Raven Hook

Chapter 15: Relationships

Eric finished his last search of the room on the fourth and final floor. He found two boxes of ammunition for his pistol and three magazines for it as well. With all of the ammunition to attack any monster, Eric started to feel confident walking back down the hallway and to the stairs. Eric descended the stairs, peering over the corners to make sure that the hallway was clear before heading back down again.

Eric had been rattled by the fight with the girl, and more so after seeing a headstone with his name being engraved on it. Eric didn't know what kind of town Raven Hook was or if he was even alive at this point but he wanted the nightmare to end. Eric quickly descended the last few sets of stairs and made it back to the lobby as a chill washed over him.

"It's almost party time, baby. I can't wait to kill you." Jessica's voice echoed in his subconscious. Eric shook his head, trying to clear the voice. He didn't respond; he didn't want her to have the last word. Eric opened the front of the building and looked out into the pouring rain. Hearing nothing but the patter of raindrops, he started jogging to the hospital, hoping that he would find the answers he was looking for.

"This way Daddy! It's this way!" Ian tugged on Jason's finger, as Raven held Ian's hand. The trio walked down the hallway and came to a room surrounded by balloons and streamers.

"What kind of party is this Ian?" Jason asked as they came to the door.

"It's for you daddy! You're so silly!" Ian laughed, making Jason's heart flutter. He was glad to hear his son laugh again. Jason opened the door and lead them all inside. The room was decorated with streamers, bowls of candy, drinks, and balloons everywhere. A banner ran the width of the room exclaiming, 'Welcome home, Ian!'. Jason's eyes teared up as they entered the room and Ian ran off with Raven as Jason watched them start to play. Jason grabbed a handful of candy and a drink to wash it down with.

Eric made his way back into the hospital as he held the handgun out in front of him. Being back in the hospital sent a chill up his spine, being in a hospital always made him uneasy but this time it was something different and he couldn't understand it. Eric rechecked the lobby and found that everything was the same as he had left it when he initially left. Frowning and a little more than pissed off, he started walking and checking every room. Room and room, he found nothing but his anger increasing. Eric came to the last door on the first floor and opened it. Inside was an empty hospital room, devoid of any bed or cabinets. Lying on the middle of the floor was a grey lunch tray.

Eric walked over to the tray and bent down to look at it. On the tray were three thin white lines and a needle full of a black liquid that bubbled. Eric stood up and kicked the tray over, the contents spilling all over the floor and the needle cracking against the wall, bending the small steel hollow piece. Eric turned around to exit the room as a chill fell over him.

"Party favors baby. They were your favorite if I remember right. It's hard to remember anything anymore. You know; because of all of the brain damage." Jessica said behind Eric.

Eric didn't respond and tried to open the door; it was locked.

"What's the hurry baby? You can't stand to be next to little ole me anymore? You broke my cold, dead heart honey." Jessica laughed behind him, as Eric turned to face her.

"I don't know what you are okay? Why can't you just leave me the hell alone?!" Eric shouted at her. Jessica smiled.

"Oh, I'm breaking through now. Good. Raven Hook is a magical place darling. You see things you don't want to see and hear truths you don't want to hear. But I'll tell you a secret, I'm real alright. Here," Jessica walked over to Eric and placed her hand on his cheek, the way she used to do, "See baby? I'm as real as can be." Eric recoiled from her touch and backed away from her.

"You can't be real. I don't believe you!" Eric watched as Jessica blew out a frustrated breath.

"You never believed in me anyway, Eric." Jessica vanished as Eric bit off his reply. Eric lunged for the door and flung it open, trying to get away from his thoughts as quick as possible.

Jason helped Ian drink his soda as the cup didn't have a lid like Ian was used to. He got a little on his shirt but it would soon dry as Ian continued to play with Raven. Jason grabbed another handful of candy and munched on it as Ian sat up and looked at the door. Jason turned and saw Eric standing there, wide eyed and a pistol in his hand.

"Jason what the fuck are you doing?!" Eric asked as he entered the room. The room was decrepit; the bed had been taken out and a chair had been put into place. The chair was a large leather chair with a steel backing used to hold unruly patients down. Jason was strapped into the chair at his chest and legs, as pills were dumped into his mouth with his free hand. He washed them down with more liquid medicine.

"Hi Eric! I found Ian! We're really enjoying this party, care to join us?" Jason asked as he chewed on pills. He grabbed a container of liquid cough syrup and drained it in one go. Jason belched.

"Jason you're eating pills! Snap out of it for fuck's sake!" Eric ran to Jason and knocked the bowl of pills away and kicked the stand holding the numerous bottles of liquid, unhooking him from the chair. "Ian's not here Jason! It's just you in this room eating goddamned pills!" Eric slapped Jason in the face as Jason rubbed his cheek.

"Ow! What the hell did you do that for?" Jason asked as Ian cowered behind his leg.

"Daddy, I'm scared!" Ian cried into his pants leg.

"Eric stop being an ass; you're scaring Ian!" Jason picked Ian up and scooped him into his arms.

"It's just us in this room, you idiot! You're doped up on fucking pills! There is no one else in this room!" Eric shouted angrily.

Jason heard Ian's crying grow louder as he the room started spinning and his stomach started to hurt. Jason doubled over from the pain and started vomiting blood and pills. Jason finished vomiting and looked around the room, searching for Ian.

"Where did Ian go! He was right in my arms!" Jason shouted at Eric.

"He was never here, Jason; it was the damned pills you were inhaling!" Eric snapped back.

"Fuck you Eric! He was here! I saw him playing with Raven and I played with them! I held his hand coming to this party room! I-" Jason stopped as the room changed to what Eric saw. He found himself kneeling beside a chair as pills and bottles littered the floor. Jason frantically looked around for Ian but he could still hear him screaming.

"What the fuck did you do to my son? Where is he, you bastard!" Jason yelled at Eric as he stood up.

"I haven't done shit to you or your snot nosed kid. Back off, Jason!" Eric warned as Jason started coming towards him.

"Fuck you, man! Couldn't find your wife so you took my son? I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!" Jason charged at Eric as Eric brought the pistol up and fired a single shot into Jason's chest. Jason grabbed his chest as he slowly fell backwards onto the pill covered floor. Eric grabbed him before he hit the ground hard and gently laid him on the floor. Blood poured out of the chest wound as Jason's eyes closed for the final time. Eric set Jason down as he turned away to vomit. He had never killed anyone before but he was crazy, insane. Just like everyone else here.

Well done sweetie, I'm proud of you. Now, finish him off. Put a bullet in his head and make me happy, Eric heard Jessica's voice in his head, as his arm self-consciously lifted the pistol and pointed it at Jason's head.

Do it baby, do it for me. You know he was crazy, he needed to know the truth. Just like you will soon enough. Eric felt his finger touch the trigger as Jason's grey, clouded eyes opened and his body start to transform. Jason's body start to blow up, increasing his size and his muscles. A small indention started to form on his torso as his skin started to rot and swell. Jason's facial features distorted as if he had been submerged in water for couple of days. Tiny hands and feet appeared on his chest as did a child-like head. The head on his torso grew big bulging eyes that were black as the darkest night. Jason's arms became twisted and broken, revealing broken bones protruding out of his flesh. Jason doubled over and vomited, clear chemical smelling liquid started to fill the room as Eric looked in horror.

Jason howled in pain as he started walking towards Eric, his face set in determination and bloodlust.