Red Eyes - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - The Deal

Michael puffs away on his cigarette as he watches lightning fill up the night sky from the deck of his condo. In less than a week, his job went from smooth as silk to a tempest of utter chaos. The FBI and The State Health Board are investigating the hospital after three mysterious deaths, and the director having a full nervous breakdown. He almost quit after watching Vlad almost kill Johannes with his bare hands. Now, as acting director (since no one else was willing to take the helm), it's his job to return the entire hospital back to normal. If  things keep getting worse, he'll end up alongside Vlad in Domes Metus if he's not careful.

To make matters worse, the new patient is finally arriving today despite all the incidents. The State's Attorney Office wants the patient diagnosed within a month to see if they can even stand trial. So, Michael now has to find a doctor willing to take on the case today since the most qualified one, Vlad, is now confined to a cell. Michael has read the unredacted parts of the case, and suspects that was what sent Vlad into a homicidal rage after his session with Dr. Anderson. Either way, he has to deal with the clusterfuck because Vlad finally snap instead of retiring like he insisted.

"God damnit, Vlad," Michael curses as he takes another drag of his cigarette.

"God be damned is right," says a shadowy voice say from behind him.

Michael whirls around peering into his dimly lit living room through the patio sliding doors. Between flashes of lightning, he sees nothing out of the ordinary. He sighs exhaustion is catching up to him. He finishes his cigarette, and  heads into the kitchen to grab a bottle of scotch from above the fridge along with a glass. He goes back to the living room, and slumps into his recliner. He pours himself a double, and pounds it down. He pours another, and slowly sips on it while watching approaching storrn. He mumbles to himself, "God damn you, Vlad. You should have retired."

"Oh, but he's right where we want him," says the shadowy voice again.

Michael flips on the lamp next to his recliner while crying out, "Who's there?"

"A friend who can help you get rid of Vlad for good," says the voice.

Michael feels a chill in the air as the room darkens. He looks around between each bolt of lightning, but the room is empty. He tries to pour himself another drink, but the bottle is gone from the table. He shivers as the room grows colder. He glances at the dining room table, and sees the bottle in the middle of the table. Behind the bottle, a pair of red eyes blinks as a glass appears. Michael watches as the bottle moves by itself, and fills the glass.

"It's been centuries since I've enjoyed a drink," says Red Eyes. "Please, join me," he offers as chair across from him slides out from under the table.

"Who are you?" Michael asks creeping towards the table as the rain begins pelting on the roof. Michael sees a man sitting there holding the glass. He looks at the glowing red eyes, and realizes the rumors are true. They were right as Michael stares at the man with red eyes sit at his table while drinking his whiskey. However, the man hasn't made him doing anything yet, but in the back of his mind, he fears this encounter will not end well.

"Someone that can help," replies Red Eyes before emptying his glass.

"Help me with what?"

"To return order to the hospital, and keep Vlad in that cell until his soul goes to Hell," explains Red Eyes.

"What's the catch?” Michael inquires as he sits across from Red Eyes. Vlad and Michael have never seen eye to eye. Vlad will bend rules to cure a patient, while Michael fought against it. Michael believed the rules were there for a reason. Also, Vlad is the reason Michael's marriage failed. It was Vlad that exposed Michael's antics outside of work, and Michael's wife caught him in that hotel room. The day Michael learned Vlad was getting a divorce because his wife cheated on him, he almost threw a party.

"I possess your body until I finish my mission," states Red Eyes. "That way, together, we can unleash my true nature.”

“What if I refuse?”

“You’ll end up dead,” sneers Red Eyes.

Michael pinches himself to make sure that he's not dreaming. The reason for all the deaths, and Vlad's current mental state is offering him a deal at his own dining room table. He tries to run, but he's too afraid to move. He's a dead man if he rejects the offer. However, he also thinks he might finally be respected by his employees even if it's through fear. Also, the thought of Vlad rotting away inside a plastic cell brings a smile to his face. He will have all the power to do whatever he wants, and Vlad can't stop them.

"I know how much Vlad despised you, and even mock you for doing your job," says Red Eyes. "Imagine the respect you'll get from him with us in control."

"That Russian bastard will have no choice," Michael says smirking. "So, do we have a deal?" asks Red Eyes.

"We do."

"Good. Now hold out your hand."

Michael holds out his hand, and winces as a cut appears across his palm. He watches the blood begin to boil. A hand reaches out from the darkness, and grips his. He watches as a dark shadow pours into the cut as his skin goes blue as the air gets even colder. His entire body shivers as his entire arm is blue and cold. He tries to scream from the pain, but his entire body is numb as the shadow keeps entering into his body through the cut. He watches as the red eyes are finally absorbed, causing the cut to vanish.

His body slowly stops shivering as sweat pours from every pore, dripping onto the floor. He feels pain in his chest as his shirt begins to smoke, burning a hole revealing his chest. He rips open his shirt, and sees a pentagram being burned into his flesh. He feels nauseous at the smell of his own flesh searing as Red Eyes takes over his body. As the pentagram continues to glow on his chest, Michael slips out of the chair, and lands on the floor

 "The deal is complete,” cackles Red Eyes.