//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Scream // Story: Madhouse // by Closer-To-The-Sun //------------------------------// Two days had past since Yearling had been found bedridden in the care of her self-proclaimed ‘number one fan’. For the author, it was absolute agony. Imprisoned by the four walls, she found nothing of comfort save the brief moments she could get sleep. However, he would awake to the throbbing pains in her leg and wing. She tried everything she could to make the experience more bearable, but the only beacon of hope that she had was when Snow Script would bring her codeine painkillers. Yearling hated them, but she was becoming more dependant on the drug. “How is my favorite patient?” Snow Script asked cheerfully as she carried in a tray of food into the small bedroom. “Fantastic,” Yearling bitterly spoke, obviously lying about her condition. Snow Script either didn’t pick up on the lie or simply didn’t care, “That’s wonderful to hear, Ms. Yearling! May I call you by your first name?” “I rather you didn’t.” The disturbing smile didn’t leave Snow’s face, “Of course. We should keep our relationship professional. Doctor and patient professionalism, right?” Yearling didn’t say anything, but simply glared. “Well, I’m here with your lunch,” Snow said as she set the tray gently infront of Yearling. The meal consisted of a carefully prepared sandwich with a small pile of chips and a glass of water. The item that Yearling was looking for was in a small paper cup next to the glass: two pills. “I made it with extra care, just for you!” Again, she was silent as she took the pills. “So, how did you like using my typewriter? It’s just like the one you used to write all of your stories! A Regal Saber typewriter. Durable, portable, and very reliable! I got it after I read that you use it all the time,” Snow was musing. The brown pegasus didn’t speak. She looked closely at the food and water before, inspecting it for any possible tampering. Snow Script continued, “I’ve always wanted to be a writer just like you, so I even modeled by workspace after yours as well! I know it’s not exactly perfect, but I tried my best. Didn’t you just love working over there?” She motioned to the other side of the room where the typewriter sat. “Yeah, I always wanted to visit the other side of the room,” Yearling sarcastically said before she took a small bite of the sandwich. She was hungry enough at this point to not care anymore. The smile lessened as Snow continued, “But I do have to ask, why aren’t you writing.” “I’m….in too much pain at the moment. Could I get some more painkillers?” Yearling pointed to the paper cup that held the medicine. “I’d be happy to,” Snow happily said as she took the paper cup from the tray. She turned around and started to trot to the door, but stopped herself “But, there is something I want to bring up first.” Yearling felt a chill ruin down her spine at the addendum to her statement. “You see, I started to read your newer manuscript, which you just typed out, and I am liking it. I really am,” Snow said with a smile on her face. Her voice was calming and bright like Celestia’s sun on a spring morning. “But there are some issues I see, and I want you to start over, from scratch.” “Huh? Why do you want me to start over? I’m writing the new novel, just like you asked,” Yearling spoke up. “Yes, you are. But I want you to start over,” she echoed. She paused for a moment before she continued to speak, “Do you know why I love Daring Do? Because she is everything I wish I could be. Bold, adventurous, courageous. For years….I saw her world. Saw her escapades through her eyes. Every single time a new book was released, I would excitedly rush to the book store to be the first pony to read it. I felt like I had a purpose. Like Daring Do needed me to help her. And just by reading her books and following her exploits, I was helping her. Thanks to her, I grew to love literature, I grew to love her, and I grew to love you, Ms. Yearling.” With a whiplash of volume, Snow’s voice went from sweet to enraged, “And as your number one fan, I have to make sure you don’t fall into horrible writing tropes!” The sudden change in tone, Yearling tried to reply, “But Snow….” She was quickly shut of, “No buts! There is absolutely no excuse for this! You cannot simply have the first few chapters of the novel be nothing but a dream! It’s just terrible authorship! And that goes double for your previous attempt! If a villain claims that they will rather die than be brought to justice, then prove it! Don’t just have the cockadoodie villain run away vowing revenge!” Yearling was silent as Snow continued to shout at her. Finally, she spoke, “I….do admit that it was a poor choice….for both of them.” “Then you shall do it again, correct?” her voice was still tense and furious. The pegasus simply nodded. The happy disposition returned with gusto to Snow’s face. “Wonderful! That makes me so happy to hear. So, I’ll just leave you to your work, Ms. Yearling. But, before I do,” she trailed off as she moved the tray of food off of the bed and moved it aside. “What are you doing?” Snow started humming to herself, “Don’t want to create a mess.” Her words seemed ominous. She trotted toward the closet, opening it up. Yearling was unable to see what was inside the closet from her bedridden position, but she did see what Snow Script had retrieved: a sledgehammer. “W-What are you doing?” Yearling asked in horror as Snow started to inch closer. Her voice was still joyful as it always had been, “I’m just going to give you some encouragement.” Yearling tried to move from the bed but it was all for naught, her body was still affected by the drugs. It was heavy and unresponsive to her brain’s commands. It wouldn’t have mattered at that point, as Snow Script was already towering over bedside. She stared down at the brown pegasus below her with a sinister grin. She raised the hammer up above her head. “This will only hurt for a moment.” In a flash, the hammer fell and made contact with Yearling’s lower left leg. If there was an audible sound of the bone breaking, neither pony heard it over Yearling’s scream of pain. The vibrations of the hammer shocked throughout her body. She continued to scream and swear at the top of her lungs, tears starting to form in her eyes. The impact site showed not blood, but it was bruised and it was apparent the leg bones were no longer in one piece. Snow Script looked down at Yearling who was writhing in pain. She had a peaceful smile on her face, “I love you so much, Ms. Yearling. You certainly are a treasure.” Yearling continued to moan in pain. Taking the hammer back to the closet, she closed the doors and made her way to the hallway door, “I’ll be back later to deliver your dinner!” “You’re a monster,” Yearling gathered enough strength to bitterly speak at Snow Script. Placing her hoof on the door, Snow Script said one last thing before leaving, “Also, for your information, those pills you just had? They were just placebo. If you wish to have the real painkillers, I expect to see some results, Missus Mare.”