Afterlife Hospital

Prologue - The night that is young is the most dangerous

A deep throbbing pain coursed through my spine. As though I were possessed, my body felt extremely heavy, unable to even control my own limbs.

I didn't fare better in the vision department either. I knew I was lying on some sort of hard ground, because I could feel it on my back, but in front of me was a massive dark void.

So to recap, I couldn't move my limbs and my vision was impaired. The only saving grace of this entire situation was the fact that at least my life wasn't in any immediate danger, or so I would assume since I was on the floor.

As I was about to let my guard down and wait for something to happen.

A few seconds past.

A minute past.

5 minutes.

10 minutes.

30 minutes.

An hour.

The darkness started to sink in.

I felt a wave of uneasiness come over me. The sense of isolation and helplessness ate at me from the depths of my heart, I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

Never in my life have I ever been as afraid of the dark as I was right now. The large, dark abyss stared right back at me even though I tried to avert my eyes. The worst part is even if I close my eyes I still see the same dark void. An almost lovecraftian level of horror was creeping up at my rationality, corroding off pieces of my sanity.

It was dark and cold, right now even death would be a preferable option. Wait, if I died wouldn't this torment continue on?

Oh god, even death wouldn't save me. Then maybe hell? Were I to descend to the lowest layer of hell would there at least be some sort of light there? Even Dante didn't have to deal with the prospect of the horror of a sanity crushing void.

Slowly, sleep was overtaking me. Just when I thought that this situation couldn't get any worse it was taken up a notch. Now I'll have my conscience fed to the shadowy evil surrounding me.

The pains in my body started to disappear along with my consciousness. The only thing I remember thinking at this point was that I was scared. For most people the unknown is, but this was far beyond what a normal mortal should be experiencing.

I only hope hell can get here faster. Compared to this, it is a place with warmth and light.

* * *

I don't know how much time had passed since the darkness overtook me.

Actually I was feeling quite a bit better than before. I was able to regain control of all my limbs and digits and the throbbing pain on my spine was gone. 'A miracle' I thought. To be able to escape from the nightmare that I was convinced only Nyarlathotep was capable of inducing.

On my back I could feel the sensation of a spring mattress and my head was rested on a comfortable woolen pillow. On me was a thin blanket that was not too restrictive or breezy. A near dangerous level of comfort, I was about to fall back into deep slumber from how pleasant I was made to feel.

As though I was swimming against a powerful wave, I managed to force myself into waking up.

It was still dark but not completely. I was at least able to see a few short meters in front of me, which was still better than the emptiness of space.

Scanning the room around me I was instantly able to figure out that I was in a hospital. The shades of white and blue everywhere accompanied by the thin smell of medication, it was very recognizable.

To my side was a small window. When I peered outside it was completely dark. Immediately a nostalgic horror was about to overcome me. Not wanting to experience the same apprehension I pulled down the blinds and turned away.

I quickly left the darkened room to figure out where I was or how I got here.

Actually, there's a bigger problem, I don't remember anything before being engulfed in that horrifying darkness. The only thing I remember is my own name: [Erwin Hammerschmidt]. It sounds German, but I don't even know if I am, or if this even is my real name.

I'll just have to assume that it is and try to figure out the pieces later. Now then, where am I?

Well, from the bits of detail from the architecture and furniture, I can hazard a guess that this is probably some sort of hospital, so then why is everything so dark.

I look up and notice that the lights are turned off. Perhaps because it's late at night?

Since my vision is relatively hindered by the darkness I wasn't able to see too far into the distance, at most I could see a few doors to the side. Having no other real options I decided to take the path straight ahead.

The first thing on my agenda would be to find a nurse or the reception desk. Surely they would be able to give me some more information about my predicament.

Hmm, thinking back why am I even here? I understand why people would be in a hospital but in my case I'm physically normal. No pains or bruises or any other abnormalities, I would understand if I was brought to a smaller clinic, but this hospital is rather huge from what I can tell, most likely a major, metropolitan hospital.

Curious I tried to enter one of the doors to see what the patients in this hospital were like.

I was able to intrude a room that looked similar to the one I was in before. There were three beds lined up side by side and a large window at the end of the room. However there were no patients.

The blankets were neatly folded on top of the beds. I looked around the room some more to see if there were even traces of former occupants. Not a single hair or nail could be found, though that's not surprising since it was so dark.

No left over bottles, no pictures, no get-well flowers, not anything.

I turned around to exit the room since there was no longer any point to looking further. My only real option now was to continue on and look for the receptionist desk.

When I took a few steps towards the door, it abruptly shut at great speed. I could feel the wind resistance sweeping past my face as a loud thud had accompanied the shutting of the door.

"What?"

I mumbled to myself. This wasn't right, not even a single breeze had past me through the window or from the outside hallways. The door couldn't have closed by itself. Was it an electronic door?

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

I inspected the door a bit more but it was just an ordinary wooden door with metal handles.

Laying my hands on the handle I felt a sting rush up to me from my palms. It wasn't any sort of electrical current, rather it was the same feeling you would get from touching dry ice. It was extremely cold.

"You shouldn't"

I heard the voice of a female suddenly come from behind. When I looked to, there was nothing but the empty room.

I didn't imagine it! I frantically searched the room over and over. As I did I felt my heart rate go up higher and higher. Sweat dripped down the side of my face and my eyes felt like it would jump out from their sockets.

The beds, walls, ceiling, floor, even underneath the beds. Nothing.

I placed my hands on the handle once more wanting to leave more than ever.

Again my nervous system rejected it and made me pull my hands away from it.

"It's dangerous."

I heard the voice once more, almost alluring in its feature, but my mind had already made an enemy of it, dismissing it as it clashed with my rationality.

It doesn't exist!

It can't exist!

There were no voices from the beginning!

I proceeded to charge and slam at the door with my entire body, audibly crashing into it, it echoed down the long, dark hallways. With each subsequent bashing of the door I became more frantic and desperate.

"You'll die."

I hear nothing!

My shoulder started to ache as I tried to push the door off its hinges.

"Stop."

Giving one last push with my entire force, the door finally gave in and burst open. Due to the inertia I flew a few more meters until I crashed into the opposing wall.

A great pain ran down my shoulders and I became disoriented. Everything started spinning, but I rushed to get my bearings straight and ran down the hallway.

I made a bit more distance between myself and the haunted room. Just as I was about to feel a sense of relief, a hissing sound from the marble floors resounded.

I could feel small vibrations from the floor. The windows beside my started rattling ominously, only adding to the ominous image.

I tried to run as fast as I could but my legs didn't want to listen. It was like I was plunged into thick water, trying to run outrun whatever eldritch abominations lurked behind curtain number one.

The ground started to shake harder, heavy footsteps reverberated through the walls and windows. I turned back to see what it was, the darkness still impaired my vision but I could distinctly see two bloodshot eyes staring back at me.

With clear bloodlust I knew instantly it wanted nothing more than to make a slave out of me. It wanted me to writhe on the floor as it killed me slowly, having me beg for mercy and dear life.

Not looking properly in front of me, my legs tangled between each other and I smashed my head against the floor. I could taste a familiar scent of rusting metal in my mouth; my own blood dripping from my nose.

As though I just fulfilled my own prophesy I started to crawl on the floor trying to get away from it. It didn't even occur to me to get up and run, my mind was a jumbled mess, I was becoming as irrational as Romeo or Juliet.

Slowly edging across the pool of my own nosebleed I dragged my body. Scraping my nails against the floor to the point of it becoming tattered and shattered. Screeching loudly and painfully. My ears would scarce become a friend to me after this.

The hollow footsteps became softer and less frequent.

I could feel its haggard breath on my neck.

Warm chills straight down my back. I could hear the opening of its mouth, drool falling onto my hair.

If it was going to do it, I wished it hurried itself. My heart pound faster with each passing second, the suspense of being killed was worse than being killed.

It was then a nearby door burst open.

A small girl; a child, with a bloodied white dress, her long black hair extremely disheveled. The white of her eyes were filled with disgusting red veins. Her eyes darted all over the place as she crawled hastily towards me psychotically, leaving behind a trail of blood.

Both the abomination behind me and myself were stunned by her sudden appearance.

She dug her nails deep into the top of my hands and proceeded to drag me away. My hands started to bleed and my mind blanked out in pain.

The monster too, confused as to what was happening only looked at the aberrant behavior of the girl.

Being towed into the room through my pierced hands I could only continue to scream.

* * *

The door closed behind us and automatically locked itself. The monster coming back to its sense tried to bash in the door, but this door was much sturdier; made of steel. It would not budge a single centimeter.

After good few slams it finally gave up. I could hear footsteps distancing themselves from the room.

I sense of relief came over me but at the same time I remembered my current situation. Out from the fire and into the pan this time as it were, yet my situation was no less worse than before.

The small girl dug her fingers out of my palms, leaving only a small hole.

"I said it's dangerous."

The girl spoke. Her darting eyes stopped and stared right at me, her hair covering her the left side of her face. She looked considerably less like she was suffering from an extreme form of psychosis.

That voice from before, could it be?

My heart started to calm down after rationalizing my situation.

I took a few deep breath to further slow my beating.

"What are you? What is that thing? Where am I?"

Normally, I would scream out those things, but I didn't do so out of fear. I simply tried to ask in a somewhat quiet tone.

She shook her head.

"I don't know, and he doesn't have a name, we only call him the Janitor."

"Then where am I?"

She shook her head once more.

"I don't know, but we call this place, [Afterlife Hospital]."