Diane Chase

**Diane Chase** is a side character who appears in flashbacks and mentions. She was the mother of Paul.

## Biography

### Early life

One of the biggest obstacles of Diane's young life was who her fathers family was. She never got the chance to meet her mother but had only heard of her in the small moments that she got alone with her father. Sitting in his lap as he read her a book and would lean in to whisper of a women named Jenifer. The only women that her father had ever claimed to actually love instead of his wife who was a women by the name of Charlotte. It had been confusing to young Diane as why her step mother was the one he married but Ronnie always brushed off her questions. All he did was promise that he'd do his best to avoid her getting put into that situation.

There was a lot that he could not protect her from though as she got older like her step-mothers wrath and the exclusionary methods that were taken by her half brother, cousins, uncles, aunts, and even her grandfather. Most night she would get beat heavily by her step mother until she couldn't keep her eyes open. Mornings would wake to her father cleaning her wounds with apologies on his breath. He would insist she had to get ready for classes before anyone else got anymore angry at the both of them for it. Something she wasn't sure was even possible at this point in her life and she was sure she would spend the rest of her life doing. When she wasn't getting beat, she was treated like a maid more than family. Most nights she dreamed of a different life outside of these walls which didn't seem possible.

That was until the day came that her father had taken her on a shopping trip with Charlotte. Diane was almost 14 years old at this time and in her fathers eyes, old enough to use her brains. Her father had realized that he had "accidentally" forgotten eggs and asked his wife to go get them. Once she was gone was when he pulled her aside out of the line and informed her that he didn't have enough time to say all that he wanted. All he knew was that tonight she would leave after Charlotte went to bed; Diane was confused as her father explained something about her being even more angry with the fact that Diane's birthday was around the corner. By the time the sun came up the next morning, she was not to be in the house anymore nor ever look back again.

A few moments later was when her step-mother returned. They finished their sale and returned back to the large manor. That night had gone through as usual where her step mother would be at her so badly that she would struggle to stand. Curling up in the closet near her parents room was what she was used to and she heard her father purposely make a long exclamation that he was hungry. When he passed the closet was when she heard the five taps on her door and a few moments later were five more taps. Ten minutes was what she guessed that he was conveying to her. Counting in her head as the moments felt like forever before they passed. After the time had passed was when she peeked open the door and slid out. The front door had been locked and she ran, taking off out the door not even bothering to close it. Letting her feet carry her as far as they could which had been on the opposite side of town before she lost consciousness due to the pain.

Forcing herself awake to the time had taken a lot of energy but running all of that time had been even more. When she awoke the following morning, she was in a bed in a warm home. A boy came in who looked to be maybe about a year older than her as she realized she was alive and it was her birthday. It was clear that she was still in Red Lieu but she was in the company of someone who looked strong. He introduced himself as Jack; he thanked her for getting him out of school for the day. It was him who was running out to do his morning chores before school that found her passed out in his farm. His father had decided that while he was out taking care of things, Jack had to take care of this girl until she could be taken to he police after the days work was done.

Diane begged him not to take her to the police as she hurriedly explained her story to him. Begging for secrecy as well of the horrible nightmare that she lived through. The young boy was clearly stunned by this news as he stared at her. There was not a single word that came to his mind in response other then a promise to keep her secret and keep her safe. She closed her eyes as he went out to talk to his parents. Freedom was so close and she knew that if she were taken to the cops, it'd be taken away. They would take her back to her family where the punishments would be even worse. When he returned, he informed her that his mother would begin home schooling her to which he grumbled about. Jealousy at the idea of being able to stay home the entire day had flooded him.

Unable to even bring herself to ask what he said, all she could do was thank him and all he said was that he supposed this guest room was hers now. A laughter was shared between the two as they spent the day together. He showed her all the textbooks he had and the books about the different animals. It was hard not to fall in love with a boy who looked a lot like a hero. It was quick that she seemed to fit into this life that was finding a way to fit her into it. Jack began showing her around town in little bits as he was careful to avoid the few spots that her family navigated. Diane shared her first kiss with Jack when she was 16 years old under the old oak tree that grew in his front yard which a tire swing swung from it. She carved their names into the tree as well and left him standing there dazed.

Not too long later was when they began dating. She wasn't sure if this much happiness was hers to have; if it was something she was allowed for her. Most of her life had been spent being told that she didn't deserve happiness. It had been beat into her that she was a mistake and should feel it but that wasn't what she felt here. Love had been the only thing she felt from Jack and his family. At 19 years old, he proposed to her under that same oak tree to which she said yes to him. The wedding was hosted on the farm and she got to leave Red Lieu for the first time on their honeymoon. It had been magical beyond all belief with him in that moment and not long later, she learned that she was pregnant.

Nine months later was when she gave birth to a bright eyed baby boy who had the same eyes as his father. When she held him, she knew instantly that his name was Paul. Smothering his forehead with kisses as she yelled at Jack to get the camera out of her face. The next 5 years of her life had been a gift that she couldn't express and her awful family had become a distant memory. Occasionally, she thought about her father and what he might have risked to get her out of there. Her faith had been restored in God after finding a different version of it outside of the House of Nightmares. This boy that she gave birth to would be loved unconditionally by her husband, and herself which was something she was fully sure of. It was as if to top things off into an even better moment was when she found out that she was pregnant again. Jack had been overjoyed by this news as he had lifted and spun her around.

When 9 months had flown by, her water had broken. She watched her husband scoop up their son and cart her to the car as she bounced between laughing and crying in pain. Focusing on her breathing, she watched as her husband buckled in their young son. Flying off towards the hospital as he called his family to inform them that it was time. She was happy to see how quick his brother had shown up at the hospital to take Paul. Little did she know, that was the last time she would see her son as she was carted off into the hospital. While giving birth with her husband at his side, she listened to him do his best with being there until a sudden turn for the worst. Something about having to get rid of the baby to save her in which an apology came from her husband before he was yelling to do what they had to do to save her. After that, everything had went dark for good.