Eathan looked up at his ceiling. So proud of what he has finally finished. He smiled with pride at himself. He tilted his head as he came to realization that he had no idea what he actually painted. To him it looked like a bunch of streaks of various paint colors on his ceiling. He still felt strangely satisfied about it. Something about all the streaks of paint seemed to lure him in. He found himself unable to take his eyes off his ceiling. He began to feel numb the longer he stared at the masterpiece that adorned his ceiling.
Aster handed the clipboard of paperwork back to the receptionist.
"S'cuse me, can you tell me what room numbah ya told ta the white haired kid about a half hour ago?"
The receptionist shook her head, "Sorry sir, but I'm not aloud to do that."
Aster grunted, "C'mon, who's gonna know?"
She smiled, "With the slight dispute you had with that man, I don't feel comfortable giving you the information you asked for."
"So," Aster smiled, "it's not against any rules?"
"My moral rules." She stated flatly.
Aster nodded his head, "Fair enough, but wouldn't it be nice for me ta get out of ya hair? I think so. How's bout you tell me the numbah, and we can both go about our business?"
Aster's words convinced her, "Alright sir, I'd really like you to get out of my hair so I can help other people." She picked up the phone and pressed a few numbers before she spoke again, "Security, Please come to the front desk."
She was still on the phone when Aster spoke up, "Well, fuck you too. I'll leave, no need for the rent-a-cops." His voice was full of frustration, but he remained even toned.
"Wait, Hold that, He's leaving now." She said into the phone, waiting for Aster to walk towards the door.
Before the nurse walked into the room she peered in through the wired glass on the door. It looked like the patient in the bed, Rick I think his name is, was glaring at the visitor beside his bed. His hair reminds me of something, but what?
The nurse opened the door and walked into the room. She noticed the two men in the room were silent. Rick hadn't taken his eyes off his visitor as she walked to the other side of bed.
"How are we feeling today, Mr. Henry?" the nurse asked awkwardly.
"Fine." Rick said angrily towards her.
"Good to hear, any pain near your throat?" The nurse asked as she checked over the monitor.
"Only my eyes." He stated as he stared at his white haired visitor.
"Would like your guest to leave?" The nurse questioned.
"No. I have a few things to say before he leaves." He said, his eyes never leaving his visitor's form.
"Very well." She stated awkwardly, "Your vitals all look to be alright. The doctor will be in to see you sometime today."
"Okay, thank you. Would you please leave so I can speak to guest in private?" Rick said frustrated that she was still there.
"Yes sir." The nurse responded.
As the door closed Rick shoved Jack lightly in the shoulder.
"Hey! I thought I did my part very well!" Jack held a smile as he looked over at Rick.
Rick laughed, "Too well! You nearly upstaged me with your pouting!" Rick laughed again, "I almost burst out laughing when I had to talk to the nurse!"
Jack leaned back in his chair, "Oh man, if I'm still here when the doctor comes in, we should totally do that again!"
Rick shook his head with smile, "Now Jack, let's not be obnoxious. I think one nurse is enough."
Jack laughed, "I mean, if you say so, you are the one in the hospital bed!"
Rick reached and shoved Jack lightly, "Thanks to you I might I add."
"Hey, you pulled me out of my house. The least I could do is save you from whatever happened to you."
Rick waved his hand dismissively, "I'm just sorry all those people thought you beat the fuck out of me." Rick thought for moment, "Whatever happened about that anyway? You never told me."
"Oh!" Jack exclaimed, "I had to go to court. Again."
"Man that's rough, sorry I wasn't there to drop the charges." Rick said sympathetically.
"Nah, don't even worry bout it man, the cops didn't even read me my Miranda Rights, so I was in court for maybe five minutes." Jack said nonchalantly.
"Oh, well if that's the case." Rick said with a fond smile for Jack.
"It is weird though." Jack said off-handedly.
"What is?" Rick asked curiously.
"Well, I don't remember actually pulling you out of your house. Just that I was on top of you with bloody hands." Jack said worried.
"Well, I can assure you that some freaky shit was going down in my house. I remember you ran in, shouted at the air, then you pulled me out of my house and I heard sirens." Rick said almost lost to remembering the situation.
"Hmmm…Well, cool, glad that you know I saved you." Jack said unconvinced.
"Hey, I got three kids that I can bet wouldn't run in to save me. Especially while the after-shocks were hitting." Rick said in a fatherly tone.
"Well, I'm glad I was there then." Jack looked to the clock on the wall. "Well, I better get going. Got phone calls to make and what-not before They even begin to repair what's left of my house."
"Jack, It's truly a welcomed surprise that you still have your house after all this." Rick said with a grin.
"Well I don't have it entirely, I'm gonna have to move, not far, just within city limits most likely." Jack said matter-of-factly.
"True, well, I'll see you soon, yeah?"
Jack stood and walked towards the door, "Most definitely. Call me when you're out if I don't visit you before you're gone."
"Will do." Rick said as Jack left the room and closed the door.
Eathan's body remained to be unmoving despite his efforts. His eyes wouldn't turn away from his ceiling. No one had come to his room to see if he was home. He wanted to know how long he had been laying there. Tears began well in his eyes as an unshakable fear had consumed him.
His eyes had been staring at the ceiling for so long that it had begun to move some time ago, but now forms had started to appear within it. He couldn't move away from what he guessed were the form's grotesque hands. The way they moved made Eathan feel uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that the welling tears in his eyes had started to fall down the side of his face.
Their hands kept getting closer the longer he was unable to look away. The ceiling began to twist into a vortex of light absorbing darkness. As it twisted he felt a pull at his core. It wanted him, they wanted him. He could nothing as his body began to lift off the bed toward the now whirlpool of creatures reaching for him with their distorted arms and hands.
Jack pulled out his cell-phone as he walked away from the hospital. He scrolled through his contacts and pressed the number for his boss. After several rings his boss picked up the phone.
"Hello, Mr. F., Do I still have my job?" Jack asked hopeful.
On the other line Mr. F. Smiled, "Jack! I knew it was you, from how direct you were with your question." There was a pause, "Oh, and of course you do. Why wouldn't you?"
Jack shrugged his shoulders, "I haven't been to work in a almost a week."
"Well, With the recent earthquake, I didn't expect you into work until next week. If you want, you can come in today to discuss getting you on a regular schedule if you like?"
Jack smirked to himself, "No thank you sir, I actually don't mind my erratic schedule."
"Oh good! Because it works for me too." There was another pause, "Did you know your house was on the news, Jack?"
Jack was surprised to hear that, "No, actually I didn't, when was it?" Jack asked curiously.
"Today actually, Only because you got out of court again. A lot of people are unhappy about that." Another pause, "They were sort of glad your house was still in ruins."
"Well, screw those people. I know I did nothing wrong. I just pulled my neighbor out of his house."
"Discussion for another time, Jack. You still have your job, come in whenever you can, although no later then the end of next week."
"Yes sir, I'll see you soon. Thank you."
They said their goodbyes and Jack hung up. He scrolled through his contacts once again, finding the number to his insurance agent. He pressed the number and it rang. It rang once before there was an answer on the other end.
"Hello, Adam, It's Jack." Jack said pleasantly.
"Jack! Hello, what can I do for you today?" Adam said enthusiastically.
"Well, my house was in the recent earthquake and is literally split in half."
Jack heard Adam hum in thought before speaking, "You have all the records of your assets? So we can get started on setting you up with somewhere new to settle down."
"I do. Are you in the office now?" Jack asked Adam hoping he was.
"I am indeed. You gonna come in today then?"
"Yes, let me make a quick trip to the bank and I'll be there. Probably within an hour I'll be sitting down at your desk." Jack said affirmatively.
"Okay, See you shortly Jack." Adam stated before he hung up.
Jack stood from Adam's desk, "Thank you for being so understanding through this whole process."
"Not a problem, Jack," Adam said happily, "It's my job to make this as painless as possible."
"Well, good." Jack nodded, "Okay, before I leave, let me make sure I have everything," Jack said as he felt his pockets, "Got the check…papers…and the papers I brought. Yup, I'm set to go." Jack said as he shook Adam's hand.
"I hope you find the right place, Jack." Adam said as Jack turned to leave.
"Me too!" Jack called back as he exited the Insurance firm.
Aster opened the door to home and was met with the smell of stale air. He scrunched his nose in displeasure and made his way to the nearest window. He opened it quickly and walked to the window next to it. Opening it all the way he noticed his bedroom door was closed. He made a curious expression as he stepped closer. With his hand on the doorknob he pressed his ear to the door to listen. He heard loud and steady breathing.
He knocked on his own door before entering his bedroom. He opened the door slowly, not bothering to look as he pushed it open more. His mouth dropped as his eyes gazed upon what was laying in his bed.
He was speechless seeing that a man was laying his bed. What was even more strange was that he looked awake, although staring blankly at the ceiling. He didn't know what to do. The man looked to resemble one of Jack's brothers. Something was off about him though, if it was in fact one of Jack's brother's.
He hesitantly stepped closer to his bed to see who it was really was. As he made it to the side of bed, he examined the man in his bed. His eyes went wide when he realized that person in his bed was Eathan, Jack's brother and he had several deep cuts along his face that Aster could clearly see.
Hello! Thanks to an anonymous guest I realized I had Double Posted. I'm glad, so thanks guest. You're helpful to my existence. ANYWAY! I hope you enjoyed this Chapter. I Have a little bit of the next chapter I was Was gonna Post, but I figured I made you guys wait long enough for this so you get a bit extra. So yeah, Review PLEASE, and let me know what you think, any typos you see, or anything that could be added or taken out. Does anyone think this story is moving too fast or slow? Any one Confused? If so ask me stuff, I'll be happy to answer. whether it be awkward or not, I don't ever feel awkward about weird questions. So by all means, ask away! Okay! Have a great Morning/Afternoon/Night/Dusk/Dawn or Twilight!