Chapter 17

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"Then do it . . . and be quick about it."

The guard rushed off to the utility closet and fumbled for the keys to unlock several different security doors that protected the breaker panel. Once in the panel, he found the breaker for the hall outlets and wall lights. Flipping it off left only the ceiling lights on.

"Is that what you want, Doc?" he asked as he returned to his post next to the door.

"You might have left the wall lights on, but this will do for the moment."

"Sorry, Doc. The outlets and wall lights are all on the same circuit. You get all or nothing."

"Let"s get Matthew out here in ten minutes. I want him to see that the clock is stopped and has been for ten minutes. Then he"ll have to give up the delusion about the clock."

Turning back to the door, he keyed the speaker and said, "Matthew? Would you like to come out and join me in the lounge for some conversation?"

I"ve never been to the lounge. I"d like that very much, he thought. "Sure Doc," he answered to the speaker, "I"d like that a lot."

"Okay then, Matthew. We"ll be back in ten minutes. It"s eleven now. You"ll have to be secured, but you won"t be placed on a gurney or taken anywhere but the lounge."

"Thank you, Doc. I"ll be ready."

When the two guards finished putting him in his straight jacket, they left without speaking. Matthew sat at the edge of his bed and waited.

"What do you think?" whispered Matthew.

There was only silence.

"Can you hear me, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d? Do they intend to harm me?"

Still only silence.

"I hate you. I hate you. I hate you." Matthew cursed quietly and did his best to act normal for the cameras.

The silence remained.

"We"ll know how successful we"ve been in a few more minutes. He seems to be fine," commented Dr. Collins as he turned back towards the monitor.

Erin sat staring at the screen in silence. She enjoyed the observation room more than the direct therapy. It had been a very stress-free thirty days. This was the moment that she dreaded. Maybe she was just overreacting, but her intuition told her that she was right.

"Come on. It"s time to go." Dr. Collins extended a hand to help her up. Dr. Collins walked confidently towards the cell. Erin fell in step several paces behind, reluctant to reach the destination.

The cell door opened slowly. Matthew sat at the edge of his bed, wrapped in a straight jacket. He smiled at his visitors, but a look of mistrust remained visible across his tight lips.

"Let"s go to the lounge, Matthew," said Dr. Collins.

"Okay, Doc," answered Matthew. Still seated on the edge of his bed, his eyes darted from one face to the next, searching for any sign of betrayal.

Matthew, standing up more quickly than had been antic.i.p.ated, caused Dr. Collins to jump back. The guards moved in, but were waved off. "I"m sorry, Matthew. You startled me. We can go now."

Escorting Matthew through the door was difficult with so many people in the small cell. They all exited first so Matthew could have a chance to walk out on his own.

He emerged with a sense of victory. He"d suffered countless indignities and finally, after almost a year of struggle, he had won some of the respect he deserved. This was the goal he sought. They recognized his superiority and were softening their att.i.tude about his work. Soon he would be free to continue-the end was near.

"Matthew, I have a surprise for you." The laughter was more insanely menacing than it had ever been over the years. Matthew felt panic sweep over his body. He could not falter now that he was this close to a victory over the doctor. He stepped boldly through the door.

A shriek lodged in his throat as he spied the clock-silent, unmoving, suspended lifeless on the wall. The m.u.f.fled sound gurgled out as he collapsed, instantly dead. As he collapsed, he smashed his head onto the concrete floor. Matthew"s terror was eternally frozen on his face, mouth open, and eyes wide and bulging. The look was grotesque as the blood began to trickle from his mouth and nose.

With his fingers still on Matthew"s neck, searching for a pulse, Dr. Collins checked his watch and asked the guard to report the time of death. The other guard had already left to get a gurney.

Erin covered her mouth at the shock. Everyone thought that she was crying as her body shook, but she only did this to stifle her laughter. She had found the relief that she needed. This was her escape from the torment that Matthew brought her. Anguish and resentment flooded away from her mind and body. She was a free woman.

Once the body was removed, the process of cleaning out the cell and filing reports had begun. Soon the whole incident would be a case study tucked away in a filing cabinet somewhere, until a curious doctor or student wished to read the history of Matthew"s treatment.

"Matthew, wake up. It"s me."

"I don"t believe you. I"m dead. I can see my body being taken to the morgue."

"That"s right, Mathew. You"re dead."

"What do you want?"

"It"s time for you to take my place."

"Take your place? I don"t understand."

"Let me explain. You see. I was the last guest to die in here. I"ve been waiting for another so I can move on. I chose you to torment you into dying so you could take my place."

"I won"t do it."

"You have no choice. I am already fading from this world and you will soon be in the clock. Choose wisely, like I did when I picked you, and you won"t have many years in the clock before you move on."

"No. My work was never finished. It"s not fair."

"Goodbye, Matthew." The insanity of ITs laughter faded with his spirit Several hours had pa.s.sed since the guards had done their final check of the cellblock. All the security doors were checked and all the patients had been accounted for. Gathering in a small office at the end of the corridor, the two guards listened to a ball game on the radio. They had the door shut so as not to disturb any of the patients. It was almost 11:00 PM and the game had gone into extra innings.

In the silence of the night, when even small sounds echo thunderously down the darkened corridors, a stark, malevolent voice called out. The sheer intensity shattered the stillness.

"Frank? Are you awake? It"s no use pretending. I can wait forever, but you can"t."

"What do you want with me? Why don"t you leave me alone?" Frank screamed.

"You know what I want... I want your soul."

Friday morning arrived like any other day-guards changed shifts, the routine remained the same. Dr. Collins and Erin arrived on schedule and prepared for the morning consultations. They walked the all-too-familiar corridors for one of the last times.

"Frank? Can you hear me? They"re coming for you. What will they do today I wonder? More drugs?"

"Leave me alone."

"Don"t take that tone with me. You know what I"ll do."

"I"m sorry. I really am sorry."

"That"s better, Frank. They"re here."

"Erin, how long has Frank been a patient?"

"About three years, Dr. Collins. He came to us a month or two after we lost Matthew. Why?"

"There"s something vaguely familiar about him. I just can"t put my finger on it. Well, it doesn"t matter right now. It"ll come to me sooner or later. Doing anything special this weekend?"

"Chris and I are going to take the kids to the lake. We bought a little cabin last month and the weather will be perfect. We should have lots of fun."

"I"m going to have to visit you now that you have a cabin."

"Mooch."

"You could say that," he laughed.

The door speaker crackled to life. "Frank, I would like a word with you. Stand up and face the window please."

Standing, Frank replied, "Yes, Dr. Collins."

"We"re not doing anything special today. We"re here to inform you that the state has built a new facility and, beginning next week, we will be transferring you and the others to the new location. How do you feel about that?"

Frank began laughing hysterically. Finally he managed to get out, "I"m very happy, Dr. Collins. You"ll never know just how happy I am right now."

Turning, Dr. Collins gave Erin a quizzical look, "That"s definitely not the response I was antic.i.p.ating. At least we won"t have any trouble with this one. Let"s keep going. I"d like to get an early start on my weekend."

Over his own laughter, Frank could not hear Matthew"s anguished screams. Matthew was soon to be trapped and alone in the clock... forever. Tick... tick... tick.