pete and jake

jake followed the girl in the white uniform
up the stairs to the second floor.

she looked back once

concern written on her face.

a frown creased his forehead

"where are we going he whispered."

"we'll be there in a seond." she put her
pointer finger to her mouth and turned around.

they had reached the second floor level
and they stood for a second expectancy in the air.

she put her ear to the door and held up her right hand.

she nodded her head and took his hand.
"follow closely."

the door swung open
and they entered the floor.

pete squinted his eyes in the darkness the floor
was empty and the only light came from the neon
light of the exit sign.

the girl dragged her left land along the wall
using it for a steering mechanishm

they came to a door
and she hurriedly pushed him in.

ok, what's going on jake said.

mr. mc nevins, i'm sorry to be so mysterious
but you have to get your wife out of here.

why, what's wrong.

this place is not what it seems.

well, look i don't like mysteries, so if you
have something to say, spit it out.

Mr. McNevins, your wife was put in an induced
coma.

what do you mean?

dr. hastings, is her treating physician, correct?

yes.

well, did he by chance come to see your wife before
she came here.

yes, he did.
i called him.

did he say, he gave her morphine to keep her sedated.

yes, he said she was agitated
and she couldn't stay home anymore
her case was beyond his expertise.

Mr. McNevins, you have go to believe me, dr. hastings
does not have your wife's well being at heart.

I have to go, i am due on shift and if i don't show
they'll be wondering where i am.

wait. you just can't give me this information and then leave.

Mr. mc nevins, i have ssaid more than i should already.
i've got to go.

okay, go.
i am going to stay here a few minutes and think.

ok, i'll contact you in a few days.

what's your name, said pete.

my name is anne, anne hallorhan. i knew your daughter
meghan. we worked the same job together when we were
in the city.

you knew meghan.

yes, i knew meghan.

well, wait, can't you tell me more.

no, it's too dangerous right now.
i'll be in touch.

ok,
goodby mr. mc nevins.

the young girl left the room
and pete took in a deep breath
first meghan
and now molly.

this was too bizarre.
he was just one man
he grew up in this town
his parents grew up in this town
his grandparents owned the local hardware store.

doc hendricks was fairly new to the town

pete searched his memory
doc hendricks came the year of the big storm when
the whole town had been underwater

well, the streets were not driveable
and ace's auto yard the car had floated out
of the yard and piled up on one another

and that young girl pf 15 from living waters the creek had turned
into a roaring river and took her and the house.

they had found her body the next day washed downstream
her clothes had been torn off her
and she lay naked among the rocks.

pete remembered all tthese things in a flash standing in
the middle of an empty hospital room.

he breathed in and out
in and out
and then stuck his head out the door.

he thought he heard a squeak but he listened closely
and then realized there was music being played somwhere
in the hospital from the floor below maybe, he mused.

he opened the door
and looked out
there wasn't anyone there
so he proceeded to follow the same wall
he and the young girl had used to get to the hospital room.

strange that there is no no one on this floor pete thought
you would think that a hospital would use all its floors.

he reached the EXIT sign opened the door
and went down the stairs.

he opened the first floor door a crack and seeing no one
there he stepped out into the bright lit corridor.

he walked a few steps when a voice called him,
Mr. McNevins, we were looking for you.

pete turned and looked

it was the man matthew in the brown suit
the one who said he was the observer.

Oh, hello, said Pete
I was just about to get some fresh air.

well, if you have a few minutes
we can finish our session.

sure, why not said pete.

good man, said matthew.

pete followed matthew down the hall
to the administration room and matthew held
the door open for him.

there was an empty chair and matthew motioned pete to sit down.

pete took the silent instruction and sat

why did he get the feeling that he was not in control here
almost like he was not asking the questions.
but that he was being asked the questions.

almost like he was the patient
instead of a concerend husband.

there was quiet and then matthew the observer
started to speak.