The Grey Gull Sanitarium - Part One

   It was a Friday night, just like any other night. Dark, windy, with a light fine mist making everything damp. Nothing unusual for the city of Lochgilphead, Scotland.
   The town sits along the shores of Loch Gilp which leads directly to the Atlantic Ocean. I don't know why they call it a loch since it is more of a bay than a lake.
   Well, that night, Bryce and I were watching a video on a streaming site where these five Americans find abandoned buildings and they search these premises for ghosts or anything else spooky they can find.
   After drinking a couple of the finest ales that we could afford, I suggested that we go explore the old Grey Gull Sanitarium. It is strictly off limits, with barbed wire topping the fence that circles the place and large signs everywhere reading; Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted.
   But that never stopped Bryce and I before.
   When we were youngins, still in school anyways, anytime a petty theft happened, joyride of an unlocked car, or just poorly sprayed graffiti showed up, the Constable always came knocking at our houses first. Much to the chagrin of our parents.
   "Everybody knows everybody in small towns," the Chief Constable would say every time, while smiling at the both of us. "We get to know the character of certain individuals mighty quick around here."
   But now that we are older, we have moved past that sort of thing. Sort of.
   Tonight we were both feeling a little frisky after the 12 pack of ale and neither one of us had to work in the morning. The perfect combination for a little mischief.
  I don't know why we have never ventured into the old Grey Gull before, but Bryce didn't hesitate for a second once I mentioned it to him.
   We have both seen the Bobbies on occasion patrolling past the sanitarium at night. Shining their big spot lights from their patrol cars towards the building, searching the grounds and illuminating the windows to see if anyone is inside. I figured some rich guy owned the building and asked the local police to check in on it once in a while so the likes of Bryce and I wouldn't vandalize the place.
   I went inside my room and came out with a bolt cutter. Bryce asked me, "What is that for?" I said, "To cut through the fence so we don't have to climb over the barbed wire." He replied smiling, "I have been casing the place for some time now. I know of a tree in the back of the place where it splits the fence in two. We can get in and out without anyone the wiser."
   We grabbed a couple of torches, some gloves, hoodies, and made our way to the Grey Gull Sanitarium on foot.
   Not a local, tourist, or cabbie driving a hackney carriage was in sight that perfect night, as we made our way in the mist.
   We agreed beforehand that this was an exploratory mission, to find ghosts. Not to vandalize the place or steel anything. Unless it was valuable.

End Of Part One

This is,

I Cannot Wait To See What Happens Next

Jim Hauenstein,

And,

 “Stephen had never seen a landscape so calculated to reduce the onlooker to utter despair in an instant. "This is one of your kingdoms, I suppose, sir?" he said. "My kingdoms?" exclaimed the gentleman in surprise. "Oh, no! This is Scotland!”
- Susanna Clarke -

That is my story and I am sticking to it!

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