Once I was inside the house, I started up the stairs. We’d seen John in my bedroom window, so that was the first place I intended to look. Tut came scrambling down the stairs and hid under my sofa.
Whatever the spirit was, the cat wanted nothing to do with it. I didn’t have the luxury.
The steps under my feet felt like they were made of clay. It took an enormous amount of effort to pick my legs up and navigate up the staircase. Halfway up, I felt like I needed to sit down and rest. My lungs burned, and sweat ran down my temples to my cheeks.
At that rate, I was never going to make it up the stairs. Every step was exponentially harder than the one before it. I heard a creek behind me, and when I turned, the old woman from the other side of the house was at the bottom of the staircase. Her skeletal smile was even more menacing because her teeth looked like they’d been filed into razor sharp points. She chomped at me and then began to climb up towards me on all fours.
“A little help, please,” I said and looked up towards the ceiling.
I’m not sure when I became a believer, but it was sometime between when I saw John’s hand pressed against the glass of my window and the current moment. The deep hatred in the old woman’s eyes and the mechanical way she crawled up the steps had me convinced that she wasn’t a ghost.
Whatever it was, it was pure evil, and I needed help.
My plea was answered, and a weight lifted off me. It wasn’t gone, though. Something else helped me carry the burden. I looked to my side and next to me was an ethereal creature. I couldn’t see specific features, but the light emanating from it was warm and comforting. Apparently, there had been an angel at my side the entire time watching over me. When I needed help, all I’d had to do was ask.
We made it to the second floor, and I looked in my room. It was empty, so I went to the spare room. The bed was standing up on its side blocking the closet door.
“Sammy? Is that you?” I heard the muffled voice from inside the closet followed by the squeal of a guinea pig.
Bless John’s heart, he still had a hold of the little guy. I rushed across the room and tried to pull the bed down, but it would budge. There was a thumping and scraping in the hallway as the demon made its way toward me.
The light appeared next to me and easily pulled the bed down. I opened the door and pulled John into my arms.
We turned and watched the light move across the room. I assumed it was going to the hall to dispatch of the evil spirit, but something else caught my attention.
The sound of dozens of voices singing Wings of a Snow White Dove outside of the house rose into the night. Cameron must have reached out to a local church, and they’d gotten out of bed and come to our aid in the middle of the night.
Cameron’s voice boomed outside of the bedroom door.
“You are cast out unclean spirit. You have no dominion here.”
A flash of brilliant white light blinded me, and then the air in the house shifted. The feeling of peace that had emanated from the angel filled the atmosphere around us. I could no longer see him, but I knew that my guardian wasn’t far.
Epilogue
You’d have thought that I’d move out of the Overwatch house after everything that happened, but none of the evil that I’d brought into the house remained. So, there was no reason to leave.
John wouldn’t hear of me living there alone, but by that point, I was more than happy to let him move in. He took the spare bedroom as his own, and both of us quit drinking. The angel’s light had touched us, and there’d been a fundamental shift in our priorities. Marriage, family, and hard work had always been important to John, but after that night, he’d been on a mission. John almost had me convinced as well. So much so that if he’d popped the question, he’d most likely get a yes.
I’d been sober for several months by the time I graduated, and I’d also lost Cameron. After that night, he distanced himself from me, and no amount of pleading would get him to return my calls. I don’t know what happened to make him turn his back on me, but he left with the church people that morning after he’d cast out the demon.
I was alright. I had John who was my best friend in the world, and on track to become so much more. Riley and Tanner would still hang out with us even though we wouldn’t party with them anymore. It was different, but things change.
Oh, and I had Tut and Herbert. Herbert’s the guinea pig. I told John we didn’t have to keep him, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Apparently, he’d had a guinea pig as a pet for ten years. He’d gotten it from his mom for his eighth birthday, and the little guy had died a couple of months before John left for college. So, Herbert was part of our little household.
I got a call from Becky a couple of months later, and apparently, the man who rented the other apartment had died. His family had no intention of keeping the place, and the owner had decided to sell.
The chance to buy the entire house was extended to me before the house was put on the market. John and I talked it over, and we decided to bite. Between our jobs, we’d had more than enough to buy the place at the steal of a price the owner had asked.
Once we graduated, we’d knock down the dividing wall and restore the house. Without the demon, the Overwatch house was a dream come true.
The last day of school came around, and I saw Cameron leaving class. He’d transferred out of the humanities class we had together, so I was a little surprised to see him.
“Cameron,” I called out and hurried over to him.
“Oh hello, Samantha.” He said.
“How are you?” I asked. “I never see you anymore.”
“I’m good. Things are good.”
“What are you up to? Do you want to go get a coffee?”
“No, I’ve got to go.” He said. “My last class is over, and I’m leaving for Texas.”
“Texas?”
“Yeah. I’ve got great news. I’ve been hired as an associate pastor at my old church.”
“You’re going to be a preacher? You were against organized religion the last time we talked about it. You said that there was a demon of religion that distorted God.” I couldn’t believe what he was telling me.
“Things change, Samantha.” It was then that I comprehended that his voice was a bit off. “After that night, I could see things differently. Anyway, I’ve got to go.”
He started to walk away before I could say anything. Cameron stopped halfway to the parking lot. I thought for a moment that maybe he’d been joking. Perhaps he was going to come back and tell me what had really been going on.
Cameron turned, and plastered across his face was the creepiest smile I’d ever seen. The look on his face made my stomach turn.
“Hey, Sammy.” He called.
“Yeah?” I shouted back.
“I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
The Attic
Chapter One
“Have a seat, Samantha.” Mrs. Lancaster, the Nursing Administrator for Carver Mental Health, said to Sammy as soon as she entered the spacious office. “Thank you for coming in before your shift. I had a conference call that ran over much more than I expected, but we’ve still got a few minutes to talk.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all,” Sammy said in an overly formal voice. The truth was that Mrs. Lancaster frightened her a little, and her attempts at being congenial went a little overboard whenever she had to speak to her superior. “How can I help you? Susan said that you needed to discuss my schedule?”
“That’s true. I’ll be brief as I’ve got another call in less than ten minutes, but the gist of it is that we’re reopening the south wing of the center. Renovations were completed earlier this week, and Carver is ready to start taking on new patients. Susan won’t be able to cover the evening shift on her own with the additional patients, so we’re going to need a co-charge nurse in addition to several new LPNs and aides. What do you think?” Mrs. Lancaster asked.
“What will the new wing be used for?” Sammy asked.
She alr
eady knew the answer. The nurses on every shift had talked about nothing but the reopening of the south wing since the announcement had been made that a large donation had come in to renovate it. Rumors were flying that some billionaire whose son, Henrik Amsberg, had been found unfit to stand trial for seventeen murders had donated the money so that the hospital could begin taking in criminally insane patients, and he could hide his serial killer kid at Carver.
“We’ll be taking on a variety of more challenging cases, Samantha. As you’ve probably heard, the south wing has been restored to be a maximum-security facility. You’d, of course, be working on the evening shift with Susan.”
Sammy’s heart sank a little. She’d been hoping to be promoted to RN with the opening of the new wing. If she stayed on the evening shift, she’d still be an LPN. Only a move to the day shift would have meant a promotion to registered nurse.
“I’d love the opportunity to move over to the new wing. It would be a great experience as I work towards an RN position. Will I still be working under Susan? Will she be the charge nurse in the new wing?” Sammy asked hopefully.
She’d learned a lot working with Susan, and while she’d do her best to be flexible, Sammy didn’t relish the thought of having a new supervisor. She didn’t want to be working with the criminally insane with a new boss either.
“Samantha, I think there’s been a misunderstanding.” Mrs. Lancaster said and pulled Sammy out of her thoughts. “I’m offering you the charge nurse position. You’ll be the co-supervisor with Susan. I’ve spoken with your professors at the college, and Dr. Henrietta recommended you. She said you had an interest in abnormal psychology and the temperament to handle difficult cases.”
“You want me to supervise the evening shift in the new wing? But, what about Susan? She has far more experience than I do. Shouldn’t she have the option to take the new position?” Sammy asked as she tried to wrap her head around not only getting an RN job but being offered the opportunity to be charge nurse.
“I already offered it to her, and she recommended you. You’ll have two LPNs and two aides working under you. We’ve already hired them, and all four of them have extensive experience with these types of populations. They’ve either worked in a similar facility to what we’re opening or have been employed in a prison setting. You’ll also have an orderly and a dedicated security guard working with you as well. So, what do you say, Samantha? I’m sorry to put you on the spot, but if you decline the position, I’ve got to start looking for someone right away. We’re opening the wing ahead of the original schedule and have patients arriving as early as next week.”
“Yes, I accept. I’ll take the position.”
Sammy wasn’t sure what she was getting herself into, but she didn’t want to miss the opportunity. There was a tiny voice inside of her that questioned whether she was ready for such a big responsibility, but Sammy reassured herself that Mrs. Lancaster wouldn’t be offering her the position if she wasn’t the right fit for the job.
“That’s great news. I’ve got a call in two minutes, but if you’ve got some time, Susan can show you around the new wing before shift change. She’ll show you where your desk is going to be and give you a tour of the new patient rooms.”
Sure enough, Susan waited in the hallway for Sammy. “So, did you take the job?” Susan asked, but she didn’t wait for Sam to answer before she continued. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you what was in the works. They said Mrs. Lancaster wanted to be the first to speak with you about it, and I don’t cross Mrs. Lancaster.”
“It’s okay. I understand. Thank you for recommending me for the position.” Sam said as they walked toward the south wing. “But, I have to ask. Why didn’t you want the job?”
“I’m not scared; if that’s what you think.” Susan teased. “I just like my current situation, and I’ve been doing it for so long that I’m comfortable. I’ve been through a lot of changes in my life, and right now, I’m just not up for another one.”
“I can understand that,” Sammy said. “But, would you think less of me if I was scared?”
“Honey, if you weren’t a little afraid of what you’re about to undertake, I’d fill out the paperwork and get you settled in room 113 myself.”
They both chuckled, and it helped Sammy relax a little. “So, now that we’ve established I’m terrified, I feel like I can ask how far away from you I’m going to be. They said we were co-charge nurses, so I’m assuming we’ll have contact during our shift.”
“Well, there’ll be a door like this between our wings. We’re about to go through the south side entrance closest to the administration offices, but on the other end is a door that is just down a short hallway from our wing.”
“Yeah, I remember them installing a new security door in that short hallway we never use for anything a while back.”
“That’s the one,” Susan said. “And this is the door from administration.”
Sam wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but the security door was less intimidating than she’d thought. She wasn’t sure why she’d anticipated seeing steel bars and super high-tech retina scanners, but the actual door was pretty nondescript.
“Don’t let it fool you,” Susan said as if she could read minds. “It’s steel reinforced with bulletproof glass. You need a special card to get in and out, and I’ll be the only employee who doesn’t work in the ward to have one. Not even Mrs. Lancaster can get into the south wing without one of the nurses working there to let her in.”
Once they were inside, Sammy wished she had a sweater. It wasn’t cold outside, but there was a distinctive chill in the still air. “It’s cold in here.”
“Yeah, I asked about that the other day. Lancaster said it was because the workers left the windows open while they were renovating the place. Once everything was done, they sealed the wing off. Since hardly anyone comes in or out of here, it’s holding the chill in. She said it would warm up once this place came to life. We’ll be needing air conditioning in a few weeks. Take a look around. They delivered your medication dispenser yesterday. Lancaster wanted me to make sure it was up and running before shift today.”
The wing was laid out just like the others at Carver. It did have fewer patient rooms, though, because there was a security officer and another door that was locked and unmarked. The fact that there would be fewer patients was a relief, especially considering that Sammy would have twice as much staff.
She wandered down the hall listening to the sound of Susan clicking away at the medicine machine’s keyboard. This was probably the last time she’d see this wing so empty. Sammy took a deep breath and tried to etch the image of the empty south section in her mind. Soon, the hustle and bustle of patient care would replace the stillness. For some reason, she didn’t want to forget what this was like.
That was the first time she felt it. The newness of this place was nothing more than a façade. Underneath the fresh paint and new drywall was the old south wing. Carver Mental Health Center hadn’t always been on the cutting edge of mental health medicine.
At one time, this building had been the Carver Hospital for the Insane, and before that, the grounds had been used for the Lake County Poor Farm and Indigent Sanitarium. You couldn’t have grown up within a hundred-mile radius and not heard the stories and urban legends about this place.
Some of the stories were true, and Sammy had researched them in the archives at the Lake Library. Patient care wasn’t held to as high of a standard in the past as it was currently. In fact, there was a time when it wasn’t held to any kind of standard at all.
Carver had done its best to make up for the mistakes of the past by treating the current patients with dignity and compassion, but the history could not be erased. That past was still inside the walls, and for a moment, Sammy felt the thrum of it vibrating just below the surface.
As she neared the security office, a feeling of dread slid down into her stomach like a drink of too icy water. It added to the chill in the air and made h
er shiver violently.
Something from beyond seemed to call out to her, but not in words. The images and ideas crept into her mind like someone slipping photos into a slide projector. They were in her head, but the scenes were not her memory. As she tried to focus on them and grab hold of their meaning, the images would evaporate.
All that she could cling to was that there was a reason why the rooms that were now the security office and mystery room weren’t reused for patient care. Something unfortunate, or perhaps sinister, happened in those places. Sammy could swear she could hear the cries of pain and anguish in the back of her mind.
Without really thinking about it, Sam turned the knob and let herself into the security office. She assumed that in the future, it would be locked. Right at that moment, it wasn’t. There wasn’t any reason to close it yet she told herself. There were no patients on the wing, and the only thing in the office was a desk and chair.
Sam traced her fingers along the outside edge of the desk as she walked around it and then sat down in the black leather chair. The crying that hadn’t entirely left her thoughts grew louder. The agony in the voices pulled at her gut until she felt her own eyes grow damp.
“Sammy, what are you doing?” Susan’s voice made Sam jump half out of her skin. “Guess we’re going to have to have the lock guys take a look at this door. It’s a good thing you found it doesn’t work. I can’t imagine having the security office accessible to patients. That would have been a disaster waiting to happen.”
“Oh, it just popped right open. I assumed the locks weren’t installed completely yet.” Samantha said and stood up.
“Nope, you shouldn’t have been able to get that door open. Come on, we’ve still got time to grab a coffee before our shift starts.” Susan said and closed the security office when they were both back out in the hallway.
“What’s in that room?” Sammy said and pointed at the unmarked door across from security.
Dark Ends: A Horror Collection Page 26
