2011-06-18, 08:49 AM
#17
. . . flees deeper into the mansion.
"I refuse to believe this! I'M NOT MAD!" Derrick shouts at his hosts while grabbing his bag and slinging it onto his back. He dashes for the door near the fireplace, leading away from the foyer. As he slams the door, Reginald's cries out from the study.
"You cannot run forever, Derrick! Sooner or later you have to face the truth!"
"Truth, my ass," Derrick thinks as he rushes through the new room, which appears to be an extravagant living room. A massive bay window exposes the vast darkness all around the mansion. "Underground! We're definitely underground!" Derrick finds the door on the other side, avoiding the one he believes would lead into the foyer, and exits into another large hallway. The corridor is empty and quiet, with only a few paintings along the walls. No footsteps of someone following him. No sounds of any pursuit. "He's screwing with me...I know he is." At the end, he finds a staircase leading to the second floor. Without hesitation, he darts up them into the unknown.
"He's definitely hiding something here... Something isn't right. I'll find my own answers." In the new hallway, several doors call out to him. He chooses one at random and finds a closet full of various supplies. Driven completely by impulse, Derrick grabs a broom and runs back into the hall, toward the large double doors in the hallway's focal point. A breath-taking library welcomes him. He quickly slams the doors shut and slides his newly acquired broom through the handles. He slides to the floor to gather his bearings and observe the library. Its design is incredible: one massive bookcase wraps around the entire room, creating a monstrous crescent. The shelves run almost completely to the high ceiling and well out of reach. A sliding ladder is connected to the bookcase, allowing access to every book. Derrick gets back up and walks to the center of the room, toward the large table. On it sits a couple old-style lamps, some writing utensils, a magnifying glass, a sealed envelope and a book. As he reaches out to examine the book, Derrick is shaken by the sound of the closet door closing in the hallway. Followed by footsteps. The doors rattle as someone attempts to open them, unsuccessfully.
"Come now, Derrick. Do you mean to hide in there," Reginald asks, giving up on the doors.
"As long as it takes to get to the bottom of this! I will prove my sanity! Your lies!" Derrick proclaims.
A quiet chuckle seeps through the doors. "Very well. My wife and I shall retire for the evening. If you come to some shocking revelation, I do hope that you will share it with me in the morning," Reginald says, subtly mocking.
"You're evil... Both of you. Something just isn't right. I promise you I will expose all of this," Derrick insists.
"Oh? Ho ho... I have complete faith in you," Reginald trails off, as if in thought. "Perhaps you will find my journal on the table there an interesting start... Goodnight, Derrick."
As Reginald's footsteps fade, Derrick stares at the book now with apprehension, rather than curiosity. Its title reads, "Patient #37: Derrick Maxwell Riley." "My...name?" He takes his backpack off and places it on the table. Being surrounded by so many books, he begins to feel overwhelmed and his confidence falters. The journal calls to him, but he refuses to believe Reginald. "He's...trying to ruin me. I can't give in... It has to be fabricated..." Never admitting defeat, Derrick's search for answers continues by . . .
---
A) Reading Reginald's journal.
B) Reading the books in his bag.
C) Exploring the books in the library.
D) Opening the envelope.
---
[SPOILER=Author's comments]
Sorry for the long delay on this one. Hopefully this weekend should be productive to make up for it.
I won't go longer than a week, so don't get all crazy on me yet.
To five.
. . . flees deeper into the mansion.
"I refuse to believe this! I'M NOT MAD!" Derrick shouts at his hosts while grabbing his bag and slinging it onto his back. He dashes for the door near the fireplace, leading away from the foyer. As he slams the door, Reginald's cries out from the study.
"You cannot run forever, Derrick! Sooner or later you have to face the truth!"
"Truth, my ass," Derrick thinks as he rushes through the new room, which appears to be an extravagant living room. A massive bay window exposes the vast darkness all around the mansion. "Underground! We're definitely underground!" Derrick finds the door on the other side, avoiding the one he believes would lead into the foyer, and exits into another large hallway. The corridor is empty and quiet, with only a few paintings along the walls. No footsteps of someone following him. No sounds of any pursuit. "He's screwing with me...I know he is." At the end, he finds a staircase leading to the second floor. Without hesitation, he darts up them into the unknown.
"He's definitely hiding something here... Something isn't right. I'll find my own answers." In the new hallway, several doors call out to him. He chooses one at random and finds a closet full of various supplies. Driven completely by impulse, Derrick grabs a broom and runs back into the hall, toward the large double doors in the hallway's focal point. A breath-taking library welcomes him. He quickly slams the doors shut and slides his newly acquired broom through the handles. He slides to the floor to gather his bearings and observe the library. Its design is incredible: one massive bookcase wraps around the entire room, creating a monstrous crescent. The shelves run almost completely to the high ceiling and well out of reach. A sliding ladder is connected to the bookcase, allowing access to every book. Derrick gets back up and walks to the center of the room, toward the large table. On it sits a couple old-style lamps, some writing utensils, a magnifying glass, a sealed envelope and a book. As he reaches out to examine the book, Derrick is shaken by the sound of the closet door closing in the hallway. Followed by footsteps. The doors rattle as someone attempts to open them, unsuccessfully.
"Come now, Derrick. Do you mean to hide in there," Reginald asks, giving up on the doors.
"As long as it takes to get to the bottom of this! I will prove my sanity! Your lies!" Derrick proclaims.
A quiet chuckle seeps through the doors. "Very well. My wife and I shall retire for the evening. If you come to some shocking revelation, I do hope that you will share it with me in the morning," Reginald says, subtly mocking.
"You're evil... Both of you. Something just isn't right. I promise you I will expose all of this," Derrick insists.
"Oh? Ho ho... I have complete faith in you," Reginald trails off, as if in thought. "Perhaps you will find my journal on the table there an interesting start... Goodnight, Derrick."
As Reginald's footsteps fade, Derrick stares at the book now with apprehension, rather than curiosity. Its title reads, "Patient #37: Derrick Maxwell Riley." "My...name?" He takes his backpack off and places it on the table. Being surrounded by so many books, he begins to feel overwhelmed and his confidence falters. The journal calls to him, but he refuses to believe Reginald. "He's...trying to ruin me. I can't give in... It has to be fabricated..." Never admitting defeat, Derrick's search for answers continues by . . .
---
A) Reading Reginald's journal.
B) Reading the books in his bag.
C) Exploring the books in the library.
D) Opening the envelope.
---
INVENTORY
[SPOILER=Author's comments]
Sorry for the long delay on this one. Hopefully this weekend should be productive to make up for it.
I won't go longer than a week, so don't get all crazy on me yet.
To five.
