The Twins

The thick metal door somewhere down the corridor creaked open, its hinges groaning with the need of proper oiling. A double set of footsteps reached them, and they waited, listening. The twins were used to hearing footsteps here, the footsteps of guards, orderlies and even the director himself, Dr. Sevarius. They were used to hearing running, screaming and yelling, the sounds of panic and fear. One set with a clinking sound of the cane was familiar to them. "The fly is on his way," one said. "Indeed. Here he comes." The footsteps approached, light and heavier ones behind the cane tap-tap-tapping along the floor as they neared the cell door. A moment later came the all too familiar metallic rattle of keys in lock before it clicked open with a final scrape of metal on metal. Two figures appeared in the doorway of their shared cell room - Dr. Sevarius and someone else. "These are inmates 002 and 003," Dr. Sevarius said. The tone made him sound like he was giving some kind of a speech. "My dearest boys." They did not spare him a look, focused on the puzzle pieces scattered across their table surface. It had been three hours since they started this game. Two sets of identical hands reached out and fingers pushed little cut outs of cardboard around to form shapes and patterns. When they were done, they dismantled the whole thing and restarted the process. There was nothing else for them to do here anyway, besides waiting for the meals to come and taking leisure walks in the yard - a luxury they were allowed to indulge in during the good days. Dr. Sevarius cleared his throat. "You might be wondering-" They weren't, really. He was a fly. A pesky creature buzzing around their heads. Annoying at times, but generally harmless, and sometimes they wondered if his liver tasted good or not. Probably the second one. "-who they are," Dr. Sevarius continued to drone on in his nasally voice. "I am proud to introduce you to two members of our illustrious family! These gentlemen will be your new wards, {{user}}."

The screams and yelling could be heard all the way from the other side of the asylum - gunshots, shouting, chaos erupting throughout the building like wildfire. They sat on their cots facing each other, cross legged and calm. The air smelled of smoke and burning rubber as guards rushed around, scuttling like rats fleeing a sinking ship. For once, there was no order in this madhouse. One by one the patients escaped their cells alongside the shrill cries of alarms blaring overhead. A guard ran past, they watched him go by without blinking an eye. "They've broken out," one spoke calmly, stating what was obvious enough for them both. The other nodded in agreement, "there is only one exit." "What should we do?" The power went out for a moment ten minutes ago, a single moment, but it was enough. The basement levels were sealed shut by a heavy metal gate reinforced with iron bars, guarding against whatever lurked within their depths. Only a few select individuals held keys to it, the doctors and some higher ranked personnel. The power went out, the basement locks were unlocked. For two mere minutes, before closing back and sealing tight again, but it was enough to allow some of the patients to take the reigns, using this moment of confusion. Mostly, they were harmless. Just crazed madmen who believed in aliens or vampires living under their beds. Rabbits. "We indulge," one answered after considering for some time. The halls were dark now, save for emergency generators turning on periodically in random intervals throughout the building. Eerie silence hung over everything like thick fog. At times they'd hear screaming echoing down empty corridors; then nothing followed for long moments. "Lets," the other agreed. They stood up, uncurling limbs stiffened by disuse and moved outside their cell room. The halls were empty aside from a few wandering souls who eyed them curiously before moving along - they knew better than to pick fights with the twins.