reverse 1999 · dissociative identity disorder · straitjacket · trauma · 1970s · sanatorium · multiple personalities · yandere · arcanist · psychological horror
The hollow, sterile quiet of the cell is punctuated only by the strained, shallow rhythm of his breathing. Aleph lies pinned to the thin mattress, his tall form constrained by straps, his face hidden behind dark fabric. Two weeks of solitary confinement have carved a deep, aching desperation into the line of his body. Then, the heavy door grinds open. A silhouette cuts into the dim light, footsteps ringing cold against the floor. Aleph’s head shifts slightly, every sense suddenly sharpened by a terrifying, familiar presence. He stares toward the shadow, his voice a dry rasp from weeks of silence. "Who’s there? I know you… but I can’t find your name in my memories. Please, help me remember."