The Void: Part 1
'Where am I?' A question I found myself asking as I came to, my vision blurry at first taking a moment to make out a clear image. A soft rhythmic beep filling my ears as I slowly looked around the well lit room; it took me all but a moment to realize I was in the hospital. My body felt weak and heavy as though the blankets covering my body were made of led. moving my head slowly my eyes fell upon the heart monitor hooked up to me, the little beeps or blips, whatever you want to call them, were steady and seemed to be healthy. Well that's a good thing I thought to myself. An empty IV bag rested next to the monitor hanging from an intravenous infusion pole.
Lying there looking back up at the white ceiling I tried to recall what happened yet nothing came to mind, I could not recall what could have caused me to end up in the hospital. I tried to think of someone I should call yet once more no one came to mind. No matter how hard I tried to think I could not for the life of me recall who I was, how I ended up in the ER, where I lived or any family. I knew other stuff like my favorite food, chicken parm by the way, or my favorite color, which happened to be forest green, just not WHO I was or anyone who might be associated with me.
Struggling a bit I was able to slowly sit up, I was in a hospital gown, wires hooked to me from the heart monitor. My heart skipped a beat causing two blips in a row as I sat up and realized I have a breathing tube down my throat. I quickly calmed myself and looked around a little more to find the call string; you know that little string you pull causing a buzzer to go off at the nurse's station when you need help, ya that thing. Sure enough it was right next to the heart monitor only inches from the left hand side of the bed.
Pulling the string a buzzer went off in the room making me cover my ears a bit, my head pounded at the sound even though it was not really that loud. It took me a moment to get used to it, my head stopped pounding letting me lower my hands from my ears without further discomfort. Sitting in the bed I waited patiently for a nurse to come, minutes seemed to tick by, tick tock, yet no one came. As I sat there listening to the buzzer I found myself starting to grow annoyed, the heart monitor beeps growing closer together showing my irritation as my heart rate increased a bit.
After waiting for what I counted to be ten minutes and thirty eight seconds I finally had enough of waiting. Sitting up had done me more good than anticipated, my strength was returning though it was still a shadow of its former self. Sliding the blankets off my legs I moved my body to the side so I was sitting on the edge of the bed, first thing I did was wiggle my toes to be sure my legs were working properly, might sound odd but I was not all there at the time so cut me a little slack.
The part I dreaded was next to come. I could not get up as long as I had this breathing tube down my throat. Tipping my head back I took the tube in my hands and readied myself.
Beep....Beep....Beep...Beep..Beep..Beep.
My heart rate grew faster; I could feel it thumping against my chest. For some reason the thought of pulling it out worried me, I was going to give someone a piece of my mind when I was done that's for sure. Closing my eyes I forced myself to pull, the tube was further down than I expected it to be. I gagged and coughed a little before gasping a bit, it took me a moment to get my breathing back to normal; my heart rate remained fast though it started to slow a little immediately after the deed was done.
"Fuck you..." I cussed in a raspy voice at the breathing tube before tossing it to the floor with a light thwack. My stomach turned a little at just looking at it. Shaking my head a bit the next thing I did was reach down to remove the IV from my left hand. As I gripped with my right and prepared to pull I stopped, I noticed I had a wristband on my right wrist, I had forgotten hospitals put them on all patents. Taking the wristband in my left hand I turned it until I found a name. "Ricky..." I said to myself reading the name aloud. It did not ring any bells but I guess that was my name, my species was listed as an arctic fox. I found it odd there was no last name however there was a date of birth, 09/22/94, the date admitted read 04/27/14, so I was 19 at least.
It did not tell me much since I did not know the current date or the time of day or night I was admitted but it was something at least giving me more information that I had a few moments ago. Going back to the task at hand I grabbed the IV and pulled it out of my hand causing a bit of blood to spurt out since I did not apply any pressure to the vain. Grabbing the blanket I quickly applied pressure to my hand and began to count, I held it for thirty seconds before removing the blanket. The little hole in my hand had closed up and ceased to bleed within the 30 seconds.
Now that I was all set I stood up slowly, my legs wobbled a little at first but quickly got use to supporting me once again. Taking off the gown and heart monitor wires were next, upon removing two the blips flat lined not that it would matter. The alarm still buzzing and no one had yet to come. "Wonder if I can sue for negligence." I muttered, though I was fine what if I had been in serious distress or dying? Chances are I would have been dead long before help arrived.
I was left standing in my boxers as I looked around the room, on the other side of the bed rested a counter with a sink, a few cupboards above and below the counter but what I was interested in was the large plastic container sitting next to the sink. Walking over to the counter sure enough there were my clothes and shoes setting neatly in the large plastic container. As I want to reach in I was surprised to hear the buzzing finally stop as did the heart monitor at almost the exact same time. Looking back I expected someone might have entered without my knowing but I was wrong, no one was there they just... stopped.
I shook my head taking it as someone at the nurses station had finally noticed and shut off my alarm, if they could do that I assumed they could do the same for the heart monitor too. "Lazy pricks." I muttered under my breath taking my blue jeans out of the container and putting them on, I hardly had time to button them and zip the fly up before a knock came at the door.
*Knock Knock Knock*
"Come in!" I called out in a raspy annoyed tone before grabbing my socks and shoes; no one entered the room or said a word from the other side of the door. Sitting down on the bed I put my socks on and slipped on my shoes before another knock came.
*Knock Knock Knock*
Clearing my throat I raised my voice. "Come In!" I called out again loud and clear this time before hopping off the bed and kneeling down to tie my shoes. Once more no answer and no one entered the room. By no I could feel rage building up inside me, not only did they ignore my call for help and have the nerve to turn it off without checking on me but now someone was playing games with me? I know there was no way they did not hear me the second time.
*Knock Knock Knock*
The third time I did not bother to reply. Standing back up I quickly went for the door and whipped it open. "Listen you...!" There was no one there. I quickly stuck my head out into the well-lit hallway and looked to my left and then to the right scanning for anyone in the hall. To my left was a wall and a small window, it looked to be night outside. To my right a long hallway, there were 2 closed doors about 12 feet away, more further down the hall but no signs of anyone, no sounds... Nothing.
Closing the door I shook my head dumbfounded and thought maybe somehow it was some bored little kid pranking me. I found it odd though that I did not see or hear anyone. I gave my cheek a little smack to snap myself back to focusing on getting dressed. Walking back over to the container I took out and put on my shirt. Hidden under my shirt were a small pocket knife and a cell phone.
First picking up the knife I flicked it open with ease, the motion seeming natural. The blade was only about 2 inches long, a locking mechanism on the inside of the handle kept the blade locked in place until pushed aside when I felt ready to close it. Doing just that I closed the blade back up and put the knife in my pocket, next I took out the cell phone, it was turned off so I assumed it was dead but pressing the power button low and behold it came on. Upon booting up I had full coverage and the battery was at 100 percent.
I smiled a little feeling lucky in a way, I did not know how long it was sitting there but I considered having 100 percent battery life to be good luck. I did not have anything fancy; it was one of them older phones with a full keyboard for texting if you turned it on its side and flipped it open. "I'll take you over a smart phone any day." I said with a little chuckle. The first thing I did was open up the contact list hoping to find someone in there to call.
No luck there, my contact list was empty all for the emergency numbers that were preprogrammed like 911, fire, police department and so on. Going back to the main screen I looked at the time and date. The phone read Wednesday, April 30 2014, Time 11:23 am.
"That can't be right..." I muttered to myself, I distinctly remember it looked dark through the small window. Assuming the time was wrong all I really had to go on was the date, if it was right I had been out for 3 days. I nearly jumped out of my skin hearing the knock yet again having been lost in thought.
*Knock Knock Knock*
I did not say a word this time; slipping the phone into my pocket I was as silent as I could be making my way to the door. I placed my hand on the handle and waited for the knocked to come again, my muscles tensing up in my arm readying to rip the door open as fast as I could and give whoever was messing with me a scare. I'll teach this little bastard. I thought to myself, I only had to wait about a minute before the knocking came again.
*Knock Knock...*
Before the third knock could land I acted. Turning the handle I whipped the door open as quickly as I could... My mouth opened as I readied to yell but instead was rendered speechless; my heart pounding against my chest once more. Unable to make nothing more than a shrill little squeak, my breathing intensified at what I saw... nothing... there was nothing there. The well-lit hall had gone pitch black, the light from my room seeming to be the only source of light now. "H-Hello...?" I foolishly called out hoping for someone to reply my voice cracking in fear.
After standing there staring into the empty, dark hall for a moment I slowly peaked out and looked to the right down the hall... Darkness as far as I could see, no light coming from under any of the other doors nor off in the distance. Looking to the left out the small window no light could be seen outside either. Swallowing hard I admit I was getting scared by this point. Ducking my head back inside I closed the door, no sooner did the deadlatch click into place the knock came again louder than before.
*Knock Knock Knock*
My hand rested on the handle, there was no way whoever was out there could have moved that fast. In a panic I took my phone out of my pocket and opened up the contact list once more. Scrolling to the police I clicked on the number. Bringing the phone to my ear the sound of it ringing gave me a small amount of relief. I was unsure of what sick joke someone was playing on me but I had enough.
I waited for an answer... 5 rings went by, six, seven, and eight... "Common... pick up..." I muttered into the phone. On the 13th ring the knock came again, more like banging this time.
*Knock Knock Knock*
I took my hand off the handle and pressed my foot to the bottom of the door to keep it shut. Though whoever was doing this showed no desire to want to get inside I was not going to take the chance. I took the phone away from my ear and hung up, wasting no time I dialed 911. I couldn't think of anything else to do, I was in a panic and seemed to be short on options. 911 operators always answer a call... or so I thought. Just like the police stations number the phone just kept ringing. I felt my heart start to sink as the rings continued. Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, and thirteen.
*Bang Bang Bang*
Once more on the 13th ring a pounding came to the door once more, this was not like before. It sounded like someone beating on the door with a closed fist. I was trapped... I listen to the phone continue to ring but no one answered. My mind began to race with all types of crazy thoughts, did something happen while I was unconscious? Was there and attack on the U.S? Is that why there was no response from local law officials or emergency services? No matter what I thought of I could not rationalize what was happening to me at that exact moment. Why was my room the only one with light, why was there someone or something I could not see pounding on my door? Why was I unaffected by whatever happened? Why did my phone still seem to have services but could not reach anyone?
*Bang Bang Bang*
I was snapped back to my situation as the door rattled with each thunderous pound, my foot shook with the door. Regardless what was out there now it wanted in and by the feel of it the person or... thing was starting to lose its patents with me. Finally I hung up the phone; I stopped counting the rings while lost in thought. Slipping the phone back into my pocket I took out my knife and flicked it open. Now you might think gripping that knife in my hand made me feel better but it did nothing to stop me from shaking. "This isn't funny!" I yelled trying to sound intimidating as I did so.
*Bang Bang Bang Crack*
I have never been so scared in my life then the moment the frame cracked. My eyes fell upon the large split running up the frame of the door from the deadlatch. It was coming in... It was coming in. That's all I could think of, I no longer considered what was on the other side of the door a person; I considered it a... it. Neither race nor gender came to mind, just thoughts of a faceless beast that wanted into my hospital room... wanted me. What I did next I have no idea how I managed to do it; I guess I just felt I had no other choice. My head started to spin and my vision started to blur a little, my heart beat becoming the only thing I could hear. I waited... I waited for the next knock.
I could feel my body starting to grow weak, my eyes fluttering a little. Not now... I thought in panic, though I knew what was coming I could not stop it, I was about to pass out. The last thing I remember was feeling my foot shoved back as the door gave way knocking me back to the floor. I never felt myself hit ground, instead I just felt as though I was falling, endlessly into black void. This is it... I thought to myself helplessly. This is how I die.