Dark Facade

chapter...12

I put the tapes back in the locker and  took Viola's notes. If Psycho hoodie tampered with the tapes, then why did you let me listen to them? I know he's coming after me. Maybe this is a game to him.  My parents would never, right? I mean, that's insane they are both so plain. As I was leaving the library and Sebastian walked out of the coaches office.

"Hey babe, you spent your day in the library, I hope it wasn't because of Mike?" He placed his arm around my shoulder.

"What? Oh yeah, I just -" the words died in my throat when we saw detectives standing in front of Theo's locker.

It didn't look like they found anything important. Maybe it was because they didn't know where to look. 'look' . That's right ,look, I can find out who the hoodie guy is. The fact that I'm the last person he's going to go for then it means my family has a more important role in his quest for vengeance.

"Come on, let me drop you of home"

Seb pulled me towards the exit, but something just wasn't sitting right with me. I stopped in my tracks, still looking at the cops. Sebastian turned around confused when I wasn't moving 

"Babe, come on, let's go. Are you okay?"

"I don't feel so good. Maybe I should go to the nurses office." I faked a smile and kissed him on the cheek. He furrowed his eyebrows and then sighed in defeat.

"Is there something I need to know and you're not telling me?"I wiped my hands on my skirt.

"Maybe, I don't know. I will tell you when I'm ready because right now I feel like I'm losing my mind. "

Worry filled his eyes, but he kept a brave face. Maybe he wanted to assure me that I had a shoulder to lean on. He pulled me into a hug, placing his head in the crook of my neck.

"I'll check on you later after practice?"

Nurse Watkins used to work at  Psych Hospital. I remember seeing her name in one of the photos of nurses who used to work there. I needed to think of something clever if I wanted to have a long conversation with her. 

As barbaric as it was, it was the only thing I could think of. I took my pocket knife and sliced my hand, not a great idea considering it hurt like a bitch.I held my hand as blood began to pool and rushed to her office.

"Hello Nurse Watkins, I kinda hurt my hand by accident." I winced in pain

"Oh my honey, what were you doing?" 

She gently took my hand and placed cotton to wipe the blood,

"It was so fast I think I sliced in on a broke door or something," I lied.

"Well, you're lucky cause it's not deep, so you won't need stitches. Take a seat, sweetie,"

Nurse Watkins was short and stubby, but don't let her silver hair fool you she moves quickly with a sense of elegance. She was getting the hydrogen peroxide and more cotton and band aids.

"So how have you been holding up coming back to school after all that you went through, hon?"

"Oh, I'm doing as well as I can be Nurse Watkins trying to distract myself with projects," I shrug.

"And on the topic of projects, I was curious about the psych hospital that closed down. I just wanted to ask if you knew anything about it?"

"Oh yeah, that old place can't say I remember much. My time there was short, but someone who could help you is Mr Osborn he stays in the retirement home just in town,"

So I chopped my hand for nothing, I worry how I think sometimes. She cleaned the wound and gave me directions to the place.

"Thanks again, Nurse Watkins,"

"You're welcome, sweetheart, and be careful for the doors," 

I called a cab and gave him the directions to the retirement home. Hopefully, Mr Osborn could help me figure out who the angel of death was. I registered as a guest at reception and asked one of the nurses where he was. She directed me to a man sitting by the window staring into the garden.

"Mr Osborn, you have a visitor." She gestured to me.

For someone who was in a retirement home, he didn't look too old, maybe in his late fifties. When he saw me, his eyes widened.

"Oh mon Dieu, Julia?" He looked taken a back.

I turned to the nurse, but she shrugged.

"He's french, don't stress about it, I leave you too alone," 

"My apologies, chere, you look like someone I used to know."

"That's okay, Mr Osborn. I just wanted to ask you a few questions about Fallen Woods' closed down Psych Hospital."

He grimaced, a ghostly chill filled the air a feeling like the topic we were discussing was forbidden.  

"What's your name, girl?"

"Jane Dawson, I'm working on a project, and I found some disturbing piece of information."  Probably not a good idea to use my real surname.

"Miss Dawson, everything you found is true, but it does not matter anymore." He shakes his head, looking back out into the garden.

"What happened to the mothers and the babies?" I took a shot in the dark.

"I was a security guard for thirteen years Miss Dawson the fact that those evils happened while I worked as protection still haunts me till this day." His eyes gloss over.

"The woman I loved, a journalist, made it her mission to expose the place, but it didn't work, and in the end, they killed her. The mothers? The ones who were wrongly admitted by horrible relatives were kept there even after providing a child some died in the process of child birth others experienced extreme cases of post partum depression that led them to taking their lives."

"Apparently theirs a list somewhere with old members of the council of the psych hospital with all the names of the patients. Maybe if the names were released, the familys and the souls will finally have peace." He sighed on the last part.

"Ah, thank you, Mr Osborn, I deeply appreciate what you shared it must not be easy having to recount those memories."

I said my goodbyes and made my way home. My heart was heavy. For eighteen years, I thought I was leaving a normal life. Meanwhile, my parents were connected to such depraved and malevolent acts. I wanted to vomit, but nothing came out. 

The house was empty and cold. Maybe I deserved this, but what I can't seem to wrap my head around is why the dark hoodie freak hasn't killed me yet. There's the creepy ticking sound that he's always doing maybe its a countdown. He did sign a number the last time I was with him.

Foot steps coming down the stairs stopped me, I grabbed the poker stick but immediately  relaxed when I saw who it was.

"Maybe say when you are going to visit."

"I missed you too, JJ," 

I hugged Theo, breathing him.

"We have a lot to talk about." He crosses his arms.

"You have no idea."