The rest of the shift went by in a creeping blur. The drive home happened seemingly without my supervision. My bed was warm and waiting.
The next afternoon I slowly drifted in and out before my alarm to get ready for work went off. Stretching I realized I hadn’t bothered to take my scrubs off. Emptying my pockets I found the ring. Slipping it on so I wouldn't forget to give it to the secretary in case anyone comes looking for it. I finished getting dressed, constantly sliding it back only for it to try sliding off again. Definitely too big.
I had barely clocked in when the craziness started. Almost every bed is full. Must be a full moon.
The time crept by in a haze of routine. Until midnight rounds came, room by room I went through weirdly hesitant. When I passed room 333 it was still empty aside from the sound of a cricket. No creepy man. I moved on absentmindedly fidgeting with the ring. The rest of the night went by without incident.
When I got home I grabbed my bag and got out of the truck. A raven was purchased on the roof. Swooping down it circled my head before perching on my shoulder. I stood as still as I could to avoid spooking it. For what seemed like an eternity it sat eyeing me as if debating between pecking my eyes or my tongue out. Slowly I Raised my hands Thinking that maybe I could chuck it and run.
The moon broke through the clouds seeming to glint off the ring. The raven ruffled its feathers and I froze. My heart thumping in my ears I watched the large beak as the raven turned its head this way and that seemed to appraise the ring.
The clouds overtook the moon and the raven attacked my wrist clinging with talons and flapping wildly as it pecked at my wrist, blood running down my arm. The clouds moved and the raven was gone leaving behind an inky black patch on my wrist. The ground felt like a haymaker as my head slammed into it.
