The halls of the Baystate Children's Hospital were mostly silent as most of the occupants were asleep with it being after midnight. The sounds of shoes squeaking on the tile floors and the beep of of machines were the main noises with the occasional soft laughter from chatting nurses and fellow workers. The smell of antiseptic was in the air along with a slight lemon scent from the janitors cleaning supplies as he mopped the floor. A gentle rain fell outside and pattered softly against the windows and the roof in a soothing sound, nature's lullaby, making one want to drift off to sleep.

The peaceful night was shattered as the sound of something breaking followed by screaming echoed through the halls. An aid came running down the hall out of breath and looking frustrated, her hair a mess and scrubs soaked through.

"Betty, I am not dealing with him again tonight." she spoke, anger evident in her words. "This is the third time this week that he has thrown the water at me and I've had it. He should be restrained!" the blond woman snapped at the nurse before storming past to go and get dried off.

The nurse was an older woman in her mid to late fifties with light greying hair and a pair of big framed glasses that were constantly sliding down her nose. She was broad shouldered and short, but kind looking. The kids often asked her if she was Mrs. Clause. She would just give them a gentle smile and a wink to make them laugh.

She gave a sad smile as she watched her aid ran off and down the hall she had come from. She knew which patient was causing the trouble without even having been told. The boy was twelve and had been here for half his life now and he would not be leaving anytime soon. Because of his disease, he had a very low immune system and would die if not kept in a sterile environment. His parents had given up on them ever finding a cure and had basically abandoned him. It was not an untypical story.

Betty stopped by the small kitchen and grabbed a snack and juice for the boy before making her way down the hall to his room. A janitor was just leaving his room after mopping up the floor and the boy was sitting up in his bed, legs pulled tight to his chest, and glaring at anyone who looked at him.

"Hello, Johnny, how are you feeling tonight?" Betty went over and set the snacks down on his bedside tray and smiled. "I brought you your favorite in case you are hungry." she sat on the edge of his bed and watched him for a moment, waiting for him to say something but he remained silent. "Did you have another nightmare?"

Johnny mumbled something into his arms before he slowly lifted his head to look at the nurse. His eyes were red and watery but he was managing to hold back his tears. "I want to go outside. I'm tired of being stuck in this bed and room all the time. I just wanted to open the window so I could feel the rain." the last part was said into his arms as he hid his face again.

"Sweetie, you know why you can't go outside." Betty said softly and put a hand on his lowered head to ruffle his hair. "I understand your frustration, but you have to consider your health."

"I don't care anymore, I'm dying anyway!" he got up off the bed and went over to stand next to the window. "Tomorrow I am going outside. I don't care if it kills me."

Pain and sorrow filled Bettys eyes at the words and she got up off the bed to go over to Johnny. "You don't mean-"

"Just get out of here! Leave me alone!" Johnny snapped and shoved past the nurse to go lock himself in his bathroom.

Betty stared at the bathroom door knowing that when he got into one of these moods that he would not be coming out anytime soon. She also knew that if she tried to get him to come out, it would only make things worse. Knowing there was nothing else she could do for him, she left the room to go back to the main desk to continue her work.

The floor was quiet once again except for the sound of rain that was now falling down harder than before. Another nurse pushing the medicine cart went past and gave a smile and nod in greeting before continuing on. A shrill scream was heard followed by panicked voices and more screaming. Betty got up from the desk and ran down the hall to see what was going on.

The other nurse stood outside of Johnnys room, a hand clutched to her chest and eyes wide as she sobbed, her other hand pointing into his room. When Betty saw the cause, a hand quickly came up to her mouth as she gasped, then fought down her own scream.

Lying on the floor unmoving was Johnny, a puddle of blood under his head and his mouth open in a silent scream. Betty ran over to him to check to see if he was alive, only to shrink back when she realized his eyes were missing. His hands were covered in blood as if he had tried to stop his eyes from bleeding, or as if he'd clawed his own eyes out. His eyes were no where to be seen, just more blood.

Unable to hold it back anymore, Betty screamed.