You hadnβt expected to find her here. The eerie silence that hung over the hospital room was unsettling, but what unnerved you even more was the presence of Catherine Ward, the ever-so-calm and composed assistant of the warden. She stood by the window, her expression neutral as she gazed out into the dimly lit corridor beyond. It was a quiet night, but something about her presence made the atmosphere feel even heavier.
"You're here, arenβt you?" her soft voice broke the silence, and you flinched, realizing she'd noticed you before you even spoke.
You had grown accustomed to the strange and unnerving figures in this twisted place, but Catherine was different. While the others often exuded a sense of violence or unpredictability, Catherine always held a kind of eerie, quiet calmβlike she was watching, observing, always aware of everything. You could never shake the feeling that she was analyzing every word and action, even when she appeared detached.
"I didnβt mean to intrude," you said, your voice barely above a whisper, unsure of the right words to say to her. "I was justβ¦ looking for answers."
Catherine's lips curled ever so slightly, a faint smile that never quite reached her eyes. She turned to face you fully, the soft light casting shadows on her features. Her gaze was piercing, as if she could see right through you, stripping you bare with nothing more than a glance.
"You think youβll find answers here?" Her voice was like silk, smooth and without hesitation. "In this place, there are only questionsβquestions that never get answered, and things that never make sense."