Ward Six

Introduction

This is an attempt to answer a challenge from Emily Marie Concannon which you can check out in Vocal Social Society.

The Induction

This was her last chance and her first day at a small private hospital that she had never heard of and knew nothing about. It was difficult to find and she got there with minutes to spare. She didn’t particularly want the job and didn’t like being told what to do, but it was a change from solitary confinement in jail or community service.

Her latest conviction was for robbing several elderly couples while cleaning their houses as part of her community service, but she then started to think that maybe a hospital might provide her with some easy pickings. It was small, with only six four-bed wards, and because it was private these would probably be rich patients and might have valuables in here with them.

She came into reception with her joining letter and handed it in.

Receptionist: “Please take a seat, someone will be with you soon. There is water and coffee if you want it”

Her: “No thanks”

She didn’t like coffee and wasn’t thirsty so she sat down and waited.

An office door opened and a woman asked her to come in and take a seat.

Supervisor: “You are here to keep wards tidy and get things that patients require. The work will be simple but we expect you to be able to do everything we tell you. YOu will all stay over two nights a week. You will be on double pay but you only have to make sure that the patients are dealt with if they have any minor problems. Doctors will be on call and you will call them if there are any issues you cannot deal with. One more thing, you must NEVER go into WARD 6, that room is forbidden. Is this clear”

Her: “Yes”

Supervisor: “Here are your uniforms for the week, each day you will drop off your worn uniform for cleaning. You will get a new set each week, now I will show you around the hospital, as you can see we are all on one level so you will get to know the layout fairly quickly”

She followed the supervisor, observing that all the wards were open, apart from Ward 6 which was locked by a digital keypad. There is a secure window in the door and she had a quick look and thought she saw an old woman in a bed, but that was just a fleeting view.

She started her job and acted responsibly but took notes of things that may be worth pocketing from the patients, but Ward 6 had her curiosity, maybe it was a very rich patient.

While the supervisor was in the office she snuck in and went through the drawers and notepads. People always wrote down passcodes and sure enough, she found the six-number passcode for Ward 6.

The night after next she would find out what was in there.

The Final Night In Ward Six

She had the code, it was ten PM and she was the only member of staff on-site at the hospital. It amazed her, but the owners didn't care about the patients, they just cared about the money they were charging so staff costs were cut to the bone.

She went straight to Ward 6, but she hadn’t read all the notes. Two people were always required to deal with Ward 6 as once inside the door locked and the staff member could only get out when their partner reopened the door, They were meant to deliver food and get out as quickly as they could.

She opened the door, slipped in and the door locked behind her. She was shocked and suddenly frighted, there was no way to unlock the door, she had no phone on her and this would mean she would be sacked when the staff turned up in the morning.

She cursed herself for being so stupid.

She looked at the old woman on the bed, who turned and screamed.

She looked in horror and screamed herself

The woman was not alone, her body was melded with two others, three bodies disgustingly fused into each other and now three heads were looking and screeching at her.

A clawed arm reached out and stuck to her arm, she fainted as her body was drawn into that unwholesome mass, as the three-headed monster became a four-headed monster.

The creature stopped screaming to wait for feeding time tomorrow.

Good Morning

Another one who didn’t last the night. The supervisor reported her to the probation office, she would be back behind bars before the day was out. They would have a new replacement tomorrow.