The bolt clicked lightly as Harry turned the key. The flashlight skimmed over yellowed tiles. It caught something under the desk. Someone was with him. He caught a flash of red material. A glimpse of a woman moving toward him across the room. There was no mistaking the young nurse, with long strawberry blond hair and tired eyes. He had found Lisa Garland.
She rushed towards him and embraced him.
"Finally, someone else who's ok." she said, pulling away, "My name's Lisa Garland. What's yours?"
"Harry Mason." answered Harry, bemused, "You don't remember me, do you?"
"I'm sorry; a lot of people come through this hospital. And I'm a little preoccupied."
"Sure." he replied, a little unconvinced.
"Harry, tell me what's happening here, where is everybody?
I must have gotten knocked out…when I came to, everyone was gone. It's awful."
"Like this is all some kind of bad dream." he agreed.
"Yeah, a living nightmare."
"Have you seen any lab technicians? Dr. Kaufmann needs someone to run tests, he was in the basement earlier…I'm not sure where he is now."
"Screw Kaufmann, spending all his stupid time in the fucking basement!"
Harry was speechless, taken aback by the foul mouthed outburst from the young nurse.
"Hey…that's all right. Forget it… wait…do you know something about all that weird stuff in the basement?"
"No." she replied, sweetly. "Why is there something down there?"
"You don't know?"
"Kaufmann has everyone under strict orders. No one is allowed into the morgue, or the boiler room or to touch the generator…so I really don't know. And he spends far too much time down there…why …what is down there?" Lisa grinned maniacally.
The flashlight fizzed and went out.
Harry started up from the examination table. Snow was falling outside from a light grey sky. Light grey. In his waking stupor, he had failed to notice daylight filtering into the examination room, which was remarkably pristine. Nurse Garland was nowhere in sight.
"Was I dreaming?"
"You were too late." wheezed the old lady, who had come unnoticed into the doorway. More eccentric than he remembered from the church, the graying slip showing under her dress was complimented by a black and red striped tie.
"It's you!" exclaimed Harry.
"Yes. Dahlia Gillespie."
"Tell me everything you know. What's going on?"
"Darkness. The town is being devoured by darkness. Strength must overcome petty desire, childish sleep talk! I knew this day would come. Do you still have the Flauros?"
"What are you talking about? You're not making sense!"
"Believe the evidence of your eyes! The other church in this town that is your destination." she said, holding up a lion-crested green key, "This is beyond my abilities. Only you can stop it now. Have you not seen the crest marked on the ground all over town?"
"So that's what I saw in the schoolyard. What does it mean?"
"It is the Mark of Samael. Do not let it be completed" she hissed and ran barefoot into the hallway.
"Hey wait, Stop!" he yelled.
Darting across the room, he snatched the green key and followed her. Obviously more sprightly than she appeared, Harry was left with no clue which way to turn. Heading right past the reception desk, he was almost free of the hospital when he heard the smash of glass along the corridor. He had chosen poorly.
He raced back along towards the elevator. The door to the medicine room was ajar. Harry pushed it gently. The floor was covered with glass and awash with a sticky crimson liquid. Stooping to get a better look, he was interrupted a thundering voice;
"Mason! Get away from that! What the hell do you think you're doing?" blasted Kaufmann, bearing down on him.
"I didn't touch anything…there was an old lady…called…uh…." stumbled Harry.
"You don't know how far you've set me back." he glowered.
"I swear there was someone else here, just a moment ago. Dahlia Gillespie, that was it. I have no idea why she would break this…this…what is this?"
"That is not important Mason…perhaps I shouldn't be so dismissive of your delusions. They have proved somewhat prophetic recently."
"My delusions?"
"Last night I spent several hours talking with Lisa Garland. She had no memory of the last seven years and looked not one day older than the last time I saw her. And I was quite awake during this conversation I assure you. Something in this town appears to have gone seriously wrong."
"Where are the others?"
"I have no idea. I came to in the staff room a few minutes ago. The last thing I remember was opening Philips' ribcage. Detective Briggs was keeping watch."
"Did you find anything out? Is it safe to leave?"
"I could find no evidence of anything transmissible, though the growth seems to enable a rather remarkable relationship between the endoparasite and the host."
"Can I leave this hospital?"
"You may do as you please Mr. Mason. I must try to find Rachel before I go, but I shall shortly be trying to find a way out of town myself."
"I believe I have a lead on my daughter. Do you recognize this key?" asked Harry, showing the green key to the doctor.
"Yes. That will give you access to a local antique shop, rather dilapidated. It's called Green Lion antiques."
"How do I find it?"
"Just head north of here. It's at the end of Simmons Street. I will keep your endeavors from Briggs as long as I can."
"Thank you doctor. It's not safe for my daughter out there."
"Just one thing Mason; if you find an escape route, come back for us." he ordered, turning and walking from Harry.
"Just a minute!" he said, remembering the child that looked so much like Cheryl, "Do you know a girl called Alessa?"
Without stopping or looking back at Harry, he simply answered:
"No."