*** Before reading this chapter, you may want to read Lucky Ladybug's story Dead Like Me. Please take the time***

A Slice of Life

Part ten

When you're between any sort of devil and the deep blue sea, the deep blue sea sometimes looks very inviting.

––Terence Rattigan

"You want to see a priest ?"

"I'm making a formal request." Kolchak held himself stiffly in front of Dr. Harrelson's large desk.

"That's a bit... unusual... "

"I'm an unusual patient."

"Well, that's true enough." Dr. Harrelson leaned back and studied him. "Why?" he spoke finally.

"I'm convinced it would improve my progress toward mental health."

"Carl, I'm in charge of finding the path for your mental health, not you."

Kolchak fought to control his voice and body language. "I'm making a formal request to be allowed to see a priest in order to improve my mental health."

The psychiatrist scowled in annoyance. "How would this help? Answer me that."

"I believe my raging is not... biochemically based."

"Everything is biochemically based."

"I think this has a more sinister source––"

Dr. Harrelson started to chuckle. "Ah! I see! You think you're possessed! Don't you! Carl, that's laughable."

"I'm not laughing, Doctor."

He sobered. "This sort of thing is exactly the reason you are living here. In my professional opinion, the exercise would not help you get in contact with reality. Permission denied." He returned to his paperwork. "Close the door on your way out, Carl."

ooooooo

"Murphy, how would you like to cut your work in half?"

"You plannin' on moving out, Carl?"

Kolchak frowned. "As a matter of fact, yes. Can you get a priest to come visit me?"

"Say what?"

"A priest. You know; collar, conservative dresser..."

Murphy cocked his head. "You're not Catholic, Carl."

"How do you know that?"

"We've had that conversation. You're not even religious."

"Well! Let's be pleased I'm turning over a new leaf. Can you get me a priest?"

Murphy raised his eyebrows. "Seriously?" Kolchak nodded. "Have you asked Dr. Harrelson?"

"Yes, of course! He said fine, but you were the one to arrange the logistics. He's a busy man, you know, delegates to his underlings––"

Murphy eyed him suspiciously. "You're lying to me, Champ."

"No, no––"

"Yes, yes. I know Dr. Harrelson better than you do. He runs a very tight ship. You are trying to get me fired!"

Kolchak's jaw set in frustration. "I'm not. Honestly. Alright, but if a priest somebody else organized were to appear for some reason at the door, you would unlock it for him, right? Right?"

ooooooo

The following Sunday, Tony Vincenzo arrived with high expectations, and was not disappointed. Kolchak was clear-eyed and quiet when he was allowed into his room, reading a days-old newspaper. "Hello, Carl." he said hopefully.

Kolchak looked up. "Good Morning, Tony." he answered confidently, closing the paper. "Walk with me in the court-yard today. I have something I want to talk to you about."

"A priest? Why do you want to talk to a priest?" Tony asked with surprise. They were walking in the pleasant cool of the morning sun.

"I've met someone special here and want to tie the knot," he answered flippantly. "Ask a silly question–get a silly answer." he groused, then glanced around cautiously. "I have an exorcism for him to perform. Listen, do me a favor and don't mention this to the Powers-That-Be..."

"Carl, don't bother the priest..."

"It all makes sense, Tony! This has to be the answer. Do you remember the incident at the Cantigny Park Museum in Chicago?"

Tony shifted uncomfortably, but did not answer.

"I told you what happened, and who I met ––"

"Carl, let's not––"

"It's him, Tony. I'm sure of it. He wants me out of commission."

"Carl, if that were true, and that's a pretty big 'if', I'm sure he's powerful enough to just see to it you get killed in some accident."

"No, he definitely doesn't want me dead, for reasons of his own." He smiled at a private joke. "He doesn't want me dead, but as uncomfortable as humanly possible. And questioning myself on every level. And unable to accomplish anything. What better way than this? He's sent some underling demon to keep me occupied. You've read about what possession looks like; the raging, the victim throwing themselves on fires. From what I've gleaned, that's been me for the last five years! Each slice of coherent life I have had over the past five years was never long enough to put any puzzle pieces together – till now. "

"So why should that have changed now? Why can you suddenly string the slices of life together?"

"I don't know."

"And where has this thing gone at this moment, so we can be talking so civilly?"

"Well, obviously if it wants me alive, it needs to allow me to eat sometimes... so it would have to leave occasionally. It's probably gotten complacent with me after having controlled me so well for so long. And maybe it's a little bored with me too." He raised a finger. "Something else: I've noticed every time I'm not raging, someone else here is! Tony ––it's patient-hopping!"

"Carl!" Vincenzo tried to get a word in.

"It's demon-possession,Tony! It has to be! We need an exorcism!"

"Carl, this isn't the Middle Ages. These days we use modern medicine––"

"And where has that gotten me these past 5 years? Huh? I ask you! Tony. You told me I could count on you for help. Anytime! You said yourself I'm clearer now than ever before, I have thought this out. Tony, I'm begging you! This will work!"

"Settle down, Carl! Now, I've been talking with your doctor all along––"

"That quack?"

"He's honestly trying to help you. You need to listen to him. I'm certain he would be displeased with me even allowing this conversation to go on this long." He spoke sternly. "Carl. You've got to accept reality. Put those odd ideas away––"

"My 'ideas' didn't seem that odd to you at the Cantigny Park Museum." he said, frowning.

"I can be faulted for having tolerated your odd ideas too long, Dr. Harrelson has explained to me that I was playing the role of enabler––"

"Enabler?" Kolchak spat.

"But I know better now. My first cause is supporting your path to sanity––"

"Vincenzo," he grabbed his sleeve with shock. They stopped walking. There was a long pause. "...you're not going to bring me a priest?" he asked in disbelief.

"I think it's finally time for some Tough Love, Carl. You have got to live in the real world ––"

"Do Tough Love next time, I need this––"

"No." he sliced the air with his hand. "I've made my decision."

"Tony..." he groped for words. "...do you realize what you're condemning me to?"

"I am helping you, fool!" he exploded. Kolchak stared at him for a long minute in silence. "Now, I'm not expecting you to be happy with me, but that's my decision." He started walking again. After a beat Kolchak followed. The wheels were grinding in his head.

Vincenzo glanced quickly at him, but he was deep in thought. They walked in silence.

"Alright," Kolchak finally sighed. "alright. If you're hell-bent on 'helping' me this way, and are not changing your mind, there's one more way you can help." Vincenzo looked up expectantly. The patient presented him both his wrists. "Cut these now and we'll be done with all of it. I don't want to live like this."

Vincenzo looked around nervously and pushed his hands down. "Shush fool! Don't talk like that––"

"I'm serious, Tony." and his face confirmed it. "Knowing the cause of it now, and being locked up here without the help I need... I'm not willing to live the life. I'm done." He held up his wrists again, higher this time. "Come on, you'll be doing both of us a favor."

Vincenzo turned an interesting shade of pink, and his hands balled up into tight fists. "I will not cave-in to emotional blackmail, either! You have to overcome this madness of yours using normal, medical channels! Enough of these fantasies and nightmares! Stop fighting the doctor and let him help you! I swear –– you'll drive me crazy next!"

He turned on his heel and left Kolchak, then the courtyard, then the hospital in short order.