Chapter 10
The blood had drained from her face as she stared at the wall in front of her. Eyes wide open like a deer in headlights, not an etch of emotion showing.
'It can't be true, it couldn't be true! But it is, he said it himself. Bloody face had to burn, the evidence, the furnace, Eva and I. With Eva unknowingly downstairs, drawn together like a magnet, and your skin will make a whole new bloody face for Eva and I to enjoy. Oh my God, it's… it can't be true. Oliver is Bloody Face, he's the killer, he killed those innocent young women, he removed their skin and he raped Lana. Now he wants me! But he was so sweet, so calm, so collective. How did I not see this coming? I'm a psychiatrist for christ sake! And a psycho killer was hiding right under my nose the whole time. How could i have been so foolish, I just, i don't understand. I don't understand any of it. He's not like the killers I met. I knew he was different from the start but this different? I can't get my head around it. I should get out of here, i should leave and never come back.
Then what kind of psychiatrist would i be? Oliver needs my help, and when he is arrested he could use me as defence, and hopefully avoid the chair.'
Eva pulled herself up, stretching her limbs that had frozen into a hunched position. She listened at the door for a second but couldn't hear any voices. Carefully she opened the door and went swiftly out of her office. She made her way down the corridor and looked round. Lana and Kit closed the door to the supply closet and snuck away talking in hushed voices. Eva knew hardly anyone used that supply closet so it was a safe bet that that was where they had hidden Oliver.
Eva was in the day room thinking over Oliver's fate. 'If i do nothing what would happen? He would kill again if he escaped. If he was caught he would be killed. For selfish reasons i suppose, if i saved him and cured him of his psychopathic tendencies, rehabilitated him back into normal society, i would go down as one of the best psychiatrists in history. I could create a method, a set of diagnostic criteria, then no one would end up like Oliver. But i need to get inside his head first, i need to know how he ticks.' Eva looked up and saw Lana and Kit talking on one of the sofas. This was her chance to talk to Thredson. She got up and headed for the door.
Her eyes flicked left and right checking that no one was around. She was alone. The hinges moaned on the supply closet door as she opened it and shut it quickly. She switched on the cord light to her left and was faced with three upright mattresses. It was blatantly obvious to her that these were concealing Thredson. She pulled one back and there he was.
Curled up in a lump on the floor, bound and gagged like an animal. His eyes wide with fear and his hair dripping with sweat. He looked up and saw her and pulled against his restraints in an attempt to get away. Eva kneeled in front of him as him whimpered. She brushed the back of her hand against his damp cheek.
"I'm not going to hurt you Oliver. I know that it was Lana and Kit who did this to you. But i also know what you did to those girls."
She looked into his eyes as if she could see the killer in him.
"I know who you really are Oliver Thredson."
"But i want to hear you say it to me"
She could see the slight confusion in his expression.
"I overheard you and Lana last night. I heard everything Oliver, but now i want to hear you say it." She removed his gag.
"Why should i tell you?" He asked with spite.
"Because, I want to help you Oliver."
He hesitated. "I killed those women."
"You're Bloody face?"
"Yes."
There was a long pause as Eva processed the information.
"Why aren't you scared?"
"Pardon?" Eva replied.
"Why aren't you scared of me?" Thredson asked.
"I… I don't know."
"I skinned girls alive, i kidnapped Lana and tried to do the same to her. I parted their flesh and made it into a mask. I removed a woman's teeth from her skull and implanted it into the flesh. I would place it on my face with pride, still warm, the blood running down my neck as they screamed beneath me."
Eva felt as though she was dancing with the devil himself, the lust for knowledge, fear and insanity drew her closer.
"I find you fascinating." she whispered. "You're not a monster Oliver, I know you're not. You were hurt when you were young I think, the way you are isn't your fault Oliver, you weren't meant to be this way. I want to help you."
A tear trickled down his cheek. "I knew you were the one."
"I'm not anything until I can get you out of here without Lana and Kit finding out." She said quickly looking over her shoulder. Getting up she grabbed a cup and filled it with water from the sink. She reappeared from behind the mattresses and held the cup to Oliver's lips.
"Thank you." he said after he had finished.
"I'm going to find a way to get you out of here Oliver if it's the last thing i do. But you've got to stay here for now. I'll be back for you this evening, I promise." Pulling up his gag she brushed the flicks of hair from his face, grabbed the cup and was gone.
Eva returned to the day room to check on her patients, and to come up with a plan on how to get Oliver out.
"Dr Sparrow may i have a moment of your time?" A male voice called out to her. Exasperated she turned on her heel to see a round sweating policeman catching up with her.
"Is there anything i can help you with officer?" She asked politely.
"I wanted to ask you a few questions about the incident that occurred last night involving Sister Jude." he replied panting.
"I'm sorry officer but i was not present at the time of that incident, hence i have no help to offer you."
"Could you tell me your location during the time of the incident? It occurred around half past 10."
Eva knew exactly where she was, she had been in her office listening to the fight between Thredson and Lana. "I was in my office with a patient, interviewing them for further treatment options."
"Thank you for your time Dr Sparrow." The officer said exiting the day room. As he passed Eva saw Lana glaring at her. She felt a shiver run down her spine, Lana knew she was there last night.