L.A. Detwiler - The One Who Got Away

‘It all depends, Adeline. It’s Adeline, right? Did you say Adeline?’

I nod. ‘Friends call me Addy.’

‘I’ll go with Adeline for now, then, if it’s all the same to you. Too soon to tell if we’re going to be friends or not.’

I nod again. I can respect that.

‘Regardless, as I was saying, being forgotten here is not a terrible thing. Fewer nurses means less poking and prodding. It means more peace and quiet. And if I’m going to leave this world soon, I could use some peace and quiet. Of course, I suppose there are downfalls to being forgotten. That woman in 306 found out the hard way a while back.’

I look up from my tea now, staring at Dorothy. ‘What happened to her?’ My curiosity is piqued, but I suppose in a place where magazines, knitting, and some weak tea are the only excitement, it doesn’t take much.

Dorothy shrugs. ‘Murder, or at least that’s what rumour has it. Staff of course claim it was a bad fall. But I’ve never seen someone turn a hue of purple like that from a simple trip, you know?’

I blink, waiting for her to crack a smile, some sadistic joke. She doesn’t laugh, though. She stops knitting and looks at me.

‘Who did it?’ I ask, needing to know but afraid all the same.

Dorothy shrugs. ‘Some say the staff were in there to sedate her with something right before she was found dead. Apparently, she had been raving about some odd occurrences, had been seeing some strange stuff.’

‘The staff?’ I ask, making sure I’ve heard her correctly.

Dorothy looks up at me, peeks left and right as if to see if anyone is listening. Then, she leans in. ‘Did the whole tour guide bit fool you? Gets the best of most of us. But shall we say this place isn’t quite what it seems to be from the little pamphlets they give you? Sure, they give you plenty of tea. But it’s not as cosy as they want you to believe. In fact, from some of the things I’ve seen, it’s downright dangerous here if you’re not careful.’

My stomach churns. This is not what I wanted to hear. Suddenly, a wave of fear slaps into me. Regrets flood over me, a feeling that’s all too familiar. Suddenly, returning to Crawley seems like the worst idea I’ve ever had, this eerie building in an even eerier section of town stirring a sense of foreboding in me.

‘Dear, don’t worry too much, though. If you play it smart and wind your neck in, it’ll be okay. As I said, Floor Three is the perfect place to blend in. Just don’t stir any trouble, stay unnoticed, and you’ll be fine. And that Grace on our floor, she’s a true gem. Really. Besides, the talk about the woman in 306 – who really knows what happened, right? – could just be Chinese whispers, truly. Or it could’ve been one of the patients who lived here at the time. Some smarmy fellows have come through here, if you ask me.’

I study her face, trying to decide if she’s telling the truth now or if she’s just trying to calm me. I don’t know. But in my gut, something tells me that Crawley’s dark past is still haunting these grounds – and now I’m back in its clutches.

Regardless of what happened in 306, this is all a bit frightening. I already feel lost in this place – but now, I realise there’s so much I don’t know. This certainly is some unwelcome news, and not the kind of excitement I was hoping for.

‘Oh, my apologies. My late husband always said I had a penchant for ruining the mood. There, there. Nothing much to worry about. It was a couple of years ago, after all. Who knows what happened? No trouble since then. Smith Creek Manor isn’t perfect, mind you, but it could be worse. It could always be worse. Besides, few last long in this place anyway. New people all the time. Except me, I suppose. I’ve been one of the few to outlast Smith Creek, at least so far.’

I stir in my seat, readjusting to try to get comfortable. I don’t know if I can. Murder isn’t the sort of thing I’d envisioned in a place like this. True, when I came here, I knew it was a final stop. I just hadn’t imagined going out like that. I close my eyes, thinking about the strangling ivy on the stone walls. It’s almost like I can feel it all constrict a little more, like the air is going out of this place. The all too familiar feeling of being trapped resurfaces from long ago. It’s a claustrophobic feeling I don’t welcome.

‘Anyway, enough about me. Tell me about you. First day’s always tough. Have you chatted with anyone yet?’

‘My roommate doesn’t talk, don’t think she can. And then just you. Not much to tell, I suppose. I’m simply trying to sort everything out.’

‘Not much to it. Everyone essentially keeps to themselves. But I will say, there are a few fit ones here if you’re searching for that sort of excitement.’ She winks, causing me to smile.

‘I’ve been there before. Not sure that’s really what I need right now.’ I grin.

‘Oh, I do. And when you see the few gentlemen Floor Three has to offer, well, maybe you’ll change your mind. Room 313 has quite the smouldering eyes. I imagine he was a good catch in his day. Oh, and I think it’s 310, the priest, he’s got some nice features, too. I’m not picky, after all – religious or not, he’s quite a feast for the eyes. But you do have to look out for him. Temper on that one. Nice to look at, but that’s about it. Still, got to get our fun where we can.’

‘What room are you in?’ I ask, letting my guard down. She seems nice enough.

‘305, dear. On the other side of the nurse’s station and down the hall a bit. Stop down anytime. I keep a lovely stash of digestives and Jaffa Cakes. The food is depressing around here. So start stocking up any time family comes. Stash all the sweets you can. Trust me. Insider tip.’

I nod, taking a sip of my tea. It’s weak, but not terrible. Better than the water, I suppose.

‘Oh, and one more thing.’

My head turns as I look at Dorothy, who continues her knitting. Her face is serious now, her gaze hardened.

‘Be careful not to ask for anything at night if you can help it. The night nurse who takes care of your end, well, he’s one you want to avoid.’ Her warning is quiet but stern. I know there’s no joke there.

‘Why?’ I ask, my head aching from so much new information.

‘Let’s just say he’s not the kindest man. Gives me the downright creeps, if I’m being honest. His name’s Jones. Seems to have a strong fancy for the female nurse on the second floor, which is all right by me. It means he’s not up here when he should be sometimes. But, well, trust me – when he’s up here, be careful. Other than that, it’s all great here on Floor Three. Yep. Absolutely perfect.’

I take another sip of tea, turning in my seat to look out into the common area. The Philip Woman has drifted off to sleep, her head lolling at an awkward angle. I wait for someone to come and fix it, but no one does. Her hair is lurched forward, a tangled mop of grey curls covering her face. She looks like an abandoned, mangy sheep dog. I guess Dorothy’s right. The nurses here are few and far between. It looks like we may just be on our own around here in more ways than one.

***

I jump up in a cold sweat, my heart racing as I clutch my chest. The moonlight shines through the window onto my bed. But this isn’t my bed. Where am I? I don’t understand. What’s happening? I don’t know where I—

‘You’ll die here. You will. Get out now. Get out while you can. You’ll die here,’ a bewildered voice pleads as a wrinkled hand clutches my arm. I startle. There is a figure standing over me, muttering over and over, repeating the phrases that send true terror to my heart. I yank back, but the person seems to climb towards me, closer and closer. I flinch, trying to pull away, ready to scream. My lips tremble and my breathing is ragged. I open my mouth, but no sounds come out. What’s happening? My mind wildly flails about, trying to settle on one interpretation of the scene.