The Haunted

Part 5. The Good Doctor – 741 words

The door to the ward opens, and a bespectacled doctor dressed in immaculate white, walks in. The doctor coldly and calmly approaches Narumi, a stern and mildly bemused look on his face.

"It's hopeless. Those windows are locked," Subaru, Narumi's current doctor, says pointedly as he walks in and over the shards of broken glass like they were nothing to him. He heads towards Narumi then slows to a stop. "What are you doing? It's a miracle you're even standing, much less awake. You're supposed to be on an extremely potent sedative."

His professional tone is unnerving. Slowly, Narumi's shoulders sag. He returns to the bed, his face resuming a blank stare as his emotions and inner thoughts begin to devour him again.

Subaru glances around the room. "What a mess," he mutters under his breath. He pushes a button to summon some nurses to help him clean up. "We're going to have to sedate you again, Narumi. Do rest well this time."

A nurse washes her hands, takes a syringe, and injects Narumi with it. Misaki stands quietly at one end of the room, watching the scene unfold. It all seemed so mundane after everything else that happened that night. He takes the bloodstained box, excuses himself then leaves. Narumi doesn't notice his departure and soon the world fades to black for him.

Subaru notices the drops of blood near the doorway. The sight proves to be almost bone chilling for the doctor as he turns away and analyses Narumi's now sedated body. Even in his sleep, Narumi holds the expression of someone facing his biggest fear. He should not have been able to move any part of his body, yet he notices Narumi's fingers curl. Clearly, he is a singular case.

Subaru leaves the room and locks it behind him. He heads for his office and, sure enough, Misaki is already there. The ornate box is on the table and he is clutching his wrist as though trying to cut off his bleeding hand from the rest of his body.

Misaki exhales, "He's being haunted, Subaru. The ghost of his past is eating at him. It's killing him slowly from the inside."

"And I'm assuming he tried to stab himself with that shard of glass in order to escape it," Subaru answers calmly.

"I had to take it away from him before he did anything dangerous." He shows Subaru his scarred, bloodied hand, raw and cut up from the short struggle moments before, and winces as Subaru prods at it.

"We'll have to get that treated before it gets infected," Subaru continues. He walks over to a medicine cabinet and brings out everything he needs to administer first aid. "Can you please enlighten me about this 'ghost of his past' you're talking about?"

Misaki is reluctant. "I don't think—"

"It would help, since it's my job to treat your friend," Subaru replies, as he begins to bandage Misaki's hand.

"I disagree, doctor," he sighs. "I don't think it would make a difference. I don't think this ailment can be cured by modern medicine because—"

Misaki is interrupted, as the lights in the room grow dim and a chill rises in the air.

"What in the world...?" Subaru mutters, standing up after pinning up the bandage on Misaki's hand. He approaches the door and pokes his head into the hallway.

The whole building is dead silent as though all the inhabitants had gone home. Behind him, Misaki grips the side of his seat with his uninjured hand, and starts to break into a cold sweat. "I think you should stay away from that room."

Subaru, undeterred by Misaki's warning, approaches the door of Narumi's ward in a collected manner. After taking a deep breath, he pulls the door open, and is greeted by a blast of cold air. Narumi remains peacefully asleep on the bed, but what makes Subaru freeze is the figure that lay sprawled over him in a chilling embrace.

"You're the doctor."

The ghost lifts her head. Her hand still rests on Narumi's shoulder. Her curious, tentative tone stands in contrast to the sharp gaze she throws at him. Unlike Narumi and Misaki, Subaru manages to keep his voice steady— even though hysteria slowly creeps into his mind.

"And you're the lover."

We stand against the world.

You and I.

So take my hand and don't let go.

For if you do, I'll surely die.