Paranormal Anthology With a TWIST (31 page)

Matthew turned on his bed and faced the window. He stared
intently, hoping to see through the one-way glass. Lost in thought, Matthew was
trying to figure out their game when IT called to him.

“They’re all out here, Matthew. They don’t have any carts or the
gurney with them. I believe that they are telling the truth.”

“How would you know? You haven’t even spoken to me in two weeks.”

“Did you miss me, Matthew? I had things to do. I can’t be with you
all the time.”

“It’s never stopped you before...”

“Before what, Matthew?”

“You know… before they quit giving me drugs.”

“Matthew. We’ve had this discussion many times. I am not a
drug-induced hallucination. You should know that now, especially since you have
had no drugs for a month. Don’t make me stop counting. You know what that
means.” ITs laughter pierced to Matthew’s very soul and he shuddered
involuntarily.

While Matthew conversed with the unseen “IT”, Dr. Collins began to
formulate a plan. He was going to surprise Matthew with having the wall clock
stopped. It would prove once and for all that the clock was inanimate and that
his therapy should continue.

“Guard, can you stop the clock?” Dr. Collins asked as he hooked a
thumb towards the wall clock.

“What do you mean, Doc?”

“Just what I asked—can you stop the clock?”

“Well, I guess so. I’d have to find the circuit breaker, but sure,
Doc. I can stop the clock.”

“Then do it . . . and be quick about it.”

The guard rushed off to the utility closet and fumbled for the
keys to unlock several different security doors that protected the breaker
panel. Once in the panel, he found the breaker for the hall outlets and wall
lights. Flipping it off left only the ceiling lights on.

“Is that what you want, Doc?” he asked as he returned to his post
next to the door.

“You might have left the wall lights on, but this will do for the
moment.”

“Sorry, Doc. The outlets and wall lights are all on the same
circuit. You get all or nothing.”

“Let’s get Matthew out here in ten minutes. I want him to see that
the clock is stopped and has been for ten minutes. Then he’ll have to give up
the delusion about the clock.”

Turning back to the door, he keyed the speaker and said, “Matthew?
Would you like to come out and join me in the lounge for some conversation?”

I’ve never been to
the lounge. I’d like that very much,
he thought. “Sure Doc,” he answered to the
speaker, “I’d like that a lot.”

“Okay then, Matthew. We’ll be back in ten minutes. It’s eleven
now. You’ll have to be secured, but you won’t be placed on a gurney or taken
anywhere but the lounge.”

“Thank you, Doc. I’ll be ready.”

When the two guards finished putting him in his straight jacket,
they left without speaking. Matthew sat at the edge of his bed and waited.

“What do you think?” whispered Matthew.

There was only silence.

“Can you hear me, you bastard? Do they intend to harm me?”

Still only silence.

“I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” Matthew cursed quietly and
did his best to act normal for the cameras.

The silence remained.

 
“We’ll know how
successful we’ve been in a few more minutes. He seems to be fine,” commented
Dr. Collins as he turned back towards the monitor.

 
Erin sat staring at
the screen in silence. She enjoyed the observation room more than the direct
therapy. It had been a very stress-free thirty days. This was the moment that
she dreaded. Maybe she was just overreacting, but her intuition told her that
she was right.

“Come on. It’s time to go.” Dr. Collins extended a hand to help
her up. Dr. Collins walked confidently towards the cell. Erin fell in step
several paces behind, reluctant to reach the destination.

The cell door opened slowly. Matthew sat at the edge of his bed,
wrapped in a straight jacket. He smiled at his visitors, but a look of mistrust
remained visible across his tight lips.

“Let’s go to the lounge, Matthew,” said Dr. Collins.

“Okay, Doc,” answered Matthew. Still seated on the edge of his
bed, his eyes darted from one face to the next, searching for any sign of
betrayal.

Matthew, standing up more quickly than had been anticipated,
caused Dr. Collins to jump back. The guards moved in, but were waved off. “I’m
sorry, Matthew. You startled me. We can go now.”

Escorting Matthew through the door was difficult with so many
people in the small cell. They all exited first so Matthew could have a chance
to walk out on his own.

He emerged with a sense of victory. He’d suffered countless
indignities and finally, after almost a year of struggle, he had won some of
the respect he deserved. This was the goal he sought. They recognized his
superiority and were softening their attitude about his work. Soon he would be
free to continue—the end was near.

“Matthew, I have a surprise for you.” The laughter was more
insanely menacing than it had ever been over the years. Matthew felt panic
sweep over his body. He could not falter now that he was this close to a
victory over the doctor. He stepped boldly through the door.

A shriek lodged in his throat as he spied the clock—silent,
unmoving, suspended lifeless on the wall. The muffled sound gurgled out as he
collapsed, instantly dead. As he collapsed, he smashed his head onto the
concrete floor. Matthew’s terror was eternally frozen on his face, mouth open,
and eyes wide and bulging. The look was grotesque as the blood began to trickle
from his mouth and nose.

With his fingers still on Matthew’s neck, searching for a pulse,
Dr. Collins checked his watch and asked the guard to report the time of death.
The other guard had already left to get a gurney.

Erin covered her mouth at the shock. Everyone thought that she was
crying as her body shook, but she only did this to stifle her laughter. She had
found the relief that she needed. This was her escape from the torment that
Matthew brought her. Anguish and resentment flooded away from her mind and
body. She was a free woman.

Once the body was removed, the process of cleaning out the cell
and filing reports had begun. Soon the whole incident would be a case study
tucked away in a filing cabinet somewhere, until a curious doctor or student wished
to read the history of Matthew’s treatment.

“Matthew, wake up. It’s me.”

“I don’t believe you. I’m dead. I can see my body being taken to
the morgue.”

“That’s right, Mathew. You’re dead.”

“What do you want?”

“It’s time for you to take my place.”

“Take your place? I don’t understand.”

“Let me explain. You see. I was the last
guest
to die in here. I’ve been waiting for another so I can move
on. I chose you to torment you into dying so you could take my place.”

“I won’t do it.”

“You have no choice. I am already fading from this world and you
will soon be in the clock. Choose wisely, like I did when I picked you, and you
won’t have many years in the clock before you move on.”

“No. My work was never finished. It’s not fair.”

“Goodbye, Matthew.” The insanity of ITs laughter faded with his
spirit

Several hours had passed since the guards had done their final
check of the cellblock. All the security doors were checked and all the
patients had been accounted for. Gathering in a small office at the end of the
corridor, the two guards listened to a ball game on the radio. They had the
door shut so as not to disturb any of the patients. It was almost 11:00 PM and
the game had gone into extra innings.

In the silence of the night, when even small sounds echo thunderously
down the darkened corridors, a stark, malevolent voice called out. The sheer
intensity shattered the stillness.

“Frank? Are you awake? It’s no use pretending. I can wait forever,
but you can’t.”

“What do you want with me? Why don’t you leave me alone?” Frank
screamed.

“You know what I want... I want your soul.”

Friday morning arrived like any other day—guards changed
shifts, the routine remained the same. Dr. Collins and Erin arrived on schedule
and prepared for the morning consultations. They walked the all-too-familiar
corridors for one of the last times.

“Frank? Can you hear me? They’re coming for you. What will they do
today I wonder? More drugs?”

“Leave me alone.”

“Don’t take that tone with me. You know what I’ll do.”

“I’m sorry. I really am sorry.”

“That’s better, Frank. They’re here.”

“Erin, how long has Frank been a patient?”

“About three years, Dr. Collins. He came to us a month or two
after we lost Matthew. Why?”

“There’s something vaguely familiar about him. I just can’t put my
finger on it. Well, it doesn’t matter right now. It’ll come to me sooner or
later. Doing anything special this weekend?”

“Chris and I are going to take the kids to the lake. We bought a
little cabin last month and the weather will be perfect. We should have lots of
fun.”

“I’m going to have to visit you now that you have a cabin.”