Quote:
You're visiting a friend or family member in the hospital and while walking down the hall, the fluorescent lights flicker, long enough for you to notice an eerie figure standing at the end of the empty hallway. Another flicker and the shadow grows closer - it's a deranged looking person, hair unkempt and eyes sunken into their sockets. A third flicker and the being is only yards away from you now, more grotesque in appearance than ever. A fourth flicker and…the lights return to normal, the hallway just as empty as it was when you originally turned to walk down it. Was it all an illusion? Maybe you're a little extra exhausted? Whatever the case may be, walking down the hallway you can't help but notice a putrid smell stinging your nostrils until you manage to turn the corner…
Leaning over to give the pallid figure securely tucked into the hospital bed a quick forehead kiss, Myth smiled and squeezed her auntie’s hand.
“Don’t fret so much, the doctor’s said you’ll be out of here tomorrow. Pneumonia is nothing to joke around with at your age. Sure you don’t want me to sit up with you?”
The older woman smiled back, waving a dismissive hand as a gravelly voice answered, “Shoo. I know you have your shop and a life. Besides, I feel so much better, even if I don’t look it. Like you said, I’ll be released tomorrow. Maybe we can have a little girl’s day out later this week. I think I’d like that.”
Pausing for a moment before nodding and swinging the strap of her purse up onto her shoulder, Myth paused for a moment before grinning down at her aunt and blowing her a kiss.
“Well, all right. I think I’d like that too. We can do brunch and drown our woes in mimosas. Good night, auntie! Love you!”
She watched her aunt wave back before settling in for the night and carefully closed the door behind her. A brief check in with the nurses to let them know she was headed out and Myth was on her way. Which… honestly she was mildly relieved about. She adored her aunt, but she hated hospitals. They were just so depressing! Passing the nurses station and turning down the hall that led to the elevators, Myth was slightly distracted. When the lights flickered, she glanced up, mildly curious. Weird. As her eyes left the ceiling, they slid over a shadowy figure at the end of the hall. Pausing, the young woman stared for a moment. Something about the figure seemed wrong, but for the life of her, she couldn’t put her finger on it.
It had to just be the lighting. Get enough fluorescents in an area and they’d make anyone look creepy. Shrugging off her initial unease, Myth kept walking, only to have the lights flicker again. And as the light danced and flickered, the figure was suddenly close enough for Myth to see the unkempt hair and sunken eyes. But she could have been okay with the person in spite of those things. No, what caused her to pause was the entirety of the person. This, she thought, was what most horror movie villains wanted to be. The air of deranged menace was enough to freeze the breath in her lungs.
“Umm, are… are you okay? Should I go get the nurses?”
The figure didn’t answer, didn’t seem to even move as the lights flickered again and suddenly the person was right there. Okay, so they were perhaps a yard or two away, but still close enough that if they wanted to, they could reach out and touch her. And at this lack of distance, Myth could see subtle bruising on what little skin showed. And… was that blood caked along the fingernails or just simple grime? Swallowing the noise that was trying to claw its way up her throat, Myth began to turn to run back to the nurses station.
Except the lights flickered again and suddenly the hallway was just as empty as it had been a few moments ago. There was no sign that anyone but herself had stood there as the flickering lights revealed alarming things. Shaking her head, she wondered if she might not have stayed visiting for too long. Being tired combined with her distaste for hospitals could just be ******** with her brain. That had to be it. Taking a step forward, her nose wrinkled as she tried not to gag at the smell in the hall. Covering her nose as best she could with her hand, Myth hurried down the hall, turning the next corner sharply and making a beeline for the nearest elevator. At least she seemed to have escaped whatever that smell was. She’d have to tell the front desk. She didn’t want her aunt disturbed by nasty smells and weirdass lights.
