Chapter Three : Welcome Back, Sally
After Dr. Hook had seen Mallory's miraculous recovery, he knew there must have been something wrong with that hispital, and not just the cafeteria food. The last time he'd seen something so astonishing was when Peter Rickman signed himself out of the Kingdom. The only thing he could think of that was causing this behavior was another hospital ghost. And if that was the case, then something needed to be done. He needed Sally Druse readmitted.
- When you've got talent
- Everything is free
- Watch how we do things
- Ooh I guarantee
- You're gonna see
- How the best survive
- We make an art out of staying alive
- If you do just as you're told
- These are streets of gold
Mallory hardly realized that she was embraced in a hug with a ghost. That is, until he locked his cold arms around her and she felt a shiver go up her spine. At that point, she looked up at him. He looked so ... afraid of her. As if comforting her in any way would be disastrous. She didn't understand why he looked that way. What could possibly be bad about this? It was something good, wasn't it? Wait, what is she thinking? 'He's dead. A relationship between them? No, that's absurd.' But even so, she didn't want to let him go.
Paul hadn't noticed Mallory starting up at him until he heard her think 'I don't want to let go of him.' He was sure that that must have been a distorted thought. She wouldn't say that, would she? He had figured that she was repulsed by him, that's how she acted anyway. He couldn't let her keep thinking this. It would get in the way with everything that Gottreich had built. And more importantly, if Gottreich knew anything about this, they would both be screwed. He couldn't let her keep thinking this was okay. He saw his reflection in her eyes, and saw that he didn't want to let go of her either, but he had to. He just had to.
"Mallory," he said, letting go of her and forcing her to release him, "this is ... we can't do this. Anything like this."
"What are you talking about?" she sounded truly confused.
"You are alive, okay? You hold the key to Gottreich's plan. I'm dead. We can't even be friends. We need to leave this alone," he motioned to the air between them.
"You think ... you think that I want-" she tried to hide what she really felt.
"I know, you do," he said sadly, "the only relationship we can have is a partnership. That's it. I'll get you what you want, if you do the same for me. That's as far as it goes."
"What? Why?"
"I don't have to explain anything to you-"
"But you did. And ... and now I trust you. I respect you ..." she looked at him with hurt eyes.
How could he possibly make her understand the severity of the situation? Even if he wanted to have something more with her . . . . it just couldn't work.
"I told you what I did because that's the only way I could make you understand. And now you do. I need you to be behind me in this."
"I am."
"Good. T-that's where it stops."
"Paul-"
"I've gotta get you back." he grabbed her wrist and in another flash they were back in Jackie's room.
"Please Paul," she stopped him from pulling her any further, "you're the only person right now who I trust. The least you can do is be my friend, not my . . . partner. Why can't you do that?"
"Because I can't get close to you."
"Why?"
"Mallory, I'm trying to turn you over to Gottreich in my place. I wouldn't hand him someone I cared about. If we're 'pals,' he'll know something's going on."
She looked at him hard. That couldn't be the truth. She didn't want to believe it.
"You're lying."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes you are," she said, looking at him as if she could see through him, as if she wanted him to believe that he wasn't telling her the truth, "are you afraid of getting too close to me . . . because you're afraid that you might let yourself? And you might be happy, for once?"
He shifted his weight from one side to the other, clearly uncomfortable.
"I'm not going to hurt you-"
"This isn't some fairy tale. We're not going to start anything together, understand? As soon as I get what I want, and you get yours, it's over. Got it?"
"No. You're not telling me something. And until you do, I'm not following any more orders."
"Yes," he shoved her against the wall, his hands gripped her shoulders hard, "you will. I'm not used to not getting what I want. You either listen to me, or I swear, I'll make you suffer the same death I did."
"If you're not used to not getting what you want, then why are you pushing me away?!" she yelled.
He threw her to the ground, her head thumping the tiled floor.
"You said you respect me. If you do, then listen to me when I tell you to leave this alone."
"Why are you doing this?" she cried, rubbing the back of her head.
"Because I don't have a choice," he said bitterly and went back through the wall.
Mallory sat on the stone cold floor crying. It wasn't like there was anything she could do, so why should she bother thinking about it. She knew that there was more to what he was thinking then what he was letting on. There had to be. If there wasn't, then why didn't he push her away the first time?
. . . ring . . . ring . . . ring . . .
Suddenly, a young girl appeared with a cracked bell around her neck, causing Mallory to jump three feet in the air.
"What's wrong?" the girl asked.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Mary."
"Mary?"
"Yes." Mary nodded. "Why are you so sad?"
"There's a boy," Mallory said after a moment, "his name is Paul and-"
"Paul?!" Mary said, fear in her small voice.
"Yes ... why? What's wrong?"
"That's the bad boy."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Is he on the other side now?"
"Other side? What do you mean?"
"Over there." Mary pointed to the hospital wall.
"I think so. Yes."
"He's a bad ghost. He hurts people and makes them do bad things."
"Bad things?" Mallory let the words linger. "Like what?"
"Like hurt other people."
"That can't be true. He said-"
"You've talked to him?!"
"Yes. He wants me to help him."
"Don't! You need Mrs. Druse."
"Druse? ..."
"Yes. She can help you."
"Where can I find her?"
Mary pointed to the door where Dr. Hook and an older woman walked in. Mallory wiped her tears away while Mary stepped back into the shadows.
"Mallroy, I'd like you to meet Mrs. Sally Druse."
"Please, call me Sally." Sally took Mallory's hand and immediately jumped backward, clutching her chest.
"What's wrong, Sally?" Dr. Hook said, holding Mrs. Druse at the shoulders.
"You've seen him haven't you?" Sally asked Mallory, sheer terror coating her soft voice.
"Who?" Dr. Hook said.
Should Mallory tell them everything he told her? What would happen if she did? What would happen if she didn't?
"Yes. I've seen him." Mallory hesitated.
"What did he say to you, child?"
"He ... um ... he wants me to h-help him."
As soon as the words went from Mallory's mouth to Sally's ears, Paul appeared once again and stood behind Mallory so that she could feel his cold breath on her neck.
"Don't tell them a thing, Mallory. If you want to get out of this alive, you'll listen-"
"Help him with what?" Sally said.
"I ... a ..."
"You say a word, and I promise you, Jackie is gone."
"He just ... he said he needs me, that's all." Mallory stole a glace at Paul.
Just then, Jackie's monitor started beeping faster and faster. Dr. Hook rushed to her bedside, several nurses rushed in, Sally stood in the corner and Mallory backed up against a wall, turning to Paul with tears in her eyes.
"Why are you doing this?"
"You'd better listen to me, Mal."
"What ... " she looked at Jackie, "what do I do?" she turned back to him.
"Wait. Oh, and Mallory, you tell Druse anything else, and you're little savior is gone."
Paul turned into the wall and was gone. Mallory walked over to Jackie. The beeping returned to normal. Sally looked at if she'd seen this type of episode before. Dr. Hook led Sally out of the room to give Mallory her privacy.
- Where does it say you gotta live or die here?
- Where does it say a guy can't catch a break?
- Why should you only take what you're given?
- Why should you spend your whole life livin
- Trapped where there ain't no future
- Even at seventeen
- Breakin your back for someone else's sake
- When the life don't seem to suit 'cha
- How 'bout a change of scene?
- Far from the lousy headlines and the deadlines inbetween
Paul had been in the saline tank long enough for one day, so he sat at its base thinking. That look on Mallory's face when the monitor started beeping ... it was horrifying. He'd never seen someone so scared. And to think he was at the root of that look. But he couldn't risk getting involved. If he pushed her away . . . it'd just work better. If she knew what type of monster Gottreich was, she'd be against him. Hell, if he could, Paul would turn against him. But he couldn't, and that was another story entirely. He knew that he was starting to feel someone for her. He was feeling guilty about hurting her. He'd never felt that before. And he didn't want to start now. That's why he couldn't even be friends with her. Gottreich was more like a master. He just couldn't risk wanting to help Mallory. He just couldn't. In order to get what he wanted, he needed her. And he wanted to be rid of Gottreich. So what if he hadn't told Mallory the whole truth? The truth was, she had to do exactly what Paul said, and then he'd give her to the mad doctor. End of story.
The door to the room swung open and there stood Gottreich. Paul quickly got to his feet.
"Paul, how many times have I told you not to sit around all day? You need to pay attention to whats going on with Miss Merdock."
"I did. She's in." Paul said, arms crossed.
"Good, good. I suppose I should tell you exactly what I have in mind. What we need to do is get all of Hook's minions back in that sleep lab. On this piece of paper," he held up a small piece of faded yellowing paper, "are the phone numbers to The Rickmans and Dr. Stegmen. Mallory needs to call them and get them here."
"How does she do that?"
"She's a smart girl. She'll figure it out. You know where the doctors are. She needs them too."
"How's she supposed to get them to listen to her?"
"She's in good with Dr. Hook, isn't she? Besides, since when do you care how she gets it done? You'd better not be getting to close with her, Paul." Gottreich looked hard at Paul.
"No, no. I'm not, don't worry."
"Liar!"
Dr. Gottreich pushed Paul against the wall, his hand on Paul's throat.
"Do not defy me Paul! This plan must go through and you will not mess it up. If you meddle with her too much, thing will go astray and I will not stand for it," he closed his hand around Paul's throat and Paul choked for air, " is that clear?"
He let go and Paul fell to the floor.
"Yes." Paul looked up at Gottreich, rubbing his neck.
Dr. Gottreich walked away, leaving Paul on the stone cold floor alone.
He couldn't pay any more attention to Mallory for fear of his own life. 'Poor Mallory," he thought and laughed. He hadn't told her the whole story. His inital plan was to do what had he had been doing his whole life : look out for himself. He figured that because he died with Gottreich, he was automatically made Gottreich's assistant. For years, Paul had been looking for someone to take his place. That way he could do whatever it was that dead people do freely. He almost had Earl Candleton the previous year, but Mary and the artist intervened. He had been waiting for this chance for a long time. And now he had it. He had found a gullible, teenage girl who cared about him. He had found the perfect replacement : Mallory Jane Merdock.
- I was thinking
- That I might fly today
- Just to disprove all the things that you say
- It doesn't take a talent to be mean
- Your words can crash things that are unseen
- So please, be careful with me
- I'm sensitive
- And I'd like to stay that way
It had been three days and counting since Mallory had last seen Paul and she was beginning to wonder if he was ever coming back. Maybe he'd keep her here forever, waiting.
But then again, if this looney doctor was as stong as Paul claimed, maybe it's just a matter of time before Paul returns with full orders of how Mallory is supposed to make this hospital fall.
Dr. Hook had been trying to get Mallory to talk to Mrs. Druse for days. He had explained in detail the events that occurred only a year before and she was starting to get sick of hearing about Peter, Paul and Mary. It all sounded too absurd to be real. There was no way the supernatural could shack a hospital off it's foundation. And black noise? As far as Mallory was concerned, that was just something a geologist came up with because he couldn't find a logical explanation for unexplained activity. There probably wasn't the right technology to detect it yet.
However, Mallory had spoken to a ghost. She was in the arms of a ghost. Her future lay in the cold dead hands of a ghost. 'I must be losing my mind.'
Paul had advised Mallory not to say anything to Sally Druse. And she supposed that she'd better take his advice considering Jackie almost had a heart attack. But she wanted way out of this. A shocking thought crossed her mind : 'I'd go back home if I could take Jackie with me.' Right now though, it seems that the chances of that were very slim.
Mallory glanced at the clock for what seems like the tenth time that minute. It read 2:31 AM. 'He's not coming tonight.' she thought and stood up.
"Guess again." Paul emerged from the shadows.
"What do you want now?"
"Didn't you just want me to show up?" he smiled.
"Well? What?"
"Take it easy. How's Jackie O?"
"Awful. Not that you care."
"You're right, I don't."
"Look, if you're not-"
"Relax-"
"No!" she shoved him against the wall, "I'm through fooling around with you. You want me? You got me."
"Be careful, Mal. One false move and-"
"And what? You kill Jackie? I've already figured that out, jerk off. You need me. If you kill Jackie, I've got no reason to help you. I've got the control over you, boyo," she narrowed her gaze, "tell me what you want."
"Here," her handed her a piece of paper, "call the number. Get them here by the day after tomorrow."
"How do I do that?"
"You're the one with all the answers. You figure it out." he said, and was gone.
"Peter Rickman?" Mallory said aloud as she opened the note. She had seen that name before but she didn't remember where.
Streets of Gold - Oliver! and Company
Sante Fe - NEWSIES
Sensitive - Jewel
