The Mystery Eight

Chapter Fifteen: What's next?

Two years ago

Devin was sitting in his living room, enjoying his day or work off. It was early in the night, and his phone rang. He looked at the phone and the number was too familiar. He rolled his eyes and answered the call, "Hello?" He said in an annoyed tone.

"Yes, we need you to come in, Lyndsey took off and she was supposed to be covering you for your day off."

"Okay. I'm on my way." Devin wasn't surprised by this at all, he rarely gets an opportunity to take off, and when he has something like this 'conveniently' happened.

He took his sweet time, and slowly got himself together. He put his coat on over his scrubs and when he reached in the pocket, he noticed his keys weren't there as they usually were.

'What the? Where could they have went?' He searched the cracks of the couch and lifted up the cushions, still nothing. He sighed and realized he was going to have to take an Uber. He pulled out his phone and requested one, then proceeded to keep searching for the keys before it arrived.

They didn't turn up, so he had to leave his house unlocked as he left. He pretended to lock it then made his way to the vehicle waiting for him.

"Hey how you doin?" The gentleman sitting up front kindly said as Devin slid in the back seat.

"I could be doing better." Devin kept it simple. He was overall irritated and the thought of his house being unlocked didn't sit right with him.

Half an hour later they arrived at the hospital and Devin stepped out, thanked his driver and walked inside. He went to the break room where he always went before he started working. He grabbed himself a styrofoam cup and filled it up with water. Just as he sat down and went to take a sip a nurse bursted in the door and told him he had a patient. Devin slammed the water down his throat and made his way to the operating room. He walked through the waiting room and saw Nissa sitting in a chair, as he entered the room.

On the bed laid Brenden, with his head split open, but not severely. "He needs stitches." The nurse calmly said.

"Make sure we numb the spot so if he wakes up it won't hurt him too much." Devin firmly stated. He grabbed his tools and started the procedure. Twenty minutes later just as he finished the nurse came in for Devin, "Theres a girl who needs you, she came in shortly after this young man." 

"Is it urgent?" Devin sighed, feeling irritated.

"She said she sustained some head injuries, no specifics but she definitely has blood on her."

Devin took a deep breath then responded, "Bring her into a room and start with her, I'll be in shortly." The nurse nodded her head and exited. Devin grabbed some water, then made his way into the next room looking at his clipboard as he entered. "Tara?" He asked as he stepped in, then looked up at her.

"Yes." She softly spoke.

"Wow" Devin's eyes widened. "What happened to you? Looks like you just got in a fist fight" he said shocked by the swulloness and blood on her face.

"You could say that." She chuckled lightly to play it off. She avoided giving any details, anxious that she could be involved in an investigation with the cops.

Devin and Tara spoke briefly, then he had a nurse come clean her up, and give her the necessary prescription for the pain she may endure in the morning. After everything being said and done, two hours had already gone by within that time.

"I have another patient i have to go check on, hopefully you don't get in anymore fights." Devin teased, causing Tara to giggle. Devin left to check on Brenden.

Just as Devin entered the room, Brenden was coming to. Brenden remembered being pushed off his skateboard, and seeing Nissa run over to him.

"Sir, can you please tell the woman who brought me in I said thank you" Brenden pleaded.

"I have no idea who brought you in, I had just gotten here as you came in and I had to help you right away. Then I helped another girl after finishing up with you." Devin explained.

"I know who brought him in, I can let her know if she's still here." a nurse standing in her room injected.

Brenden turned his attention to her, "Please, and thank you" Brenden gave a friendly smile. The Nurse exited the room and went to search for Nissa to inform her.

Devin explained to Brenden he needed stitches, talked to him about different pain medicines, then got him the bill for everything.

"Is it fine if I rest here for a while then head home when I feel better?" Brenden asked.

"Sure, whatever floats your boat." Devin joked, earning a chuckle out of Brenden.

Devin exited the room and he approached his boss, "Can I please leave now? I'm not even supposed to be here, and it's been a hectic night." Devin tried to overplay it a bit so he could get a yes from her.

"Sure, only because you aren't supposed to be here and you've come in so many times on your days off. Now get out of here."

Devin smiled, he was not expecting such a 'generous' response from his boss. His boss was usually grouchy and always had an attitude. Devin stepped out front then instantly remembered he didn't find his keys and had to pay for Uber. He pulled out his phone and requested another one to take him home. As they were driving Devin noticed cop cars in front of an alleyway with caution tape around the area.

'What could've happened there?' He thought, but didn't spend too much time thinking about it. He could only worry about his house remaining unlocked and the dent his bank account was going to have from both of these Uber trips.

'Who the hell pays to go to work. And on their day off.' Devin sighed and slumped over against the door of the car. As he pulled up to his house he thanked the driver. He walked to the front door, and saw a paper hanging on the front of it. He ripped it off and read it.

"Are you kidding me? Who the hell turns someone's power off at night." He spoke to himself frustrated. He crumpled up the paper then opened the door. He flipped the light switch hoping it wasn't true, but as he figured, the power was indeed off. He entered the dark house and held his hands in front of him, struggling to guide himself. He managed to find his trash can and dropped the paper in.

'Why the hell did I just not use my phone's flashlight.'

He reached in his pocket pulling out his phone, then the front door shut behind him. Causing Devin to jump and shriek, throwing his phone in the air. Devin turned around, unable to see and his heart racing, he shakily held up his hands.

"C-come out. I'm not scared!" Devin confidently said, but he was terrified. He slowly made his way to the door, listening incredibly hard to hear someone's footsteps. Just as he got to the door, someone yanked it open with an overbearing amount of force, catching Devin off guard whacking him in the head.