Maniacal

Prologue

"911. State your emergency."

The woman's clammy hands shake as she holds the phone close to her mouth. "Please," her voice cracks. "There's a madman, he's killing everyone."

"Okay, ma'am, what is your location?" The 911 operator asks.

"Atascadero State Hospital, please hurry!" She slaps a hand over her lips, trying to be as quiet as possible.

Closing her tearful eyes, she listens to the screams coming from the room behind. Every ear-piercing shriek brings her closer to her own death.

"Officers are on their way. Stay on the phone with me, ma'am," the operator says to the terrified woman. "What is your name?"

"My name is Erin Hazer," the woman pauses, "please tell my parents I love them."

"Erin, if you stay out of sight, you'll be safe," The operator gently says. "Do you know who the assailant is?"

A nearby door swings open quietly. Cold beads of sweat has covered Erin's body and she shakes violently. She stays crouched under her desk stationed in the front of the facility. A thick glass window separates her from the man that is now walking closer and closer. A curly cord follows her down towards her hiding spot, connecting to the phone.

"H-he's coming." Her lips quiver.

"Your assailant is a man? Just stay where you are, officers are almost to the scene," The operator says quickly.

Erin pulls on the cord, twisting it around her fingers. The phone base inches closer to the edge of the table, the woman unaware of this. Loud footsteps echo through the hall, the sound reaching her ears. She tries to make herself as small as possible and slows her breathing. Moments of silence pass and Erin soon believes he left. She glances to the door; it's her only escape out of this nightmare. Her whole body sinks into an unavoidable dread as she realizes that whoever had fled from the office hadn't closed the door completely. A small sliver of light reveals a dark outline and a sinister smile.

"I didn't know we were playing hide-and-seek?" His tone is menacing.

Out of utter fear and shock, Erin tugs the phone cord close to her chest. This immediately causes the phone base to slide off the desk and crash onto her skull. A dizzy haze clouds her mind and black dots appear in her vision.

The collision sends a wave of panic in the 911 operator, "Hello? Erin?"

Creaking open the door, the man turns his attention to the faint voice coming through the phone. Erin tries to crawl away, but her fading consciousness wraps around her head, not allowing her to make any sudden moves. The glint of a large silver knife gives the women a piercing headache. The man bends down beside her and forcefully grabs the phone cord. With a quick slice, the operator's words are replaced with loud beeping and his maniacal laughter.