Chapter 5

Anita went back to her room she was just going to have one more search through her stuff grab a few extra's that may give her an edge well she was going to grab anything she had taser spare bullets lock picks anything that might save her life. She paused there was someone outside her room. She carefully opened the door prepared for the worst, When she saw who it was Anita relaxed taking her hand away from the gun she didn't want to waist a silver bullet, Emma Weight was there she looked nervous moving backwards and forwards she turned around when she heard Anita approaching. Anita came over to her “whats the matter?” She cleared her throat calming herself “look Anita I have been thinking this through, the entire situation could be my fault.” she held up her hands as if to ward off a blow “If I hadn't done those things for Sikes the critters in the asylum might still be sleeping peacefully.” Anita looked at her “are you sure you want to stay around you went through a lot, I am surprised you haven't headed out of hear already?” Emma didn't have solid  answers but it seemed a part of her wanted a resolution, she explained it as best she could “I need to do something and I want to see how it ends.” 

Anita could do with help but she had other concerns “Are you OK I mean physically, and What do you plan to do about it then what is the something you plan to do.” Emma thought “I don't feel 100% but I am OK I can go the distance on this,  I will help you I guess I am partially responsible for this mess to live with myself I need to help in some way.” she paused letting the enormity of what she had volunteered for sink in she was still thinking fitting the puzzle pieces together well trying to. Guilt appeared to be the overriding emotion, but there was so much unanswered she continued going a little of topic, “I wonder who sharks agent was probably someone who knew enough not to go opening the doors in there.” Anita had to agree but it was not a priority at the moment she reassured Emma “they will come out of the wood work eventually, it cant have been Jill or Reggie or Clarissa.” Emma twitched visibly at that name she looked angry, maybe a little at her self for getting into the situation but mostly at Clarissa. “I don't think I would have shed a tear if Clarissa got eaten by a critter, however I don't think Reggie quite deserved it and there are a lot of far more innocent people who might get hurt who may have already. Some people missed roll call Lilly said some guests and some staff are unaccounted for maybe injured trapped. I might be able to help some one and make up in some way.” Anita kept it to herself they would probably be dead but pointing that out would not help the situation.

Anita smiled “I have a reliable informant if we need more help there's some one we can dig up.” Emma looked at her a confused look “do you mean that literally that we would have to dig someone or something up?” Anita sighed “yes its not really a joke there are a few people who were experimented on and they can still reason, they are still on our side.”Emma looked at her disbelieving “What are you crazy one of the critters is on our side.” Anita corrected her “apparently not just a creature they still retain there brain if not there free will.” Anita kept her remaining thoughts to herself, for an allies it was perhaps better if Bill didn't have any free will, and if it should be a set up then I she had silver and that was meant to kill them. Anita found that she was taking quite a bit on faith when she examined it, that ticket stub bill would help them that silver would work. Could it be a trap it seemed far two elaborate for that. Voicing her doubts would probably lose her volunteer so Anita kept them to herself. They got a couple of shovels from the gardeners shed it was locked, but that didn't stop Anita for very long after all it was only a tool shed with a cheep lock.

Emma looked around for a weapon in the shed Anita looked at her “relax just hit them with the shovel” Emma nodded as if that was a ground breakingly brilliant idea, again Anita considered the wisdom of taking Emma with her but she was not a complete novice and she knew the dangers of the place. Emma griped the shovel like a baseball bat ready to swing at every shadow and rustle of vegetation. They started moving across the health farm. Something moved towards them. Emma got her first look at one of the ex Patients as it probably a he walked towards them. Emma gasped “the eyes there wrong,” the zombie moved in on them ever hungry and attracted by the noise. Emma screeched an angry growl “Clarissa!” and started to swing at the zombie beating it down with the shovel. It was quickly on its back taking massive damage yet very quickly healing that damage its skull was flattened a few times but it just seemed to form back together like wax melting in reverse. 

Emma was starting to realize that it did practically nothing attacking these things head on though, she had got some of her frustration worked out of her system. Anita made a note not to let Emma anywhere near Clarissa. Anita hesitant to use the gun in caste they attract more of the things with the loud noise, she was also not particularly willing to use up her small stock of ammunition. Anita saw something out of the corner of her eye she formed a plan, she gestured towards Emma pointing with the shovel she was not sure how smart these things were she was about to find out. The ex patients were deadly in a confined space where there was no room to move out of the way but hear in the open they were less of a threat. It was relatively easy for the two women to lure it towards the area Anita had gestured to. It was a little like a bull fight the creature had no strategy except to charge, a shovel in the right place and the charge turned into a trip. In the end it was fairly easy to get rid of it all be it temporarily to shove the zombie patient into a pool. The creature looked mildly puzzled as it sank to the bottom of the pool. Anita held her breath it moved along the bottom straight into the wall unable to climb unable to work out any exit. The to women breathed a sigh of relief it cant get out from the pool. Thankfully the dam thing was too stupid to climb out of the pool, there were probably plenty of ways of exploiting the dumb stupidity of the monsters but then there were other creatures that were quite a bit more intelligent that they had to watch out for if what she had heard was correct.

There good mood from that small victory was soon over, they came across the door between the asylum and the health farm. It had been pulled to pieces beaten down it looked like tinfoil rather than a solid thick steel door. It brought home the realization that the creatures were wandering about without anything really stopping them and how dangerous the creatures could be. They had to be very careful they were moving into a much more dangerous area. Anita didn't speak she looked Emma in the eyes silently warning her to be very quiet gesturing as if her lips were sown shut Emma nodded slowly. The two of them Followed the map it showed a number of paths that were quite over run. The gardens would have been a very therapeutic and relaxing woodland walk at one point but now it was just a slog through the undergrowth. There was a creak and Anita swore she saw something human shaped in the trees it would be harder to dodge the creatures, but then they could climb a tree to get away. Anita didn't like the idea of being stuck up a tree, she gestured to Emma and they moved out of the way of whatever it was. 

Emma thought she heard something in woods she gestured up, reluctantly Anita climbed into a tree pulling Emma up behind her, just as they moved up a pack of three patients moved right under them not seeing them the creatures were quite dumb. They made sure that they were long gone before getting out of the tree and continuing on there way. Anita looked at the map there was a particularly odd shaped tree almost like a capital F it marked the spot. Anita was sure that they had found the right spot to dig up ticket stub bill it was almost peaceful pleasant, Anita had to wonder if someone had cleared the area every couple of years maybe Hanna chambers or maybe even the current Higgs. 

Anita was glad that the soil was lose and sandy it was easy and more importantly quiet as they carefully dug around the spot marked on the map. They kept an eye out for any more of the zombie patients about just in case something happened and they needed to react quickly. After about fifteen minutes they were almost finished Digging up the grave of ticket stub Bill, once again a hint of doubt spread through Anita she considered filling in the hole turning around and just going, she was in too deep she mentally shook herself and continued on. Very soon there is the dull thud the sound of a spade hitting wood, they found an object not buried very deep. They quickly revealed the outline of a coffin. Emma sighed pushed the edge of the spade into the gap between two weathered bits of wood there was a creak a shower of dust and earth and the coffin lid sprang open. The two of them gingerly approached the open coffin looking inside.

Inside the coffin there was a body dressed in an old looking uniform strait out of the first asylum. A peaceful if that was the right word expression adorned the face of a  plain looking man. He looked like the pictures Anita had seen of the staff. He twitched a little like some one waking up from a deep sleep there was a sigh. He looked at them blinking his eyes there was a touch of curiosity, his eyes looked like a humans but they were still a bit wrong he yawned in a very un-zombie like way he moved to a half sitting position Anita and Emma took a half step back they were both trying to think of something to say. Bill was the first to speak his voice was quite normal “I am guessing you ladies are friends of Hanna chambers right?” Anita nodded holding up the locket Hanna had given to her, Emma tried to say something but the words stuck in her mouth. Anita pointed to the locket “dose this mean anything to you” Bill stretched his arms and nodded “oh yeah I guess Hanna is busy with Courtney or something that why she sent you to give me a wake up call rather than coming herself?” Anita nodded “I think she is getting people out of the health farm at the moment.”

Bill looked at her “A heath farm oh well I thought the place would have made a cracking golf course.” Anita reached out a hand to help him up, “no its a health farm lots of exercise and clean living.” Bill sighed as he got to his feet and dusted himself off “It would be my hope that things are looking like they are going south rather than already gone south?” Anita looked at him shaking her head “its a bit to late.” He nodded solemnly “yes I guess all hell must have broken lose to bad, truth be told I could almost feel it.” Anita looked at him questioningly “can you sense the patients or what is left of them?” he shook his hand “some times yes some times no” Anita was a bit disappointed Bill looked at the coffin “at least I have this to smooth things over with the residents.” He reached into the box and removed a large sledge hammer. The faces of the hammer  had been ground neatly into two squares the handle had been varnished there were leather wraps for the hand grips,  it looked like a weapon that had had some use, Anita guessed it had been used to smack the zombies into submission the last time they got out of hand. 

He stepped out and put his sledge hammer over his shoulder “me and the persuader hear can get most of them back in there cells quieten them down” Anita looked at him “how long did that take last time?” bill shrugged “too long I was chasing those morons around the grounds for two months before we were shore we got every one of them. But each time they get out of there sleep they seem to get a little stronger not sure why but then the same applies to me.” Emma queried it to clarify the point “so you get stronger over time with the serum?” Bill nodded “I guess so the first time the patients were about human in there level of strength durability, but the time after that they were much tougher it took much more effort to slow them down and stop them.” 

Emma looked at him “what do we do now you have seen this all before what happens? Bill shrugged “i am not a thinker, it Might be a good idea to speak to Courtney she must have some idea of what is going on.” Anita tried to pump him for info “were you about when a patient went by the name of soapy was about” he shrugged “no last time I was up the only patient anyone mentioned was a Joe Hamilton caused the trouble last time, not entirely sure what happened to him.” Anita nodded “I herd that name mentioned it fits he was a mobster that tried to avoid prison by claiming insanity.” Bill continued back on topic trying to get back up to speed “Hanna is she running the place or is Higgs still around.” Emma answered “I guess from your perspective its Higgs son now.” Bill nodded it was a familiar pattern “Probably like his farther trying to make up for his bastard ancestor right?” Anita nodded “a bit yes lets go.” Bill started to walk in the direction of the health farm “I hope I don't run into Cranwell again he creeps me out.” 

Anita looked at him, “were Cranwell and the rest really that bad?” Bill nodded “Oh yes they were monsters before they were given the serum and I have met them afterwards they became more monstrous as time went on. I don't think I would want to see what they have become now but you know what we will probably end up running into at least one of them.” Emma looked worried “your still going to help us even if you have to deal with your old colleagues?” He shrugged “its part and parcel of everything I can agrees to help you or I don't but I still am going to help you because of what the doctor did to me.” Anita looked at him “I was told about the orderlies but I haven't seen one of them yet they follow orders but don't think don't remember, you were an experiment between that and what happened to Hanna right?” He nodded “sometimes I think they got the better end of the deal no mind no personality at least they don't have to think about things, I was lucky that Hanna stole that locket thing from Higgs very early I wasn't his puppet for very long.” 

They were about half way back when Bill scratched his head “I think I can feel something close by” Emma and Anita kept an eye out. Two of the zombified patents headed for them Bill was surprised by his own strength one swing of his sledge hammer sent the first creature sprawling crushing it, the monster slowly started to regenerate but it was down for a good time. Anita and Emma didn't have to much trouble bashing down the second creature flooring it with there shovels. Leaving it in a position where bill could deliver a debilitating blow to the head. Bill picked the first creature up and skewed him on a branch he shrugged “we called that guy whistler would never talk just whistled, strange place strange what you remember” the second creature he folded in half and wedged between two branches of a large tree. “That should keep them out of our hair for the duration of this thing come on lets get moving ladies.”

They came back to the health farm the doors were broken open Hanna was there, a large wrench held in one hand when she was sure who it was she put it down. There was someone that looked like one of the guests they had a bad wound to there right arm and leg Hanna was busy bandaging them up as best she could she glanced in there direction for half a second, “good you found bill any trouble? Anita responded quickly “ran into a few of the former patients not very smart but persistent.” Bill looked at her “its good to see you” Hanna nodded “its good to see you to.” Anita prompted Hanna “we think Sikes might be active might have someone she has done a deal with?” 

Hanna didn't look surprised “what makes you think that?” Emma told a half truth “we found a letter signed the shark that was her nickname.” Hanna nodded as she continued to wrap bandages “its possible it happened before at least I think It did, I couldn't prove it but she has more subtlety than the other two.” bill turned to her “so what are we going to do about that bitch” Hanna looked at them “we leave it for now Cranwell is the main problem he is active out and about he did this.” She gestured to her patient,”when we sealed him in he has gotten out there must be another way go, to Courtney she has the building plans the records.” Bill paused he looked a bit nervous Hanna laid a hand on his shoulder, “She started to think again started to be reasonable maybe because the others woke up, bill remember the usual rules.” 

Bill led them back through the grounds to the asylum proper, it was a fairly quick journey and there were no patients or anything else wandering about. They went into the lobby of the asylum then turned left into a main corridor through the asylum they found a hidden door in a plane looking wooden panel. A fairy narrow set of spiral stairs went up five or six floors up. They had a few flashlight that they had picked up from the health farm at the top off the stairs Bill gestured for them to stop. “I knew Courtney before this happened and I have spoken to her after she turned, the process it didn't go well for her.” Anita looked at him “is she dangerous?” Bill nodded slowly “I would suggest you don't look directly at her best for your sanity and your unlikely to upset her.” They moved slowly Bill sighed “I would say there are a number of rules when dealing with her. One don't touch her books unless she gives one, rule two don't touch the webs even if they are in the way, rule three don't look directly at her, and part of that don't shine a light at her she hates that.”

They moved forwards there was something akin to a corridor it looked tiny there was something lying on the floor. When they got close to it the object moved ever so slightly. Bill looked at it there was a cocoon of white material around it. Bill scratched his head “I think this is one of the orderlies one of the type two serum guys some one sent him up hear and it looks like Hanna dealt with him before he could do anything.” 
Ticket stub bill shivered “well this place gives me the creeps but Courtney she loved it up hear dry books peace and quiet.” The room was lined with functional wooden panels the roof tiles were probably mounted on them. There were large thick spiderwebs far to substantial to be produced by a normal spider adorning the rafters. The Place was full of paperwork books reports notepads all carefully and neatly arranged on shelves. Anita looked around “hello Hanna sent us.” they could feel a presence almost a cold spot watching them Emma trembled and Anita had to catch herself it was above them, Anita had to resist shining her torch upwards. They had now met Courtney in her attic, well as close to meeting her as anyone was willing to go. There was something up in the webs where did the webs come from it was best not to ask. Anita spoke “Courtney do you know anything about Nicky the soap carmine?” there was a rustling above them. Bill gestured towards her Bill looked at Anita “lets keep it short” he turned to Courtney staring up “Cranwell is causing trouble again can you help us get to him?”

There was a creaking noise then an impossibly fast rattling as something moved amongst the rafters quick as a flash it came down into a pile of books. Anita had her gun half way drawn bill shook his head “she is just looking for something to help us.” there was a rustling of paper and a dull thud as a book was dropped in front of Anita. She looked at it, the item was an old bible she opened it up it was hollow there was a key a code inside with a scrap of paper that seemed to be a map. Bill looked into the shadows “thanks I think we will be going.”

As Anita left the room she could feel her heart beating rapidly she had a clue something to go on, she could feel the revolver the six bullets in it she could feel the weight of them the prospect of exchanging them for information of leverage. Bill slowly guided them around the inside of the asylum down the stairs back into the main building then down into the service corridors that ran beneath the place where the pipes went. They followed the map they detoured once to avoid a patient a fight inside the small space was to be avoided. There was a door at the end of one corridor a particularly heavy door a two piece lock held it secure the code and four tumblers released the bolt half way then the key did the rest the door sprung open. They were at the bottom of a flight of steps going up the flight of steps they came into a chapel it was a strange place there were large windows but they were sealed behind large steel grills. There were pews and seats but they had places on them to attach and secure a patient by steel hoops and other various unpleasant means anyone attending one of confessor Cranwell's services would not do so by choice.

There was a door open some sort of chanting could be heard. Anita handed her original gun to Emma she whispered “this has lead bullets in it, it wont kill them but it will slow them down aim for the face or the legs.” They moved forwards Bill cringed “why did it have to be him?” Confessor Collin Cranwell was a twisted abomination he was seven feet tall his legs seemed to have elongated the trunk of his body and his neck were extended his arms bulged with muscle. His gangly frame was supported with a crucifix that he was using as a walking stick or cane it was wrapped in barbed wire with several nails driven through it he had turned a religious icon into little more than a club. His clothes had been torn and shredded due to his growth spurt he had used black drapes to patch and repair them. He was muttering in Latin over two people sitting in chairs. Bill looked at him with utter hatred. “He was a priest, started as a lay preacher served at the old sanatorium he was a yes man to Higgs.” Bill continued getting a good grip on his sledge hammer. “He was killed thrown off the steeple but he came back, we walled him up inside the abandoned chapel we thought that was the end of it but I guess you cant get rid of evil so easily.” 

He looked at them his eyes off center twisted but still some how working “welcome to gods house welcome to a place of gods revelations.” Bill spoke to Anita “he always did find himself happiest in his re-education chamber.” Confessor Cranwell grinned his voice was twisted with a strange almost metallic resonance to it not human. “I am not alone some of the faith full are still with me after all of these years,” he clicked his fingers from behind two pillars two patients dressed as alter servers stood up like puppets eyes red and blank two of his students looked on. He looked at them “God has blessed me I am immortal” Bill looked at him “that's horse shit you were exposed to a variant 3 serum you have to thank Higgs not God.” “Whatever you believe I know the truth!” Anita looked at him, “you were dormant for so many years you must have found way out of this place tell us what happened?”

He grinned “some help might have come from the pit bull Sikes, I found a door that was closed to me open and a brief note from her, I must thank her one day by ripping her lungs out and watching them regrow.” Anita looked closer He had got Hillary Johnes and one guest of the health farm, a very buxom female that she could not place. The pair of them were very uncomfortably bound in iron chains. There hands were pulled high up there backs locked inside crushing metal mittens. Thick wide chokingly tight collars stopped them from moving there necks. There mittens were linked to there collars very tightly loop after loop of tight chain was wrapped around there torsos crushing there arms and pining there breasts to bulge an angry red color from the tight constriction. There legs were folded ankle to thigh with tight unyielding cuffs making there legs useless. There both wore Chasity belts that looked so tight that they cut into to the flesh the belts seemed to hold large iron plugs in place adding to the women's considerable discomfort. They look terrified gagged with something like a scolds bridal they had iron gags panels of metal tightly closing off any speech.

Anita looked at Cranwell “there had to be a way to deal with this there has to be a way forwards just let the people go give us what we what and you can go back to sleep let us end this amicably.” He looked at her “what do you mean I have these two fine ladies to educate and I have much more work to do.” Anita looked at him “we have silver we can kill you just give us the hostages and what ever you have and it can end without you dying.” He shook his head “you have no way to kill me it is just a bluff” Anita looked at him “there must be something you want let us make an exchange do you know about carmine.” Cranwell grinned taking a step forwards “no more talk no more negotiation I have a book from that sinner it will do you no good you and your little friend will soon be chained up like these two ready to receive there punishment!”

Anita now knew where a second diary from Nicky soap she had no more reason to play nice. The negotiations if that was what It could be called were going down hill, Cranwell took one step forwards his two students started to move forwards. Anita seemed to have all the time in the world, bill charged forwards his sledgehammer berrying itself in Cranwell the confessor smacked him across the room. Anita had the revolver out and leveled at the first student a single shot and his head was gone no healing the silver did work. A fraction of a second the second student was gone. Emma unloaded the pistol into Cranwell's knee he toppled over bill stuck him again and again. Anita walked over put the revolver to his head and pulled the trigger. Once he was still moving twice and he was moving  but less a third time and a fourth and there was no more Cranwell he was gone. He must have taken ten regular bullets a dozen strikes from bills sledge hammer and four silver bullets but he was dead the two bound women looked relieved. 

Emma set about freeing the two victims after they were shore that there were no other critters about. Anita looked around for the key and the dairy that Cranwell had spoken of. Bill busied himself making sure that Cranwell was dead and not coming back taking a knife he found and hacking Cranwell into small pieces. It was a laborious task removing all the restraints one ancient padlock after another held them all closed one by one anita undid the locks after a while she started to pick them it was quicker than getting the old worn key to fit. After Cranwell's two victims were released they dressed in what was left of there clothes both a bit worse for where, Emma had to help them dress there arms had been tightly pinioned for to long and would take many hours to recover. Bill confirmed that the silver had worked and Cranwell and the two others were showing absolutely no signs of regeneration. Anita found a hidden safe and cracked it open, there was an ornate key and a book from Nicky the soap and Cranwell's diary Anita quickly skim read the documents digesting as much information as she could she became queasy looking at Cranwells diary as it luridly described the way he punished sinners. 

The two victims of Cranwell babbled a little bit as they were gently lead back through the asylum proper and into the health farm. Anita led Hillary while Emma half carried the unknown health farm visitor. They were quite and slow they might have missed a few of the re-awakened patients but it was hard to tell. They were much less bold now that they had people to look after Anita didn't have any silver bullets left she was out of options except hide and run. Hiding was better than trying to outpace one of the creatures especially when she had the two victims in tow higgs was free with his sledgehammer to lend an immediate solution if something cropped up. They got back to the health farm Mr Higgs was helping Hanna with a stretcher they had a blanket over it, it was clear someone one had not survived there were bandages and gauze all over the place, it looks like they had tried. Hanna and Higgs put the stretcher down Hanna turned to face them “You don't need to tell me what happened the world is a little cleaner now that Cranwell is no longer hear, I no longer feel his presence.” 

Emma looked at Higgs “why don't you get these two out of hear Higgs nodded and lead the two victims away “don't worry ladies I will soon have you nice and snug.” Hanna chambers looked them over, “you got away unscathed I assume you had to use the silver bullets” Anita nodded “they are all gone but it was needed to put Cranwell down” she nodded “I guess it was warranted to end him I can fell one of my friends wakening up he can shift the balance in our favor. Bill take them to see Nickolas” Anita turned to bill Who is Nickolas? Bill gestured to the door “I will explain on the way.” Anita took the pistol back from Emma and reloaded it she could at least do a bit off temporary damage to stop a patient if they ran into one. The little group headed off while they were heading out following bills directions Hanna sighted picked up a shovel and headed out to do what needed to be done. 

Bill explained it as they took a overgrown path through the woods. “The original Doctor Higgs for his experiments he needed to make a lot of very delicate machines to refine and produce the original serum I understand that such machines you can probably order out of a catalog now or something like that, but back then you needed a precise machinist to build something like that. Everything like it was a custom job, as a result he found a bright young engineering student Nicholas Gomez, the man never carried out one of the experiments but he had helped cause all that suffering, he tried to take his own life but it was not a very good attempt I stopped him from hanging himself. He had already been injected with the type three serum so it would not have worked anyway. He was interested in extended life virtual immortality when  Higgs promised it, he kept his eyes and mouth shut to the suffering around him as the serum was developed. He only felt guilt at the end when it was two late he only asked questions when it was too late for an answer to be any use, he was a mechanical genius all the locks traps secrets you found he probably had a hand in most of them.”

They reached the end of the track there was a large stone building hidden in a dip in the land. Bill gestured forwards “this is Gomez's machine shop” Anita moved carefully now that Cranwell was dead the patients seemed to have quietened down one had been wandering about almost sedately at the start of the path they were easy to move around, they had seen no more of them in quite a while, it could not be that easy. The opened a sticky side door that creaked with a lack of use and entered a dusty machine shop cloths had been pulled away form various lathers and tables someone had been busy, The engineer Nicholas Gomez looked perfectly human he was working at a desk scattered with tools some device that consisted of a tank and various tubes. He was meticulous slow precise gestures an economy of effort and motion. He turned around and looked at bill, they shook hands  “Its good to see you Bill I felt something and I was awake please introduce me to these two ladies.” Bill gestured towards them “this is Anita and Emma they are helping Hanna clean the place up, we got Cranwell.” Gomez grinned “Let me guess the silver bullets I made Higgs grandson worked right?” Anita nodded “they certainly do, did you have any more there are still plenty of patients out there.”

Gomez thought about it for a few seconds “I might have, you probably know about me I took the variant 3 serum willingly I thought it would extend life but I sleep I dont live and its development came at two high a price.” he paused thinking “Some of the side effects are bad you saw Cranwell I assume you might have also seen Courtney?” Anita understood “we didn't exactly see Courtney but I got the general idea of what happened to her.” He looked at her “you have to understand that I am telling you this so you don't make my mistakes we were not meant to live so long not meant to be changed this way make sure that you don't make these mistakes.” Anita looked at him “I get your meaning how come your not part of Higgs health farm?” He shrugged “Maybe the serum I have is different or just reacts differently to me I have been semi active like bill I sleep I am not sure why?” Anita pumped him for info “it is a long shot but did you ever meet anyone called Nicky sometimes called himself soapy.” 

Gomez grinned “you think I have many visitors in this forgotten machine shop in the asylum grounds, I see the cleaners from time to time.” Anita looked around “these machines have been used cared for you must have done something” he shrugged “I built devices Dr Hadrian Higgs I allowed, allowed him to refine the serum recipe and create the original now I tried to make amends, I mean I try to make amends.” Anita judged him again “your not telling it to me straight!” he looked at her “You can read people, as it happened I did built a few things for Nicky the soap, some of his associates had heard about the serum immortal mobsters are the last things that we need I helped him hide a few secrets we had need of money, to help keep the place secure the third Dr Higgs vouched for Nicky the soap so I did work for him.” Anita was now aware of a new layer of this entire conspiracy, so Higgs the third one had a relationship with soapy interesting he might well be worth pumping for info but not with Emma and bill about they had gotten in with the mob to help seal up the monsters a deal with the devil maybe.

He reached under a desk and handed her a box Anita looked at the silver bullets there were about two dozen, “thank you this will help a lot.” Anita slowly reloaded the old revolver it was there main weapon against the creatures out there it had been very effective against the confessor. Bill spoke with Gomez “we need to deal with this once and for all, we are closest we have ever been, Cranwell is dead the next on the list is the shark if we put her down it might end it this time for good the others can be left to sleep.” Anita was sure that they were only going to give her the vault when the current crisis was over so she waited in anticipation Gomez spoke, “the shark had several rooms in the hydroponics area that were for her private use she must still be there I will show you how to get to them, one thing bullets cant penetrate water very far so you would need something else.” Bill shrugged and tapped his sledge hammer “we will improvise I guess.” Gomez searched threw some desk draws and pulled out a stack of plans he removed one old piece of paper and handed it to Anita. He showed them how to get into the sunken rooms he had designed the locks after all, the three of them headed off to the place where the shark made her lair.

The journey seemed to be fairly uneventful they moved through one overgrown path after another, to the spot where the hydro therapy building and the sunken gardens were located. They moved around and came up on the rear of the place a little digging around and pulling back the undergrowth and they found what was effectively a maintenance hatch to the air circulation ducts. They moved through and came to bath house it was a single large main room like a swimming pool with a few rows of seats people could have relaxed with the steam or taken a dip. The water now extended to the first line of seats. There was something in the water all three of them kept away from the waters edge. Emma looked angry she shouted “OK you bitch show yourself.” There was garbled laughter from the water “such indignation in your voice what is the matter little girl find something you didn't like while you were investigating your story.” Emma shouted back “come out of the water so we talk face to face.” Bill grinned “we have a present for you.” The shark laughed some more “why don't you come into the water its lovely, you fancied me at one point Bill invited me out to the cinema.” He shouted back “that was before I know what a bitch you were.” 

Anita spoke to her “you know we want certain things give them to us we can make a deal what do you want?” She laughed back “I want new toys to play with to terrorize, I sent some of my little soldiers out they came back with a gift, one of them didn't come back was that Courtney?” Bill grinned “she had that one wrapped up.” Sikes grinned “I have what I want, this place is in chaos the dead walk the living suffer I could feel Cranwell die, what can you do to touch me?” she mocked them sitting out there in the water they couldn't touch her for the moment.

Anita looked out across the water where was the monster, the former Nurse pit-bull Sikes also called the shark seemed to be the main problem she could not be reached but she had minions puppets she could send out. With her gone an obstacle to getting to the vault would be gone and the zombie like creatures might go back to sleep. Anita scanned around the room with her torch the flooded bath house come hydrotherapy center would have looked clean and white eighty years ago now it seemed more like a dank cave. The stalemate came to an abrupt halt there were five splashes in the water as 5 orderlies in there full protective gear stepped out of the shallow water where they had been lying submerged. Sikes giggled “boys do me a favor and get those little girls for me, as for bill you can pull apart and put him in the trash heap.” 

The orderlies were armed with clubs and hammers they moved to attack them, they had silver now so it would not be a contest. Anita shot the first one in the head it went down but still moved a second shot in the heart and it was dead. Emma was emptying round after round into a second orderly sending it sprawling while bill had smacked one across the room with his sledge hammer and was closing in on the next nearest one. Two more shots in the same manner and a second orderly was down Anita cursed as she killed a third orderly, she had to reloaded the gun in the dark. He hands worked quickly as she reloaded the archaic weapon. 

Bill was busy keeping the two remaining orderlies down like a game of wack a mole. Anita finished reloaded the gun and casually shot the two remaining orderlies on the floor. They checked what they had shot was dead and waited for any more interruptions, the shark seemed to have run out of cronies. Something moved in the water Anita tried to shoot Sikes but the water protected her just causing a splash, the three of them were to afraid to get into the water. A hand quickly darted out of the water giving Anita the finger then disappeared back into the water followed by gurgling laughter. 

Anita regained control of the situation reloading the gun, “OK lets search the room keep an eye out for any surprises” keep away from the water. They looked around the room there was little of interest a few bits and pieces some old hospital restraints. Then Emma found something there was a black rubber shape. Emma thought it was a manikin until it moved or more likely breathed, she put one hand on it and the rubber creaked as someone inside desperately tried to get out of the tight rubber capsule. It was sealed at the back and hugged every curve of a tall thin woman. They had found another missing guest or staff member. Bill dragged the bundle away from the waters edge so that they could unwrap it with not interference from Sikes.

Anita patted her on the side of the face “don't worry we will soon have you out of this” the rubber showed every curve of its delicious captive but it was still thick enough to act as a very restrictive cocoon erasing almost all struggling from its female contents. It was closed at the back by a series of very thick buckles it went from a tight hood to a solid collar, into a tight corset like section clamping over the woman's waist to a rubber sheath that only ended at the tip of her toes. The three of them pealed her out of the restraint only to be confronted by more restraints. Now she was released from the rubber cocoon she could struggle quite a lot, she was very frightened encased in a claustrophobic hood and a tight straight jacket that cut into her crotch and pulled her arms uncomfortably behind her. Emma stroked the side of her head “calm down so we can get you out.” She stopped struggling and nodded making some sort of garbled gagged response. 

Anita worked on the hood Emma unstrapped the jacket. The woman sighed in relief as the jacket came away and her arms were freed. The hood seemed to be stuck it was to tight to small after a bit of struggling it finally came away. Under the hood there was a rubber panel gag keeping a bung firmly in the woman's mouth there were also rubber mittens encasing her hands. She was quite naked bill turned away going a little red he watched the water. Anita recognized the woman that they had found, it was Lilly. 

She worked her jaw for a few seconds as they removed the mittens, “you came oh thank god you came I thought I would be stuck there with her, is she dead?” Anita looked into the water and griped her gun “no but we got most of her cronies.” Lilly sat there ringing her hands stretching her cramped muscles, there were ligature marks all over her body it looked like she had suffered a lot of abuse beaten spanked bitten. Emma brought her over an improvised garment what looked like an old shower curtain, it was wrapped around her to cover her modesty. The four of them slowly made there way out from the hydrotherapy area.

Anita shrugged looking at a dejected bill “Sikes doesn't have her cronies now and we have rescued Lilly it doesn't stop this mess but it helps to clean it up.” The four of them worked there way through the asylum grounds bill taking point followed by Anita with Emma carrying Lilly it was almost repaying the favor where Lilly looked after Emma. They go back to the health farm the place looked a little worse for wear like there had been a fight. A large spanner lay on the floor it had struck something with enough force to bend it, Anita saw Hanna chambers weeping over Tom Jennings  dead body the old man had gone down swinging, one of the orderlies filled with the type two serum lay on the floor it was also dead probably by Hanna's hand. Anita hugged her Hanna wept “I have known Tom for years he was always loyal, I think this guy” she gestured to the orderly and wept another tear over tom then she started again “was being given his orders by Cranwell, hopefully he is the last one.” Anita looked at the corpse pulling her gun, “Is it permanent?”. Hanna nodded “oh its permanently I used a solid sterling silver knife through the heart.” 

Hanna put a table cloth over Toms body she picked up a wooden box and opened it, Hanna explained “its a set of silver knives these were part of a set the old mobsters had when they ran this place as a country club for there refined dining habits.” She paused for a bit “Tom I told him to go but he said he would stay to the end.” She continued talking to herself “when the silver bullets worked it suggested an idea, that you might also be able to kill someone who had the formula in them with a knife a silver knife like this.” Anita turned to her “I am sorry for your loss but we have to deal with Sikes we couldn't get to her we could kill off her cronies and we rescued Lilly but how do we deal with her?” Hanna thought about it “the best answer might be something that Sikes created.” Bill twigged it “you mean Courtney that would fit perfectly justice even.” 

Hanna grinned “yes you might be right Bill Hanna and Sikes were rivals in life they hate each other after what happened a hate stronger than death stronger than reason, I thinks Sikes killed Courtney because she was jealous of Higgs affections, go to Courtney give her the silver blades then go back to the shark you can act as a distraction.” Emma looked at her “how sane is your sister will she turn on us.” Hanna grinned “as long as Sikes is about she will ignore you.” Anita had a moment of curiosity she quickly wished that she had suppressed it “what about the webs?” Bill looked saddened “One of Sikes pet spiders bit Courtney best not to look at the results of that.” Emma looked at Lilly , “what do we do with Lilly?” Hanna grabbed a radio “David get down hear we have someone else for you to look after.” Hanna turned to her “David Higgs can look after Lilly.” David turned up he was armed with a revolver loaded with several silver bullets his jacket was ripped but he seemed OK. Ana made a closer inspection powder burns the revolver had been fired at least once, he gestured to Lilly “come my dear let me get you into something a little more fitting.” Lilly was lead away as Emma Anita and Bill started to make another journey back to the asylum.

Bill gestured to Anita “do you mind if we sort out a little unfinished business?” Anita shrugged “it depends what it is.” Bill held up a silver knife “we left a couple of the patients hanging around best we deal with them now before they pop up later” Anita nodded “I guess this mess has to be cleaned up sooner is better than later.” A short journey later and they found the two patients that Bill immobilized earlier, the one folded up between two branches was not going anywhere but the one impaled on a tree branch had almost worked itself lose. Bill ended there pain with the silver knife through the head on the impaled patient and through the heart on the patient that had been folded in half. They both stopped moving bill checked on them and made sure, he held up a knife looking at Anita “I guess that works as well as a bullet.” She nodded “lets get on with this the sooner we see Courtney the sooner we get this over and done.”

They moved fairly quickly to the main asylum building as they started to move up the stairs a patient stumbled into them. Bill attacked it with his sledge hammer Emma put it out of its misery with one of the silver knives. Anita lead as they moved through the attic the cocooned orderly was in front of them, Anita pulled out a silver knife bent down and plunged the knife into the heart the creature moved she plunged the knife into the eye socket and it stopped moving. As they got into Courtney's little library they could see Courtney chambers well they could see a spot where something was above them. They avoid seeing her up amongst the  many webs they were hear to give her several of the knives. Anita called out “Listen Sikes is up and about you can kill her, silver will kill her see I killed that orderly you immobilized.” Anita laid down two knives on the floor. Bill looked at her “best make it four you don't want to know why.” Anita laid down two more knives she backed away and averted her eyes there was a rattling noise and the silver was gone.

The three of them headed out they had no intention of going back there again in a hurry. They traversed the asylum grounds back to the flooded bath house, they crept back in Sikes knew they were there. She taunted them “you fools did you think you would catch me napping or something, I herd you coming a mile away the water carries the vibrations I have lived for eighty years like this do you.” Sikes stopped, she spoke again her voice had no confidence “strange I... can suddenly feel something whats going on?” there was a screech and something presumably what was left of Courtney chambers drops from the ceiling into the water. 

There was a gurgling scream and a most disconcerting hollow hiss, there was a struggle in the water Anita held her breath after twenty seconds it ended there was a splash as something climbed out of the water and disappeared back into the ceiling supports. Anita shone a torch Sikes was definitely gone killed floating at the bottom of the pool. Anita took a deep breath she just about got the nerve to go into the water and investigate. Anita striped off most of her clothes and dived in. She made it quick it was strange she didn’t want to look at Sikes that much, but curiosity is powerful if misguided instinct, the shark a fitting name hands like claws, her teeth were like a shark eyes white lifeless, her legs were fused into tail? It was odd weird, Sikes had a necklace Anita recovered it there were two brass keys and a code stamped on a little brass plate Courtney was definitely gone. Anita jumped out of the water she put her clothes back on she turned to Emma. “Sikes is dead why don't you split.” Emma seemed to consider it for a few second then shook her head. “I have to stay to see it through to the end and its probably safer with a group rather than wandering around out hear on my own trying to get away.” Anita had to agree with that, now that Sikes was out of the way she could concentrate on finding the vault.

Bill looked at Anita “so now we head back and see Courtney?” She shook her head “I had a deal with Courtney I help her clean this mess up and she helps me get to Nicky's vault I think its time that we made that our priority.” Bill looked at her “Its not a good idea.” Anita shook her head “while I have this you do what I say right?” Bill was hesitant “yes” Anita gestured forwards “come on. ” Emma chimed in “what about me do I have a say in this.” Anita looked at her “you were paid to find that same vault your going to help me plus you were curious all by yourself.” reluctantly Emma fell in line. Anita lead them to the lobby of the asylum. She got a table and some chairs. They sat and compared the coded ledgers/ diary's from Nick the soap. Anita soon realized that the code from Sikes is a room number, Bill reluctantly lead them through the institution until they found the room. Anita pulled a set of draws out of the way she was very cautious awaiting any sort of trick. Anita put the key in a slot in the wall and turned she stepped back as the locked clicked a spike shot out out the wall almost a foot and a half long. She had read abut that little trick. The wall opened up it was very well disguised, they very carefully looked inside.

They had finally found Nicky’s old private chambers there was an opulent room a stack full of books a couple of comfortable chairs an ornate table. What appeared to be a drinks cabinet a lamp and a few other knickknacks. There was a big painting Anita approached it, she disarmed a derringer attached to a remote trigger before she moved the picture out of the way to reveal the safe. Much to her surprise there was a note in neat hand writing 'don't feed the gorilla.' Anita looked at it for a second what the hell was that about some obscure joke maybe, there couldn't be an angry gorilla trapped in the safe preserved with the serum? Anita shrugged after everything else she had seen anything was possible. The hand writing looked familiar maybe Hanna chambers she didn't want Anita to have the vault anyway perhaps it was time to call it an end it would be a lot of money. Silver had killed Cranwell and Sikes Bill and Hanna would go down just as easily. But then Anita was no murderer but then it was so much easier to think of them not being people with the serum in them with there unnatural lives. Anita had to think about it she sat down with the diary's. 

Anita saw a set of numbers repeated thought the diary's she was sure that it would be the code to the safe, if she got it wrong then apparently it was wired to a big pile of dynamite. She was sure that she knew what she was doing no strange trap code or anything else was going to keep her away from her prize, she had a job and she was going to do it. The dial on the safe turned slowly Anita could feel a little perspiration a sense of nervousness she suppressed it, 82 there was a click she turned the dial in the other direction 45 she changed direction again 23 she put her finger tips on the leaver handle and pushed down with a click.

They got a surprise when they opened the safe, Anita flinched when the gap was about two inches wide. It was not the loud bang they were anticipating but a cry like someone taking there first breath in a very long time. Anita backed away Bill held his forehead “I can feel something another type 3 I didn't feel them before, where did they come from?” There was some thing or some one in the safe, The answer seemed to be half way between the two. Slowly the safe opened up and swung open. There was a man crushed between the safe door and what appeared to be an inner door to the main safe vault. The man looked like he had grown filling every bit of space as he pulled himself free the twisting of his body could be seen he wore the remains of what once must have been a very expensive suit it was now ruined as his muscles had grown ripping and warping the fabric. He stretched his arms and legs popping back into some semblance of human form. The man had been warped by the serum he had gained about a foot in height.

However his limbs were distorted his legs muscular but bowed the left leg far more developed and maybe two inches taller than the right. His arms were never going to be straight again his right arm curved inwards and his left outwards the fingers on his left hand had grown about three inches longer. His neck was practically gone nothing but muscle now. His eyes were reasoning sentient and angry he gritted his teeth walked over to soapys desk he pulled a cigar out of a box it took him two attempts to fumble with his fingers to light the cigar with a gold lighter, he sucked on the cigar then turned to look at the three that had freed him.

His eyes darted to Bill his voice was deep “Its weird I can almost sense you , who are you what year is this what is going on?” Bill looked at him “You could say we are members of the same club you must have been injected with the serum or else you couldn't survive. The year don't matter this place is overrun with failed experiments from the old asylum, there were a lot of trials before a serum was developed that could preserve a persons mind intact.” The monster mobster took a deep breath “I came hear years ago when we ran this place, I can assume we don't cos I must have been left in that place a long time ago, my names Joe I was sold the serum by someone called Sikes she didn't mention the side effects, I was having a meeting with soapy when that dumb cleaner ratted me out and soapy shot me in the back. What are you lot after?” 

Anita guessed it was Joe the gorilla Hamilton she half remembered his picture from looking though Higgs private museum. He must have been stuck inside large safe for years he got a variety of the type 3 serum from Sikes died and came back. Anita guessed Courtney had guessed what would happen and shoved him in the safe before the serum took effect and reanimated him. Joe must have been after the contents of the vault and tried to double cross soapy only to get shot in the back. Joe grinned “the only thing hear is the vault and that's mine.” Anita looked at him “we could split it, Sikes is dead.”

Anita drew the revolver with the silver bullets in it while talking to Joe he was faster, Anita found herself flying through the air her left ribs numb she collided with Emma. Joe had a silver knife embedded in his bulky shoulder it didn't seem to phase him. He had already grabbed bill's sledgehammer from his hands and was trying to beat him to paste. He saw the gun on the floor Anita tried to reach for it. Joe took a step forwards to drop the sledgehammer down on Anita. There was an almighty boom and Joe was thrown back. A man in a trench coat and fedora was standing in the door he had a pump action shot gun there was a second man dressed almost the same behind him. Both were armed with shotguns they emptied them into Joe blasting him to pieces. The serum started to put him back together Anita gave him the coup de gra with two silver pistol shots at close range. Bill started to come back together Anita held up a hand when the two men with shotguns pointed them at him “He is on our side.”
 
One of the men was slightly older carrying a bit of weight he grinned “Anita you can see our arrival was fortuitous” Anita grinned “I found your vault just like you wanted.” He helped Anita up while his associate helped Emma to stand up. He shook Anita's hand , “we meet in person Anita’s I am Mike your employer this is my associate Bob.” Anita grinned “you arrive just in time that's Bill he helped us clean the place up a bit.” Mike grinned “those zombies experiment there tough not so much against a pump action shot gun a bit of gasoline and they stay down.” Anita looked interested “fire works good we have been using silver bullets and silver knives” Mike pointed to the corpse “who was that?”, Anita looked him in the eye “one of Nickys associates Joe the gorilla Hamilton he tried to double cross Nicky and got a bullet in the back also got some serum so he came back.” Mike looked at Emma a certain harshness came into his voice as he turned to Anita, “I thought I told you to get Emma out of hear” Anita shook her head “I cant make her leave she wanted to stay and see it through to the end.” Emma nodded “that's right I appreciate you sending Anita to save my ass but I need to see this through.” he shrugged his shoulders “its going to be over soon.”

Anita regarded there final obstacle, there was a combination lock to the inner safe door a safe in a safe how paranoid must Nicky have been well probably properly paranoid since they had come this far. “Are you sure you have it right?” Anita nodded “I found this room I opened the safe I have cracked his code give me a bit of space this is the one that's meant to be connected to 200 sticks of dynamite or something.” Bill took a few steps back Emma and Mikes associate started to edge out of the room. Mike started to sweat as Anita put in the first number 56 click she slowly and carefully turned the dial everyone in the room's breathing got faster and faster 28 the final number and they would be in everything seemed to slow down Anita entered the last code 13 the lock clicked she gestured to Mike “do you want to do the honor.” Mike gulped he took a firm grip on the handle his hand shook with a tremor once he pulled the hand down everyone twitched nothing. He pulled the door open there was no booby trap no explosion no zombie dogs released or any other surprises. 

When they were sure that nothing was going to happen the five people in the room crowded forwards to see what was in the safe. Mike looked very puzzled and stepped away. Emma looked inside and immediately glanced back at the diarys. Anita looked inside the inner safe there was nothing absolutely nothing, Bill started to laugh wile Mikes associate got out a knife and started tapping the inside of the safe looking for a hidden compartment. There was a knocking on the outer door frame they turned weapons drawn, David Higgs was standing there holding a beaten old book in one hand a knowing expression was spread across his face.