Viktoria's Monster (Skeith & Horror_Show)

[Skeith Takahata II]

When everything you are is already an abomination in the eyes of God, is it truly possible to worsen your inevitable and eternal sentence? When everything you love is stolen from you and the world bleeds you dry of your happiness and hope, is it selfish to want to steal it back?

London, England.

The late 1800's...

Well before grief and madness had threatened to claim her mind, a young hopeful in London's scientific and medical community was already an abomination in the eyes of God and her frustratingly pious peers. The young Viktoria Von Frankenstein had been born to a pair of demanding parents. Both were experts in their respective fields. Her father a brilliant physician and her mother a mechanical engineer. Propelling electricity and diesel fuels into the new norm for the city. Both were achievers, and children were not what achievers needed. Despite making it clear from an early age that Viktoria was an unwanted distraction, Viktoria worked desperately for their approval. Her youth was dedicated to her books. Learning both of her parents trades. She studied diligently and excelled in school, earning the respect and adoration of her peers and professors. As she grew older, and into young adulthood, her career was beginning to take shape. One after the the other, both her parents passed away. Her mother claimed in an unfortunate electrical accident, and her father poisoned by one of the many venomous snakes he kept to make antidotes from. Viktoria refused to grieve for them. Both died failures in her eyes. Having underestimated the dangers of their work and paying the price.

Having inherited her parents estate, a brilliant mansion in the center of the city, she worked diligently. Combining her parents respective labs into one, and adopting her father's study as her own. In both technology and medicine, the brilliant Viktoria Von Frankenstein was becoming a shining star. Then she was distracted by that which distracts all young and lonely people. Love. On a night away from her studies, she found herself falling head over heels for a beautiful young opera singer named Henrietta. An unfortunate stage accident ended in the singer needing short term medical attention, for which Viktoria gladly volunteered. In short time, the two had begun seeing each other regularly, and suspiciously, each would begin to spend days at a time away at the others home. Then came the diagnosis. Henrietta's parents had discovered her affair with the young scientist and had her committed. Her homosexual tendencies regulated to a simple case of classic female hysteria and desperation for acceptance. Not able to compete against the diagnosis, Viktoria had to watch as Henrietta was taken from her.

Some months later, at the academy, she was chosen to serve as the mortician's assistant for an anatomy study. She had already memorized human anatomy. Perhaps it was for this purpose that she was chosen. "A recent death at the Sanitarium has provided us with a cadaver for study. Still fresh, the remains should be a perfect example of a living human." The instructor bellowed to the peers watching from their raised seats. At twenty-four years old, she was light years ahead of even her oldest peers, perhaps even some of her professors. "Miss Frankenstein, if you would be so kind as to remove the sheet." As the sheet was pulled back, Viktoria brought her hands up to stifle a shriek of shock. The body on the gurney was her beloved Henrietta... As her eyes panned over her body she could easily discern what had happened. The burns and bruising around the neck implied a hemp rope. She had hung herself. "You seem paler than usual, Frankenstein? Does she seem familiar?" The cruel smile on the teacher's face said it all. He had planned for this. "This academy has no room for those who would seek to diminish the name of God in so unholy a pairing. Consider yourself expelled." The taunting and cruel voices of her peers drove the emotional Viktoria from the college and back to her manor. Where she wept and mourned for days. Not sleeping, not eating. Simply sinking into a pit of despair.

News came by way of a newspaper that one of her fellow students, a Mr. Ashford, was about to commit his daughter to the Sanitarium on the grounds of insanity. Feeling a great swell of grief, she dressed and took her carriage to the Sanitarium in the hopes of arriving before Ashford's daughter could be put through whatever had pushed Henrietta. She entered the Sanitarium like a storm, brushing past the doors and towards the reception. "My name is Viktoria Von Frankenstein. Yes, those Frankensteins. I wish to contest the declaration of Ms. Ashford's insanity, on the grounds that Mr. Ashford has no history of psychological knowledge. I instead move that she be removed from Mr. Ashford and placed in my custody to be monitored by a real professional." Her words were thick with venom as she glared at the doctors and finally Mr. Ashford himself.

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail was confined in a room restrained to what smelled like a piss stained mattress. Her wrist’s and ankles were already bruised and starting to show loss of circulation. The young women had been stripped of most of her clothing beside an undergarment top and bottoms with her brazier straps showing. Her brown honey eyes were dilated as cold sweat trickled over her body. Within hours she had been admitted and in protesting and causing a scene had gotten sedated and put into an isolation quarters until the rest of her processing and living arrangements were completed until Miss Viktoria Von Frankenstine had come to her get her out of this hell.

Hours had gone by in her drug induce stupor before the locked doors would open with nurses coming in to release her to the care of Viktoria. The young women had her credibility and after feuding and the proper proceedings had taken place the teenager was stabbed with a needle in the neck to reverse the effects of the sedatives. The clothes she had come with had already been destroyed so she was embarrassingly discharged in very little but her undergarments looking like hell. Her eye’s were wide and alert as her thoughts were racing.

She was manhandled down the long corridors and threw her own manic state spotted Viktoria, she was a light even in the darkness that had consumed the young girl, she was familiar, like a mother would be to a lost child. Her eye’s struggled to focus and stayed focus on her halo. Her father had already been escorted out of the sanitarium by force.

The next line of events was hazy but she vaguely remembered being gently placed into the carriage and zoning in and out of consciousness. She could hear the gallops of the horses and the wind hitting strongly against the carriage as the darkness was settling, hiding her. What she also would remember was Viktoria, her voice was soothing and a beacon.

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zjwCtZtrwE[/video]​

"I walk out to the edge of the lake,
eyes following the water
as it washes my convictions away.
He stops me when I’m starting to pray.

He says,
“Intuition is awakening suspicion.”
He says,
“My tradition is the art of superstition.”​

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria's face didn't change as Mr. Ashford was escorted from the building, nor did she show any sign of emotion as she signed the appropriate paperwork to take the young woman into her care. She waited in the lobby for the woman to be delivered to her. When she arrived she was stunned by her condition, though perhaps she shouldn't have been. That they would strip her of her freedom and her agency, only to release her and not even be bothered to return to her her dignity. Seeing her brought out in only undergarments, her hair a mess, and her body filthy made her weep internally for her.

She led the young woman out to her carriage, being gentle and kind as she did so. Even if she did so silence at first. She gave a knock on the side to signal the driver before settling in again. She could see that Abigail had begun to loose her grip on reality in their and it showed in the way she behaved. Viktoria leaned forward, from her seat across from her. "Abigail dear... Do you remember me? My name is Viktoria. Viktoria Von Frankenstein. I attended the Academy of Medical Sciences with your father." She leaned back again in her seat, not sure if she was even reaching her. How many chemicals did they have circulating through this poor woman's body? She would need a detox before she would be truly sensible again. Which simply called for letting it work its way out of her system.

When they arrived back at Frankenstein Manor, Viktoria dismissed the driver and carriage before leading the young Abigail to the door, but not before covering her with her coat. The Manor grounds were clearly no longer cared for. Viktoria having fired most of the staff. Inside most rooms were dusty, the belongings inside covered in white fabric. She had no need of so many rooms, so she kept only those vital to her open and in use. All through out the house, unfinished bottles of alcohol were left sitting around, as though Viktoria simply drank where ever she wanted and never bothered to clean up after herself. She lead the young Abigail to the room adjacent her own. She lead the woman to the bed, guiding her to sit as she fetched some of her medical supplies to do a proper examination. "Abigail, I need you to remain still and calm. You're safe here. There are no restraints. No barred windows. No judging eyes. Just you and me. I'm going to take care of you." She explained gently. Not yet opening her medical kit.

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail’s head was a mixture between conscious and unconscious. Her body was twitching randomly as her body struggled to keep control. The sanitarium had administered her barbiturates into her body as a means of sedation. Then as Viktoria had the young girl discharged in her care they had foolishly injected her with amphetamines making her jolt awake. The after math was grueling to see. Only Viktoria would have seen the young girl so vulnerable while being poisoned by chemicals.

The girl was able to walk barely, hanging off of the older women until she collapsed on what was a soft mattress. She would nod off until she could hear her voice, she would hear her from what felt like a distance, certain words imprinting. Her eyes would suddenly jolt wide open, her eyes completed dilated as she gasped out paranoid. In a few seconds she would catch her breath and fall back to a sense of calmness while her blood was coursing through her system faster than ever.

She saw the women in front of her with her medical kit, and she instinctively without meaning to pulled her bare legs up to her chest and pushed backwards on the bed in a panic. She rapidly blinked her eyes trying to fight, to keep conscious and stable but it was impossible. The coat had been removed, once again the girl being in just her undergarments, she looked like she could have played the main part of a classic horror movie.

"Abigail, I need you to remain still and calm. You're safe here. There are no restraints. No barred windows. No judging eyes. Just you and me. I'm going to take care of you."

Her words kept echoing in her mind even though she couldn’t help being terrified in the moment.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria raised her hands to show she had no ill will when the woman panicked. Of course she would have panicked. What was expected of the Sanitarium doctors in terms of an education was a joke. This poor girl's mind was being torn apart by all manner of terrible chemicals. In away, Viktoria's genius level intellect made interacting with ordinary individuals very taxing. Even more so when they claimed to be professionals. She slowly set the medical bag aside before moving to sit in a chair across from her.

"Alright dear. No need to worry. This can wait til you're well." She slowly sat down, placing her hands in her lap so that they would be visible. "I'm going to sit right here. We'll wait until your mind settles and your body corrects the chemical imbalance." Viktoria's expression was slightly softer with concern, but it showed no signs of either a frown or a smile. Viktoria sighed quietly. She didn't want to leave the girl alone, but she didn't want to continue to make her nervous either. In an effort to ease the tension she reached into the bookcase behind her and leaned back in her seat. She crossed her legs before opening the book, deciding to read while she waited for her to calm down. Certainly Viktoria staring at her wasn't doing anything to help settle her nerves.

 

[Horror_Show]

The girl had somehow scooted her rear back far enough that her back was firmly against the cold frame of the massive headboard. Her eyes darted all around the room quickly processing the bold colors, the smell of wood and dust, the floral design in the carpet and the intricate designs on the wallpaper, the room was very rich in color. Most of all even in her upright sitting position the mattress was heavenly, so much more pleasant than the urine stained thin excuse for a mattress she was confined to for hours.

She watched the woman sit back and peacefully grab a book as her attention was drawn away from the girl. The girl pressed her head against the headboard and clenched her eyes shut as they teared. This was a new kind of hell she hadn’t kind experienced, her father had abused and sometimes forced her to take medications against her will but never had she had to fight to chemicals fighting to keep her awake and both sedated at once.

Eventually the poor girl fell into a deep slumber as the rest of the drugs were being detoxed from her system. Her body would sweat as her temperature leveled itself out. She would soon be forever in debt to the woman who had saved her life, and would begin a new life.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria did her best not to worry herself over Abigail's suffering, but it still lingered in the back of her mind. When she finally heard the girl relax into the mattress, falling into a deep sleep, she set her book aside. She stood from her seat and approached the bed, looking down at Abigail for several long moments before she carefully and gently adjusted her so that she would sleep more comfortably. Her knowledge of major muscle groups had been enough for her to know that she would have woken up with a terrible kink in her neck otherwise. Waking in a strange place would be bad enough for Abigail, much less if she were also in pain.

Viktoria paused to pen a note for the girl, tacking it to the door.

Abigail my dear,

Should you wake before I come for you, do take care not to get lost wandering the manor. Breakfast will have been prepared by the time you rouse yourself but do not rush to join me in the dining room. You are free to enjoy a bath, and borrow clothing from the wardrobe beside your bed.

Medication... And by that I mean pain relievers. Can be found beside your bed on the nightstand. These should help subdue the headache you will most certainly be experiencing. I do hope your first night here was peaceful.

Your new housemate,

Viktoria

Viktoria finally left the bedroom after making sure Abigail was comfortable. Her night would be spent sleepless again, and lost seeking the bottom of a bottle of alcohol. In the morning she would bathe, dress, and make her self prim and proper for her guest. Descending the massive stairwell, her foot steps echoing in the silent and empty manor, she headed for the kitchen. There she began preparing a meal for herself and her new housemate. It would have been the first meal she had eaten since Henrietta had passed away, hopefully tonight she would be able to sleep as well. When the meal was finished, she took a seat at her end, waiting patiently to begin her meal until Abigail had joined her.

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail had a rough sleep, her body had to detox itself and it wasn’t the prettiest sight. Luckily Vikotia had adjusted her so she was as comfortable as she could be, before departing to do her normal ritual. Through out the night the young girl would sweat, have shivers and run a temperature from her body fighting to detox her system. She would jolt awake now and then but be so wrapped up in her own mind she would slowly fade back into a deep state of sleep.


The next morning, she slept late into the afternoon. After fighting her lead like eyelids she let her eyes take in the light and looked around before pushing herself up. She was still in her undergarments and bottoms and was fifthly. It didn’t take long for her to take in reality. Vague memories raced playing back for her what had happened the night before.

Earlier in the day she had been helping her mother with the usual chores when her father had come home and started his routine of bickering. She had somehow got caught in the cross fire and was defending herself, she always was and her mother always stepped aside taking her fathers side in a passive manner, she had too else he would be her enemy as well. The arguments got so bad there was always a moment when she decided to remove herself from the nonsense, she could remember storming up the stairs with his threats. She was so use to his his vulgar comments and crying wolf that she was immune to it.

It was different this time, as he followed her and trapped her in her bedroom. Of course he was just going to discipline his barbaric out of control teenager daughter, which she was also use to until this time he tried to do even more, to violate her and she fought back. She could only remember certain things but could remember biting, taking off skin on his right arm and her using so much force she pushed him back into her vanity as the mirror crashed. It was only hours later she was admitted into the hospital against her will. She could still hear herself screaming at him as she was taken off.

She came back to the present and carefully crawled out of the bed standing, trying to stretch until she read the note, she read over it a few times and knew she was at Vikotia’s manner. She had known her as one of her father’s students, she had seen her quite often and even admired her. The woman had literally rescued her last night. Grabbing the pills, she swallowed them downing a glass of water and stood there holding the glass squinting her eyes.

She went to the wardrobe beside the bed and opened it and after rummaging through all the styles of clothing she pulled the most random garments and headed into a bath area that was connected to the guest bedroom. She closed the door admiring the beauty of the Victorian bathroom, everything was so elegant in its own way. She sat on a stool as she waited for the bath to fill and found some of the most luxurious floral oil soaps. The smell of jasmine and lavender had already distracted her pounding and aching body. She stripped of her stained undergarments and climbed into the steaming hot tub.

She had fallen asleep in the bathtub until she sunk down enough to wake up and realize she had dozed off and quickly scrubbed every inch of her body including washing her hair. She let the tub drain and dried off quickly and pulled on some more comfortable undergarments that didn’t restrict her breathing. She simple pulled a large long sleeve thermal over a longer laced nightgown over light gray ribbed leggings. It would normally be inappropriate wear such a weird style of clothing but it was so damn comfortable. She often got scolded or disciplined growing up because she was more of a tom boy than anything else. She rushed to comb her short uneven hair and gave up and left in a hurry to find the woman who had saved her. She had finally spotted the kitchen from the smell of food but was worried she was hours late but the women were still there.

She stood there paralyzed looking in at the older woman who had willingly within her own power pulled the girl straight out of hell. She ended up talking before she could even form coherent sentences and stuttered.

“I-I-I am so-so sorry madam, I took so long, I-I----,” she gulped and kept letting her eyes dart everywhere but at the woman, “I’m in your favor, thank you.” Was what she finished giving up on talking.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria waited for a good while for Abigail to come down to the kitchen. Though even when she didn't come and the food had gone cold she remained patient. She knew what the girl was recovering from and should have predicted her needing so much sleep. Without complaint or a hint of impatience she got rid of the now cold meal and prepared a replacement, this one being finished just in time for her guest to appear in the door to the dining room. Viktoria walked across the dining room to where the woman was standing. "There's no call for such formality, Abigail." Viktoria paused a few feet away, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. "The Sanitarium has already stolen from me. I didn't want to see another kind woman put away and punished needlessly."

She pulled the seat out at one end of the table for Abigail, a meal of hot stew and warm bread lay waiting. A glass of wine sitting beside the meal. "Please, join me for a meal." She returned to her side of the table, sitting down and reaching for her glass. "This manor is not simply a new asylum for you to be contained within. But, there are certain rules we will be required to follow. Officially speaking, I am your new caretaker and psychiatrist. A psychological review will be sent to the Sanitarium once a month to detail your progress in my care. Unofficially speaking, you are not my patient or prisoner. You are my new housemate. This manor is now every bit as much yours as it is mine. So long as you refrain from entering the lab and tampering with my equipment you may go where you wish and do what you please." She reached for her fork, staring at her stew for a long frozen moment. She realized immediately just how hungry she really was. It had been days since her last meal. She slowly began eating, her taste buds coming alive in response to the food.

"In regards to your health, how are you feeling this afternoon? Those fools at the Asylum foolishly, and quite likely intentionally, forced you to take to competing chemicals attempting to pursue opposite goals. One to keep you sedated, and another to keep you alert. I could see what it was doing to you last night, but you were in no condition for an examination or a discussion. I am pleased, at least, to see you are capable of conversation after a night's rest."

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail obediently took a seat and scooted in, not letting her cautious eyes leave Viktoria’s. Her mind adverted once or twice to look at the delicious stew and fresh hot bread. The cup of wine was so unsettling sitting there for her to freely sip. At home all the alcohol was always and only for her father. Not being able to taste it whenever, she did not have an acquired taste. She simply avoided it and focused on her words.

She was a bit confused but trying to process everything the woman was saying, she was both her caretaker and psychiatrist but that she was also a roommate. That the only guidelines was for her to be evaluated psychologically and to follow the rules of not entering the lab and touching her equipment. She was wide eyed trying to make sure she was getting all of that but nodded silently.

Last night was still like a bad nightmare; one she couldn’t quite believe had actually happened but she did not wake in her own bedroom. She stood there for a few good moments before speaking.

“I’m very paranoid right now, its just an uneasy feeling….but I also feel like none of this is happening, like this couldn’t possible be real,” Abigail sighed and let both hands go through her hair in distress, “How did you get past my father and the doctors?” She looked perplexed, she had seen Viktoria now and then and heard her father speak highly of her parents but didn’t know that much about the young woman herself.

She grabbed her eating utensil and began to dig in and unknowingly did so a little more aggressively than she would have at home, her food was always rationed at home. Her father believed a human girl only needed so much to survive so she ate what they provided and took supplements to make up for the lessen food, which was why she was so deathly pale and small.

She let her eyes peek up at the woman and grabbed a napkin to politely wipe her mouth and spoke, “Thank you, its very good….I’m not use to eating like this.”

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria looked up again, forcing the faintest of smiles. "Those feelings are natural Abigail. Given your life up til now, I totally understand." She placed her hands in her lap before sighing quietly. "This will be an adjustment period for you. Just as it will be for me. I don't expect you to open up, or take to life here as though it's normal. Just know that I will be here to support you and help you heal through all of it."

She looked up again. "As for your other question... Your father's ability to diagnose your madness was forfeit upon the revelation that he had no actual training in that medical field. I do. My attendance at the college was for further study. Officially I'm already a doctor. The doctor's there weren't about to contest me. Not because of me, but my family. My parents did wonders for the future of scientific study in both technology and medicine. All I had to do was inform them that I was a Frankenstein and they bowed out. The fact that I threatened to file a proper report of the state of their facilities helped sway them as well."

She returned her attention to her stew. "I'm glad that you like it. It took a little while to learn recipes on my own. I grew up with a chef." She smiled faintly again. "You can look forward to more meals like this and more in the future. You don't have to fear manipulation, abuse, or imprisonment here. I'm here as a friend and a confidant." Slowly she began eating again.

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail continued to eat and finished her meal before Viktoia was even halfway finished. She processed her words and nodded and once again was very open and thankful about everything she had done. She was going to mention she could cook and clean and help out around the manor but was still so tired and weak from the previous nightmarish day. She also wanted to ask more about the specific rules on the lab and her equipment but also decided that would be a better conversation when she was more coherent.

Even though she was till in a strange new place, the thought of crawling back in that massive soft bed all to herself was the best damn relief she could ever have.

“If you don’t care, I might rest today….I’m very tired and I haven’t had good sleep in god knows how long, the bed is very comfortable. I could find you when I wake up?” She asked, almost as if asking permission because she was so use to doing so.

The girl had no idea this place was going to be her palace, that she would find joy in future days of cleaning and bringing the manor back to life, spending hours in the library or gardens, living like a young healthy girl should; she also didn’t know the adventure and emotional turmoil of the events that would play out for both her and Viktoria and how her heart would never belong to anyone else’s but hers faithfully.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria continued eating quietly until she heard Abigail's voice again. She sat up straight again when she registered what she said. She closed her eyes as she gave a small nod of her head in agreement and approval. "You needn't seek approval any more, Abigail. As I said, this building is now as much yours as it is mine. Your life is yours to live again. If you wish to rest, than you may do so without inquiring with me first." As she finished she reached for her glass of wine, drinking it back casually.

She pushed herself up from her seat before beginning to collect the dishes. "Get some good rest, dear. When you wake, if you want to speak more, I am more than happy to spend time with you." She also stopped to collect the dishes from Abigail's side of the table. Once at the sink, she began to clean up from their meal. A planned breakfast which had become a late lunch. Not that Viktoria was about to complain. The fact that Abigail already seemed healthier was a relief to her. Simply having someone to share the house with would also help stave off the endless loneliness bordering on madness.

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail watched Viktoria take the plates after kindly telling her once again this whole place was her home and she didn’t need to ask permission to do several things. That would be hard to wrap around, she had spent her own life under her father’s shadow, scared she might do the wrong thing at any moment. She sat there quietly admiring the beauty of the kitchen. It looked like it could use a little cleaning which gave her hope at the moment she could repay back Viktoria by cleaning when she regained her energy back. For now, she would just slowly get up and stand there pondering how she could ever thank the woman in front of her. What caught her more off guard was the fact subconsciously she had secretly been attracted to her but naturally said nothing.

“Thank you…..I don’t know how to thank you but I will find a way.” She blurted out, trying not to let her bloodshot eyes swell with emotional tears of relief. She quickly nodded her head and retuned to her room, but not without enjoying the small walk back to that area of the manor.

Once she found what was for now her bedroom, she felt a sense of security and easiness. She immediately went to crawl back into the massive canopy bed when for some reason thoughts burned into her head, like a revelation. She frantically looked around until she saw parchment and a writing utensils and grabbed it sitting at the small desk.

So many thoughts and visions were clogging her small mind, it was chaotic but at same time very poignant, and meaningful.


A frozen heart beat under the snow
I've been waiting, ready to grow
Shivering and weathering storms
Dreaming of some other place warm
While my roots hid deeper inside
And my leaves stay bundled up tight

As she wrote she wasn’t even aware of the words that displayed across the parchment. It was like some mysterious poetry that spoke of a flowers and the struggle of trying to survive. She hadn’t been creative in it least a few years. Her father had found any of her art or writing a waste of money and time. The money and focus needed to be spent on her finishing school.

Silent tears came down her pale cheeks. It would take time to heal, time to deal with everything that had happened. The girl had no idea she was going to be not only heal herself but heal others. She sat there several minutes before sniffling noticing her tears, she wiped her cheeks and eyes and got up from the desk, leaving the poem on the table and crawled into bed, this time burying herself under layers of thick warm covers.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria watched as Abigail left the kitchen. She breathed out a quiet sigh as her gaze returned to the table. She could remember when Henrietta first visited the manor and they ate together. Similarly the meal had been delayed til the late afternoon. Weather having made it impossible for Henrietta to arrive on time. A faint smile returned to her lips as she remembered Henrietta standing soaking wet at her door, apologizing profusely for being late. The memory closely followed by Viktoria helping her dry off and get her into some dry clothes before they could finally eat. She shook her head before reaching for the bottle of wine on the table. She popped the cork and began drinking from the bottle while walking back into the manor.

She found her way back to her study, slumping back into her chair. She continued to spend the rest of her evening getting lost in a bottle. A picture of Henrietta sat on the desk, and next to it was her father's revolver. Viktoria stared at the gun for several seconds, once again contemplating ending her loneliness once and for all. She looked up quickly at a familiar voice. Between the drink and her madness, it was as if her memories were simply being replayed for her. She watched as Henrietta entered the study, seeing her smiling face. The woman leaned in to kiss her and suddenly the memory vanished, quickly replaced with the image of her lover on the academy's dissection table. She let out a startled shout before throwing the bottle across the room, allowing it to explode against the wall.

She allowed herself to fall back into the seat as tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She reached for the revolver, holding it in her lap for several moments. Looking up from it, it was like she was seeing Henrietta's corpse swaying from the ceiling by a noose, then suddenly she was right beside her. Her dead eyes staring into Viktoria's. She brought the gun up to the side of her head, trying to work up the courage to pull the trigger. Then all at once, the hallucination of Henrietta vanished, and Viktoria's hand lowered, setting the gun on the desk again. Drunk and mourning she wept into her hands.

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail surrendered to a sleep. It came like the falling of an axe. The young female didn’t fight it and welcomed it. Her shelter was the thick duvets to keep her warm as her body slowed and you could barely see her little body breathing. In her sleep it was dreamless and let her body heal and finish detoxing.

Hours later the young woman finally came back to the world. She sat up pushing the covers up, bringing up her knee’s to her chest. She had a slight sweat from the rest of her detoxing and her body stabilizing its temperature underneath the thick covers. She felt slightly groggy and rubbed her eyes. By the windows she could see the sun had already set. The clock let her know it was past midnight, she had slept most of the day and really pondered going back to sleep or just laying there.

It wasn’t often she had the choice to just relax and do nothing. She was also curious to her new home and how Viktoria lived and why she truly saved her and let her live here.

Climbing out of the bed her bare feet hit the rugged carpet and she went to the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face. She left the bathroom and contemplated going out to explore.

Rooting for something to pull over she found a thick wrap around cardigan, she threw it over her thermal and lace tank and kept on her leggings and found some socks and headed out of her room. She quietly headed through the darkened halls until she defended one of the few staircases, luckily most of the house was lit on low sitting by the electric lanterns.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

By the time Abigail woke, Viktoria's alcohol fueled stupor had finally begun to recede. A pounding headache taking its place. wandered from the study out onto the landing. She leaned on the railing as she looked down on the bottom floor of the house. She crooked her head as she watched Abigail beginning to explore the house. It was relieving to see her becoming more comfortable with her surroundings. A lingering concern returned to her. She ran a hand through her, now messy, hair. She was confident that Abigail wouldn't accidentally find her way into her lab. Not that she was hiding anything just yet anyway, but the equipment was quite sensitive.

She turned away from the landing and walked back to her room. She took a seat at her vanity, brushing her hair, tying it back up, and fixing her make-up. Once she was presentable again, she left the room and began to calmly descend the stair case. She looked in the direction she saw Abigail wander, turning instead to go the other direction. She wandered into the kitchen, preparing herself a bowl of soup and setting her pain meds beside it at the table. She sat down, calmly sipping her soup while waiting for her headache to lessen. She looked up from her bowl, back out towards the rest of the house. She thought for a moment about what life with Abigail would be like. It was far too soon to think about moving past Henrietta, but regardless she found her mind wandering to curiosities regarding the young woman's tastes. She sighed quietly, returning her attention to her bowl. She would finish eating, then perhaps step outside into the courtyard for some fresh air. It seemed that it would be another sleepless night.

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail headed deeper into the manor only to discovered most of it wasn’t even occupied or used. It looked abandoned and forgotten. Luckily sheets and other covers were over most of the delicate furniture and extravagant wood work. She was unaware of Victoria catching sight of her as she was to busy exploring. She was careful not to touch anything, it least not yet. She hadn’t even been here a week. She just needed to know where she was, she felt like Alice through the looking glass, in a whole new bizarre world where anything was possible.

Somehow adrenaline was slowly kicking in as she slowly approached a huge corridor, with beautiful arches and glass artwork. She was memorized by the whole abandon mansion. She saw an exit and gently moved the handle and was surprised to see it easily opened letting her go outside. What she didn’t realize is she wasn’t just outside, she was in a huge green house that was connected to one side of the manor. It was literally built on to the structure and was huge with different levels. Some of it looked very wild, exotic and unattended too but some of it showed that it had been nurtured.

Her breath was taken from her as she found herself in this secret green sanctuary. She slowly walked further into the green house and found one hand almost covering her mouth in awe. She felt a strong night breeze come through blowing back her medium length hair. There must have been some broken glass panels in several areas.

She saw a spiral staircase and let her eyes travel up to a whole other level. She imagined decades this ago this place was even more alive. Her bloodshot eyes were stinging with silent tears she blinked away. As she blinked away swelling emotional tears she could see in the canopy of glass, the stars glittering between the panels.

This was a vital moment in the young women’s life. This would be her motivation, her inner strength to grow and pull away from her past. It would let her deal with the troubles to come and be a hidden paradise she would even be loved in.

​

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhu2G-207Ko[/video]​

This video will kind of be a theme I think through the story with my character lol I was going to wait to show it but I figured it fit to put it now.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria felt marginally better after finishing her soup. She pushed herself up from her seat, washing the dishes and then departing the kitchen. She casually strode through the manor, her tired eyes passively examining the building as she walked. She thought for a moment that it might be worth it to bring on help again. With someone else living here, it would be worth it to get the manor back in a livable condition. She could remember how beautiful the house was in its prime, and thought that seeing the house cleaned and brightly lit again would lift her spirits some.

She stopped near the courtyard doors, glancing out at the untamed space that was once a beautiful garden retreat. Once upon a time, it was almost a beautiful park surrounded by the manor. She pushed the door open slowly, stepping out into the night air. She drew in a deep breath as she looked around the area. She glanced in the direction of the greenhouse. She cocked an eyebrow as she saw Abigail inside. She could faintly see the look of wonder on the girls face. It brought a smile to her face as she watched her. She leaned against one of the trees, watching her explore the space. She didn't make her presence known, not wanting to intrude on the woman's private sanctuary. Instead, she was content to watch her. It brought her some degree of happiness to see Abigail looking so much better than when she arrived here.

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail walked further being in the center of the large green house. Her glistening bloodshot eyes wandered in so many directions observing the abandon sanctuary. It held so many secrets, so many possibilities, she could picture how it was at one point. She decided to plop down and sit Indian style right in the middle of it. She let her hands trail over the ground picking up a few dead leaves and few alive ones. She had no idea Viktoria was admiring her from afar. The young girl found her body relaxing and her mind at ease in balance with the nature. She could distinctly hear the wind pushing against the metal, broken glass and the life within the green house. She already loved her new home.

She came from a medium upper class family but it everything they had including there average sized house was what was popular and what her father wanted. She did enjoy the backyard; it was often her place to escape to. She sat there for god knows how long, she eventually laid on her back getting lost staring through the canopy of the green house. She wondered what Viktoria was doing, she was so curious about the women she had crushed on secretly. It was very peculiar, very bizarre that she would end up free in the arms of someone she had desired for. She had spotted Viktoria quite a few times from a distance as her father was a fellow student. Her father did take pride in his family and did force e them to come to events to show them off. She could remember the first time spotting the beautiful intelligent red head. She had no idea the torture she was going through other than losing a loved one..

An hour or so later the girl had finally gotten up and explored a little more before returning back inside of the manor. She found her way to the kitchen and was worried about making a mess or being heard, but she found a note telling her she was fee to use anything and that she would keep the kitchen very stocked and even let the girl grocery shop for whatever she wanted. She also found a fresh snack of cut up vegetables and one or two strawberry muffins. Abigail leaned against the counters in the kitchen stuffing her face with the fresh sweet fruit and downed the muffins, she loved that she could eat without judgement. She downed two cups of ice water. Abigail was cleaning up her mess and looking through the kitchen cabinets.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Some time during Abigail's visit to the greenhouse, Viktoria had gone on her way. Back into the tired old manor. She wandered the halls, passively glancing into rooms, long since untouched, furniture draped with white fabric to protect from the dust and other elements. Of course, the dust of time was so thick in those rooms, that one would surely leave footprints where they walked. Many of the rooms having gone unused since before Viktoria's parents passed away. The thought reminded her of the simple beauty of her childhood, being instructed in her parents trades. Being shown how electricity worked, and being taught human anatomy. Both being taught in ways that kept the learning experience fun and exciting for a child. Little could either of her parents have imagined that she would have grown to surpass both in their chosen fields.

As she entered the main hall, she came to a halt at the sound of footsteps. She glanced towards the kitchen. A small smile surfaced on her lips, pleased to see that Abigail was making herself at home. She strode towards the kitchen in a patient gait, coming to a halt in the entryway. She leaned against the door frame, watching the woman clean up in silence for a few moments. "Good evening, Abigail dear. Feeling better after getting some rest?" She asked softly. Her faint smile returned as she stood there, grateful to once again be sharing the residence with another person. Perhaps it was the alcohol and loneliness talking, but that Abigail was such a beautiful young woman was a notable perk as well. "Is there anything I can do to help you feel more comfortable and at home?" Her voice was notably softer than earlier.

 

[Horror_Show]

As she was stuffing her face with muffins and downing ice water she was leaning back against the counter when Viktoria slightly startled her. She looked at her wide eyed, letting the glass fall to her chest as she used her free hand to wipe her mouth. Abigail felt embarrassed, and nervously shook her head. “No, No…..I was just getting a snack. I think it’s just getting me use to being in a new environment. I still cannot quite wrap my head around what’s happening but thank you.”

Abigail put the glass in the sink and walked just a little closer looking at the older women. “As I recover a little more, I could help with cleaning….the place seems like it could use help. I’m only one person but I don’t mind doing what I can? I could also cook, run errands? I can do whatever I can do repay you for letting me stay in this place.” The girl said seeming so grateful and sincere.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria felt her smile spread some as she watched Abigail's response to what she had to say. She felt a great swell of thankfulness that Abigail was taking well to her new surroundings. "There's no need to thank me. I mentioned before that the sanitarium had already taken from me before. I couldn't stand to see another innocent person suffer in there. I know it's an adjustment, and it will take time to get used to it. But I'm glad to hear that you're starting to feel better." She slowly approached the woman, stopping just a couple feet shy of her, also leaning against the counter.

"It's true that the manor could use some work. I excused most of the staff after Henrietta..." She closed her eyes, her smile vanishing momentarily. "I excused them some time ago." She opened her eyes again, forcing a smile as she looked back to Viktoria again. "I was only one person, and didn't need to use all of the wings of the manor, so they began to fall into disrepair. If you truly feel so possessed, I won't stop you from restoring the manor to its former glory. It might help bring some life back into this place. Errands, cooking, we can work all of that out in time. The biggest errand we'll be seeing to first is a wardrobe. Once you feel well enough to go out and about in town with me, we'll be going shopping. I'm sure you would like some clothes of your own, perhaps some furnishings and decorations that better suit you to decorate your room?" She smiled again, this time a little more genuine. "Repaying me isn't a concern of mine, so it shouldn't be a concern of yours. That you recover, and let yourself enjoy life again is repayment and thanks enough."

 

[Horror_Show]

Abigail listened to the older women insist she didn’t need to repay her for anything. She also sensed the woman’s despair as she spoke of the manner and how she had let the help go long ago. She also was shocked to hear the woman say she wanted to go buy herself belongings and possession for her room. How was this strange women doing so much for her in such a short amount of time? Viktoria had seen her at her most vulnerable and rescued her. She hated to think where she would be if she was back at sanitarium, strapped to a piss stained bed, covered in her own waste while being sedated and toyed with. The thoughts made her literally zone out for a few. She got lost staring past the older women and snapped out of it.

“S-So-sorry,” She stammered, “I had a bad thought of the sanitarium, thank you again so much for getting me out of there.” She breathed. “I will do whatever I can to help and I appreciate all that you’re doing for me, I will probably keep saying that over and over.” She said nodding.

The younger female stood there just taking in the women. She was very desirable in her own way. Her Hair was the prettiest red, a dark red…..she almost wondered if it was dyed? Her eyes were dark and flawless, and her body was grown, matured and curvy in ways that Abigail didn’t have, she was just petite and there. There was nothing special about her.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Viktoria's brow furrowed when she heard Abigail's apology for her wandering mind. She breathed out a quiet sigh before shaking her head. "Please do not apologize. I know first hand what it's like to try to outrun a trauma. I don't want you to ever have to apologize for moments of weakness, or to fear coming to me if you need to talk about it. Just remember that in times you want solitude above all else, those are the times you truly need someone else to be near you. I know some level of your pain, and want to be able to help you." If Viktoria had been a little more present of mind, she might have recognized that the same diagnosis could have helped herself. She stood in silent thought for a long few moments.

"Seeing as we're both awake anyway, would you care to join me for some tea?" She walked over to the stove, preparing a pot. "I would love the opportunity to get to know you a little better. Any aspirations for the future? Any paramours, or hopeful suitors?" She filled the pot with water, setting on the stove to begin boiling. "It's hard for me to believe that a young woman as lovely as yourself has evaded the attentions of others her age." She turned away from the oven, momentarily drinking in the younger woman's beauty. "Oh. I'm sorry, that question was a bit intrusive wasn't it? It's hardly any of my business."