Velli

Inside the hospital doors, most of the extravaganza is gone. Wait. The extravaganza isn’t gone. It’s dead. The waiting room is dead.

The lights are gone. A weak orange glow cast from the raindrop-shaped emergency lights and onto the walls fights off the darkness. Shadows cover the lamps. The computers behind the front desk are dead, and the TV monitors in the waiting room display black. It’s hot, so hot I’m sweating in my funeral suit. Hospitals always stay cold.

“Where is everybody?” I ask the room. “Where is my mom?”

No one’s here to answer. Thirty or so empty chairs and a desk missing its receptionist don’t speak. Slight panic rises in me. Everything slows down, and every sound is important. The clock’s tick announces its time with room-filling volume, and my heart pumps between the seconds that don’t seem to end.

“Hey!” I cry then shut up because my voice sounds as scared as I feel.

Careful not to move at the speed of my racing heart, I walk through the doors to the hallway, leaving the waiting room. It’s a similar situation. No power. No one’s around. No voices. The orange lights buzz, and my steps echo. It’s like walking through a highway tunnel.

You’re not going fast enough, Velli. Your mom’s in danger.

When he’s right, he’s right. My steps annoy me. I speed up.

Oh, too fast, too fast. Whatever snatched everybody up is around. What if it’s hungry? What if it’s malicious? What if it’s so powerful it doesn’t know you exist? How many ants live nearby without your knowledge? That won’t stop you from squishing an ant, though, will it? And when the thing sees you… squish.

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The squish turns my stroll to a careful plod.

Let’s go over everything that could have killed her. Yes, that seems helpful.

I try my best to ignore Fate. She’s on the first floor, thankfully.

She’s already been eaten. In fact, this hospital is just a trap for young, unsuspecting fools to become dinner for something malicious. That would explain why everyone is gone but your way is still lit, a setup to draw you into the belly of the beast.

It’s one turn away and a long walk down the hallway to her room.

She’s the cause of this. Well, her body anyway. At least twelve people can control a body and make it do horrid things. Dummy has her on puppet strings, and he made her go on a massacre. Wasn’t he at the Conference of Desires? I bet he wasn’t happy about your stunt to end it early.

A peek around the corner tells me no one’s around. I make the turn, still without seeing anyone.

You’re delusional. You’re the one in the hospital, and this is just some silly dream of yours. You are a burden on the doctors here, in the psych ward. You’re trapped in a straitjacket and a padded all-white room. That would explain why you have a literal voice inside your head.

Her room is ten steps away. Every door I pass is shut.

You could be in hell. It’s so hot. Look, you’re sweating.

Nine steps. Low murmurs come from inside the door to my left.

Oh, that’s it.

Eight steps. My breath is heavy, and the heat is getting to me.

You’ve already died.

Seven steps. My heartbeat pumps in my ears. If she’s gone… Six steps.

You’ve failed as a man.

Five steps. I’ve failed as a man. Four steps.

You’ve failed as a son.

Three steps. I’ve failed as a son.

Two steps.

Your daddy wasted his life on you.

One step.

My dad…

I’m here.

Your daddy wasted his life on you.

In front of her room, I grip the warm, wet doorknob, and it clicks as I twist it open. The doors are locked from the outside. It’s silent.