We start with a heavy metal door creaking open, revealing a dimly lit room. In the center stands a person, their eyes missing and an expression of anguish on their face as they quietly mutter about their excruciating pain. The door opens once more, and the same figure is revealed, but now with unnaturally elongated arms and legs, adding to the sense of unease. For the third time, the door swings open, and the person cautiously surveys the room. Their gaze lands on a camera, and they begin to crawl towards it, their movements disturbingly animalistic.  

Suddenly, a doctor jolts awake from this haunting nightmare, disoriented and fearful as he looks around. He briefly panics, half-expecting to find himself in the testing room, only to realize that he's in his own office. Standing at the door is his assistant, Ivy, who informs him that someone is waiting to see him. 

Doctor Halrick glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing that it was just past 8 o'clock. "Argh. Bring them through," he sighed.   

Shortly after, a young boy named Charlie Dunaway walked into the office.   

Doctor Halrick greeted him and asked, "So tell me, Charlie, how are you doing?"   

Charlie hesitated before replying, "Good. Well, actually, no, I'm not doing well. Say, Doc, have you ever had a dream that felt so real you could have sworn it happened to you?"   

Doctor Halrick looked concerned and asked, "Why do you ask?"   

Charlie went on to explain, "A few nights ago, I had a dream where blood was pouring out of my eyes, ears, and teeth. It was real scary. I thought I was going to die."   

Doctor Halrick leaned forward and asked, "Have you spoken to anyone about this?"  

"I tried asking Pa if he had any dreams that reminded him of being back in the war," he said tentatively.  

Doctor Halrick listened intently and asked, "And what did he say?"   

Charlie hesitated before responding, "He said I was crazy and that I should see a doctor."   

Sensing Charlie's unease, the doctor handed him a tube of Florocaine and advised, "Take this before you go to bed tonight."   

Charlie seemed skeptical, replying, "Really doc? I don’t need this crap."   

However, Doctor Halrick insisted, "I think you do, Charlie."  

As the doctor helped Charlie out of the medical bed, he said to Charlie. "Your parents must be thrilled that you’re moving back in with them," remarked Halrick.   

Charlie clarified, "I’m not. They’re out of town for a few weeks. Thankfully, my sister is letting me crash at hers until I find a new job."   

Halrick nodded in understanding, acknowledging, "That’s good at least."  

Stolen novel; please report.

Meanwhile, the sound of thunder roared outside, and Halrick offered to give Charlie a lift home. As they started walking out of the office, a box fell to the floor, spilling VHS tapes with different labels. 

Charlie couldn't help but make a quip, saying, "Wow, you opening a video store soon?" The doctor joined in the light-hearted moment and started putting the tapes back inside the box with Charlie's help.   

However, amidst the task, Charlie noticed a tape with the label S 4601 and was intrigued. He discreetly tucked the tape in his back pocket before leaving the office with the doctor.  

The dimly lit, rainy night wrapped around the car, creating a haunting atmosphere. Inside the vehicle, two figures were seated - Detective Sonny Connors and Detective Issac Greyson. Sonny gazed out into the night with a sense of urgency, as if searching for someone, while Issac, visibly bored, pulled out a cigarette and lit it, causing wisps of smoke to fill the car.  

"What the hell are you doing?" Sonny exclaimed, perturbed by Issac's actions.  

Issac, looking taken aback, responded nonchalantly, "What?"  

Annoyed, Sonny continued, "If you're going to smoke, do it outside, not in the car!"  

Muttering to himself, Issac exited the car, leaving Sonny inside to wait. Minutes passed before Sonny also stepped out of the vehicle.  

"He's here," Sonny declared.  

Concerned, Issac asked, "Should I call for backup?"  

"He's alone," Sonny responded.  

Unconvinced, Issac probed, "What if he's meeting with someone?"  

"I just need to make him talk," Sonny asserted.  

A tense silence hung in the air as the two detectives exchanged glances.  

"Just keep an eye out for the police," Sonny cautioned before proceeding with his plan.  

Sonny started walking down the dark rainy alleyway pulling out his gun which he intended to use only for intimidating. The stranger stood still and looked at his watch before he felt the barrel of Sonny’s gun on his back.  

“You seem lost friend.”  

A thick Russian accent came out of the stranger's voice. “IAC!”  

Sonny noticed the stranger's briefcase, “What’s in the briefcase?” 

“You're worried about my briefcase?”  

“Hand it over!” Sonny demanded.  

“You want my briefcase?”  

The stranger swung his arm backwards causing the briefcase to smack Sonny in the face. Falling to the ground the gun flew out of Sonny’s hands leaving him defenseless as the stranger grabbed Sonny and threw him into a dumpster. As Sonny tries to pick himself up, he is kicked in the chest by the stranger sending him back down to the ground.  

The stranger grabbed Sonny by the throat and started choking the life out of him.    

“Hey, Soviet Union.”  

The stranger looked at to where the voice came from only to find Issac holding Sonny’s gun. He fires the gun twice causing the stranger to fall to the ground. 

Issac rushed over to Sonny and offers him a hand up, “Need a hand?” 

Sonny picks himself up of the rainy floor, “No do you.” 

The two walked over to the stranger's body, Sonny looks closer at the body and relies that Issac has killed the stranger. 

“Argh! You idiot I had the situation under control.” 

Issac looked down at the body then at Sonny and remarked, “Sure you did.” 

“Wait for me in the car.” Sonny asked 

Issac started walking back to the car, leaving Sonny on his own. Sonny looked at the briefcase and was about to pick it up when all of a sudden, he was kicked in the head by a mysterious figure. 

“What the hell happened?” Issac asked Sonny who was on the floor looking around trying to find where the mysterious figure went. 

“Argh!.. The briefcase...” 

Issac looked ahead and saw someone smash the car window of a lime green car before speeding off into the darkness.