in her brief thirteen years of living and brief year and a half of exploring haunted areas had ever seen anything like this.  It paled when compared to the demons and monsters t the folklorist tomes.

Slowly the slit grew and two rows of sea peal white teeth appeared, a long red tongue spurted forth from the narrow gap. Quickly the beast raised his forming arms and with a bone chilling howl shadow claws where formed.



“HOLY FUCKING! PISSING PRIEST! BLOODY FLEE BITTEN!” Screamed Susan as she felt her face drain of color. She was scared now,  had she once more walked into a layer of a demon. One that feasted-
One the pour foolish souls of children.

“Foolish girl, your trapped here. Welcome to hell.” Said the beast licking his tongue and narrowing his eyes toward the tasty treat in front of him. He raised his claw ands and started inching his way toward her. Oh her blood would taste so good, it had been ages and ages since he had ever tasted a maiden.

“That’s what you think,” Said a second voice.  A few seconds later a arrow flew through the air. The arrow head thumped as its tipped point came into contact with the shadow skin. A bright flash of light filled the air a few seconds later.

The beast screamed and stumbled about as its eyes scanned the surrounding darkness.

“That’s not a meal you demonic son of a bitch! That’s my daughter!” Boomed a loud female voice. And th- ere in the pale gray moonlight cast by the full autumn moon stood bow notched and raised stood the most powerful shrine-maiden in all the land.  A women by the name Elizabeth Grace Waterflower.

“Mommy!” Cried Susan as she spun upon the heel of her polished black Mary-Jane’s.  She knew that tone of voice well. The panic look of fear was now completely gone from her face.

“Oh how sweet, oh what a treat..” Said the demon narrowing his eyes toward the faint outline of the women. He drew in a deep breath and slowly wrapping his clawed figures around the wooden shaft of the arrow and with a sudden shown of force its claws broke it in half. “Two for the price of one!”

Elizabeth raised a eyebrow and slowly a smirk formed upon her face.  There was nothing more thrilling than the sudden rush of combat. She narrowed her pink eyes toward the demon. Quickly she reached down and pulled from the brown leather quiver that rested at her hip another enchanted arrow.

The beast blinked and then without another word being spoken started to charge toward the women, His sharp claw hands where raised like a swordsman sword and powerful blood lust clouded the lens of his eyes.

“Mommy!” Cried Susan tears now streaming down her eyes.  She started to rush toward the demon hopping to throw herself in front of its claws, using her own body as a shield.

She smiled softy and notched the arrow and took a deep breath, she drew it back and took a careful aim and then holding her breath in she released her missile. The feather tips cut through the air and thumped as the enchanted head pierced demons skull.

“Nobody fucks with my daughter!”