Hercules (Rated R)

9.

A painful twist in my gut gazing upon her, a slight annoyance at how magnificent she looks up closely. With most people you can see a blemish with certain proximities, but there she was face to face and she was flawless. It isn't makeup, it's her skin, smooth brown honey skin. Yet there is still an off feeling about her, clearing my throat I smile signaling for her to have a seat, the intensity of her eyes that never faltered made my blood run cold.

As if sensing danger before I can.

"P-Please. Have a seat Ms uh -"

"Jessy," she smiles. Voice rich and crisp with a rasp at the end yet remains Euphonias. "Please, girl we are the same age. Stop with that Ms. nonsense."

With a laugh I nod, "Alright, well please have seat. I just need to check your vitals." We stood for a minute just staring at each other, shivers traveling down my spine watching her smile grow wider. An awkward tension thickening the air, clouding my senses to decide any next move, for a moment It's like I could hear those soft demonic chants, being lured in by some predator.

"Can I pull this chair here?"

Shaking my head from any swarming thoughts, "Uh - I'm sorry what?" She only points next to me in response raising her thick cut brows giving me a questioning look. Glancing down were a couple of chairs I didn't offer her before staring her, "Oh, please I am so sorry." with haste I'm pulling the chair towards her.

"It's ok love, thank you." sweet soft tone. Elegantly she sits flattening her skirt in the back before crossing a thick leg over the other, under the office light her skin was still radiant and glossy.

Gathering my supplies I pull a chair to sit in front of her, "May I?" Understanding my silent question she gives me her arm in consent. "So, uh - Jane. What is the problem today?" The touch of her skin was like no other, like touching the finest material of silk, I pressed a little harder to palpate for a vein when something suddenly pokes me back. In an instant she retracted her arm, "Sorry, uh broken bone that never healed when I was a kid." She soothes, cradling her arm. I could almost see a sweat breaking from that statement.

The feeling was weird but nothing worth lingering on. "Oh, alright I'm sorry."

"Please, it's alright. Your doing your job" she laughs giving me her other arm. "But um what was your question again?"

"Hmm? Question? - oh! Uh - yes, what brings you in today?"

"Just a little check up." She smiled.

"A check up for?" I urge hoping she could get my lingo rather than I say it out loud.

"I've had a bit of a hectic week you could say, if that's what you meant." she isn't catching on.

"No, uh is it like for an accident, or s****l related situations? I'm sorry it's just that there was a high case of these things and I want to make sure to have the proper tools" I smile.

"Oh! Um well nothing personal, nothing s****l but rather a weird feeling of not feeling ... Alive."

I gaze up to meet her eyes on me with that comment before clearing my throat. "Oh, I could say we have all been there." I smile.

"It's a relatable topic for a lot of people, yet for me it's like being dead for so long that living doesn't feel like living." She cheeses.

Have I ever experienced such a dark feeling in my life? "Wow, that's very deep. What makes you feel that way?"

Slowly rising her shoulders, "I guess it's because I live very differently from others. Very, very different." She spoke darkly. On cue the sound of a painful groan can be heard from another room, I thought they displaced the patient? This is a violation of privacy.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought the patient was removed from the room, I promise I didn't -"

"Please, it's ok! I'm very open with myself."

"But it is still a violation," I abruptly stood rounding to the phone, in front of the glass mirror I stand looking at my feet while the station lines connect.

"Yes Meghan."

"I'm sorry Dr Dracos but the patient in the operation room was supposed to be displaced was he not?"

"Indeed, we will wait for the van, what is the problem."

"Yes sir, it's just -" I lower my head to hide my voice, "Sir I have a patient in the room with me and the patient is groaning in there." A silence falls through the line before he chuckles.

"Now is not the time Meghan, please tend to the patient and wait for the van, I will be down shortly."

"Yes but isn't it a violation that he is here? With my current patient?"

"He should not be a bother Meghan, is the other patient in need of an operation?"

"No, it's just he is in there groaning so maybe we can have him move to another room?"

A calculated silence on the other line, so deep I'm awkwardly diverting my eyes any where else until I looked in the door mirror. Big mistake, my chest turned cold slowing my blood supply, intent eyes on my backside staring at the back of my head; a deep stare like a Lion to a Gisele, I'm shaking. Suddenly she looked at me through the mirror and the widest smile I have ever seen crept on her face.

"Meghan."

My soul jumps, "Yes!" I nearly snap at him, out of breath from the heart attack.

"Take your current patient to room 1201, I'll be down to handle the one in the operating room" there was something about his tone, unsure and confused. But I suddenly regretted calling him, interrupting his lunch is one thing but the one we were to be transferred into was the line being drawn. Room 1201 used to be where we could keep the deceased bodies overnight, however that came to an end; the smell of the room was so vile the entire clinic itself had to be shut down for reconstruction, the paint on the walls peeled.

That wasn't even my concern.

It was the rumors. Multiple of patients have made the choice to pursue another office for the insane amount them that swear they have heard the room having conversations within when there is no one inside. Giggling children and creaking of rusty metal, some even say they can see shadowy apparitions and sense negative energy. Since I have worked here I haven't seen or heard so much as a creak yet I will not deny the collective bunch their experience especially since they have all mentioned the same thing. The room wouldn't have been so bad hadn't it been for the eerie sensation of the girl I am taking with me.

Maybe Monica scarred me some way or maybe the rumors about me have finally caught up, but there is a strange aura I am sensing from her. The line cuts out letting the dead line endlessly play while I gave myself a pep talk.

I don't know this girl, judging her is what I won't do. But the same was done with Monica and I was spot on about her, or at least I think.

"Uh, once again I do apologize but we will be transferring to another room."

With a shrug she stood, compliant with a smile,

Awaiting for my first step.

Opening the door for her "Please right this way" I force a smile. Before coming towards me she glance stoically one more time to the operating room, Dough eyes appear to swirl darkly while she walked past me. A very unusual smell flew through my nostrils, was that dirt? Or ... I just couldn't put my finger on it, I'm closing the door when she fully steps out when a low thick growl emanates from within the room. "What was -

"Which way?"

I shook, "Oh uh ... D-Down the hall straight down here." I lead the way feeling her gaze on me, upon rounding to the hallway I walk past Dr Draco's and two other physicians, their heads straight up and forward heading for the room I just left. The blinking of the failing light from above reminded why a lot of people steered cleared from this hallway in general. A noticeable change in temperature made me wonder if the AC has ever been turned down. The closer we got, the colder it became.

With the glimpses I was able to capture, The paint of the door chipped in a few spaces with a rusty brown door knob, a dark blue light can be seen at the bottom of the door, very gloomy but faint. Has anyone been in recently? So deep in my unspoken thoughts I halted in my steps spotting what appears to a shadow running past the door. "Oh uh." I bump right into the girl behind me.

"What's wrong?" The tone of her voice was different, thick and disorienting complete opposite of her sultry rich tone. "What's The matter?" She smiles widely when my neck nearly broke To face her, "It's like you've seen a ghost." The light above fought for its life but to my dismay ran it's last leg, on cue Darkness blanketed the hallway, one second I swore I looked into her Normal dough eyes to suddenly silver like orbs with reptilian oculus. My fight or flight mode activates and my hand latched around the door knob swinging open the door with brute strength. The weight that was held up by gravity came and went and I'm nearly tumbling To the ground before an ice cold hand latches around my bicep.

Through a blur I could see my reflection on the tiles, Inches away from the ground I was, with my skull unprotected. Though the room was a bit of a chill, the hand around me felt colder. I try to not look back, slightly astonished as to how she is able to hold me up with a single hand.

"T-thank you." Silence, only that of a low growl. The hand around my bicep suddenly started to tighten and I'm gathering my footing. "Thank you so mu-" my voice dies down, she was still submerged in the darkness of the hallway, not even a her hair could be made out from within, maybe it's time for me to go home, Or have another nurse look at her. Suddenly in she walked like nothing.

"You scared me love, are you ok?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I'm fine but um," I clear my throat. "Are-are y-you ok?"

"Yes of course but your the one who almost took a dive."

"I said I'm fine, thank you." I felt bad for my tone of voice but I have had enough, the warning signals are flaring wildly in my head, screaming at me to steer clear from her. So lost in my own thoughts I haven't even gotten a chance to acknowledge the room or what I saw earlier in front of the door, something or someone was or is in here. The light couldn't turn on any brighter and barely any proper chairs that don't creek loudly, the last thing I need is for a passing by patient or a co worker to hear the 'Forbidden Room' make sounds it isn't suppose to.

I need to get a grip, whatever it is that life is throwing at me on the outside I couldn't let out follow me inside. Though my heart is ready to shatter from fear I managed to wipe my face to the girl, "It's just been a very stressful time I do apologize."

"Like I said please do not apologize. I will pull these chairs here." I watch her gather a few chairs before diverting my eyes to the scenery of the room around, it still resembles a morgue; no windows and only one door. The Architecture of the place was not well designed, no doubt it was not the best place for the feigned hearts. I winced hearing the rusty chairs scraping the tiled grounds, doing my best to keep my eyes focused on the patient at hand, but the logical part of me couldn't help the paranoia.

What was it that I saw in this room? Couldn't have been my imagination. Someone was on here.

"Thank you, please have a seat." My heart beats wildly but I still had a job to do, Continuing the vital checks.

She clears her throat, "So do you live around this town?"

"Mhmm," I smiled gazing up at her for only a few seconds before returning to the main task.

"Where in particular?"

"I'm sorry I don't share my home location." Once more I smile dismissively hoping she'd get the memo and just keep quiet. Luckily she picked it up and for a few seconds there was just a bit of silence while I prepped for her blood pressure. Her eyes boring on my forehead while I pumped the gear, normal blood flowing into the veins, but a strange sound of a heartbeat, as if there were more than two within. I squeezed for what felt like a while until I gazed down at the mini glass, she is almost at four hundred.

Yet no painful reaction.

"Oh, I'm sorry - I am so sorry"

"Oh that's a ok, I have a very high pain tolerance."

Peering down to the sphygmomanometer, "But this is not possible for a - " I think hard of my next words, "A person. Are you sure you are ok?"

"Yes, like I said it was that feeling of not feeling alive."

"I understand however have you seen this number before?"

She gazes around in question, "Never been to a Dr's office before to think about it."

Slowly I remove the ear plugs to listen better, "this is an emergency room type of situation, not a clinic."

"Is it?" her head falls to the side. As if a lifeless doll.

"Uh- Yes. I could have you speak to my Physician and -"

"That won't be necessary, I actually like talking to you." She smiled with her head still sideways. I swallow thickly trying to hide my nervousness.

"Talk? A-are you sure your looking for a medical office and not maybe, excuse me for saying this but a therapist?"

The sound of bone's snapping as she pulls her head back slowly. "My physiatrist recommended I come see you."

I'm taken back, "S-see me?"

"The clinic duh."

"Oh" I laugh. "So it's best to get my provider involved and - "

"So are the rumors true?"

I was halfway standing before she caught my attention, "Rumors?"

"Yes, Are they true? Are those wood's infested with demons?"

Why would she? "Uh why ask me - I -"

"You live there don't you? Or at least that's where your are residing at the moment. Yes?"

"I don't know where you are getting the information but -"

"Because I used to live there too."

Suddenly she than got all my attention from that statement alone, "You did?" I lower my voice.

"Mmmm,"

"How was it before? And how did they treat you?" It isn't appropriate to get in a patient's business but I am already to deep in.

"Oh, it was magical. A complete dream true, until ..."

My ears perked, "Until?" A suspension building and I found myself engaged in a staring contest with her.

"Until the dead started knocking on my door."

"Wh-w-what?" A cold shiver traveling down my spine, the room suddenly turned darker as she leans in.

"They warned me," she whispers. "They warned me to stay away from the Forest. I didn't listen, it was a full moon. I could hear chantings not from a far near the cottage followed by a scream. Personally for me I have always had this ... curious likeness to me and followed the noise. From behind an oak tree I saw it than, dressed in all black figures stood around a rock with what appeared to be a drawing of a goat. They chanted and sang with laughter while they all danced around the rock, I knew exactly what I was staring at but too fascinated to move."

She spoke of it like a fun memory, smiling as she reminisced the moment. The light began to dim and my eyes diverted to what resembled a clothes shadow in the corner, glaring right at me.

"Out they brought him," I pulled my eyes away from the door back at her, my bones shaking In fright.

"Him?"

"The heir, A little crying boy. Next to a priest, uncle is what the little one kept calling the man, but wasn't acknowledged in any way. I should have called the police, I should have done something... but I didn't" she smiles. Eyes consuming darkness, I could have sworn there was something behind the door but somehow the shadow moved to another corner. This isn't real is it? I could only hope she was saying all of this to scare me.

"I'll spare you the details, but let it be known, he isn't dead. No. He still walks around the woods. I'm sure you know that these woods are alive and the fallen God's die seek vengeance on any mortal soul. Be very mindful of a beautiful face, you never know of their soul is dark."

I am incapable of moving from my spot, frozen with pure fear. The dead is walking around in the woods, I never blamed anyone for steering clear of the forests but this story let me see their Points of View.

"I can see that I have overstayed my welcome, please nurse. Hope to see you around. Greece is a beautiful and small country so I'm sure I'll run into to you again." She extends her hand to mine but I hesitate, "please let me know if you ever have any questions in the future, especially since I can relate." Her patience started dying down and I reluctantly took her hand only to retract it in a matter of seconds with a squeal. Around her neck a black snake launched itself at me with its fangs fully extended.

"Oh, I am so sorry. This is my best friend ... Monica."

We don't allow pets in the establishment but as for right now she can admit to robbing multiple banks and I will not blink an eye. The snakes eyes linger on me and I swore I could see it smile before slithering back into her chest. Yellow reptilian orbs glowing in the darkness of its confinement. "Please have a good day." I breathed.

Menacingly slow she stood, eyes never leaving mine until she re sub merged herself into the darkness, shoes clicking away before I was able to fall to my feet. My chest heaving violently with goosebumps coating my skin, I wasn't done. Shadows dance around the room while the lights fight for its life growls and chants fill my ears, though my legs wobble I won't let that stop me. Something is behind me as I run to the door, latched onto my back as if pulling back. I can only pray the door doesn't close on its own, out I flew in the nick of time racing down the halls not paying any attention until I make it out the hallway in to a rough chest.

Strong hands hold me tight while I thrash and flare my body around. "Meghan! Calm down. What is it?"

My teary state picked up Dr Draco's voice, his face evident through my blurry gaze and I break down into his arms.

"It's alright, it's alright what's wrong?"

Burying my wet face into his shirt "I ju- just happy to see you." Feeling his palms massage my back. I pour out my heart until everything goes black.