June 30, 2016

13 hours 15 minutes

- Scalpel.

The nurse silently handed the doctor the instrument. The atmosphere in the operating room was extremely tense. Previously, the patient was in a coma. It lasted for a whole week, after which the brain began to show little activity. However, this was not enough. Time is too short. If the patient hadn't started showing signs of life, they would have given up. If it were not for the faint signs that the patient is still alive, the doctor would not have taken up this operation. Too dangerous. Probably useless. Only now, there was no choice. One of the bone fragments was dangerously close to an important part of the brain. And one small movement was enough for the fragment to stick into the fabric, causing severe bleeding and sudden death. The operation was very difficult. One mistake by the surgeon, and death will be guaranteed. And he genuinely didn't want anyone to die on his shift. He swore an oath to Hippocrates and must try to save a life. A few deft finger movements, and the flesh was cut in the right place. He adjusted his mask and glanced at the monitor. Pulse is stable. The shard is nearby. He wasn't alone. There were seven of them in total. Six fragments and fateful one. How funny.

- Tweezers.

Next, the doctor began to slowly remove each fragment from the wound. His gaze shifted back to the monitor. At the same moment, the pulse was lost, just for a second. That second was enough for the doctor to swallow nervously. Now the family of the man he operated on was waiting outside. He had a wife. He had children. And by his mistake, they may lose their father. Lose hopes and dreams. And then the world will be shrouded in darkness.

He carefully pulled out another shard and put it in a special metal vessel. The penultimate one. It remains only to get to the last, most dangerous piece. The surgeon sighed heavily.

And as soon as he began to think about how he would accomplish this task, the instruments on the right began to beep alarmingly.

13 hours and 20 minutes

The smell of fear came from outside, and in the eternal, vast darkness, someone stirred. He woke up, blindly trying to get to his feet. A cold, endless blackness enveloped him. And he smiled, moving towards the smell. He felt that the source of the smell was also moving. So quiet. Trying in vain to overcome the persistent death, which sooner or later will break him and carry his corpse to heaven. Such an attractive prey... So helpless. So easily accessible. He saw all the moments he experienced. He watched the moments of the past and looked into the future. He tried to look into the future, even though he was bad at it. He saw something strange and incomprehensible to him in this impenetrable and mysterious future. And he smelled this wonderful smell...

- Ipqfmfttoftt… - he whispered, and the malicious smile widened. - Bsf zpv jo uspvcmf? Zpv xjmm cfdpnf nz tmbwf… J dbo ifmq.

He took another step.

He felt that the prey was near.

- Mfu nf ifmq zpv… J lopx zpv Xjmmjbn. - he said again.

The smell was getting stronger. He heard the soundless cries of his prey. He was happy.

- J bn dmptf. - he said.

Any minute now, and he'll be out of here. He will get out of the darkness and jump into the desired abyss leading to another world. He will take the loot with him. He would kidnap him from the clutches of death.

And now, the hour has come. He carefully stepped a few more steps, feeling a pleasant warmth emanating from the abyss. He saw the line between the worlds and continued to laugh soundlessly.

He was ready.

And he came out of the darkness, coming to the edge between the worlds. And saw the unfortunate prey. And he fully felt this wonderful smell.

13 hours and 20 minutes

The terrible pain left him, and he woke up. William found himself lying in a hospital bed. Thoughts were confused. Then, he gently raised his head and looked around. Blackness. Endless... Crazy... The man didn't want to hold his gaze on it. Unfortunately, however, it was everywhere. So he won't be able to just take his eyes off it. And yet, something was wrong. But what exactly? William thought about it for a long time. Finally, among the web of intertwined thoughts, the right one was found.

- The darkness didn't consume me... - William said aloud.

The man finally got up from the bunk, and under his feet was the most ordinary tile. Looking at the place where he was once again, William realized that there was a certain pattern here. The tiled floor went into darkness, but somehow created a circle around it. A perfect circle. Grains of memory began to break through the cobwebs in his head. He could hardly remember exactly what had happened. And yet, the outlines of events appeared before him from time to time. They were like pictures. Blurry and incomplete. Some were clearer than others. But it was almost impossible to see anything on them either. Especially considering that they flashed before his eyes every second. The next sprout of understanding began to hatch. William felt that a general picture had appeared in his head. But he couldn't see it. His thoughts got in the way. He touched his left temple with his hand. Why?

The whisper was getting louder. Suddenly it dawned on the man. And this realization of what had happened caused him horror. His thoughts unraveled, giving him the opportunity to see the picture. He saw. Meanwhile, the pain has returned.

- Am I dead? - the terrible understanding seemed obvious to him. Of course he died. Otherwise, how else to explain it all?

Judging by the bed, he may have died in the hospital. But... Is this really what death looks like? Will the blackness still consume him over time? Or should he go into it himself? What if it doesn't? What if he stays here to think? And will an angel come to him? And will he see God? Or is darkness God? The questions were starting to drive him crazy. Thoughts were confused again. Fear consumed him. It seemed the darkness was really getting closer. Suddenly, for some reason, he remembered that he had seen exactly the same darkness in one of his nightmares. Only this time wasn't a nightmare. It was real. Maybe it's all connected somehow?

- No...

Mysterious voice interrupted him. The mind is quiet. Maybe it's the voice of madness?

- No...

What is it? What does he want to tell him?

- William...

The man swallowed. He actually heard someone's voice. It scared him.

- Who's here?!

- I'm a friend.

Suddenly William felt a presence. It was so weird. It's like someone is breathing down his back. He whirled around, but saw nothing. Only thick darkness continued to envelop the place in which he was.

- William...

And that whisper again.

- I'm a friend, William.

- How should I know? - the man suddenly asked.

The voice stopped.

William didn't understand what was going on here at all. Perhaps this is the same angel? Then why doesn't he want to come out into the light?

Light.

Where did the light come from? So weak, dim. He only noticed it now.

- William...

- Show yourself! - the man shouted into the darkness. - Show yourself, and then I'll listen to you!

Silence again. This time, it didn't last long. Something moved. Strange sounds, vaguely similar to footsteps.

- Turn around...

And William turned in fear. To his own surprise, there was a man in front of him. A man about forty years old. He was dressed in a business dark blue suit with thin white stripes. Old. Around the 90s. The pants were the same dark blue with thin white stripes. Patent leather shoes of the same time, his head was almost bald, only one hair was visible, he also wore a hat with a red feather, thick eyebrows, a face covered in wrinkles in some places. But most of all William was struck by his eyes. They were completely black. Literally. His pupils, his iris, and his albumen were also black. As if they were just filled with black paint.

The mysterious man grinned.

Is he really reading his mind? How did he end up here?

- Too many questions, William. - he said.

So he's reading.

- No, William, I'm just guessing them from your face. - the stranger replied. - I don't read thoughts, I just read what is written on your forehead.

- Who are you? And what do you need? - the man asked, not paying any attention to this joke.

- It's still early... But you'll find out soon enough.

The man came closer.

- I want to help you. For now, this information is enough for you.

- Why should I believe you?

- Because I'm a friend.

William frowned.

- I don't understand...

- And you don't need to... You just have to trust me.

- Then at least tell me where I am! - the man was in despair, spreading his arms to the side.

The man grinned again and ran his hands through the air, outlining the darkness.

- You are on the border between worlds. Somewhere behind this darkness, life is making its way to you. But it's too weak. And soon death will consume you.

He paused for William to think it over.

- I came to save you. Not without conditions, of course...

The man doubted. He didn't quite know who he was talking to. Why is it so important for this man to survive?

- The stupid child hurt you. Badly hurt... Now doctors are fighting for your life. I can hear the muffled pounding of your heart. Knock, knock... Knock, knock... Each time it slows down.

After these words, William felt dizzy. And he fell to his knees, from a sharp pain in the area of his temple. The mysterious man didn't even move. He watched it so calmly.

- What... Do you want... - William hissed through his teeth.

- You're dying... And I want to save you. What is unclear here?

- Conditions... You were talking about the conditions...

- Right. If you fulfill my conditions, you will be able to return to your beloved family. To Clara. To Chris. To Michael. To Naomi. To Elizabeth...

- What... Should... I do?! - William's anger boiled over. If he was dying, why was the person who wanted to help him so calm? Why did he speak so insinuatingly?

He tried to get to his feet, but blood gushed from his nose. Vision blurred. It seemed to him that he was beginning to go blind.

- Death is already near... I can feel her... So cold and unshakable... Your brain is collapsing, William.

- So help me! Help me, and I'll do any errand!

The stranger approached. He gently lifted William's head and looked him straight in the eyes. Those creepy, black eyes.

- Do you really want your family so much? Without even realizing what you're doing?

- Yes, damn it! Please! - the anger inside the man began to fade. He was replaced by weakness. He could no longer see and could hardly breathe. He felt that the darkness was about to devour him.

- Okay... Then shake my hand...

- W-What? - the barely audible voice was trembling.

- Shake my hand, William. And I will pull you out of the clutches of death.

And with a numb, almost senseless hand, blindly, William found the stranger's hand and squeezed it. Driving away doubts. Forgetting about everything. With a simple, sincere desire. Go back to his family. To his wife, to his sons, to his beloved daughters...

The choice was made. The contract was signed. The fate was decided. So simple... He smiled broadly. A pop and a sharp glow marked his freedom. The prey has returned to its world. And the predator followed him...

13 hours 20 minutes

- What the hell!? - the surgeon shouted.

- I do not know, doctor! - the nurse answered excitedly, and immediately ran up to the monitor. - All the sensors seemed to go berserk!

- Can you see what's wrong with his pulse!?

- No, sir. Everything is blinking and... Oh, damn it. The screen went blank!

At the same moment, there was a bang. The splinter, which was close to the wound in William's head, hit the surgeon in the face, and he hissed in pain. The nurse, in turn, was already lying on the floor. Burnt. Apparently, the monitor simply exploded. Ah, it doesn't matter! He need to save the patient!

- Olya! Call the paramedics immediately! We need to get this man out of here! - the surgeon ordered.

The nurse nodded silently and rushed towards the door. No sooner had she run up to the exit than a wheeled table on which medical devices were lying blocked her way. How he got there was unclear. However, then some real hell began to happen at all. The instruments were scattered all over the operating room in an instant. As if they were thrown by an invisible force. Out of fear, the nurse fell to the floor and sobbed. The surgeon ducked. To unimaginable happiness, nothing sharp got into it. Someone started banging on their door. Maybe the family heard the noise? Or the orderlies? The lights in the room flickered. The doctor no longer understood what was going on here at all. Maybe he just went crazy? His thoughts were interrupted by raucous breathing. And turning to the patient, he almost fainted.

The man was still on the operating table. Except now, he was sitting. He sat, looking with glass eyes at everything that was happening around him. The oxygen mask was still on his face. From surprise, mixed with wild horror, the doctor fell to his knees. He remained in this position, unable to move. The light in the room continued to blink. Some items took off. Others were swinging or flying around the room. The patient took off his mask. The hoarse breathing became louder. But how could this happen? How is he still alive? After a couple of moments, the doctor realized that the wound on his head was beginning to heal. Literally. Bones, flesh, and skin grew on their own, gradually covering her. It lasted until there was no trace of her.

Everything calmed down at the same moment. The light has returned to normal. All objects have fallen or stopped moving. The door opened and three orderlies ran into the operating room. Each of them stopped, looking around the room in a daze. The patient collapsed, losing consciousness. The monitor lit up. The pulse was stable.

Wasting no time, one of the orderlies ran up to the nurse, checking for signs of life. The second one approached the nurse, who was sitting on the floor in a state of shock. Two other nurses were also present in the operating room. The surgeon had completely forgotten about them. He was completely lost in thought, completely discouraged by what had happened just ten seconds ago. The third orderly approached him.

- Doctor? How do you feel? What happened here?

- To the intensive care unit... - he muttered in response.

- Excuse me, what?

- The patient... To the intensive care unit...

That's how he got out of his prison.