MIND

Day of the dead

(24 hours earlier)

The Pathologist opened one of the morgue freezers and pulled out a body. His assistant helped him carry the body and placed it on the table. The Pathologist checked the name tag on the Victim's foot “John Oberman” he sighed and glanced at his assistant “Poor kid” he stated. “Go sign the log before we begin the autopsy” he Instructed. The assistant nodded and left the room.

The Pathologist stared at the pale looking body, the lips of the boy slightly agape. He tilted the head upward a little getting a clearer view on the slit throat. He shifted his gaze to the Victim's wrist and stared at the cut marks too. Heaving another sigh, he removed the material used in covering the body, exposing the fully naked body on the autopsy table.

He picked up the tray containing his equipments and placed them on the tray holder close to the body. He switched on the light and bent it till it was shining directly at the stomach of the body. Putting on his mask over his mouth and nose fully, he walked toward the sink, removed his gloves and washed his hands thoroughly. He heard a clanging noise and quickly turned. He looked around and nothing seemed out of the ordinary so he turned back to the sink, washed his hand some more and turned off the water. He picked a new set of gloves and was putting it on when he heard a loud chatter, he turned swiftly again with a slightly heightened fear. He was shocked to see the tray containing the equipment on the floor.

He looked around but no one else was present. Slowly he walked toward the table and the equipment on the floor. He stared at the body that was still lying there and noticed that the lips were tightly shut unlike before. More confused, he stared at the body some more and when nothing happened, he waved it off and bent down to pick the equipment when he noticed the scalpel was missing. Trying to figure out what happened to the scalpel, he heard the table squeak, he shot up to his feet instantly only to meet face to face with the victim, John Overman sitting up on the table and before he could scream, John slit his throat with the scalpel in one quick motion, silencing him.

The Pathologist covered his open throat as he began bleeding from the mouth along with the blood rushing out of his throat. Seconds later he was on the floor, jerking as the last breath of life escaped his lungs. John Oberman climbed down the table, standing up. He had this distant look on his face. His lips were dried and had dark circles around his eyes. He looked down at the Pathologist and bent down, taking off the doctor's clothes. Moments later he was dressed in the doctor's clothes, leaving him naked and headed out the door with the scalpel still in his hand.

(NOW)

Eva sat down facing her mirror, watching Amy brush her hair. Her room you could say, was the normal teenage girl's room. Brightened up with pink decors, teddies of different sizes placed at strategic places in the room giving it the absolute feminine look. A window in her room was directly facing Dylan's across the street. She had a blue skinny jean on and dark red knit sweater seeing as they were about to start heading for school. “I told you the first night you told me you saw him. He's definitely a bad boy, a player. I don't trust guys that own a bike” Amy complained brushing the hair gently.

“Yeah, I guess I knew deep down too...but it's just...there's something different about him” Eva defended, avoiding Amy's eyes that were staring at her like daggers from the mirror.

“No no no Eva. You are not doing that again. We are not doing that again” Amy quarrelled

“Do what?" She asked, knowing fully well what Amy was driving at. She picked up a blusher brush from the dresser drawer which the mirror was placed on, right in front of her and patted her cheeks with the brush.

“The thing were you are drawn to a bad boy and you feel you can help them in some way I'll never understand. Only for you to fall for them and end up getting hurt. We are not doing that” Amy pulled on her hair softly, tilting her head to face hers. “You hear me? We are not doing that again” She said sternly.

“Yeah I hear you loud and clear. But there's something different with him though”

“Alright that's it. Up! We are going to school. I'm not getting late because of your obsession with bad boys” She stated pulling her up from the chair. Eva picked up her bag and they both headed out the door.

***

“You seem awfully quiet and distant today. What's the problem man? You can tell me” Ethan poked as they walked down the hallway toward their class. Dylan stopped on his track and glanced at his friend with a quizzical look. “Why are you looking at me like that?" Ethan asked confused

“You truly do not have any idea what happened in detention yesterday? What you guys said to me?" He questioned still sounding skeptical at Ethan's denial.

“I've told you a hundred times man. I don't! So why don't you tell me what you saw or what you think you saw?" Ethan retorted.

Dylan exhaled sharply and walked to the side of the hallway trying to move from earshot. He turned to Ethan who was standing in front of him. “Alright this is gonna sound crazy. When I rested my head on my desk after we both exchanged glances, I heard this noises, like desks moving and when I lifted up my head, you all were standing around me with this look like....like you were all possessed and wasn't in control of your body. I tried snapping you guys out of it but nothing I did worked. And then you all started calling my name and then giving me this warning. That they are coming, coming for everyone and no one would survive. After that, you all came back to your right minds and saw yourselves standing around me.” He concluded waiting for Ethan's response and searching his eyes for a reaction.

Ethan stared at him in silence after he ended his explanation. Dylan thought he was processing the new information until he finally said something. “You have stopped taking your pills recently, haven't you?"

“What?! That's not the point. Yeah I have but I know what I saw and I know what I'm saying” Dylan argued

“Have you resumed smoking pot?"

“What the hell are you saying?....you don't believe....of course I know you wouldn't believe me” He shook his head

“We are coming, we are coming for everyone, no one would survive...man that's some star wars bullshit” Ethan mocked. “Let's go to class man and you need to start taking your pills again. Go to class, we'll meet for our plans after classes” he added

“I have detention throughout the rest of the week, remember?"

“Well I'll wait for you. We are not missing it today also” He concluded and broke out heading to his class.

***

“What do you mean somebody stole the body but your camera's didn't pick up anything?" Sheriff Donovan questioned with a notepad in his hands and a confused look on his face. A look that has dominanted his expressions recently.

“I went out to go fill in the log before we begin the autopsy and when I got back, there he was lying on the floor naked, throat slit and the body gone” The assistant explained as she was at the verge of tears.

“Who would want to steal a dead body? And for what?" He asked rhetorically.

“Sir, here's the log of every nurse on duty when it happened” Camila handed the log to him. He scanned through the log and saw a familiar name and decided to start there first.

The sheriff walked to the counter where Hayley was seated, clicking away on a computer. He cleared his throat alerting her of his presence. She looked up from the computer and stood up almost immediately. “Sheriff!” she called. “Any luck yet?”

“Nope not yet. We are talking with all the nurses on duty when it happened and I decided to come ask you the questions myself if that's okay with you?" He smiled

“Of course. What do you wanna know?" She returned the smile

“Well first of all, did you see anything suspicious during the time it happened? Or maybe you saw someone suspicious coming into the hospital?" He asked, flipping the page on his notepad.

“No I didn't. Everything seemed normal and usual” She replied, watching the sheriff jot something down. “Why would someone want to steal a dead body? What could they possibly need it for?" She questioned, looking visibly sick at the idea.

“I don't know. But I do know there are a lot of weird people around and our town is not an exception to this. Well thank you for your time. I probably should alert his parents of the situation” he sighed “This is the part I hate the most” he confessed. He walked two steps away when he stopped and turned back Hayley. “Are you guys free tonight? You and Dylan?" He asked with a small smile escaping his lips.

“Yeah I'm not on night shift today, why?"

“I was thinking maybe we could have you guys over for dinner. You know get reacquainted and stuff and maybe give our kids a chance to get acquainted too since they attend the same school. What do you say?" He asked with a smile.

“That would be lovely” She replied with excitement

“Great! I live at number 115 melbourne street”

“Wait, that's my street. Number 115 is the house opposite mine. How's that possible?" She laughed with wonder.

“How can we not know we live right opposite each other?" The sheriff asked bewildered.

“I guess we have just been too wrapped up in our heads to notice”

“I guess so. Well I better get to it. See you guys tonight” He concluded and walked away.

***

Dylan stood in front of Vanessa who had her back to her locker, leaning against it. He leaned slightly forward towards her, holding himself in place with one hand on the locker by the side of her head and the other clutching his backpack handle. “You failed to mention you have a boyfriend” He said with a crooked smile

“I didn't think it was important” she replied, crossing her arm

“I'm guessing you guys aren't exclusive”

“Oh please, you and I both know he's definitely fooling around with some other girl who is probably too happy that she's with the popular boy in school” She quipped

“And you?...you open to fooling around with me?" He asked with a smirk.

She said nothing but smiled and leaned forward. She bit softly on his earlobe and then whispered. “Come over tonight and I'll give you my reply” and with that she walked away, leaving him there smiling.

“Mr Hale!" Miss Caroline called, poking her head out of the classroom. “It's time for your detention. I don't need to keep reminding you” She said and withdrew her head back inside. He sighed in fraustration and walked into the classroom.

He sat down in the empty classroom, dropped his backpack and just stared at Miss Caroline who was busy grading the last of the assignments she gave the previous day. He sank deeper into the seat and stared at the roof till his phone vibrated in his pocket and made a notification sound. “No phones Mr Hale” She said not looking up from her books. He brought out the phone and saw a text from Ethan “Waiting 4 u. All this better not be a waste of my time” the text read. He rolled his eyes and tucked the phone back in his pocket, tilting his head upward again.

“Since you are here I guess there's no point in waiting till tomorrow. Come get your assignment Dylan and make the necessary corrections” She called holding out his paper. He stood up reluctantly and walked to her. He held the paper but she didn't let go. He looked at her and she had the same look like yesterday as she held tightly onto the paper.

“Miss Caroline?" He called but no reply. She just picked up her pen and began writing on the top of the paper whilst looking directly into Dylan's eyes. He just stood, knowing too well nothing he could say that would snap her out of it. She finished writing and she returned to herself, blinking rapidly not knowing what just happened. He quickly covered up the paper not wanting her to see what she had written.

He got back to his seat and sat down, staring at Miss Caroline who had returned back to grading the papers. He slowly opened the paper in his hand and read what she wrote. “Someone is going to die here today. Right NOW Dylan!”. His eyes widened and he quickly looked around. The school was done for the day and he didn't think anyone would still be around until it dawned on him that Ethan was waiting for him. “Can I use the bathroom?" He asked standing up and before she could reply, he dashed out of the room.

He squeezed his phone out of his pocket and began dialling Ethan's number as he hurriedly searched from class to class looking for him. The phone went straight to voicemail. He dialled again as he headed for the boys locker room almost running. The call went to voicemail again. “s**t!" He cursed. He kept his phone back in his pocket and pushed open the door to boys locker room. His eyes widened instantly. “Ethan Dock!!!” he shouted. Ethan quickly dropped to the floor just as John Oberman swung the scalpel from behind him before Ethan quickly scrambled toward the door where Dylan was standing.

“What the hell!!!" Ethan shouted as they looked over at John Oberman who regained his composure and was now heading towards them looking pale and with eyes that screamed bloody murder.

“RUN!!" Dylan shouted, zooming out of there, Ethan not far behind. They ran towards the hallway. “Miss Caroline, we have to alert her” Dylan shouted. They looked back and he was running after them. He was catching up and he still had the scalpel in his hand.

Ethan was running closely behind Dylan when he saw the floor start to c***k quickly. “Whoa!" He shouted falling to the floor close to where a large hole was made on the floor. He shifted back quickly, breathing rapidly. He looked over at Dylan who was standing on the other side of the wide and deep hole. “Don't come any closer Dylan, you will fall into the hole” he shouted.

“What hole?" Dylan said looking around. All he could see was Ethan on the floor, looking afraid and staring at the floor with wide eyes. John Oberman was fast approaching. It quickly dawned on Dylan that he was seeing things. He was rushing toward him and Ethan was shouting.

“Don't, don't! You'll fall” Ethan shouted until Dylan ran across to him and the hole disappeared. “What the hell!” he shouted again shocked. Dylan pulled him off the floor as John Oberman was about to dig the scalpel into his neck.

He pulled him into the door closest to them and locked the door. Ethan stood up from the floor, adjusting himself as they went further into the electrical room. “What the hell was that? What just happened?" He asked, holding his head puzzled

“I think you were seeing things. I told you earlier, something is taking over our minds, making us see things” Dylan explained just as they heard a loud bang on the door. “So far I haven't seen anything unusual” he added

“That's unusual!” Ethan shouted as the bang on the door was getting frequent. “That's John Oberman, he was a student here and was declared dead the day you guys came to town. So how is he alive and why does he want to kill us?" He shouted

“I don't know but I think it has something to do with what I told you I saw and heard earlier” Dylan paced about the room until he realized it was silent. The banging had stopped. He slowly looked to the direction of the door. “Why...” the loud bang forcing the door open interrupted him. “Crap!" He stated as John Oberman entered into the room and was walking toward them quickly.

He threw the scalpel at Dylan who docked just in time. John Oberman lunged toward Ethan, tackling him against the shelf. Dylan got up quickly began to punch him on the ribs continuously with no effect. He turned, countered Dylan's punch and punched him in the stomach. Dylan groaned and before he could recover, John Oberman kicked him forcefully, sending him crashing against the shelf behind him. Ethan tackled him from behind which did nothing but pushed him a few steps forward. He held Ethan and threw him on Dylan on the shelf. Leaving them there he went to pick the scalpel from the floor.

He picked up the scalpel and as he turned, he saw Dylan and Ethan dashing towards him and tackled him simultaneously, pushing him back. He staggered back till he came in contact with the fuse box on the wall. It sparked as it sent waves after waves of shock throughout his body. He collapsed to the ground. They both stared at him on the floor and slowly walked closer to him. “Is he dead?" Ethan asked

Dylan bent down slowly and checked for pulse. He turned to Ethan and nodded. “I think the shock killed him” he stood and walked back to where Ethan was as they kept staring at him. “Do you believe me now?" He asked

“I....” he stopped when they heard a loud shatter and thud from the next room. They rushed out of the room, heading for the next room when Miss Caroline came out from the girl's room and saw them.

“What was that?" She asked, meaning she heard the sound too. The three of them rushed into the library only to see a bookshelf on the floor and a girl lying ontop. Wrists and neck slit. “Ahh!!!!" Miss Caroline screamed, covering her mouth.

“Call 911” Dylan said to her, making his way to the body slowly. She was still standing in shock sobbing. “Miss Caroline!" He called out loudly, snapping her out of her shock state. “Call 911” he said to her. She nodded rapidly and rushed back to go look for her phone.

Dylan and Ethan walked over to the body to get a closer look. “What the hell is happening?" Ethan asked still confused. Dylan picked up the note she was holding and read what she wrote. “I AM WORTHLESS!!!”. Ethan read it too. “I believe you” he said.

“I don't know what's going on but I did get a warning” he brought out the paper and showed Ethan what Miss Caroline wrote. “Whatever the hell is going on, all I know is I'm right at the centre of it” he added still staring at the body.