Chapter 1- The Asylum:
By Cryptic Edwards
© 2026 Cryptic Edwards. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the author.
Published by Cryptic Edwards
When Mary Tonic speaks, the walls really listen.
18 she was yes, young but beyond her years more so and not a fragile innocent girl she was but could easily fool those around her who did not know her!
Inside the Asylum, truth and terror twists together as one woman relives every Grim detail, leaving those who come to hear her story questioning reality... and wondering more if they’ll ever leave the room again.
There she was Mary Tonic inside a dark and rusty old Asylum room tied to a chair where truth and terror twists together as one woman and one woman only reveals every Grim detail.
Two men called Sean and Aaron are on the other side of the glass window watching over Mary Tonic with listening ears. There they stand to listen to her story starting to question what they thought reality was!
There she is Mary Tonic sitting in a red chair with her hands strapped down to stop her from touching anything or anyone.
Her long red hair loosely down like the colour of devil itself, her head is down but she senses them, knowing they are there as she speaks.
“So then, you’re here. You want to know, don’t you?
A small wicked grin is spread across her face as she laughs loudly.
Mary Tonic moves her body forward as she is trapped, but has no fear, though her hands are locked tight, but for Mary Tonic this is a cat and mouse game.
"I can see it in your eyes, you’re gagging to know what happened.”
She starts looking around with her eager eyes as she shouts out in horror.
"SEE"
"LOOK"
"LISTEN"
Mary tonic then pauses and brings her voice lower, her head rises higher looking directly through the glass at the men Sean and Aaron who are there watching and listening.
"You have no idea, do you? Fools!
She shouts with hunger in her.
Her wicked laughing starts again with pure darkness in her laugh nothing good came from the evil laugh within.
Both of Sean and Aaron look at each other slightly nervous, trying the best not to show Mary Tonic the fear they are feeling deep in their bones.
The evil laughter stops as Mary Tonic speaks in softer tone but with sarcasm.
"Look at me, Why do you think I’m here?"
"You think I’m here for the hell of it? For a laugh?"
"Oh, no. No. Not for a temporary fix, sorry to prove you wrong."
She leans back in her chair, twisting her neck to the side, voice lowering to a whisper.
“There it is, I see it! that look in your eyes, You want to know I can feel it in your bones,I can sense it and I can breath it in my lungs as I hear your hearts racing."
"You want to know so badly, don’t you?"
"DONT YOU?"
"Well, I’ll tell you."
"bit by bit, piece by piece like a jigsaw puzzle."
"Every last gory detail.”
She starts laughing again while scraping her nails on the inside of the chair, as she feels her way her hand radiating against the material that has her trapped but both Sean and Aaron are unaware of what Mary Tonic is!
Then the laugher stops again, her voice changes to a louder more striking chiller in your bones voice. The room starts to shake Sean and Aaron are holding on to the desks where they are unsure on what is happening!
“I loved it, you know. Loved every part of it."
"It made me feel... what’s that word I hear so much off?"
"Ah, yes -powerful."
"I was in control, I was calling all the shots."
"I was free, free from it, all of it.”
The room stops shaking, both Sean and Aaron lost for words.
Mary Tonic brings her head down with an evil grin.
“Everyone was watching me... and me alone in power!"
