Amnesia - The Dark Descent

[Ninja of Cao]

INFORMATION: This story is majorly - if not completely - inspired from the survival horror game Amnesia - The Dark Descent, developed and published by Frictional Games, Helsingborg, Sweden. All credits for the story goes to the respective owners. All I did was to put the entire game into words for you to enjoy a thrilling story of true horror.

Introduction:

1839, Brennenburg Castle, Prussia.

Everything was dark. I could barely see the walls of the small hall I was running through. The shadow was hunting me, its terror about to reach me. Its roar made the ground tremble - the entire castle was trembling. But I didn't care. All I cared about was running. I felt myself starting to forget... why am I here?
"Focus!" I ordered myself loudly as I increased the pace, running even faster through the endless halls of this accursed castle. "I must stop him!"
I suddenly entered a room with large church-like windows, the moonlight streaming through them in a way that would otherwise be beautiful. But I couldn't think of beauty right now. The ground trembled worse, and I tripped. My memory was fading quickly, and I felt myself being about to pass out.
"Damn it..." I mumbled as I shut my eyes. Hopefully I would find the notes I left for myself, and complete my mission without guilt. For if I fail, a fate worse than death awaits me...
_______________________________________________

Sorry for the short intro, but the game's intro only takes about twenty seconds. I promise long chapters following this.

[Ninja of Cao]

Chapter 1:

I woke up from the sound of dripping water. I opened my eyes and was met by moonlight from the huge, beautifully colored windows. However, when my vision returned to normal, I noticed that the dripping "water" was red. It was blood. Lots of blood, creating a trail from me and towards a heavy wooden door, closed and locked. I tried to remember...
Where am I? Who am I?
I didn't remember anything. Not even my own name. My mind was all blank. No childhood memories, no thoughts about what to do, no ideas of anything... But I didn't have the slightest headache, which was very strange. I realized that I must have amnesia. I managed to stand up and walk to the window, but I couldn't see a thing out there. It was a very thick fog that made it even more difficult to spot anything outside than inside. At least on the inside, there was some sources of light. I went in the opposite direction of the blood, since I realized that I would not want to know who or what it came from. The great castle gate was shut behind me, and when I approached it I suddenly felt dizzy. It was as if I was aboard a ship in a storm, and eventually I backed away. Strangely, the feeling disappeared as soon as I left the gate.
Obviously I'm not meant to leave...
Not quite willingly, I followed the trace of blood that led through the hallway. Suddenly the wooden door in front of me opened. My heart stopped for a moment and I didn't dare to breathe, but there was noone there.
Must have been the wind I thought, but I failed to convince myself. There was someone here... or something. Something that wished me harm. I just knew it.

The huge stairs beyond the door did not look inviting, but I had no choice but to walk up. The ground trembled worse now. Or maybe it was just me suffering from lost sense of balance. No matter the reason, I tripped several times on my way up. Fortunately I didn't fall down the stairs, because the stone floor would surely be a painful end to that journey. Literally, I had to crawl the last few steps because my head was pounding so. I felt like the darkness tried to consume me. I grabbed a table and tried to stand up with its help, but I ended up breaking the weak and ancient construction. All the objects on the table were now spread out across the floor - a bottle of wine (broken after hitting the floor), a rusty tinderbox, and a lantern that somehow didn't break. I forced myself to smile despite the situation - I had longed to see a source of real light. I put the tinderbox into the lantern and managed to light it up. Finally I could see further than my hands could reach. By looking at the calm flame, I felt my headache disappearing. Finally I could stand up on my own two legs. I grabbed the lantern and lifted it to shoulder-height, lighting up a face with two dark eyes staring straight at me...

[Jonesy]

Hmm, I like where you're going with this.

[Ninja of Cao]

Originally Posted by Jonesy

Hmm, I like where you're going with this.

Thank you
I will post more chapters soon. Hopefully more people will read the story.

[Ninja of Cao]

Chapter 2:
I quickly stepped backwards and gasped in surprise when I saw those two eyes staring at me. They were completely black, as if there were no eyes at all in the eye-sockets, and the face seemed mutilated. As I finally managed to catch my breath, I realized that it was a painting. And when I closed my eyes and opened them again, there was no mutilated face there anymore. It was an old man, with white, long hair reaching down his back. He had brown eyes that looked somewhat distant, and he wore a red nobleman's coat with a golden "A" printed at the right side of the chest. I read carefully at the painting's bottom: "Baron Alexander of Brennenburg". Somehow, a strange feeling passed through my body when I read the name. But I didn't recognize it. I turned around and spotted a note on the now broken table. I picked it up and read what would cause me great confusion and surprise:

19th of August, 1839

I wish I could ask you how much you remember. I don't know if there will be anything left after I consume this drink. Don't be afraid, Daniel. I can't tell you why, but know this. I choose to forget. Try to find comfort and strength in that fact. There is a purpose. You are my final effort to put things right. God willing, the name Alexander of Brennenburg still invokes bitter anger in you. If not, this will sound horrible. Go to the Inner Sanctum, find Alexander and kill him. His body is old and weak, and yours, young and strong. He will be no match for you. One last thing, a shadow is following you... it's a living nightmare, breaking down reality. I have tried everything and there is no way to fight back. You need to escape it as long as you can. Redeem us both, Daniel. Descend into the darkness where Alexander waits, and murder him.

Your former self,
Daniel

I slowly put the note in my pocket and stared straight forward, digging as deep into my own mind as I could.
My name is Daniel... I live in London, at...at Mayfair...
That's all I could remember for now. But the note didn't make any sense. Why would I take a drink to erase my own memory, and then order myself to kill an old man? The baron didn't look evil on the painting. And I'm sure that I'm not the villain here... at least I hope I'm not. I kept on walking into the darkness.

I entered a large entrance hall. It seemed filled with fog and dust, and I could barely see anything despite the moonlight becoming strengthened by the colored windows. As I walked down the stairs and approached a door leading further down, I could hear voices. I knew they were from behind that door, but somehow they were also in my head. Desperate for answers, I slowly opened the door and stared into a dark wine cellar.
"Anyone here?" I almost whispered, regretting it at once. Maybe the people here were not as friendly as they could be. But there was no reply. I went down the stairs and past the large barrels of wine, feeling my headache returning quickly. Suddenly I could hear the voices clearly.
"Where did the baron go?" A voice asked. Another voice laughed and replied:
"Who cares? He left us enough wine to last us a lifetime! Or at least until tomorrow!"
Other voices joined in with the laughter. I felt myself shiver. I didn't like alcohol, nor the people consuming it. I like pie, though.
Suddenly the floor breached beneath me, and I fell.

[cherryflower]

Ooh, this is really interesting so far. Keep up the good work

[Ninja of Cao]

Chapter 3:
My first sight when my eyes opened was a hole in the ceiling, which I had fallen through. I now was in a deeper section of the wine cellar. I managed to stand up, barely. And apparently I'm very lucky today - the lantern still looked useable. I just had to light it up again with the tinderbox. I slowly explored my surroundings by rotating and holding the lantern in different angles. There was only one door, and it was blocked by rabble.
This is going to take forever. I thought as I put my lantern down and begun to remove the stones and wooden boards, piece by piece.


After a few minutes, I was done. The door opened wide on its own, and I was almost expecting to see a friendly face behind it; a person locked down here for ages and being eternally grateful for me coming and opening the door for him. We could continue to find our way out together, and maybe I could get some information on this Alexander...
But none of that happened. There was nothing and noone behind the door. I didn't care about hiding my disappointment and went on. The door shut close behind me and I froze entirely still.
Something is not right here... By instinct, I moved into hiding behind a couple of barrels. And when I heard the sound of what could be footsteps, but instead of revealing myself I covered the lantern quickly, sealing away the light. For some reason, I felt myself being in danger. Yet I was not only afraid of whoever the footsteps came from. You see, I suffer from nyctophobia. That is, severe fear of darkness. I couldn't stand being in darkness, and I got headache just by thinking of darkness a little. I heard a grunt - not the kind of sound made by humans, but a strange, terrifying noise that sounded like a person trying to talk with a lot of saliva in his mouth. Or some other liquid... like blood...
Stop thinking like that! I ordered myself. It's just darkness, nothing is going to happen... there are no monsters...
I heard the sound again, followed by heavy footsteps. I saw a shadow moving past the open door to the next room. It seemed to be more than two meters tall and walked very slowly. My heart stopped for a moment, but eventually I heard its footsteps disappear and a door close. I finally uncovered my lantern and dared to stand up. There was no trace of whatever it was. But when I entered the room it had been in, I saw its footsteps in the dust on the floor. And next to the footsteps, there was a trail of blood. Realizing I had no choice but to press on, I swallowed and gathered what little courage I had left. Or maybe it was more madness than courage. Anyway, I continued to walk, until I entered a room where the floor was covered in blood and severed body parts. I almost threw up from the mixed sight and stench. And as if that wasn't enough, I begun hearing voices inside my head.
"W-what's happening...?" A voice said sickly. "I feel like... my chest is going to burst...!"
The words of this voice was followed by a scream of pain, and then other screams of fear.
"My God! Wilhelm, do something!" A voice shouted in despair. A calm, yet sad voice mumbled:
"Accept it... we're not getting out of here alive..."
"How can you say that?!" A panicked voice screamed in reply. I then heard loud banging, probably on a door. "Alexander, you piece of sh!t! Let us out of here!"
Coughing, moaning, and then nothing. Only silence.
This isn't happening... I'm hearing the last words of the dead in my head...

[Ninja of Cao]

Chapter 4:
Terrified, I picked up a piece of paper that were put on top of a desk in the room. Maybe the note could give me some answers:

Wilhelm's Last Words

My name is Wilhelm, house of Gerich. These are my final words, my confession and testament. Two years ago I was summoned to the castle Brennenburg. As most of the aristocracy, I was curious about what this supposed knight of the Order could want from me and accepted the invitation. The baron was friendly and offered me a proposition.

It dawned on me that the nature of the contract was sordid and that the reason I was chosen was because of the follies of my past and not the honors I've been rewarded with during my time as a soldier. I was to kidnap healthy humans upon his slightest whim and do so without asking questions. In return he would attest to my character at the royal court, advancing my position within noble society. I would like to claim that I struggled with my decision, but it came swiftly and I accepted wholeheartedly.

Ever since that day I've brought men, women, and children to Brennenburg. I can't remember the numbers, but there were many, perhaps even a hundred. None of whom were ever seen or heard from again.

Tonight the baron invited me and my men down to the wine cellar to celebrate our work. I had my suspicions as we descended the stairs, but he insisted and joined us in a toast. The wine tasted fine and my men drank without restraint.

So begins the punishment for our sins. The baron has locked us up and returned upstairs. Forgive me for what I have done. I was weak and fell into his diabolic ways. My men are screaming, their skin has been pierced by their own tangled bones. I feel my insides revolt against their God given nature. Blood has begun to pour from my eyes and I can no longer

That was the end of it. Naturally, I didn't feel any more courageous after reading this letter. And suddenly I heard that sound again; a terrifying groan. And this time I saw who it came from. The creature was in the next room, and the door was open. It was large - over two meters in height - but it almost appeared to be a human body. However, the skin was pale and seemed to be sown together in a simple manner. And the jaw was hanging down to the chest, making the face look completely mutilated - and frightening. It turned and looked straight into my eyes, with its yellow reptile eyes. I have never been so scared in my entire life, as when I saw that beast into the eyes. It made another sound, which awoke me from my trance of fear, and I shut the thick wooden door at once. I could hear it running towards the door and I just managed to lock it - fortunately the key was already in place, and I just had to make one move to secure the door. I made a sigh of happiness, thinking I was saved. But suddenly a large, deformed hand with iron claws instead of fingers punched through the door, scratching my cheek and weakening the door considerably. Without hesitation, I ran. But there was nowhere I could run to. I couldn't leave this wine cellar. Instead, I jumped into a closet and shut the doors. Then I sat there, completely still, not even daring to breathe. The doors of the closet were weak, and the monster would easily be able to kill me if it saw me. Which I was sure it would. The doors of this damn closet couldn't be closed properly, so there was a small space through which I could see the beast - and it would be able to see me. Fortunately, it didn't. Its horrifying reptile eyes scouted the room and then the severed jaw moved slightly, making a confused groan. To my extreme relief, it turned and walked away, not bothering to search for me.
Phew... what was that? I thought. And I also decided that I didn't want to stay here anymore. Unfortunately, it wasn't my choice to make...