Night Ward: Welcome to Amity House

Dear Dr. Vent, Congratulations and welcome. We are excited to have you as an addition to our fine facility. Please report to the facility at 6:45 pm to begin orientation and receive the tour. Your quarters will be ready and available at 7:25 pm. Enclosed you will find a list of items already placed in your living quarters that may make your stay more comfortable. Please feel free to send a list of anything else you may need. However, we have enclosed another list of items that will not be permitted inside the facility. Once you arrive at the facility, please see Marge at the Nurses’ Station. She will provide you with your room keys and your copies of the facility’s keys. She will also be your tour-guide. Sincerely, Dr. Frank N. Stein Facility Director The welcoming letter was short, Drake thought, but it got right to the point. He had gotten the job. After two years of being out of work he finally had a new job. Smiling to himself he felt satisfied with the fact that at 29, he was one of the youngest doctors in his field of expertise, and after struggling with the past two years he was ready to get back to work. This new position at the Amity House Facility was just the thing he needed to get out of his rut. Picking up the phone, he called the one person he knew cared and would be excited for him. “Hey it’s me” he said smiling to himself as the sweet familiar voice came on the line. “Oh Drake, I’m so glad you called how is everything?” the voice was loving, filled with years of pride. “It’s really good.” He answered looking down at the letter in his hand. “Listen, I just found out I got the job.” “Really?!” the voice sounded astonished. “Yep, they just sent me the ‘welcome to the team’ letter.” Drake drawled waving the letter around a little in his hand. Then chuckled when he realizes she couldn’t see it. “Oh that’s wonderful.” The excitement for him was there. “Wait, where is the place, again?” the voice asked innocently with concern starting to show. “AHF. The Amity House Facility, or that’s what the name was changed to a while back. You know it’s the government job I applied for.” “Oh Drake, I’m so glad you called how is everything?” the voice was loving, filled with years of pride. “It’s really good.” He answered looking down at the letter in his hand. “Listen, I just found out I got the job.” “Really?!” the voice sounded astonished. “Yep, they just sent me the ‘welcome to the team’ letter.” Drake drawled waving the letter around a little in his hand. Then chuckled when he realizes she couldn’t see it. “Oh that’s wonderful.” The excitement for him was there. “Wait, where is the place, again?” the voice asked innocently with concern starting to show. “AHF. The Amity House Facility, or that’s what the name was changed to a while back. You know it’s the government job I applied for.” “Oh that’s right. I do remember. I’m very proud of you. When do you start?” “I have to be there today by 6:45 for my tour. I’m going to be staying on facility grounds.” He responded as he started to look the letter over again. “Umm, Drake, do you think that staying there is a good idea?” Drake could hear the concern starting to taint the pride he had just heard. “Yeah, I mean, it will be a fresh start for me, where nobody knows about…well about what happened. Also, by living there it will help me save on rent and it will put me closer the patients, which could help me treat them better.” He explained as he shifted the phone from hand to shoulder. “Well,” the voice was hesitant at first, “I’m still not real sure about the whole living there thing but I am still proud of you…” there was a pause then a intake of breath, “Oh do you want me to tell him?” “No, I don’t think he’ll want to know” there was a knock at the door as he said this making him jump a little. “Oh, umm, could you hang on a sec?” he asked setting the phone down. Drake walked to the front door, pulling it open just enough to see a small round man with graying hair standing on the other side. “Can I help you?” Drake asked looking the man up and down. “Yes sir,” the man smiled brightly. “I am supposed to be picking up a, Dr. Vent, would that be you, sir?” the man wondered looking down at a sheet of paper. Watching the man flick his wrist and glance at his watch had Drake doing the same. Startled he realized that is was almost six and he was running late. “Yes, I’m Dr. Vent, if you will give me just a minute I can be ready to go.” After the little man gave a short quick nod, Drake shut the door. Walking back to where he laid down the phone he picked the receiver back up. “Hey mom, you still there?” he asked. “Of course, where else would I be?” the voice asked with a light laugh. “That’s funny, listen my ride is here to take me to the new place. I’ll call you as soon as I can.” “Ok sweet heart. I’ll look forward to hearing from you. Oh and Drake…. be careful.” She told him, almost as an afterthought. “I will.” He assured her, rolling his eyes at her concern. After telling her he loved them both he placed the phone down, picked up his small clothing bag and headed off to his new job as Amity House’s new facility doctor. **** Alice Vent hung up the phone and sat there staring for a moment. The AHF, she thought to herself, they never could come up with something normal. Laughing softly she began to walk back to the kitchen where she had been cooking supper when Drake’s call came in. “Alice, who was that?” her husband called out from the back room. “It was Drake; he just wanted to say hi.” She answered dimly. If he found out that she knew their son had gone to work for the government she knew he would be livid. Her husband did not believe real well in their current government. Choosing to call them all hypocrites, who didn’t give a damn about anything other than money. This was going to be just another secret she was going to have to keep. Thankfully, Alice told herself, she was good at keeping secrets. She had been keeping secrets most of her adult life and now was not the time to start opening up. Wiping her hand on her apron, Alice threw a glance at the clock on the kitchen wall. Feeling completely uneasy about Drakes new job, she picked up the phone and began to call the last person she wanted to talk to. Dialing the number she had never dialed before, she braced herself for the conversation she had hoped to never have. But her son was in over his head, and Alice needed more reassurance then he was able to give. She knew Drake was about to enter a world that he was neither ready for or aware of. As the phone rang she began to rehearse just what she wanted to say in her mind. Alice’s fingers started to intertwine nervously with the cord as she sat motionlessly hoping that she could get her request out before she broke down. “Alice who are you calling?” came her husband’s gruff voice. “I’m just calling the doctor, Wayne. You just relax baby, dinner will be ready in a few.” She hollered back to him just as the line was picked up. “Hello?” the voice on the other end was airy and light. “It’s me Alice.” She spoke softly her worried voice coming out a whisper. “What’s wrong?” the airy voice asked becoming serious “It’s Drake, he got the job,” Alice stated coming to the point quickly. “Of course he did.” The voice was proud but tinged with demanding curiosity. “So what’s the problem?” Alice rolled her eyes upward at the tone, “I can’t help him.” she stated. “Yes, you can.” Came the reply “Please,” Alice began trying to stay calm, “just watch over him. After all that has happened to him, I don’t think he trusts himself. I’m not even sure if he actually believes in these things yet.” Alice closed her eyes trying to fight back the sudden tears that were beginning to fall. The voice was quiet for a moment as if the speaker was in deep thought. Alice sat listening to the silence as the speaker thought over what she was asking. **** Drake felt like the car ride would never end. He had given up looking out the window after they entered what had seemed like a forest. Drake had never seen so many trees in all his life. Feeling like hours had gone by, Drake was surprised when they finally pulled out of the forest of trees and entered a gated driveway that curled down a long path and stopped at a large stone covered curb. Getting out, Drake lifted his eyes to his surroundings. The building that he would now be calling home and work for the next three years; stood looming over the uncut lawn. Grotesque in its design, Drake noted that the large columns’ paid homage to the civil war era while the rest of the facility showed an architect’s nightmare of twists and fashions of the passing decades. The main design, he could make out, was a strange Gothic era creation which included vaulted cathedrals and gargoyles standing guard on either side of the entrance. Mentally shaking himself from the chills that just run up his spine, he quietly thanked the heavens that he was not here for the architecture. “Thank you.” Drake said as he took his bags from the driver, and he made his way up the stone steps to the entrance. The main door was like any other he had seen, reading, “AHF Employees Only,” not too unusual, he thought, though right under that was another sign that held the cryptic message, “Get out or Get Eaten.” “Ok..So someone has a weird sense of humor,” he said out loud tapping the sign to see if it was real. Drake pushed on the heavy old wood door to find that it opened into a fairly modern space which had his jaw dropping. The floor was tiled in black and white marble, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings giving a magical over cast the marble that lined the walls. Taking as step forward he saw a fountain sitting just to the left that had a design of an Angel singing while a small Demon was shown to be coming out of the water with its mouth extended, almost as if to eat the Angel. Weird, Drake thought as he made his way to the large marble center piece in the room. “Nurses Station” was the sign plastered in the middle. “Excuse me.” Drake spoke softly clearing his throat as a short rotund woman with bright red hair turned to sneer at him. “This ain’t visitor’s day son, you need to leave.” Popping her gum she turned back to the file she was reading. Lifting a brow Drake cleared his throat once again. “Excuse me. Ma’am, I’m not a visitor,” he pointed out causing the woman to slowly turn back and face him. Drake started shift around, uneasy as the woman gave a bold once over of his body. Nodding in approval, Marge couldn’t help but be impressed as she studied new comer he was extremely tall. Black hair, broad shouldered and his eyes… She had seen that same color of crystal blue before…. She thought to herself. Popping her gum once again she spoke, “No, I suppose you’re not.” She continued to look him over. “I’m Marge.” She said sticking out a small beefy hand, “You must be Dr. Vent.” “Yes, but please call me Drake.” He said her accepting her hand, “I believe I am supposed to see you about the orientation and a tour.” “Well now,” she smiled a toothy grin and spoke with a deep southern drawl, “you are seeing me, son. And this here,” she said motioning all around her, “is the ground floor level of the facility. Follow me.” She said skirting the desk. “We have three above ground and four below ground levels.” She tossed over her shoulder. “Down the left hall is the visitor’s room,” she threw left hand out pointing down the hall as she spoke. “They get to come by about once every two months or so.” she explained. “They don’t stay long, of course, they’re not allowed to. So, you probably won’t see ‘em much or even at all. In fact if I were you, I wouldn’t even worry about that hall.” Marge concluded as she quickly continued walking. Marge spoke like she walked; never stopping. Drake just stumbled along as she pointed out the areas they went by. Taking a small breath she continued “Now, over there down the right side of the hall is the Nurses wing. That’s where most of us who live here stay.” She paused only for a moment to glare at him, “You, sir, are not allowed down that wing unless, of course, you’re invited. Though,” she said giving him the once over again “looking at you I’d say you might just be invited often, if you ever make it up this way.” Marge wiggled her eye brows and began moving again, leaving Drake standing there a little puzzled at her manor. Suddenly remembering he was on a walking tour he had to jog in order to catch up. “Ok now, right in front of you,” she said stopping by a set of double doors “Is the elevator, you push U1 for Underground Level 1 and that will lead you to your quarters and works space.” Marge paused and looked away a little uneasy. “Now, I’m going to tell you. My nurses up here, don’t go down there. The only ones allowed there are you, naturally, and the nursing staff that is currently down there. If you need anything you either ask one of them or you go with-out.” After saying that, Marge turned on a heel and began to walk away. Stunned, Drake turned and called out to her, “Wait a minute, I was told I was going to get a tour of the whole facility.” “You just did, son, I gave you the tour up here. Down there it’s Nurse Amy you will need to find. See, 'cause like I said my nurses don’t go down there. They’re not allowed. Find Nurse Amy she’ll show you what you need to see. Remember U1” with that she turned on her large swollen heels and went back to her post leaving Drake standing there at the elevator wondering about her odd behavior. As the thought that Marge seemed a little on the rude side crossed his mind the elevator buzzed and doors slid open. Still thinking of the strange tour he just received, Drake stepped inside and pushed U1 and waited. When the elevator started to move Drake was relieved to find there was not any music playing, “Thank you Jesus,” he mumbled to himself. “For what?” a chipper voice said from behind him. Startled Drake slowly turned around to see that the door had opened behind him. “Oh, uh...I was just” he fumbled unable to get the words out when he found himself staring into shining purple eyes. She was thin, with an athletic build; her hair was almost a reddish blonde, or strawberry in color. And her skin was tan with a slight unearthly glow to it. She looked comfortable wearing an old pair of worn out jeans and overly large sweat shirt with the facility logo She was enchanting, Drake thought. Smiling more fully he found himself going back to her eyes. They were a strange shade of purple not quiet violet but an almost unreal purple. He had never seen eyes like that before not even the color he thought then she spoke again. “So, what were you thanking Jesus about?” she asked again in an almost child-like voice. It was innocent and bell-like. “I, ah, don’t really remember.” He said running his hands through his hair. She laughed holding out her hand, “You’re Dr. Vent, I take it.” When all he could do was nod his head she laughed a little more this time dazzling him. Silver bells, he thought, enchanting silver bells. “I’m Nurse Amy. I’m, sort of, your helper while you’re here. I’ll show you around.” She told him smiling sweetly. Drake couldn’t help but stare. “Don’t worry” she nodded, “you’ll get used to me pretty quick.” Winking at him she bounced off, leaving him to follow. “This is where you’ll be staying; it’s got all the latest in gadgets and technology.” She said stopping by the door of his quarters “your stuff’s already here and put up, so you can take the tour now or I can show you a little later when you’re ready.” Shaking his head Drake told her “No. I’d like to see everything now, please.” Shrugging her shoulders in a “suit your-self” gesture, she began taking him on the tour. The cafeteria, she had explained, was always stocked, but was currently closed since they were cleaning it at the moment. Then she pointed out another hallway which led to the other nurse’s quarters. Drake thought it looked a little small for a hall, though, what did he know about structures. He did note that it was decorated in girlish pinks and purples with pictures of past nurses with what looked like their families over the years. “Ok, back to the elevator.” She announced happily as they returned to the open doors. “What?” He asked sarcastically. “Is this where you tell me I’m to find Nurse Betty to get the rest of the tour?” Drake couldn’t help the aggravated feeling of being pushed along. “Nope. Betty is off tonight,” She told him with a smile, “So I thought I’d take you myself. If it’s ok with you, that is.” Feeling a little ashamed of his attitude Drake closed his eyes and merely nodded. “Okey dokey, we are going to U2.” Amy announced “Underground Level 2,” he commented a little prickly, “just how many underground levels do ya’ll have?” he asked with curiosity? She paused as if to show him she was giving great thought for a moment before she answered him. “I think 4 or 5, in total but you only need to worry about 1 and 2 right now since that’s where you’ll be going. So step on,” she said motioning for him to go in front of her. Mentally shaking his head at himself he got on and pressed the button she indicated. “So what’s on 2 exactly?” he asked just trying to make conversation. As if to answer his question the door suddenly opened to reveal a new corridor. In front of him, Drake watched as several people were walking around as if they were in a daze. The lights along the walls were made to look like old wooden torches, giving little light to the area. The walls, themselves, held look dampness, as if a leak had yet to be patched up. There was also a fresh turned earth and water smell to it. Drake’s attention got to the nurse’s station and his eyes widened when he saw that it look to be made out of old bones and blood, like what was found in cemeteries or in the underground catacombs of Paris. That and the torches and fresh earth smell gave the place an extreme feel of death and cold to it. What had he gotten himself into Drake wondered numbly, as he continued to take in his surroundings. The little nurse beside him smiled sadly, as if she could read his thoughts and announced boldly. “And this is where you’ll be working for the duration of your stay.” She waved her hand out in front of her as if she were showing off a new car to a game show contestant. Drake was floored by the sight of everything around him, while Amy just stood there silently with a smile on her lips as she watched him take everything around him in, once then twice again. “Is this for real?” he asked slowly following the now moving Nurse Amy down the long corridor. “What’s real?” she asked in sort of blasé fashion over her shoulder. “Ok,” she began, coming to a stop in front of the very last door along the back hall. “This here is your office. Your case files,” she pointed out, “about your patients are on your desk. If you need anything else regarding them you talk to me.” Walking over to a metal shelving unit she continued. “The filing cabinet stays locked; the key is in the second right hand drawer of the desk. “Your prescription pads are on the bookshelf and all scripts go through me, since I pass out the meds. Though, truth be told, you’re not likely to ever use them.” Damn she’s efficient, he thought as she continued to show and explain everything in his new office without him having to ask. “Oh,” she said interrupting his thoughts, “you have a private bathroom through here…so that you don’t have to leave every time you need to go. Also,” she added waving her hand a little “just in case you have to work late there is a pull out bed over on the far wall. You will be seeing some of your patients in here, though mostly you’ll see them in group and in the other interview rooms. Are you getting all this, Doc? Do I need to slow down?” she asked with her eyes shining with hidden laughter. “No. You’re fine.” He motioned her to continue. Drake was fascinated by the way she carried herself. Though she had the look of youth she carried herself with confidence and a surety he knew she felt. After she finished explaining that there would be a map waiting for him in his quarters she finally stopped took deep breath and asked in a high chipper voice, “So, any comments, questions, or concerns?” Drake’s head was reeling, he was used to having information thrown at him but this was a little too fast. All he could do was ask the first things to come to mind, “Question, where are the nurses on this floor, who will I need to speak to about information on the patients and when do I begin seeing them?” As he watched her she seemed to hesitate for a moment but only a moment before responding. “The nurses are around, and you will run into them, but you go, for the most part, through me. They only take their orders that way. As far as the patients go, your first session is at 8pm so you will need to hurry with the whole eating and cleaning up thing. If you can’t find what you need in the case files just ask me. Oh” she snapped her fingers in remembrance “Both Dr. Stein and Hughes will be here in the morning to see how you are doing. See ya in two hours.” With that she left the office shutting the door behind her. Drake stared at the closed door thinking how cute she looked when she walked away, but just as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he quickly shook it off and reached for his case files. He was here for work not a romance, he told himself. Drake really hadn’t been planning on introducing himself tonight, but maybe the sooner it was done the better. Patients tend to become more themselves when they face their problems head on. Picking up the first case file he paused, surely this was a joke. Nobody could have been given THAT name. After putting that file aside he picked up another then another and noticed that they all had some very interesting names. Then while reading their ailment a sick feeling started to creep up on him. He had worked with a lot of strange cases but this was…..These people, he thought flipping through the files again, there was no way. Two hours later after convincing himself that he was not dreaming and that he could handle anything he made his way to his first group session. There Amy stood in the door way, holding a clip board and pen in her hand. She had changed, he noticed, from the jeans and sweat shirt to a pair of gray slacks and a blood red top. With her hair pulled almost on top of her head she still wore the same secret smile that she left with. “So, did you get your files read?” she asked a little overly friendly. Drake almost laughed at how she innocent she was acting, “Yes, I, uh, I have them right here but I need to ask… is this a joke?” She raised a pretty, sculpted brow at the question, laughed and for the second time waved her hand in front of her in presentation and spoke the words he would never forget, “Welcome to the Night Ward, Dr. Vent.”