Seven

Chapter 5

The third floor of the Red ward was identical to the second. Checkered floors, depressing bluish gray walls, and a lonely reception area greeted Tim as he checked in with the remaining staff on the shift. Ameena, the other orderly, was a sassy black woman who didn't take shit from anybody. It was probably why she preferred staying on the third floor of the ward instead of hanging out with Finch, Mitch, and Cameron on the second. The nurse, Jodie Ingram, was more like Salcedo; she was amiable, cheerful, and seemed to love her job. Tim also knew Jodie since childhood and played football with her older brothers.

Jodie's face brightened when she spotted Tim through the doors. "Look who's here---it's Tim!" She came around the desk and gave him a huge hug. Tim liked Jodie and her enthusiasm. Having cheerful co-workers on the third shift sometimes made working at the hospital bearable, although Tim never had any major complaints.

"Hi, Jodie. Good to see you," Tim responded before looking over to where Ameena sat. "Nice to see you too, Ameena. It's not often I get to interact with you red-warders," he quipped before Ameena rolled her eyes and turned her chair around.

"Stop bothering me, Tim. You see I'm busy on my phone," Ameena propped her feet on the edge of the reception desk and shooed Tim away. "Go do what you've got to do and leave us alone. I'm busy. Bye." 

"Uh-huh. Busy all right. Looks like you're busy sending text messages to your future baby daddy, Ameena," Tim retorted before rushing off through the double doors and hearing Ameena's crass response and Jodie's full-throated laughter. 

The third floor was identical in layout to the second; there were a number of steel doors running the length of the corridor, all dimly lit by emergency lights and EXIT signs at the end of the hallway. Tim made his way to each door, giving it a slight twist on the handles to make sure they were locked. He looked into the rooms of the patients to make sure they weren't harming themselves or in any physical danger. Those who were, had restraints on to keep them from inflicting harm on their bodies or to the staff.

Tim looked at the last four doors at the end of the hallway. It was so dark, since the last emergency light gave out, and the only illumination came from a dark black-reddish glow the EXIT sign emitted by the stairwell. He could barely make out the handles on the doors, but the slight gleam reflected on its metal knobs looked like little red beads staring back at him. 

Somehow, walking towards the last four doors made Tim feel slightly unsettled. He wasn't sure if it was the lack of lighting or the soft cool air from the air vents that put him a little on edge, but he brushed the thoughts aside and checked the handles. Rooms 343, 344, 345, all secure. The patients inside the rooms were motionless and asleep in their beds. He looked over at the last room, 346. The handle was a little loose, but it was locked. He tipped his head to look through the small glass panel. 

He didn't notice anyone. According to the chart he carried with him, there was supposed to be a patient, a female, in room 346. Tim picked up his radio to contact Jodie.

"Hey, Jodie. You supposed to have a patient in 346?" Tim waited for a response. 

The static went through before he heard Jodie's answer. "Yeah. There's a girl in there, uh, let's see..." it sounded like she was flipping through some papers. "Yup, here she is. Name's Nicole Whelan. Something wrong?" 

As Tim stared into the room, he didn't see any signs of Nicole. "Yeah, I don't see---" 

Before he could finish, a large force slammed against the door and Nicole's face pressed against the glass panel. Most of her features were obscured by stringy, unkept dark hair, but one dark eye was visible, as well as her mouth, which was tilted up in a mocking sneer.

"Jesus Christ! The hell is that," Tim yelled as he backed up from the door and clutched at the radio he nearly dropped. "Man, what is wrong with you," he shouted in anger through the window. Nicole slipped away from the door and backed up into a corner, crouching, and muttering words to herself. 

Jodie's voice echoed through the radio. "Tim? What's going on? Tim? You all right?" 

"Yeah, I'm fine, Jodie," Tim caught his breath and calmly spoke into the receiver. "Nicole scared the crap out of me. Almost pissed on myself," He looked through the window again. "I'm about to head back. I'll be there in a few." 

He looked through the window, albeit a bit more cautiously so that Nicole wouldn't jump from nowhere to give him a premature heart attack. He was still young and healthy, but he hated being caught by surprise or things popping out of the blue. He peered and looked at the figure that was on the opposite side of the door, in the far corner of the small room. 

Nicole had backed up against the wall. Her hands were clutching at her hair and she looked like she was laughing. Her shoulders were rocking, but Tim couldn't make out her face due to the darkness of the room. He used his small flashlight and shone it on Nicole. Her long dark hair was matted and covered her face, except her mouth. He could see her lips moving. She was saying something, but the thick steel doors made it hard to hear from the outside. 

"Screw this, I'm heading back," Tim said as he turned and walked towards the other end of the hall. As he moved away he heard a slight creak behind him. Thinking nothing of it, he started to walk, but a cold hand grabbed his arm. 

"S-s-s-seven," Nicole Whelan whispered to him, as Tim instinctively pushed the girl away. She had somehow managed to unlock her door and clutched at him. Horrified that one of the mental patients had managed to get loose and partly in shock, Tim shoved her away with force. Nicole hit the wall, but stared at him with menace from the one eye visible through her hair.

Grabbing his radio he called the reception desk. "Jodie! Get here now! Nicole's outside her room!" He turned to grab Nicole before she could run away, but she ran inside to her room. Back to the corner where he last saw her. She was muttering under her breath. 

"Seven. Seven. Seven. Seven. Seven," was all Nicole kept saying as Tim stood by the doorway waiting for Ameena and Jodie to get to him. He flipped the light switch from outside the room to get a clear look at her. All he saw was a huddled, thin figure with dark hair whispering the number seven like a personal litany. Nicole's hospital gown was a dingy white color with unidentified stains on them. Likely, from food or drink spills. Her facial features were difficult to discern, since most of her hair covered them. Nicole was pale and probably malnourished, judging from the bony form under the loose gown. Tim figured she didn't eat much and the staff wouldn't force her.

Moments later, Jodie and Ameena arrived. Tim was thankful Richards didn't show up. The security guard couldn't care less if one mental patient escaped her quarters. Dr. Khan, who had duty that night was also in tow.

"What happened here?" Khan questioned Tim.

"She got out of her room. I'm not sure how, but when I checked her door, it was locked," Tim explained. "I don't know how she got out, but she did."

"Well, I need you three to check and make sure she doesn't have an ID badge in here. Check the sheets, pillows, and her clothes," Khan ordered before walking towards Nicole to inspect her. "I want her room thoroughly inspected."

With a no-nonsense type of personality, Ahmed Khan wasn't a doctor to be trifled with. Coming to the United States as a young Syrian refugee, he had seen his share of horrors through civil wars, and there was very little that fazed him. He promptly looked at Nicole, moved her hair out of her face, and pointed his small flashlight into her eyes. She wasn't responsive. Tim noted that Nicole's dark eyes were glassy. She looked like she was staring off into space. Khan put his flashlight away and motioned the three to continue inspecting her room. He wrote some notes into his pocket notebook before putting it in his doctor's coat. 

"Make sure you report anything unusual to me. If you find a badge, makeshift key, I want it confiscated. If she can make a card out of anything in this room, I want it taken away. Understood?"

The nurse and two orderlies nodded. Dr. Khan turned away and headed back to the small office in the reception area. Tim looked at the time. It was almost 1 o' clock. A few more hours and his shift was over.