Durmount

Life beats us to the ground, it keeps beating us until we grow up to become who we are meant to be. Sometimes life beats us until it kills us, or we can’t take it anymore and handle things ourselves.

My family and I were in Brandon for the weekend. We pulled in a run down cheap motel, probably because that is all my father would dish money out for. My father put the vehicle in park and cut the ignition. He turned to me with a semi unfamiliar smile upon his face.

“This is the motel where your mother and I stayed for our honeymoon.”

“That is pretty cool,” I responded.

My mother put her hand upon my fathers. “Maybe we can get the same room honey.”

“Please don’t.” I chimed in.

My father chuckled, unlocked the car doors, unbuckled and proceeded to exit. My mother and I quickly followed his lead as my father could be at times a rather impatient man. He waited at the front of the vehicle so that way we could all walk into the office as a family. Something that brought him some type of joy I suppose. We talked the few metres to the door, my father opening the door and holding it open for my mother and I. He in turn followed behind us , letting the door close behind him.

My nose was hit with the scent of lavender. It was soothing at first but became slightly over toned by the smell of ashes. My father marched over to the clerks desk, while my mother went and sat down in the row of chairs that lined the left side of the office. I walked over to the somewhat beat up coffee table that had a plethora of older magazines strewn about. I began to rummage through the piles, landing on an old gaming magazine from twenty-five years ago. I opened the magazine, scanning the pages quickly at all of the outdated advertisements.

“What did you find there, sweetheart?” My mother questioned with some excitement.

“Mm?” I turned my head to her. “Oh, just some now semi-irrelevant gaming magazine.”

She patted the seat next to her. “come, sit.” She suggested with that gentle motherly smile.

I closed the magazine and was about to walk over, when I felt a firm hand rest on my right shoulder. I quickly snapped my head towards the hand to see my fathers ring. I glanced up to my father who was now standing beside me.

“well, the rooms aren’t ready yet..”

“Rooms?” I interjected.

My father looked at me with a smirk on his lined face that accentuated his natural crows feet.

“Yes, Peanut. Rooms, You think that I am gonna have you sleep in the same room as your mother and I? Ha, good luck there kiddo. Anyway, it will take another couple of hours to have them both cleaned, so let’s grab some food.”

My mother stood up from the chair and started to walk towards the door with my father. I closed my magazine, tossing it back onto the coffee table. I made my way to the door as well where they were waiting for me. As before we walked out as a family with me in the lead and my father at the end. We gathered at our appropriate doors, waited for my father to unlock the vehicle. When he did, we climbed, buckled up and started our journey for nourishment.

After driving around for about twenty minutes, we wound up stumbling upon a mall. There was a sign for a nice Family restaurant that they had in my home city as well.

“There we go! Something familiar.” My father exclaimed with an excited and approving tone.

He made a right into the parking lot of the mall. We searched around for the closest parking spot, but were still about fifteen metres away from the door once we had found one. We followed my father as he exited the vehicle and started our little journey to the mall entrance. Unlike at the motel, I walked on ahead of my parents as they presumably strolled hand in hand. I got to the door, waited and opened it for them so we could all enter the building.

As soon as we entered the building we saw the restaurant to our immediate left. There to the right was a server’s podium with a young blonde woman as the hostess. She was around average height from what I could tell, her hair was braided and hung down past her sternum. Not entirely sure as to why I took notice of those details of all things. Perhaps it was the only thing that stood out from her all black uniform. My concentration was broken as soon as she spoke.

“How many?” she asked with a soft voice.

“Just three of us.” My father responded.

“Alright, would you like a table or a booth?” She added.

“A booth is fine, thank you.”

“Okay, follow me please.”

The hostess grabbed three menus, turned and made her way to the booth she had chosen, with us in pursuit. She sat us at a booth table that was in direct vision of the swivel doors that lead to the kitchen. I sat with my parents sitting across from me. The hostess promptly left without taking our drink order as there were other guests coming in and waiting to be seated. The next server came to our table, an attractive woman. She was about five foot seven, a slim build with glasses and a brunette ponytail that hung over her right shoulder. I looked at her name on the left side of her blouse. It read Emily.

“Can I get you all started with drinks?” She asked politely.

“Yes” My mother started. “ I will have tea, black please.”

“Alright, and for you sir?” She asked while looking my way.

“Oh, I will have a Pepsi I guess. Thank you Emily.” I responded.

I saw as she gave a slight smirk as she wrote down the drink order.

“And for you sir?” Finally addressing my father.

“A coffee please and thank you.” He responded without taking his eyes off of the menu even though he already knew his order.

Emily wrote down the order promptly while maintaining her smile, gave her closing line then disappeared to the back of the restaurant, through the stainless steel double doors.

“Stop staring.” My father commanded from behind the menu.

“what? I’m a single man and old enough dad.” I remarked with a chuckle.

“Yeah, old enough to live on your own.” He shot back with the sound of a smirk on his face.

I quietly accepted my defeat; returning my gaze to the menu in my hands. I looked over the all day breakfast portion, quickly finding the eggs Benedict. My go to is Belgian waffles, but today’s different.

“So, how was work today Sweetheart?” My Mother asked in her soft voice.

“Well,” I set the menu down on the table. “ Today was a fairly routine day, boring.”

“Who knew working from home could be so boring.”

Another snarky remark from my father. He understood fully as he often had to bring paper work home with him from the base.

“Now , now honey. He works, pays rent and contributes.” My mother defended.

“Yeah, plus I only come out of my cave when needed. Also i am a very quiet tenant.” I added.

“Tenant?” He scoffed . “I thought that you were some parasitic ghost that gave money at the start of the month and bi weekly food sacrifices to us.” He joked.

My mother smirked and giggled lightly as she realized that my father and I were merely bantering together. She placed her left hand onto his forearm.

“Are we ready to order?” She questioned with a smile.

My mom began to speak up, but I tuned her out, I was too busy staring at Emily’s eyes. They were pale blue, damn near white. They pierced my very marrow. I sat there for a moment slowly zoning out the movements of her mouth.

“Sir...” I began to snap out of it. “Sir...” She called again. “What can I get for you”

I blinked and then my eyes began to focus more. Emily was staring at me with a concerned look.

“Sorry, I was thinking for a second. I will have the eggs Benedict.”

“Alright” She said with a slight chuckle, knowing that I had been fixated on her. “And you sir, what may I get for you?”

My father, without taking his confusion, filled eyes off me. “Belgian waffle please.”

She repeated the order to us to confirm that she had it all correct, returned the pen to her apron, turned and made her way to the back once more. My father snapped his fingers.

“Hey, What was that?”

“What do you mean?” I asked in return.

“You were off into the space staring at her.” He responded.

“Oh, right, sorry. I was just zoning out,”

I watched as he sat back in the booth and let out a slight sigh while shaking his head. My mom put her hand on hiss shoulder, smiled at him and then at me.

She was always the one to protect me, yet she was also on to let me learn as I grew. If I made a mistake, I would learn the consequences. If I was wronged, then she was not a woman to be trifled with. My father was fairly laid back, but had an anger about him that would terrify even the most cruel dictator.

Suddenly there were screams that came from the mall area, I turned my head to take a look at what was going on. I saw a tall man with a large automatic rifle, dressed in all black with a face mask covering his mouth. Fear over took me. I froze in my seat, unable to take my eyes off of this man.

“Everyone, stay in your seats and take out your money. I don’t want to hurt anyone, just in and out. If you all comply, then no one will be killed. If one person rises from their seat then this is what will happen!”

BANG!

The hostess dropped and began to bleed on the floor. Everyone screamed, yet were compliant and didn’t move. I couldn’t muster a single noise. Not a damn thing. I watched him as he came toward our table. Stopping on the other side of the partition.

“You three., you’re first.”

I stared him down with fear in my eyes until a rage began to build in my blood and over took me. With out a thought I lunged for the gun.

BANG!

All went black.

I opened my eyes to a tiled ceiling. My head’s pounding, I can’t tell if I can hear anything. I shut my eyes firmly trying to rid myself of the intense the throbbing pain in my skull. I focused on my breathing, noting how laboured it was. I felt a sudden warmth overcome the top of my right foot. The pain washed away, I opened one eyes to see my mother standing at the foot of the bed with her hand on my foot. I allowed the other eye to follow the first in opening. I looked over my mother, noting that she was wearing garments people wear when they visit a critically ill patient. She was wearing the yellow cloth gown that is tied at the back of the neck and waist, the blue nitrite hospital gloves and a face mask.

“What’s going on? Where am I? M..m..mom?” I stammered.

“Honey... you got shot, you are in the hospital in town. I promise you that everything is going to be alright.” She reassured me as she gave my foot a little squeeze.

I looked about the bright room that had the blinds drawn.

“Where is dad?” I questioned further.

“you’re in the I.C.U., they are only allowing on of us in here are a time for now. Just until you are more stable and they and move you to a more accommodating room for you.”

I shook my head in acknowledgement. Swallowing a fairly viscous amount of saliva that had coated my mouth. There were so many question running through my head. Anything else my mother was talking about was being muffled out by my inner thoughts and questions. Finally one came out with out filter.

“What the fuck do you mean shot?”

“Honey...” The sliding door opened, cutting off my mother.

There where steps and a woman popped her head in quickly to announce that she would return.

“Who was that?” I asked, completely forgetting that I had cursed like that in front of my sweet mother who hated it.

“That is your nurse.” She informed me with a smile on her face. “Her name is Brianne, she has been your very attentive nurse for the past... well.” She stopped as the door opened again. Brianne stepped from behind the curtain.

“A few what mom?” I asked in a confused and annoyed tone,

She bit her lip and Brianne stepped forward. “Hey there Mom-ma, not to interrupt, but can I ask ya to step outside for a few moment please? She gracefully requested.

“Oh, of course hon.” She responded. “I’ll be back soon.” She paused a moment. “You know, what i will send in your father after. Sound Good?” She inquired.

“Yeah, that would be great.” I responded with a smile that began to cause me a bit of pain. My mother took notice to the pain on my face. She gave my foot another squeeze to show me the most comfort that she could in that moment. She removed her hand gently and made her way out of the room.

I turned my attention to Brianne. I was about to speak when she cut me off.

“Hey, I know things are really scary right now and probably really confusing. We are going to help okay?”

I tried to nod, but it cause a searing amount of pain to flow down my spine. I let out a slight grunt of pain.

“Oh no, are you alright?” She asked with genuine concern. “Try not to move too much okay? At least not for now.” She advised.

“Moving equals pain, Gotcha.” I responded.

“For now at least. You are almost due for your medication. Also the doctor is going to be here shortly to speak with you about some things... He will explain more, I promise it is nothing to worry about.” She reassured with her gentle voice.

“Alright I am going to ask you a few questions, they are basic and you are going to get them quite a bit. Is that alright?” She asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She started to giggle little.

“There is no need to call me ma’am, I am still fairly young.”

“Oh, I am sorry miss. I didn’t mean to offend you.” I explained while turning beet red in the cheeks.

“Please just call me Brie.” She told me while placing her left hand on my left foot that was slightly exposed from the blanket.

“Do you remember your date of birth?”

“June 17th, 1993.”

“Good, I am just going to take a quick look at the wrist band.” She explained as she put down the board in to the holder that rested at the end of my bed. She walked over to the left side of my bed, leaned over the rail to look at the wrist band that was bound to my left arm.

“Alright those numbers match, perfect you are who you say that you are.” She said with a giggle and a light tap on my shoulder to indicate a slight joke.

“I would sure hope that I am who I say I am” I jested back to her as she walked back to the foot of the bed.

“What is the date today?” I asked with a hoarse voice.

“Today is the twenty-fourth my boy...I am so sorry I called you that.” She paused a minute and composed herself. “What day do you remember last?” She finally asked.

“The date that I remember last was the fifth.” I responded.

“You have been in a coma for the past nineteen days...Are you alright?” She questioned, snapping me out of my minor trance.

“Hm? Oh yeah, totally fine. Do you happen to know when the doctor will come see me?”

I could hear her shuffle towards the top of the bed where my head lay. She came back into my view.

“Your doctors is just on break right now, You are the first patient he will want to see.” She assured me.

“Thank you.”

She put her hand back on my shoulder and gave it a little squeeze that seemed to give me comfort. I decided to get a better view of my angel of mercy and successfully manoeuvred my head towards her at the cost of some discomfort and pain.

“Whoa, what do you think you are doing?” She questioned with concern. “You were just mentioning pain.”

“I just wanted to make better eye contact with you.” I laughed.

She gave a concerned look, but it gave me a little time to look her over. She sported navy blue scrub pants and a pug in a Christmas hat top. There was a french braided ponytail that hung over her name tag and past her ribs. I noticed that there was a bright red scrunchie at the bottom to keep it from falling out. Her face was slightly fair and adorned with freckles. I looked at her eyes deeply, noting the deep, yet vibrant green and gold.

“You have amazing eyes.” I remarked, breaking the void of sound.

Her face turned almost beet red. “Thank you” She said gently. She quickly turned her attention to the monitor and began to jot down her notes.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you in any way. I apologized.

She gave me a gentle smile, turned towards the door and without a skip of a heart beat. “Your eyes aren’t too bad either” She told me as she cocked her head back with a beautiful grin.

This surprised me a little. I thanked her for the compliment and watched as she slid open the door and left with it closing behind her. I rested my head back down on the pillow, staring up at the ceiling tiles. They seemed to be stained a slight yellow. I figured that it was from the years of smoking that the hospital had allowed years ago. I assumed that this was something that was on their list to change eventually, yet was not entirely a priority to the hospital administrators. Slowly I began to drift back to sleep, hoping that I would not succumb to another coma, not that I know how that works or anything. I just hoped that it wouldn’t happen.

I woke up the middle of the night in a cold sweat and a small bit of pain in my head. The light of the moon was hitting my face. I looked about the room, looking for my alarm clock. Right I’m not home I thought to myself. I looked forward to the end of the room noticing half of a clock. I could only see the minute hand that pointed to the nine. I looked to my right and noticed the nurse call button. I pressed it once. Hoping that someone would come as the pain was starting to swell.

A minute later I could hear the door to my room slowly open and then close behind a set of steps that came closer to me.

“Hey there, I am Brie, I am your nurse for the night. I just have to ask you your date of birth and the numbers on the bracelet.”

“Yeah, for sure. My birthday is June seventeenth, nineteen-ninety-three and the numbers on the bracelet are six, one, five, nine, three, seven, four and double eight.”

“Perfect, So, what can I do for you?” She asked politely.

“My head is throbbing, can I have something to dull the pain?”

“Of course, let me just look at your chart to see what you are taking.” She said while grabbing said chart.

I could hear as a as she rummaged through my chart. I tried to lift my head just enough to see her, but the pain was excruciating. I gave up on that idea all together.

“Right, looks like it is just some Naproxen. I will go get that for you.” She said I heard the click of her pen and some writing. She was probably charting my complaint and the course of action. There was another click, the the sound of a clipboard being placed back into a holder, then footsteps towards the door. It hissed open, the footsteps lead out and the door made it’s hiss back closed. Gingerly i turned my head to the window. Gazing out, I started to zone out but before I could completely get lost in my thoughts the door opened snapping me out of the near trance, I turned my head slowly to the curtain waiting to see Brie to come back. Then it dawned on me, Could it be that she is pulling a double? Or that it is a mere coincidence that they have the same name. Wait, what were the colour of her eyes? Shit, I can’t remember... a voice suddenly began to crescendo slowly bringing me back.

“Are you alright?”

I looked up next to me where I saw Brie standing over me with her right hand on my shoulder. I locked eyes with her for a brief moment. They’re green.

“Yeah, sorry, I was just disassociating. I have dissociative disorder. Just lost in my thoughts” I laughed nervously.

She started to smile and then lowered her head and laughed with me.

“Okay, I was starting to wonder if i had to call a code for you. What were you lost in thought about?” She raised her head.

I looked back at her meeting her gaze, we locked eyes, staring for what seemed like minutes but had only been seconds, I broke her gaze too look at her lips to see that she was biting the bottom one slightly. I wanted to make a move, but I was brought up differently and plus I wouldn’t want her to get fired.

“Honestly, If you were the same Brie from earlier today.” I explained.

She smiled, straightened up, adjusted her work blouse and exposed the name tag that read Brie-Anne.

“Pulling a double sadly to say, but worry not, so far you are my favourite patient.” She leaned in closer, giggled and patted me on the shoulder. “Right, so here are you medications that you are supposed to be taking.” she handed me the bullet cup with three pills in it. “There is a little cup of water beside you as well if you need it.”

“No thank you, I will be fine with out water.” I said while grabbing the bullet cup and downing the pills. I threw the cup in the garbage that was in the corner opposite of me.

“Good shot” She exclaimed.

“Thank you. I think after that performance I am going to try and rest. Thank you so much Brie.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder again and squeezed in gently “You’re very much welcome.”

She started her way back to the door in her silent fashion with again the only sound being the door opening and closing. I laid my head back down and closed my eyes, letting the silence and darkness take me.

I opened my eyes to the light of the sun hitting my face. I looked over to the clock, reading that it was seven something. My head felt fine but i was parched. I looked over to the night stand see the small cup of water still there from the night before. I reached over grabbing it, took a sip then placed it back to its original position on the night stand. I heard the door open and a cart hitting it. Must be breakfast I thought to myself. I heard the health care aide stop and close the sliding door. The wheels began to rotate again, coming in my direction. The health care aide smiled, said good morning and placed the tray on my table then left the room in silence. I move the bed to a sitting position, picked up the ticket that rested next to the faded purple lid and began to read it over.

Coffee

2x cream

3x Sugar

Cereal

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin

A simple breakfast, but something that I looked forward to. I opened the tray, placing the lid next to me on the bed. I grabbed the three packets of sugar, shook them, ripped them open and poured them into the coffee. I grabbed the spoon, mixing the sugar in the coffee, then grabbed the creamers and poured them in as well. I took a small sip of coffee exhaling slowly. I finished my coffee as I gazed out of the window looking at the pigeons that rested on the roof of the buildings close by. A nurse suddenly appeared in the corner of my eye.

“Hey there, I am Rich, I will be the nurse for the day shift. Can I get your date of birth and the numbers on the wrist band please?” He asked in a kind but groggy voice.

I gave him the numbers and my date of birth in the order that he had asked, He had a few simple questions on how I was doing and informed me that the doctor would be swinging by for morning rounds. I answered his questions and gave him acknowledgement of his information about the doctor. I watched as he wrote a few notes in the chart and then took off to the next room. I started at my food that rested in front of me. Finishing it within a few minutes. The cereal that I was given was corn flakes. The muffin was a little dry as well. Seeing as this was a hospital I couldn’t really complain about the food I was given. Once I had finished the meal I placed the lid back on to the tray, pushed away the table that it rested on and tried to get out of bed. I fell right to the floor. I couldn’t move my legs a single inch. In a panic I reached for the call button and yanked it out of the wall. Immediately rich my nurse rushed in and saw that i was on the ground. He rushed over to me and helped me sit up against the bed. Another second later a voice came through the intercom.

“Is everything alright? Is there something you need?”

“I need a hand, the patient in room two has fallen.”

There was no response over the intercom, only the sound of two other nurses rushing into the room. Rich and another nurse grabbed me around my shoulder blades and the third nurse grabbed my legs, they lifted me back into the bed.

“Are you alright?” Rich asked me with a concerned look on his bearded face.

“Yeah I am fine, I just wanted to go use the bathroom, Why can’t I use my legs?”

“You had a gunshot wound to the head. The part that affects mobility in the legs has been rendered almost useless. You are scheduled to start physio tomorrow morning.” He explained then paused a second. “I thought someone would have told you as soon as you had woken up yesterday. I am so sorry about this... Let me get you a bedpan.” He offered While opening the cupboard door in the nightstand and produced the bed pan. He and one of the other nurses helped me get the bedpan under me while the other nurse was doing the charting.

“There you go bud. We Will leave you to do what you need and then you can just press the call button when you are done.” He told me.

The door slid open, there were steps that demanded attention and authority.

Steps similar to my father’s, The doctor walked around the corner of the curtain. Looked about the room to the three nurses that surrounded me.

“What happened here?” He asked without directing the question to any particular nurse.

Rich turned his bald head to him. “He tried to get out of bed to use the restroom, no one told him about his mobility issues so he fell. We came in as soon as he pulled the cord.” He explained.

“I have been checking the monitor, everything in the event is within the real of normal considering the incident that happened not long ago.” The nurse with the chart in her hand stated with out looking towards the doctor.

“Alright, well I see that things are under control. I will just introduce myself to the patient then.” He told them, then turned his attention to me who was now relieving myself in the bed pan as discreetly as I possibly could.

“My name is Doctor Leighton. I will be your physician during your stay here. We will be starting your physio tomorrow, so later today there will be the physiotherapist that will be coming by to talk to you and tell you about what you will be doing together. I will also be periodically checking on you as well. I hope that we can you get better soon.” He said as he patted my right foot.

“I can feel you patting me. Is that a good sign?” I asked him with genuine curiosity.

He smiled at me. “ Yes, great news.” He turned to the nurse with the chart. “Please chart that the patient has feeling in his right foot.”

“Yes doctor.” she responded.

He turned back to me, crossed his arms and stood for a minute in silence. “I wonder” He finally said while taking the pen out of his breast pocket. He leaned over the bed past the charting nurse and poked my large toe with the point of the pen. I watched as my toe began to twitch.

“Did you feel that?” He asked inquisitively.

“Y..Yeah I did.”

“Okay, well the nerves seem to be reactive. I have high hopes for you to be able to walk or even run again.” He told me.

A large smile came over my face with a rush of relief. The doctor smiled back at me, turned and began to walk away. The nurse that was charting put the chart back in the holder and followed the doctor who had just opened the door. They began to speak in a harsh whisper that I tried to listen in on.

“Alright, I understand that I was shot in the head but why am I alive?” I asked with a genuine yet morbid curiosity.

Rich looked a little more puzzled, yet he went along with the question regardless.

“well,” He started. “Yes, you were shot in the head, but from what we were able to tell, it grazed the part of the brain that affects motor movement regulation and balance. The area is called the Cerebellum. Still, you are quite lucky to have survived if you ask any of the staff here.”

I gave a small chuckle.”yeah, you’re probably right eh.”

There was a small silence between Rich and I, luckily it wasn’t too awkward.

“Oh, are you done with the bedpan?” He asked.

“Yeah, just finished actually.” I responded.

“Okay, we will help get it out from under you, then get you all cleaned up.” He told me while instructing the possibly new health care aide.

They lifted my from my lower back. Rich grabbed the pan, then they lowered me back down. Rich went to dump the contents in the toilet while the other nurse wiped me up. He took off his gloves, tossed them in the trash then turned to me.

“Is there anything else you might need before i head out?” He asked.

I moved my now less sore head and neck to the speaking aide.

“No, no I think that I will be fine here on out, thank you though.” I said with a smile to him.

He smiled back and left the room.

Rich came back out of the bathroom with freshly washed hands.

“That bastard stole my line.” He chuckled.

“well man, it looks like you gotta top that one now.” I retorted.

“Hmm, well, in that case I may just have to WALK away.” he shot back.

My jaw dropped with surprise. “You know Rich, that is cold, but you know all about cold without a toupee.” I joked back.

He gave me a pat on the shoulder while laughing.

“You got me there gimpy. I will be back in about an hour, maybe two. I will check to see if you have crawled away trying to check out A.M.A. by then.” He said.

I gave him a smile and extended my fist. “You’ll find me in the hall or something.” I informed him as he returned the fist bump.

He leaned in a little. “You know I think that lady across the hall from you has a thing for you.” He winked.

I looked, past him to the room across the hall way, seeing that there was a Blonde laying there in a hospital bed. She was hooked up worse than I was.

“Is she alright?” I questioned with some concern.

He gave a large smile. “yes She is perfectly fine, just sleeping. Don’t tell anyone I told you that.” He winked.

He gave me one last smile before turning to leave. There was a sudden fatigue that overtook my body and mind. Seeing as there was not much else to do but try and recover as fast as possible. I decided to take a small rest. I grabbed the remote that rested next to my arm on the bed. I pressed the button to lower the head. As it slowly lowered, i closed my eyes and once the bed was fully horizontal I let sleep take me.

I woke up to the darkness of night. My sheets were torn, the walls were had changed from the clean and well kept to a stained, tattered wallpaper. I started to look around for other markers of what might have happened, but nothing. I started to panic, my breathing and heart rate increased. I grabbed the buzzer to call the nurse but nothing happened: the light never came on I ripped it out of the wall just like I had done earlier that day: still nothing. I looked over to the right of me finally noticing that the curtain was gone. All that there was was a broken down wheelchair. I knew what needed to be done. I grabbed the cord, began to swing it around over my head and then let go hoping that it would wrap around the arm of the wheelchair so I could bring it closer to me. The first few attempts failed, the fifth time is where I got it to wrap tight enough that I could drag it close. Once the chair was within arms reach, I grabbed it with my hand and placed it next to the bed. I lowered the old, rusted bed guard hearing it squeal and slam to the side. I looked about me to see if anything would have stirred from the noise, : nothing. I pulled my legs over the side of the bed, placing them on the wheelchairs footrest I lifted myself up with what upper body strength that I had and placed myself into the wheelchair. I began to wheel around trying to get used to the feel of it before I explored more of the Hospital. It was hard to do as there was a lot of things on the floor in matter of debris. I got brave and more confident in my skills enough to leave the room. I looked about me, seeing that the halls were empty and decrepit, dead and soulless. All emotion left me, flushed from my body. Fear began to take over. I heard a noise that made me jump in the wheelchair. I looked to my right, noticing the outline of some type of large person.

“Hello?” I called out.

There was a grunt, and the figure turned to face me. IT let out a deep guttural scream that shook the walls. Oh fuck, what is that? I froze in fear. I saw it step closer with the ground shaking slightly with each step.

“Stay back!”

It let out another roar that sent a wave of fright down my spine. It stepped closer into the moonlight that leaked from an open door. The creature stood taller than the door itself. I could see something shimmering around parts of its body that were exposed to the light of the moon. I could do nothing but piss in my seat. I could hear the breathing, heavy and laboured. A small sound came from behind me , alerting the beast. It came charging at me with heavy steps. I wanted to move but my body was non-compliant. I could only fixate on this thing that stopped right in front of me and yelled. Moonlight shone upon the metal hooks that held back its skin. I looked over the beast's face noting all the scars but finally resting on the white soulless eyes. Is it blind?

It let out another scream. Blood came spiting out covering the ground before it. The sound rang in my ears even after it was done. It is a sound that will haunt me forever. I could smell it’s putrid breath, causing me to gag. I didn’t take me eyes off of this thing. It stood up straight, took a deep breath then kicked me square in the chest. I was sent hurtling back quite a few metres. I landed on my back and rolled over onto my stomach. The wind was knocked out of me and I could feel that there was now a searing pain in my chest. More than likely a few broken bones. I laid there on the ground in excruciating pain. I tightly shut me eyes, trying to forget the pain for only a moment. I shot my eyes open as soon as I could feel the vibrations of the steps start up again. Fear filled me as I figured that I was as good as dead. Especially if I didn’t act. The steps stopped a my feet. I lifted and turned my head in time to see the beast reaching down, grabbing me by my feet.

I was helpless as it raised me into the air. My head hung close the it’s stomach, I could see razor wire wrapping this thing all over. This was My chance to do some damage to the thing. I quickly reached out with both hands, grabbing the wire. I yanked it as hard as I could, cutting the beast and my own hands in the process. Blood initially spurted out, covering the floor and a bit of myself. The beast reacted by shrieking in pain and tossing me aside violently, causing me to land on my left shoulder and roll further into a vacant room. I groaned in pain, gathered re orientated myself and found that there was rest room only two metres diagonally to my left.

I began to seal crawl towards the bathroom, only to stop once and look at the creature that was now thrashing about, spraying blood all over the floor and walls. I Watched as it swung the large knife and slammed it into the floor. Hoping that it wouldn’t notice me, I continued my way to my destination of potential safety. I made my way to the back wall and positioned myself against it. The adrenaline that was coursing through me, started to fade and the pain from my injuries began to replace it. I began struggling to breathe through the pain in my now broken ribs. I closed my eyes trying to focus on the sounds around me.

I could hear outside both of the rooms that the beast was still throwing it’s pain filled tantrum, slashing at walls and throwing objects around. I put my hand to the ground to feel the floor beneath me. I started to feel a rumble, long and deep vibrations on the floor. What ever it was, was big and coming this way.

“Fuck” I mumbled. “There needs to be a way that I can distract this thing out in the hall, in order to get away.” I continued to myself.

I opened my eyes and started to scan the mid sized restroom. It didn’t take long for me to find a nice sized bit of debris. I leaned over and grabbed the item. I painfully pushed myself back up. I wound back with my right arm and threw as hard as I could. A searing pain washed over my entire body as I watched the debris hit the far guard rail of the bed.

There was silence, then all of a sudden a giant metal object fly into the room and embed itself into the wall at the back of the room. My eyes widened with fear as I came to realize that it was the chained knife that the beast was holding. Piss for a second time cheated me and there was nothing I could do. I hoped that the smell wouldn’t tip of the beast that rested outside the room. I sat there, pressed against the wall as tightly as I could be. I could hear the steps getting closer, shaking the floor beneath its feet as it walked forth. I watched the chain stay pulled tight. I saw that the beast was wrapping the chain around its forearm as it walked forward. It stopped at the bed, where I could see the bleeding beast in plain view. It sniffed the air, trying to find me.

I tried to close my eyes, tried to pretend that I was back at home with my parents, nothing could help me in this situation, I was as trapped as a rat in a maze. The creature stomped it’s right foot, cracking the floor beneath. It let out a horrific scream causing me to go deaf and hear a loud ringing in my ears. I couldn’t hear, I couldn’t move, I could barely breathe at all, but something needs to be done. It yanked on the chain with some force and the blade dislodged with ease, flaying back at the thing. I watch with amazement as it stepped to the side and caught the knife. It let out a snort, turned and started out of the room, but stopped when it got close to the restroom. Fear kept its hold but this time gripped tighter. It felt like my heart had stopped beating in my chest. I heard it let out another snort and walked off out of the room. Fear left my body. My senses came back slowly to me as I waited for the beast to get far enough away from the room.

I left the safety of the back restroom wall, crawled my way to the door and poked my head around the corner to see that the coast was clear. I crawled out more looking about the room cautiously. Nothing was around me. I decided that getting out of the room was my best bet at getting out of this hell. I got to the doorway of the room, looked to my right and saw nothing. I turned my head slowly to the left and there staring at me was a set of large grotesque feet and legs. I began to panic, trying to turn myself about as quickly as my crippled body could.

I felt a large hand grab me by my ankles and begin to lift my body into the air. It raised me high up and turned me around to face it. I Quickly looked over the beasts visage. I decided to play hero by grabbing a hook that was embedded in its crown. I ripped it out of the flesh and swung it as hard as I could into the eye having it curve out of the other socket. The creature let out a cry of immense pain, let go of me then fell to its knees. There was blood flowing on to the ground and on to me. The other beast let out a scream, charged at me and kicked me with its large feet, sending me flaying into a nearby nurse station. I felt more bones snap, bend and break. I felt the air leaving my lungs, the fluid building up slowly. I gasped for air as I tried to breathe. I gathered enough strength to quickly seal crawl behind the desk and hide under it as best as I could. The steps of this monster walking towards the nurses station of where I was hiding frightened me more and more as they drew closer. A slight wave of relief came over me as it stopped and began to smell the air... trying to find me. It started to throw the old gurneys and the wheelchairs that laid around the hall. Once the ravenous beast exerted all of the energy it could, it let out another cry and began to walk back to the other beast that I had managed to injure.

“Where did that one come from? I didn’t hear it. Fuck, I am screwed unless I move now.”

I came out of my hiding spot slowly looking to my right, noticing that the beast was crouching over the other one and ripping off parts of flesh and eating it. I crawled out from behind the desk. I looked around quickly for another wheelchair, there was one only a few meters ahead of me. I made my way to it as silently as I could, climbed up into the wheelchair and unlocked the back wheels. I began to slowly make my way down the hall away from the eating beast. I looked in all the rooms as I went down the hall, all of them were dark and decrepit. There has to be a way out of here... wait exit signs. I looked above all of the doors that looked like and exit but nothing. I stopped when I heard a noise come from one of the rooms ahead of me.

“Hello?” The voice called.

I started to cautiously wheel myself over to where the noise was coming from in hopes that there was someone else I could help get free. I got to the room where the voice was coming from. I turned in and wheeled over to the first bed that had the curtain pulled closed. I slowly moved the curtain back to reveal an empty bed.

“Hello?” The voice called again.

I let the curtain go and then began to turn in the dark room. I rolled over to the other bed but the front right wheel fell into some rut and caused me to fall out of the wheelchair. I fell into a hole that was on the floor.

“Fuck.” I said out loud.

A wave of searing pain came over my legs and arm. Fuck,More broken bones. I’m really fucked.

“Hello?”

I heard the voice clearly calling out from the darkness.

“Who is there?” I called out with a trembling voice.

“Hello?” It repeated.

“Can’t you say anything else? I am injured and I need your help.”

There was a rustle in the dark. The sound of something light moving closer. I looked over to my legs that were clearly both broken. In the darkness I could make out a small outline.

“Hello? Is that you? I could really use your help.”

It stepped closer again. My eyes started to adjust to the darkness of the room. I could see the outline of a child. I could see it walk closer and then crouch, then crawl a little closer all while repeating itself. Then I heard another noise behind me, this one was quicker. Like it was walking to me.

“Hello?”

“Hullo?” the other one responded

Once the first child got close enough and my eyes had adjusted enough that I could fully see it. It was a child that was emaciated.

“what the fuck? Are you alright?” I let out in a concerned fear.

It looked directly at me and cocked it’s head back revealing a slit in the throat.

“Oh shit” I said in a hushed tone.

I watched as the neck began to split vertically and then horizontally. There were teeth that lined the flaps of skin. A high pitched squeal was let out by the creature. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t do anything but piss myself. Again I knew that this might be the end of me. I looked at it intently, forgetting about the one that was behind me. Suddenly I could feel a drip on my shoulder and then the burning.

“Ow, fuck.” I screamed.

I tried to wipe it away with my hand but it started to burn at my hand then ate away at the skin at an alarming rate. I looked up above me seeing the other had already ‘bloomed’. It spat at my face.

I writhed in pain placing my already burning hand over the searing wound. I tried to wipe it away but all I did was peel skin off. My face started to feel warm. I looked at my now melting hand, I couldn’t make out the difference between the blood from the exposed muscles and tendons in my hand. I could smell the acid’s sweet scent and it started to make me nauseous. Leaning over I began to vomit all over the floor. The vomit was burning the flesh exposed lips and chin. I started to fade away to the darkness that surrounded me. I could feel the first child starting to gnaw at my legs, there was nothing that I could do, I was essentially paralyzed from the waist down with so many broken bones. I was helpless... hopeless. I closed my eyes as the second one began to scream in my face. I let whatever may come, come.