Deadly Institution

by Holly Copella

  Brenda shook her head while grinning. “Must be, considering it was hidden within the wall. What do you suppose they did here?” she asked. She removed her cell phone without Brian’s knowledge and took a picture when he wasn’t looking.

  “Probably conducted experiments on the mental patients,” Brian teased while running his finger along the surgical table. “Who knows? Doc never told us about this room. I’m assuming he didn’t even know about it when he bought the place. Maybe they gave electric shock treatments here or did their lobotomies,” he teased with a soft laugh.

  “That’s gross,” Brenda replied firmly. She continued to look around the sterile equipment in plastic covers and the shiny, metal examination table with its leather restraints.

  “I thought if Doc didn’t know about this room, I’d clean it up, put in some furniture, and make it my secret room.” He laughed. “It’d give me someplace to hide where the others couldn’t find me.”

  Brenda ran her finger over the examination table then looked at the door on the opposite wall. “Where does that go?”

  “A secret morgue,” he said with a chuckle. “Want to see it?”

  Brenda cringed. “No, thanks.”

  Brian placed his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “How’d you like to be tied down on my table while I give you a full body exam?”

  She giggled and clung to his neck. “Sounds kinky.” She glanced at the leather wrist and ankle straps attached to the table then looked back at him. “But I think you’d better put a blanket down. Looks kind of cold.”

  Brian glanced at the table and smiled. “You’re probably right. No point in torturing you while I’m torturing you. I think there are some blankets in storage in the basement upstairs. I’ll be right back.” Brian kissed her quickly then hurried from the room.

  Brenda immediately removed her cell phone and photographed every corner of the room. The room was very quiet. Sounds from the party couldn’t be heard within the basement or the secret room in the sub-basement. Brenda stared at the door to the morgue for a long moment. She approached the door, hesitated, and then opened it slowly. The room was completely dark. She felt the inner wall and turned on the lights. The room became bright. Brenda jumped to the sight of a sheet-covered gurney along the left side of the room. Four morgue freezer doors encompassed the back wall. There was a small, old elevator to the right. Brenda took more pictures with her cell phone and grinned with a slight grimace. She was obviously pleased with her discovery. She slowly walked into the room and looked at the freezer doors. She appeared to consider opening them, grinned slyly, and reached for the first door. Brenda pulled on the lever. There was a loud, vacuum sound, followed by a cloud of cold, foul smelling air. Derek Falcone lie on the tray with a blood-soaked sheet wrapped around his body. His eyes were rolled back, and his mouth hung open. Brenda screamed, slammed the freezer door, and jumped back with a horrified look on her face. She stared at the closed door as the cold air dissipated and held her chest a moment. She glanced at her cell phone then looked back at the freezer door. Brenda took a deep breath and again opened the door to reveal Derek on the slab. Her cell phone trembled in her hand as she took several pictures. The fear was evident in her eyes, but she wasn’t about to give up this amazing opportunity. She took a deep breath and uncertainly pulled the sheet from his body. His throat had been slit so deep, he was nearly decapitated.

  The gruesomeness of his injuries was evident by the wideness of her eyes as she stared with horror. She nervously took several pictures, making certain to get close-ups of the graphic wound. As Brenda continued to take pictures with her cell phone, a shadow loomed over her. She suddenly hesitated and uncertainly looked behind her, undoubtedly expecting to see Brian. Her startled look immediately turned to horror. She was suddenly shoved backward against the metal freezer doors by a hand in a bloodstained surgical glove. She fought the hand that pinned her to the freezer by her throat as a stained scalpel appeared in the attacker’s other hand. She stared at the scalpel, gasped with horror, and attempted to scream as it plunged into the side of her neck. Her cell phone dropped from her hand. She struggled only a moment as the blood erupted from the wound on her neck. The scalpel was dragged hard and deep across her throat as her thrashing slowed. The gloved hand released her, and she immediately sank to the floor.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Monique and Coleen wandered around the maze of old mattresses and furniture in the main basement. The basement was an assortment of large rooms with doorways leading to other rooms. One could easily get lost for hours. Each room appeared to look alike with its piled junk and cobwebs.

  “This place gives me the creeps,” Coleen said while looking around. “There must be stairs somewhere.”

  Monique looked around then suddenly felt her wrist. “Damn it, I lost my bracelet.” She looked around the dark floor. It could be anywhere. “That was my good luck bracelet too.” She then looked across the room and pointed. “There’s the elevator.”

  Both girls hurried toward the elevator and pushed the button. They waited several minutes but the elevator never came. They finally realized the button didn’t light either.

  “Let’s go back,” Coleen suggested. “We’ll demand to see Jacey or Doc.”

  “We could, if I knew which way was back,” Monique replied. “I don’t know where we are.”

  “We’re below the lounge,” Coleen replied. “That’s where the elevator is on the first floor. I remember that.” She then frowned. “I think I remember Timon saying the elevator didn’t work.”

  “There has to be a stairway somewhere,” Monique remarked with a defeated sigh.

  They continued to walk through the basement. Coleen stopped Monique and nodded toward a door.

  “Maybe that’s a way out,” Coleen suggested.

  They hurried toward the door. On the frosted glass window was the word, ‘morgue’. Monique looked at Coleen.

  “That’s a way out alright,” Monique muttered and walked away.

  Coleen opened the door and turned on the light. Monique returned and looked into the room over her shoulder. There were six freezers built into the back wall and several gurneys lined the wall to the right. An old privacy screen was against the left wall.

  “Creepy,” Coleen breathed.

  “They’re empty,” Monique said lowly. “Don’t be such a baby.”

  Coleen looked at her blonde friend. “Oh? And how do you know they didn’t forget someone when they left? Jacey said they shut the place down in a hurry.”

  “I think they’d know if they’d misplaced a corpse,” Monique remarked lowly.

  “I’ve heard of hospitals losing bodies before,” Coleen replied. “It could happen.”

  Monique stared at the privacy screen against the wall. She walked toward it and pushed it aside to reveal a small freight elevator.

  “Coleen, over here,” Monique called out.

  Coleen approached as Monique pressed the button. The doors opened. The small elevator was only halfway to their floor and halfway below their floor. Both looked at each other.

  “I think Doc was taken for a ride on this place,” Coleen remarked.

  “Just get in,” Monique announced with a groan.

  Coleen took a deep breath then sat on the floor and slid in through the small opening to the elevator. Monique followed. They stood in the small elevator that was barely big enough to fit an orderly and a stretcher. Monique was about to press the unmarked button when Coleen stopped her and pointed down to the opening near their feet. There was light coming from the opening below.

  “What do you suppose is down there?” Coleen asked.

  Monique shrugged. “We’re in the basement already. There shouldn’t be anything below us.”

  “I’m telling you there is. I can see a light,” Coleen informed her.

  Monique lowered herself to her hands and knees and looked through the narrow opening below them. There was a metal gate just below and a light shinned thro
ugh. Monique straightened on her knees and looked at Coleen.

  “It appears to be a room. If there’s a light on, that must mean someone is down there,” Monique informed her. “Should we try down?”

  Coleen nodded. Monique stood and pressed the bottom, unmarked button. There was a grinding sound but nothing happened. She sighed and extended her hand to the narrow opening at the bottom on the elevator.

  “After you,” Monique said.

  Coleen chuckled with a nervous smile. “No, after you.”

  Monique again lowered herself, pulled open the gate with some effort, and slid her legs though the opening while on her belly. The opening was almost too narrow for her to fit. She held on to the elevator floor with her elbows and attempted to look behind her to see where she’d land. She couldn’t see anything past her own dangling legs. She pushed herself out and caught the elevator with her hands then dropped to the floor. Monique caught her balance and looked into the open elevator shaft before her. Fortunately, it would only have been a five-foot drop down had she missed the floor. Monique turned around and almost collided with Brian. Monique screamed. She clutched her chest and stared at him while he studied the opening from which she’d appeared.

  “Monique,” Coleen cried out from the elevator while attempting to peer through the opening. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  “You scared me,” Monique gasped.

  Monique then looked around the room. They were in the sub-basement morgue where Brian had left Brenda. All four freezer doors were closed, and there wasn’t a trace of blood to be found along the floor.

  “Another morgue!” Monique cried out with horror.

  “What are you doing?” Brian asked with surprise. He looked up to the opening as Coleen peered out.

  Coleen saw him looking at her and screamed with surprise.

  “Where did you come from? I thought you were staying at Jacey’s,” Brian remarked then looked back at the opening. “Come down from there before you get hurt.”

  Coleen slid through the opening as Brian assisted her down.

  “It’s really a long story,” Monique said with an embarrassed smile. “Is Professor here?”

  Brian released Coleen and looked back at Monique with apparent confusion. “I thought he was with you at Jacey’s,” he remarked. “When he didn’t show for the party, we assumed he made an escape.”

  Both girls stared at him with concern on their faces. “That’s part of the long story,” Monique told him. “He fell off his horse. We went for help, but when we returned, he was gone. The van was still at Jacey’s house, but he wasn’t there either.”

  “We should probably call Shelly and see if he was taken to the nearest hospital,” Coleen suggested.

  Monique nodded.

  Brian stared at them with his mouth hanging open and appeared concerned. “How bad was he hurt?”

  “Not too bad,” Coleen informed him. “But he was pinned under a tree. He may have broken his leg.”

  “We can’t imagine him walking far on his own,” Monique explained.

  Brian nodded. “We’d better find out what happened to him,” he announced then tilted his head and appeared curious. “You didn’t happen to see a woman with black hair wearing a red dress, did you?”

  Both shook their heads. “No, why?” Coleen asked.

  “She was here a minute ago,” he explained. “When I came back, she was gone.”

  Coleen’s eyes widened. “Just like Professor!”

  “Don’t get hysterical on me,” Brian remarked simply. “I’m sure she had second thoughts and went back to the party.” He motioned for them to follow. “I’ll take you back upstairs.”

  Monique and Coleen followed him from the morgue to the surgical lab. A close-up of one of the morgue doors revealed blood dripping from the opening into a small puddle on the floor. None had noticed. As they entered the surgical room, Monique stopped and looked around with apparent surprise.

  “Coleen,” she gasped and removed the photos from her back pocket. “Look, it’s the room.”

  Coleen compared the pictures to the room with which they stood. Brian approached.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked with a curious tilt of his head.

  Monique showed him the photos. “We found these.”

  Brian shrugged. “So? They’re pictures of this room. Not a big deal.” He turned and walked toward the stairs.

  “You don’t understand,” Monique chirped. He paused and turned around. “These were found at the murdered woman’s apartment along with a blackmail note.”

  Brian’s look became serious. “Let’s find Doc,” he said firmly. “I’m not so sure I want to be down here anymore.”

  Both girls nodded in agreement. They hurried through the surgical lab, up the secret staircase, and to the secret entrance within the basement. Brian pushed on the door. When it didn’t open, he pushed harder. He inhaled deeply and spun on the narrow steps to face both girls.

  “I don’t like this,” he said softly then motioned them back down to the lab. “I’ve been down here several times, and that door has never gotten stuck.”

  Monique and Coleen hurried down the stairs with Brian practically pushing them.

  “Where does that elevator go?” he asked as he hurried past them.

  “Up to the main basement. There’s another, much bigger morgue,” Coleen informed him as they entered the sub-basement morgue.

  The lights flickered and went out. Both girls screamed in response. All three fell silent.

  “There’s, uh, a flashlight on the wall near one of those machines in the other room,” Brian said with a soft gasp.

  “What are the chances the lights just happened to go out?” Monique asked softly.

  The room was pitch black and didn’t allow them to see anything, including one another.

  “Let’s not panic,” Brian said firmly, though his voice conveyed fear. “You two stay here. I’ll go find the flashlight.”

  “No way,” both cried out and grabbed his arms.

  “You’re not going anywhere without us,” Monique gasped. “You’ll disappear too!”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Jameson spun around in the darkness of the basement and shined his large flashlight in several directions. He saw his own shadow and jumped. Jameson sighed with relief and relaxed. There was a dull clunk from somewhere nearby.

  “Asher?” he asked softly and looked past the mounds of old furnishings. He inhaled deeply and slowly removed his gun from its holster. “This is no time to play games.”

  Jameson remained still a moment then moved against the wall and walked in the direction of the sound. He approached the opening to another room and paused alongside the doorway. He inhaled deeply, clutched his gun in his sweaty palm, and then jumped into the darkness of the room. There was a loud thud, followed by Jameson’s gasp, and then a thump. The flashlight struck the floor and rolled out the doorway.

  †

  There was a dull, electric hum as several red lights came on. Jill looked around the darkened basement barely lit by red lights. The emergency generator had automatically kicked on. Jill groaned and set her sign against a mattress. She looked around the cluttered storage area.

  “Where am I?” she moaned softly.

  She walked along the narrow path between mattresses and boxes. There was a sound further ahead. A shadow passed along the wall in the next room. The light was bright, indicating a flashlight. Jill slowly approached the room and noticed the old stairs before the room. She continued toward the opening and strained to peer into the laundry room without being seen. She saw Asher shutting one fuse box then opening another. Jill’s eyes widened and she held back her gasp. She turned and hurried away. There was movement from behind her. Jill looked back. There was no one there. She crawled behind some mattresses and remained still and silent. She could hear someone walk in the opposite direction, but she still refused to move. She waited another few minutes. Nothing moved except a mouse that ran
past her feet where she was huddled. Jill watched the mouse without a sound, though her eyes were wide. She looked out from behind the mattress. Nothing moved in the red glow of the emergency lights. She slowly crawled out from behind the mattress on her hands and knees. Her hand touched something hard and smooth. She looked at the black, dress shoes. Jill’s mouth opened as she slowly looked up. An ax, held in black gloved hands, was coiled back. She attempted to scream as the ax blade came at her face. Blood spattered the mattress behind her, and the sound of her head was heard rolling across the stone floor. Jill’s headless body collapsed to the floor just near the black, dress shoes. Blood spilled across the floor in a small flood.

  †

  Jacey stood in the basement corridor and looked around the dimly lit area. The red, emergency lights created an eerie setting. She nervously looked around and listened to movement. It was more than likely just a mouse. She began to walk slowly along the corridor that led to a room. The room appeared darker than the corridor. She paused outside the archway and looked inside the room. She had no choice but to enter. She didn’t understand why the basement was designed with so many passageways and rooms. Her only guess was they had intended to use it for therapy and group sessions. She suspected they had changed their minds when they realized the patients brought in were more violent than they had originally anticipated. Jacey stepped on something. She paused and looked down to her feet. She picked up a Monique’s braided bracelet and stared at it. Jacey looked around with horror in her eyes.

  “Monique,” she gasped softly. She spun around with concern. “That can’t be. They wouldn’t be here--” She inhaled deeply. “Damn it.” Jacey hurried across the room. “Monique? Coleen?”

  †

  Asher stood over a laundry bin within the laundry room. He held a blood-soaked towel then tossed it into the bin with a few other bloodied towels. Jacey’s voice was heard echoing through the vents.

  “Monique! Coleen!” her voice echoed.

  Asher heard her voice and suddenly looked around. His mouth curved into a scowl. “No, Jacey,” he muttered. “Why did you have to come down here?”