Risky Masquerade

26

The hospital was quiet as usual.
The emergency room was filled with the bewitched patients, who stared at the white walls as if they were at an art museum.

Doctor Lee was entrusted with the task of looking out for the patients that night. She brought out a plastic chair, and placed it right in the middle of the lines of beds on which the patients sat.

"Hello all", she greeted cheerfully.
However, she was welcomed by gloomy faces which had lost all vigour and light.

She sighed.
The Neurological department was positive that the disease was not an epidemic, and that the patients would be fine soon. But to Doctor Lee, it seemed like wishful thinking.

The department must have said that
so that the patients' families don't lose hope.

Flipping a newspaper open, the doctor began reading it to pass the night which would be longer than usual.

"I'll be taking a piss now.", she announced in sometime, and received no response. Hurriedly rushing towards the washroom, she entered one cubicle just as all the lights went off.

Heart hammering against her chest as loud as the raindrops hit the glass pane of the window, she finished her business hoping that it was a power cut.

Switching on the flashlight of her phone, she walked back towards the emergency room through the silent corridor.

"What a wonderful night for a power cut.", she shook her head.

She entered the room, and the sight which welcomed her was so gruelling that she dropped her phone.

The patients were staring daggers at her, and their eyes glowed red.