by West, J. D.
“What am I supposed to do now?” she cried. “We had our whole lives together planned out.” The fiancée was left there in tears contemplating how to deal with her loss. Later she went to the social worker's office so she could help with family notifications. Dr. Sanchez was visibly upset as she watched a nurse cover his body with a sheet.
“Good job people.” said Dr. Black. “We did all we could do.” They were barely out the door when an overhead page signaled that there was another code blue in room # 10. They rushed down the hall and found Dr. Okonkwo giving the large patient chest compressions. Dr. Black and Dr. Sanchez jumped right in and started helping.
“Damn!” screamed Dr. Black. “Dr. Okonkwo what the hell happened?”
“I don’t know sir! He was sitting up talking five minutes ago.”
“Christ!” he responded. “We’re losing him.” His vital signs were dropping quickly. The nurse picked up the defibrillator and pressed down trying to revive the patient's lifeless body. In the end it was useless. He died a few minutes later.
“Very strange!” whispered Dr. Black as he glanced over the patients chart. “We probably won’t know anything until after the Medical Examiner completes his autopsy.”
The nurse took blood samples from around his wound site and sent them to the lab for analysis. The patient was so big that it took two sheets to cover him up. Two patients came in to have human bites treated and they were both dead in a couple of hours. Hospitals save lives every day but death was also a normal thing. It does not matter if someone dies from old age or from some type of trauma. You never get used to it. Dr. Black pulled both of his young residents into the hall. He patted Dr. Okonkwo and Dr. Sanchez on the back.
“You both did what you could but we are not God.” he preached. “We just do His work. Our job is to provide the best care possible and you both did that.”
He knew that they were both still and losing a patient can hurt your confidence. He wanted to keep them on top of their game. They were the future of the hospital and the night was still early.
******
Directly after that Dr. Okonkwo went to the ER to get ready for a red trauma that was en route to the hospital. A man had attacked the woman in her apartment a few hours earlier. She had returned home from happy hour partying at the casino. Her door was slightly open but she still went inside. It was dark so she turned the kitchen light on to look around. Suddenly her boyfriend appeared from the bedroom and grabbed her by her hair. He pulled her down on the floor and repeatedly bit her splattering fresh blood onto the carpet.
“MUNCH! MUNCH! MUNCH!”
She crawled down the hall but he followed her. She told him to stop but he kept coming. The taste and smell of the blood made him even more aggressive. He snarled and grunted as he got closer.
In the light from the kitchen she saw that he had a large wound on his arm. The woman pleaded with him and told him she loved him. He stumbled forward and attacked her again. She tried to fight him off but he assaulted her anyway. The woman grabbed a large knife out of the knife block on the counter. She swiped at him a couple of times but he did not react to the cutting. Her boyfriend lunged at her and she stabbed him in the chest. She frantically tried to get out the front door but the boyfriend grabbed her and bit a hole in her throat before she pulled free again.
“CHOMP!”
She ran from him and smashed through a second story window. Her neighbors found her unconscious outside in the front yard and called 911. She was hemorrhaging a lot of blood and going into shock. The emergency dispatch center was flooded with urgent calls to help her. An excess of calls citywide caused delays in their response time.
The police and neighbors saw her boyfriend walking in front of the window but he wouldn't come out peacefully. The police fired tear gas through the windows breaking the glass. Then they stormed the building to take him into custody. The officers were forced to shoot the boyfriend several times because bit a SWAT officer that tried to cuff him. To their surprise he continued to fight. One of the SWAT officers used a high caliber shotgun. The impact of the slug blew off his head. The boyfriend collapsed to the floor from the fatal shot. His brains and blood ended up everywhere. The Phoenix Fire Department was waiting outside the house to take care of the woman. Luckily she was still alive when they got to her. At that point they only had visual clues about her condition. Her body was bloody and bruised from bites and deep lacerations all over every exposed body surface. Both her legs were broken and she had multiple fractures.
The medics hurried up and got her on the wobbly metal stretcher. They bandaged her up, strapped her down and placed her on a back board for safety. The sirens began to wail as the emergency lights switched on. The ambulance hit a pothole as it turned at the light jolting around everyone inside. The medic in the back was standing up caring for the patient when he slammed into the bench seat behind him. After he got back to his feet he could not stop the woman’s bleeding. Her blood soaked through the bandages and covered the floor. The ambulance continued to travel at a high rate of speed on the way to the hospital. The driver slowed down and paused every time he approached a dangerous intersection or stop sign. Once he got everyone’s attention he rolled through without coming to a complete stop. He had to swerve around several cars to avoid a collision. Inside the back of the rig the patient started foaming at the mouth and vomit blood. The woman coded several times during transport. Luckily they were only a few miles from the hospital. The Paramedic performed CPR as they raced on with the semiconscious woman. She was near death and still bleeding profusely as they came through the ambulance doors.
A nurse noticed the commotion dropped the phone she was using and ran to help. She put out an overhead page immediately announcing the arrival of a red trauma. Dr. Black along with Dr. Okonkwo rushed over and frantically tried to save her. The rest of the trauma team assembled and began to asses her condition. Respiratory staff, nurses, and several techs joined them. Her vital signs were unknown. She was covered in blood lying on a sheet that was once white. All eyes in the room were on the patient. Dr. Black stood back and looked on as his young trainee verbally called out his assessment of the woman’s injuries. At the same time a nurse nearby began to document everything being done in the patients chart. The young woman’s blood pressure was high, heart rate was fast, and respiration was very low. Her responsiveness was still to be determined. As soon as the doctor was finished one of the techs began to cut of the woman’s cloths. Unfortunately they couldn't revive her. Dr. Okonkwo declared her D.O.A. This was the second patient he lost tonight. The two paramedics who brought her in cleaned off their equipment and then left on another call.
******
Officer Darden radioed in that the helicopter was landing a few minutes later. I walked outside just as it touchdown. The blades of the helicopter kicked up piles of dry Arizona dirt and blew it everywhere. A cloud of dust pushed outward causing us to shade our eyes. Lt. Arvayo was also there along with Special Agent Rose. Everyone waited for the rotor blades to stop turning. Once the pilot signaled that it was okay we approached the aircraft. The medic on board said that two of his patients passed away during the flight. Their lifeless bodies had to go to the morgue. Transportation staff took them downstairs. An autopsy would be performed on them in the morning. The remaining patients were transported on backboards. Their IV drips were already in place. Juan and Anthony Jimenez were both unconscious but stable. They were admitted upstairs to the ICU. Agent Rose and Lieutenant followed them. The helicopter crew cleaned up and prepared to take off. Soon the engine started up and the blades started again. A few minutes later the Black hawk was back in the air. I heard the thumping of the rotor blades as they pushed cool wind downward. Officer Darden was still outside when a young woman walked up to him.
; “I sorry to bother you.” she said. “Can you please walk me to my car?
Administration warned staff members not to walk by themselves at night. A few vehicle break in's and armed robberies recently happened on property. One nurse was stabbed during an attempted sexual assault. She was sent home early one morning because it was unusually slow. As she walked across the parking lot headed to her car alone a man approached her from behind. Just as she pulled out her keys to unlock her car door he shoved her against the car and put a knife to her neck. A few seconds later his hand was up her shirt caressing her breast. She yelled out and luckily got the attention of another staff member. The man took off running but she didn't get a good look at him. It was only after the cops caught up to him that she found out he had been a patient in the ER. That's why it was not an unusual request.
“Anything for you pretty lady!” Darden said with a sly smile. “Follow me!”
“This is Officer Darden. I’ll be doing an escort from the south entrance doors to the east parking lot.”
I saw Darden walk to the edge of the sidewalk on his way to the west parking lot. A real cute doctor followed a few steps behind him. I gave him a head nod before they rounded the corner of the building and disappeared out of sight. A few minutes later I heard his voice again.
“This is officer Darden to communications. The helicopter is outbound.”
“Ten four sir!” responded Hernandez.
CHAPTER 5:
Death and Resurrection
By the time I closed the gates to the HELO pad and started back to the ER Dr. Sanchez was standing outside the ambulance doors leaning against the wall with her head down. When she looked up her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. As I moved closer I realized they were full of tears. She had been crying. I walked up to her and put my hand on her shoulder. She was startled and tried to quickly wipe her tears away.
“Is everything okay Maria?”
“Yeah I’m fine Kevin.”
“Are you sure? Cause you can tell me if it’s not.”
“I’m just having a rough night that’s all.”
“Well if you need to talk I’m always here.” I said smiling.
“Thanks. I guess that’s good to know.” she said smiling back.
I punched in the security code for the doors and we both walked back inside. She looked like her old self and gave me a quick hug to show her appreciation. Her skin was soft and she smelled like fresh cut peaches. I almost forgot we were at work.
“Thank you Kevin. I really needed that.”
“It was my pleasure. Trust me.”
We both had to get back to work so we smiled at each other and went our separate ways. I left her in the four corners hallway. She had to go to registration to meet the family of her dead patient. Our hospital had a protocol about giving family members bad news. Only the social worker or doctor could give out that information. They did that out of respect for the dead. The social worker escorted the mother of the Mark Cordova the dead patient from room #6. Their family pastor was by her side, Pastor Harrell. He was a powerful man of God whose leadership strengthened the faith of his congregation. Dr. Sanchez met up with them on the way there.
“Mrs. Cordova it’s nice to meet you. I am your son’s physician.”
“Where is he? Where is my baby boy?”
“Ma’am there is no easy way to say this but your son is dead!”
“No, no, please God no. Not my Mark Anthony!” The pastor and Marks fiancée Serena tried to comfort his mother as Dr. Sanchez led them to his room.
Pastor Harrell’s church serviced the community close by providing food, family counseling, and spiritual support. He was supposed to marry the couple. Dr. Sanchez told them that his tests were not back yet but she believed he died from respiratory failure. She comforted them with the knowledge that before he died he was in a lot of pain and now he was at peace. Serena was too upset to go inside so she waited in the hall while everyone else entered. As they looked on a nurse started to unhook him from all the machines and tubes. She didn't know it but her patient was undergoing a strange metamorphosis. Blood had begun to pool in his lower extremities creating dark blotches. The veins in his face had moved closer to the surface of his skin. That gave his face a strange two tone marble like appearance. She leaned across his body and noticed that his eyes were open. A thin cloudy film had formed over them. This caused the nurse to jump back.
“Oh, my God!” she mumbled. The pastor and his mother declared that it was a miracle and started to pray as Mark turned his head and looked around the room.
“Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord! Like Lazarus my son has risen from the dead!” She celebrated not having to suffer the horror of being a parent who outlives their child. Mark's eyes were yellow and cloudy. Dr. Sanchez was shocked. She checked his vitals and personally declared him dead. Now he was looking right at her. The nurse leaned back over and called out his name. She tried to remain calm and let him know she was there to help.
“Mark can you hear me?” she whispered. “Do you know where you are?”
His mother leaned over as well and looked into his eyes.
“Thank you Jesus!” she proclaimed. “I’m here son!”
One of his fingers moved then another. Soon a slight twitching of his arms spread to the rest of his body. From out of nowhere Mark’s hands grabbed hold of his mother and he let out a loud moan.
“GROOOWWWL!”
She pulled away from him and her momentum knocked Dr. Sanchez down. Maria hit her head on the wall and was knocked out. When she regained consciousness she was dazed for a few moments. Mark sat up in the bed and grabbed the nurse. She had learned to get out of the way of kicks, scratches, and punches but tonight she didn’t move fast enough. He attacked the nurse like a rabid dog biting down hard on her hand and chomping her thumb right off.
“CRUNCH!”
He swallowed the chunk of flesh and bone in one gulp. The nurse squealed in pain and fought to break free but he bit her again.
“Uggh!”
She suffered bruises and scratches from trying to pull open Marks clamped down jaws. After a brief struggle she finally broke free and ran into the corner trying to stop her hand from bleeding. The blood from the holes in the nurse’s hand ran down her forearm and past her elbow. The flowing blood turned her green scrubs dark red.
“What the fuck is your problem?” she said. “Why did you bite me?” His mom was overcome with fear and tried to run for the door.
“That’s not my son!” she yelled. “That’s not my son!” He reached out his hands to grasp her long hair and pulled her back toward the bed. She struggled to get free but his grip was too strong.
“GROOOWWWL!”
Mark tugged and pulled until he ripped her scalp off the top of her head. Mrs. Cordova screeched in pain as blood leaked from her exposed skull down into her face. “Eeeoooeeeooo!”
She crashed into the closed door and started calling out. “Help me. Help me please!”
Her son’s reanimated corpse grabbed her by the shoulders and clamped its jaws down on the back of her neck. “CHOMP!” He began to rip sections of flesh off her neck sending blood droplets flying all over the room. Pastor Harrell saw all of this and dropped to his knees. He called out to God and started to pray.
“In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit!”
He thought Mark was possessed. He had known the young man all his life. Now he was under the devil’s control. Dr. Sanchez was not sure how many minutes she had been passed out. When she finally came around she saw Mrs. Cordova being attacked. She was smart enough to crawl under the bed and stay motionless to avoid being attacked. She thought she was going to die. Pastor Harrell found his courage and stood back up. He turned toward Mar
k holding both his hands out in front of him. His right hand gripped his bible tight and his left hand held a large silver cross. Mrs. Cordova’s screams were now just whimpers as Mark devoured her alive.
“Yeooowww!”
He was still feeding on his mother when Pastor Harrell walked up to him quoting another verse from the bible.
“Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I shall fear no evil for you are with me.” The pastor believed that his job was to protect his flock. The dedicated pastor stopped in front of Mark and opened up his bible. He kissed the silver cross held it just above his head and started to read.
“And Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him.”
Mark turned back and glared at the pastor. Blood covered his face. His eyes were cold and unfeeling. Flesh and skin from his mother dyed his teeth red. His body lurched forward and he let out a low moan.
“GROOOWWWL!”
Before Mark could attack the pastor plunged the cross into his eye socket. The beast howled but was still alive. The pastor used his King James Bible as a hammer and drove the six inch cross through the back of the devils eye socket. His brain ruptured and Mark's second life as the walking dead ended. The creature known as Mark Cordova was finally dead. Dr. Sanchez came out from under the bed and started giving first aide to the blood soaked nurse. She was cowering in the corner. Dr. Sanchez applied pressure to her wound and wrapped it in gauze as Pastor Harrell leaned down over Mrs. Cordova and gave her last rights.
******
I had already headed back on patrol still thinking about Maria and walked right into a hostage situation. I turned the corner at the nurses’ station and came face to face with them. In seconds I realized what was going on. An inmate had his arm around a deputy’s neck as he pressed the gun against the back of his head. One look into his glaring eyes instantly heightened my reactions. I pulled my Glock from my holster in one motion and pointed it at the suspect.
