Fool's Paradise

Chapter 3

"Morin Thatcher?" says the man, peeping his head through the door.

"Yes?" I replied, immediately hiding the fork behind my back, embarrassed to think of what I looked like. What kind of help will a fork ensure? The man walked in briskly, still facing him, I sneakily set the fork back on the tray.

"I am Doctor Conam." The doctor said in a professional tone. "The nurse with you before notified me that you were awake." As he was taking some notes, he then asked if I was feeling any sort of pain.

"Mostly my leg... There are slight bursts of pain every once in while..." I paused. "I thought it was broken."

"Your leg?" He questioned. "I didn't think there was anything wrong with your legs when I checked." He looked through the papers on his clipboard. He checked his wristwatch and raised an eyebrow as he looked back up at me again. "Well, why don't we take another look at it again, shall we?"

He strode towards the bed and gestured me to sit on it while he grabbed the chair beside the bed. "We can also apply your IV needle back on while were at it." He added when he sat down.

"Morin." Shit. Martin's back.

Dr. Conam made himself comfortable on the chair and glanced back at me wondering why I haven't sat down yet. I quickly went and sat on the bed. The doctor asked me which leg is hurting and then proceeded to gently squeeze my leg starting from the knee going down, asking frequently if it hurt.

"Morrriin." Fucking hell Martin...

I look around the room. Searching for anything. I look at the doctor. Doesn't he hear anything?

"Morin!" Martin snapped. It startled me a bit.

Dr. Conam looked up immediately. "Does it hurt?" He questioned.

"No... I'm sorry." I apologized. "I actually heard something... no, someone. Someone is calling me; can't you hear it?"

He stared at me blankly for a moment, trying to figure out if I was serious. He looked around the room and so did I. We both stayed quiet, listening for Martin. After a few minutes, Martin delivered.

"Morr... Wahee uh!" I heard Martin's voice, it sounded like it was far away this time, like a man shouting at the end of an empty tunnel.

"There it is!" I exclaimed.

"What?" Dr. Conam looked around. "What did you hear?"

"My name... and something else, I don't know what." I anxiously whip my head around the room. I look back at the doctor. He looks very concerned. "It's Martin, it sounds like him. He's calling m-"

"Morin." I jump touching my ear. He whispered it right beside me. I continue to look around as if I'll see him. My eyes finally land on Dr. Conam. He looks scared, but I paid no attention to him. He's probably thinking of whether he should escort me to a mental asylum or not. Not a bad idea actually...

Did Martin also cause that loud crash earlier? Wait! Theo!

"Dr. Martin? What happened to Theo?" I questioned, snapping him out of contemplation.

"Ah, you don't have to worry about your son, Ms. Thatcher. He is perfectly stable."

"He's alive?"

"Yes, very much. Don't worry, he's just a few rooms down from here. I would be more than happy to guide you to him in the morning, as it is still evening. You must be tired and should rest to regain full recovery."

I want to see him now, but who am I to go against a doctor? "Yes, thank you. That would be great. Sorry for being a bother."

"It is no trouble whatsoever Ms. Thatcher. Now let's put your needle back on." Dr. Conam had the needle in hand and ready to shove back up my hand. What the hell did I do to deserve this?

It didn't hurt that much, but it wasn't the best feeling either. It felt like a fat maggot inching up under my skin. I wanted to rip it off immediately after he put it back on.

"There we go. Much better." Dr. Conam chimed standing up and walking to the sink.

"Yup." I replied half-heartedly.

Dr. Conam washed his hands and then proceeded to head towards the door. "Now, I'll have to request that you not leave this room for the remainder of the night. Make sure to sleep. Goodnight."

"Yes, thank you Doctor."

He smiled gently in response and with that he shut the door.

I try to get comfortable in bed when I remembered that loud crash from earlier, but there was nothing on the floor. Was it a hallucination?

"Nope. Teehee." That's not Martin.

Ahh fuck it. Nothing evil would say 'teehee'. I'm probably schizophrenic now. Whatever, I'm tired.

If the boogie man is gunna get me, now's his chance.