Night Ward: Welcome to Amity House

Something Wicked

After breaking up the session Drake returned to his office to study his notes. Of course, if he was really being honest with himself, he would admit he returned to his office to hide from those…

Things.                 

 He had read the files. Had known going into the session that his patients believed themselves to be that of the undead. But sitting there listening to them, then seeing Leeza’s sharp glistening white teeth.

  Running his hands through his hair, he numbly sat down on the old leather sofa. What was he going to do, Drake wondered. This first session was suppose to help him, help them and yet here he was, hiding and feeling a little dazed. 

   Pulling himself off the sofa, Drake stretched then slowly made his way over to his desk. “Ok,” he said aloud, “Let’s start from the top.” Picking up the file on Leeza and sitting down, he spread it open and began to reread the information from front to back, slowly, adding in his own notes as he went along.

Leeza Anne Borden

Sex: Female

Age: 16

Admitted by parents Richard Borden and Dorothia Jackson-Borden

Date of Admission: August 9th

“Hmm, that’s odd.” Drake stopped reading for moment staring at the admissions date. No year. Skipping over a few other entries he realized the file was incomplete.  Leaning back he reached for the next file on.

Viola Henderson

Sex: Female

Age: Unknown

Admitted by self and working official

Date of Admission: Unknown

“What?” Drakes brow raised in confusion. How could they not know when someone was admitted? “Something’s going on.” He mumbled.

“Of course there is.” A soft voice interjected. Drake looked up surprise to see Amy standing in the door way, a sad apologetic smile on her lips. “Sorry,” she said slowly motioning behind her. “for all that. I guess they didn’t exactly prepare you. May I?” She asked and waited for Drake to nod his acceptance. Giving a slow wary nod of her own she made her way to an overstuffed chair, sitting down.

“Is it always like that?” he asked leaning back in his chair feeling a little tired.

“No. Not really, usually they don’t show up.” She said matter of fact.

“Then why come tonight?”

“They were curious I would suspect.” Amy began then laughed a little. “It’s funny that it would be Vlad and Micael fighting, I mean, they’ve had this thing between them for centuries.”

“Then why is it odd?” he was confused and Amy could tell.

“Because normally it’s Lee and Mrs. H. who argue. Mrs. H. thinks Lee is using this place as a reason to continue her anger with her parents. And Lee believes that Mrs. H is using this place to simply hide.” Amy shifted and pulled her feet in to the chair.

“Do they really believe that they are vampires? I mean do they,” sighing he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose then tried again, “That they drink blood and have super human strength.”

“Not all of them drink blood, you know.” She said half seriously “If you’ve ever studied mythology, then you should know the stories. “

   Drake noticed that Amy seemed to be silently laughing to herself then she continued, “That’s one of Mrs. H.’s problems you know? Her real problem, I mean. If she had actually taken the time to drink blood like the myths say then she wouldn’t continue to decay the way that she is. God, that looks really painful. ” She ended more to herself then him as she rested her head on the back of the chair. “As for the believing part, why do you believe they are here?”

This new question floored Drake; he wasn’t prepared to answer or even think about this just yet. “Well just from what I’ve read and heard at this time. “ Drake began as he tried to form an answer “I personally would have to say that they are, for the most part, slightly paranoid. Mrs. Henderson is showing signs of being delusional, while Micael suffers from what seems to be a deep depression. Even Leeza,” Drake said picking up her file as he spoke “seems to have issues with being abandoned by her parents. She’s only what, 19 maybe 20?”

“You aren’t doing your homework Doc.” Amy shook her head.

“Look, I’m trying, but these files are not complete.”

  Amy grew quiet for a moment. Drake could see that she was making up her mind about something. “I’ll see what I can do to help with the missing. But, since you are new, we’ll give it a few days then see what needs to be done.” Before Drake could say anything else, Amy shot a glance over her shoulder. “Um, I have to go.” She said quickly rising, “I hope you will open your mind as you help them. Give them a cha-” she never finished what she was saying as she turned toward the door seeing a shadow come across it.

   Drake thought it odd that she would be spooked by a shadow but then he followed her gaze and the shadow he noticed was a man. Tall, broad shouldered, dark brown almost black hair slicked back, the man’s eyes were a dull almost dead blue. When he smiled his face lit up into an almost boyish face and Drake began to have that weird feeling again.

“Ah, Amy there you are.” He said coming forward in to the room.

  Amy just stood there looking impassive. “You knew where I was.” She remarked with aggression.

“Yes well now I’ve found you. Where have you been?” The stranger asked walking a little closer. Drake noticed that besides small scar running along the hairline, the man’s face was smooth to perfection.        

“I wasn’t lost and I’ve been here, doing my job.” She turned and looked at Drake, “Dr. Drake Vent, this is Dr. Hughes. He is the other Facility Director.” Looking at Hughes she continued, “Dr. Hughes, this is Dr. Vent he is the new Night Ward Doctor. Ya’ll play nice now.” As she went to leave Hughes grabbed her arm just above her elbow to stop her.

 “Amy, you will listen, and you will continue to do as I say.” He whispered to her not letting Drake hear. Amy closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them Drake swore he saw a flash of something but then she smiled.

“I will do, what I have done all along. If you want to keep that hand I’d suggest you unhand me and back off.” She sneered yanking her arm free. Running a hand down her sleeve to smooth out the crinkles, she smiled at Drake and left the two of them alone.

  Both Hughes and Drake stood there for a moment, staring at each other, sizing the each other up. Drake finally broke the silence, “So what do I owe this visit?” he asked in his doctor voice.

“Well, mostly, I was looking for a missing Nurse. But since I find myself here, I guess, I can admit some curiosity about how you were getting along. May I?” Hughes asked motioning to the chair.  

“Please.” Drake responded with a nod.

 “So,” Hughes began as he sat down and crossed his legs, “I understand that you’ve met some of our patients this night.”

 “Yes sir. They were very..” Drake realized he was searching for a word.

 “Lively?” Hughes offered grinning.

 “Quite. I thought that I might look over their files more closely and begin one-on-one sessions. I thought, maybe, if I break them up I can….But you’re not interested in that.” Drake stated as he noted the bored expression on Hughes handsome face.

 “Hardly.” Hughes agreed with him. “Look Drake. I can call you Drake? These people have been here for years. We run tests, we bring in new shrinks, and all the while we know deep down that there is no changing them. So let’s not work too hard or dig to deep.” Taking a breath Hughes continued. “Simply consider yourself just a watcher, a voyeur if you will. Take part in their discussions, play referee, give them what you need to help the hurting, but don’t worry about the rest.” Hughes began to get up leaving Drake in awe. “I’m sure that once you see it in a new light that you will be able to enjoy yourself here.” With one last look Hughes walked out the door. 

  Remembering himself, Drake quickly moved to follow Hughes out the door. “Dr. Hughes,” he called, stopping the man “I would just like to say that for the record, though I do appreciate the advice, I was hired to do a job. A job that I believe I’m a qualified for and one that I will see through.” Stepping closer to the man Drake continued. “It would be helpful if you would show some kind of support to these people, instead of just watching them.” When Drake finished tossing down the proverbial gauntlet he watched as red splotches started to mar the perfectly smooth skin.

 “Young man,” Hughes began through clenched teeth, “You are here, because you were chosen to be. You may have impressed some in this facility, but you will not impress me.” Hughes almost growled at him, Drake would later think. Hughes turned to see a young nurse standing wide-eyed and frozen by the wall.

“You,” he snapped, “Tell Nurse Amy my office, now.” And he strode toward the elevator.

   Drake just stood there paralyzed as the man walked away. He couldn’t believe he reacted that way, never in his life had ever spoken to a superior in that manner. “It’s ok,” a childlike voice said behind him.

 Not bothering to turn, Drake closed his eyes and nodded. “Yea, it’s great now that he wants my head on a stick.”

 “Not quite a stick, more like a bloody pike.” She teased. Drake chuckled then turned to face her. Her purple eyes smiled at him and he wanted to reach out to her. “Are you ok? I mean Hughes was a little rough with you.”

   Amy just shook her head. “I’m good; I know how to handle old Hughsy. You just be careful, he is easy to anger and a b***h to calm down.” Amy looked around to find the young nurse Hughes spoke to still standing there, “Sara, go check on Miss Borden in room 4 then take your leave. You were good today.” She said calmly to the girl, who with a shy smile made her way to the patient’s wing.

  Amy turned to look at Drake for a moment, and just for that moment he thought something sparked between them. Drake took a step toward raising his hand as if to cup her face and Amy retreated. “I’ve got to go. I need to see what old Cranky wants then do paper work. Sorry Drake.” She told him her eyes filled with pity; she looked down and made her way to the elevator. Stopping she turned around “Oh Drake, Stein will be around this way tomorrow.”

 “Will he just show up or will he at least call first?” he asked.

 “Nope. You’ll hear him in the halls if you listen.” She said a teasing voice.

 “What, is he that loud?” he asked confused.

 “Something like that. He is a little more... Well he is something else then Hughes” She finished and got on the elevator, she began to laugh as the doors closed. Drake was beginning to think she was as crazy as the rest of them.

  Rolling his shoulders he headed to the elevator and punched U1 to go to his quarters. After a long night he needed rest and he need to call his mother and tell her how it went. But first he wanted a shower and to sleep for a few hours.

  As he laid down that night and began to drift off to sleep he swore that he could hear the nurses in the level below him singing some stupid Shakespeare phrase. “Hmm,” he said to himself, “Something wicked. That’s funny in this place.” And he fell asleep exhausted from his first day of work.