Chapter 1
The board members of the hospital were clearly irate and given the circumstances you would be ill pressed to find anyone that would disagree with their current disposition on the matter, after all a very public search for a missing person being televised is one thing, but another when its an escapee from a well known mental institute specializing in the care for the manic and criminally insane or just patients that other hospitals couldn't or wouldn't take care of.
I sat at the end of the long board room table and could feel cold perspiration gather on my forehead, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was from the eyes of the men on either side of me burning holes in my soul with their stare or from the realization on what I had witness the night before.
“Doctor Norman”
To think what they would do if they found out the truth.
“Doctor Norman”
How their anger and disdain would turn to utter fear and dread if they saw what I did on those cameras that night, how their fragile reality would come crashing down to strangle them in the weight of their ignorance, to know the safety they feel in their own homes could so easily...
“Doctor Norman!”
I snapped out of my own thoughts just now noticing how much my breathing had picked up, no doubt the others did to judging by the looks on their faces, I could see a hint of pity in their eyes. Truthfully I was envious, how I wish I could be in their places looking at someone else who knew the things I did.
“So that’s all you have to say?” Said a round stump of a man with a receding hairline and pale face, he too must of being feeling the heat of the situation as eventuated by the sweat stain forming under his armpits “You have to know something more, anything to help get this man before the public has all our heads!” I let out a deep sigh and ran my fingers thru my hair feeling the dampness. “No, Like I already said I was awoke by security last night saying the patient was missing, when I got into the building and checked the cameras they were blank, his room was open and he was gone with no trace,”
“Gabriel” the short chubby man said, he only used my name like that when he was pissed “As the director of the institute you are responsible for this catastrophe and I hope for your sake that man is found and without incident.” with that he stood up, gathered the papers on his desk and left without another word. Slowly the other members in the room got up and they too left, seemingly making sure to not make eye contact, that is all but one man.
“Jesus Gabe, you look like shit, what happen?” I had been to caught up in my own terror to take note of my appearance, my normally combed brown hair was unkempt and the weeks worth of facial growth would of never happen since my college days before “he” had entered my life, but I guess I couldn't blame him completely. I imaged I also smelled like how I looked for I haven’t been without some sort of cold sweat for some time, even my sleep bore no rest from dreams I wish not to think about now.
“Gabe?” my friend had asked again. Ah yes, my friend James. I could count on him, we did med school together and even applied for the same job, luckily for him I guess I had gotten the position, yes, I could count on him, I can trust him. But could I bring myself to tell him these things, I fear for my own life and sanity but I must tell another if not just to hear it come from my own lips I just need it out of my head.
“Things are not what they seem James...” with a deep inhale I took out a cigarette and lit it, I could see the apprehension on his face but he didn’t stop me “The cameras were not blank” I said staring into his eyes “what is on those tapes would make me question my own sanity if I didn’t already from the last few weeks at the hospital” His mouth hung open in shock he didn’t need to ask why I didn’t say anything to the board table, I could tell it was on his mind. “I will let you see them, but first I need to you know the truth and I pray you never share it, I wish to take this to my grave”
