Silent Enemy

Chapter 15: Day Dreams

"You have got to be kidding me." Nick stood in front of the sign, reading its fading letters with an apparent air of consternation.

Judy looked to the fox, and back to the sign, confirming once more that the address listed on its side matched that which they had gotten from Daniel. "I suppose there's a reason for stereotypes."

"Come on fluff, there's no way this actually happens." He turned, slipping his aviators into the pocket of the green button up shirt he wore. It was similar to the one he had worn when they had first met, though perhaps a few shades more muted. "I mean, is there some sort of quota that bad guys have to all meet. I mean come one."

Cloudy Heights Sanatorium had once been a stalwart citadel in the battles against infectious disease. Situated in the mountains surrounding the rainforest district, it jutted defiantly up from the heights, giving its residents a spectacular view that many, at the time, had thought would help recovering patients. Of course, patients rarely actually recovered from such diseases, but the effort had been there to keep up morale regardless. Over time, newer institutions had been developed, and the sanatorium had fallen into disrepair. For 75 years, the hospital had stood abandoned and brooding, its stony exterior slowly decaying. Now, its exterior appeared malicious and harsh. Its jutting walls fallen in places, causing the wind to howl ominously on certain nights. Rumor had started that the building was haunted by the patients whom had never left the hospital alive. As a rational mammal, Nick had always attributed such tales to the jittery imaginations of easily startled mammals. Nick was starting to question whether he actually knew anything about the world.

Judy hummed, as she placed the piece of paper, folded, into the pocket of her jeans. Like Nick, she wore a button up shirt, but encircling her hips was the utility belt from her police uniform. The pair had popped by their apartment on the way, which had proved to be surprisingly uneventful. No one had so much as reported a disturbance. Daniel had explained that certain creatures from beyond the spirit world could use enchantments to hide themselves. They could even use their illusions to influence the minds of mammals. When Judy had asked about the poison, and her apparent death, Daniel had assured her that she and Nick could see through such things if they were aware of it. "Illusions are damned tricky to get right. If one tiny detail isn't correct, the whole illusion can fail. That thing was using your fears against you, making them seem real. You were tired, wounded, and naturally very ...very afraid. It's sort of what phobophage's do. As long as you are rested, and watching out for it, they shouldn't be able to trick you again." Judy muttered under her breath. "Nothing to fear, but fear itself."

"Mmm?" Nick turned, pulled from his own train of thought. He had been pondering how it was that such villains managed to be taken seriously. He saw Judy, nose twitching and ears down, lost in her own train of thought. He wasn't a fool. He saw how she had been acting around him lately. Jumpier, and less likely to respond to his wiseassery with quips of her own. Something was bothering her, but she wasn't talking about it. That was unusual, but given the plethora of life changes occurring around them, he supposed it would be churlish for him to demand answers. Still, the divide hurt, and he felt his cheeks flush with irritation. It was fortunate his fur prevented such tells from being obvious. "What did you say?"

She shook her head. "Nothing, we just need to get a move on." The fox looked skeptically at her, but said nothing. Instead, he pushed the gate open, and started up the stone path leading to the buildings front doors. For once, Judy allowed the fox to take point, as she scanned the area around her. The building was by all definitions a decrepit husk, but as they entered, they discovered the exterior was slightly misleading. While the building was still, lacking the life most buildings had, with the hum of people moving about, and the sound of climate control units, it seemed to contain a malicious presence. As if the building itself were some great beast, waiting quietly with its jaws open, as it waited for its prey to walk blithely inside. The room was similar to many other hospitals, with the remains of a receptionist's desk up front, and various spaces that may have once held seating for mammals waiting to get inside. Nick looked back to his partner, and gestured, asking her if she wanted to take the lead. She nodded, and moved forward, her loping gait made some what less steady from her injured leg. She inwardly groaned, exasperated. When will this stupid thing heal? She could almost hear the response her mother would have given. Probably heal faster if you quit running on it. Not like I had a choice. She responded inwardly, then grimaced. It she was really having conversations with herself, it probably wasn't a good sign. More good news, yay.