With Rudy at my heels, I walked through my doorway and fell into a small heap on my cot. Rudy settled himself into the large armchair across from me, folding his hands in his lap. For a moment, I merely watched him watch me. There was an ominous feeling in the air, as if the secrets of this man had settled themselves in the air. He was waiting.
"Well," I started. "What do you want to know?"
"Tell me what it's like to have one of your visions. How does it feel, emotionally and physically?"
"Um...well, when I have a vision, I tend to become numb. I can't see or hear anything outside the vision. It was really scary at first, but I now realize that they are more interesting than frightful."
"What do you see in these visions?"
"Like I said before, usually I see people or places I've never seen before in my life. Then some time later the visions come true."
"I see..." Suddenly he became very tense, as if he were an animal preparing to pounce. Something flashed across his eyes, something that I could not read. He began speaking again, this time very quickly.
"People don't believe you when you tell them about your visions."
"No, they don't believe I can see the future."
"But you know what will happen."
"Yes."
Rudy suddenly dropped his voice to a whisper, barely audible. "Do you know about Dr. Michaels?"
I was startled. "People said he didn't exist!"
"But have you seen him?" he whispered urgently.
"Yes, I have, but-"
"Dr. Michaels is not who he seems. He is much darker than he might appear."
The door burst open and -speak of the devil!- there stood Dr. Michaels holding a bottle of pills.
"I'm here to give Alice her pills," he stated, holding up the bottle. "I think you should leave now, Doctor. Alice needs her rest."
"Why, er, yes. Yes she does." Rudy agreed, casting an anxious glance at me. Why was he worried?
"Sleep tight, Alice..." he said, shutting the door again.
I was very confused. What was Rudy trying to tell me? I looked up at him nervously.
"I won't hurt you, Alice. Dr. Blairdorf, on the other hand..."
On the other hand what?
"He is...not right in the mind. He is not crazy enough to be a patient here, but he is not far from it. Always think twice before you do something he asks. He might be luring you into a trap."
With that, he left me feeling quite disoriented.
I woke to the radio blaring loudly from next-door. I kept my eyes closed for a while, hesitant to wake up and see something that would truly confirm my insanity. When my eyes eventually flickered open, I was shocked. Once more, I found Rudy sitting in the armchair next to the bed. I sat up hastily, pulling my sheets up to my shoulders. It was the 1920's, and it was disrespectful for women to flaunt their pajamas.
"Dr. - Dr. Blairdorf," I stammered, my voice cracking from my long, restless night. Rudy held up his index finger, a small smile on his strangely handsome face.
"Dear Alice," he muttered. "I told you to call me 'Rudy'." I blinked in shock, shrinking up against my pillow.
"I'm sorry," I replied, frazzled. "I just... I wasn't expecting anybody this early, actually." Rudy chuckled good-heartedly.
"Actually, Miss Alice," he corrected me. "It's almost noon." Damn. Why had they allowed me to sleep this late?
"Dr. Reilly told me that I had a 9 a.m. workshop," I mentioned. Feeling like quite an idiot, I stumbled out of my cot with my linens still wrapped tightly around my torso. Rudy grinned, his eyes twinkling.
"Don't worry about that, Alice," he consoled me. "The workshop is with me." I sighed in relief, collapsing back onto my bed.
"Oh," I exhaled. "Okay." Rudy rose quickly from his chair in a smooth motion that was much too agile for a man of his age. I stood up too, following his lead. When he noticed my confused look, he jerked his head towards the hallway.
"We are going down to the river to discuss some matters... that would not be suitable for lingering ears," he explained. "I'll leave you alone to dress. Meet me down by the rock when you're ready."
He was gone in a flash, leaving me alone in the dark room with a hammering heart.