Red Eyes - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – The Huntsman

Vlad finds himself sitting in a corner booth surrounded by total darkness. The green leather is soft against his skin as he finds a glass of whiskey in front of him on top of the mahogany table. He tries to look around, but the only thing he sees is the entire booth illuminated by a single bulb swinging overhead. From the shadows, a man holding a pint of stout sits down across from him. Vlad notices his brown, curly hair is disheveled, but his green eyes are full of life. He's wearing a simple red polo, and blue jeans. He sets his glass down, and stares at Vlad while sipping his pint in complete silence.

"Can I help you?" ask Vlad.

"More like how can I help you," replies the man.

"Interesting proposal since we're complete strangers having drinks," chuckles Vlad. "I'm not sure who you are, and what you do, but you're seem highly keen in helping me despite not knowing a single about me."

"Oh, come now, Dr. Vladimir Zhernakov. I know everything I need to know," replies the man as he finishes his pint.

"Who are you?" Vlad asks as he tries to figure out how this person even knows his full name since he hasn't divulged that information.

"A man who helps people deal with very peculiar problems," says the man. "You can call me Yeger."

"So, Yeger, what kind of problems do you deal with?"

"The kind that involves a man with red eyes," replies Yeger smiling.

Vlad downs his whiskey, and notices the glass is full the instant it touches the table. He begins to wonder if this is all a dream. He looks out into the darkness, and starts thinking it should be blue. He watches as the entire area around the booth turns navy blue. His theory is correct, but it doesn't explain why he's having a conversation with a man he's never met before in his life. He downs his glass one time, and sighs, "I knew this was all a dream."

"It is. Right now, it's the only way I can have a conversation with you considering your current situation," explains Yeger. "I do have one question before this dream ends."

"What's that?"

"What was the word written in blood on your cell?"

"Vola."

Vlad wakes up finding himself in bed clutching onto the plastic cross. He sits up in bed to find Travis wide awake staring at him as Travis' body starts trembling. He looks at Vlad as Vlad watches his eyes turn a milky white. Vlad gets out of bed, and walks over to his cell wall, and watches as Travis begins to shake as his eyes are nothing more than two white orbs staring at Vlad. When Travis blinks, a shiver runs down Vlad's spine.

"Libera animam meam," Travis starts chanting in Latin as a white circle of light appears over his head. He keeps chanting over and over as it begins to drizzle inside Domes Metus. The entire place begins to be covered in a light mist that starts glowing faintly while Travis keeps repeating to set his soul free. Vlad watches as a feather drifts from the ceiling onto his bed, only to watch it fade into the mist. 

"The huntsman was here, but he couldn't set me free," states Travis as the rain stops, and the mist disappears as well, leaving the entire area dry like the precipitation was all a hallucination.

"He couldn't? Why not?" asks Vlad as he thinks about his dream about Yeger. He also recalls the voices he keeps hearing about setting a soul free from its mortal prison. He looks at Travis and begins to wonder if the soul imprisoned is inside Travis. He realizes if there's an angel trapped inside Travis, it would explain why he was Red Eye's first victim. However, the idea of killing another man mortifies him regardless of how many lives it might save.

Travis eyes goes from white to glowing red. The halo of light over his head vanishes as he cackles, "Because I won't let him."

Vlad tries to step back, but something has him pinned against the cell wall as he smells sulfur while feeling hot air against the back of his neck. He feels a scaly hand grab his neck, and forces him to look forward. Out of the shadows Vlad sees a vision of himself standing outside the cell with glowing red eyes and almost black skin and silver hair. Smoke bellows from the two fiery horns sprouting from its temples, and a set of blood red bat wings sprouting from its back.

"This could be you if you didn't resist me, but due to your defiance, I will remind how weak you humans really are," bellows Red Eyes from Travis' mouth.

Vlad screams as he feels something sharp jabbed him in his left leg. He collapses to the floor only to see his lower leg twisted at a ninety-degree angle at his knee. He watches as the demonic vision of himself phases through the wall, and almost rips off his lower jaw as the vision turns into fog, and forces itself inside his mouth. Vlad feels his entire body begin to warm up as the demon disappears in his mouth. Once the demon vanishes inside his body, Vlad feels blood rushing from his mouth.

"You will obey me, old man," orders Red Eyes as everything fades to black.

Red Eyes - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – Whispering Smoke

A white feather and a cryptic message about a mortal prison has consumed Vlad's mind ever since his last encounter with Red Eyes. He doesn't recall anything else that happened that day, but the feather weighs heavy on his mind. He's never been a religious man, but as he clutches the plastic cross he was given by one of the guards as he lays on his bed. He has accepted that now is the best time to have faith in a higher power. He has acknowledged a demon is lurking within these walls, so why is it troubling to accept the possibility of another celestial being hiding as well. He wonders if he's gotten that bitter in his old age that it is easier to accept the existence of a demon versus an angel.

"Release me from my prison of bone, and liberate your soul," comes a whisper.

Vlad sits up in bed, clutching the cross harder while crying out, "Who's there?" Since his mental breakdown (what HR claims he suffered to avoid further investigations), Domus Metis has been empty save him. The state decided to relocate patients until an official statement can be released about the incidents happening within these walls. The person who even stops in here to see him is Johannes, but he only stops long enough to bring Vlad his meals. Something happened between him and Johannes, and Johannes refuses to talk about it.

Vlad watches as a large, white feather drifts from the ceiling, landing at his feet. He reaches down, and grabs it while glancing around his cell wondering when did a bird get inside here. He studies it closer, and notices that it's almost long as his arm.  He wonders where it came from as he runs his fingers over it causing it glow while warming his hands. As he hears the front security gates swing open, the feather flashes white before vanishing into thin air. As the gates close, he hears, "Free me..."

Vlad looks towards the gate, and sees a man with blond hair strapped to a wheelchair being escorted by four guards into Domus Metis. The man is wearing a muzzle and a straight jacket as the guards have Tasers in their hands. As Vlad looks at the man while passing his cell, he remembers where he saw this man before. This man was the one in the file Detective Ramos showed him before Red Eyes appeared that day. He looks at the man and wonders was he also possessed by Red Eyes, or is this man truly that troubled. Sadly, due to his current location, he may never find out.

He watches the guards carefully wheel the man into one of the cells, and unstrap him. The man gets out of the wheelchair, and sit down on the bed. Vlad notices the guard removing the muzzle hands shake as the man sits there and stares at Vlad with an empty look in his green eyes. Vlad studies him as a guard removes the straight jacket, and they rush out of the cell, slamming the cell door behind them as the man refuses to move. He nods his head at Vlad before laying down on his bunk.

A tap on Vlad's cell wall makes him stumble backwards. Outside his cell, Michael stands there with a smile on his face. Vlad notices there's something different at Michael. He seems much more relax, not the nervous HR director he used to be. He motions for Vlad to come closer. Vlad places his head against the cell wall as the room suddenly goes cold.

"You two are both here for the same reason," Michael explains. "Blaming your sins on a man with red eyes."

"The only sin I've committed was not loving my wife," Vlad replies.

"I know all your sins, comrade," sneers Michael while pointing towards the other cell. "I also know all of Travis Vanderson's sins as well. You two will be spending a lot of time together so maybe you can help each other renounce your sins, and face your punishment."

"This isn't punishment enough?" retorts Vlad.

Michael looks at Vlad as Vlad watches Michael's eyes start glowing red. "We will decide your fate. So, until then, be a good doctor, and help the new patient."

Vlad stumbles back so fast he trips over his own feet, and lands on the floor. He looks up at Michael as Michael stands there sneering as his eyes continue to glow red. Michael snaps his fingers, and walks away. As he gets close to the door, Vlad looks over and sees Travis' cell door is wide open. Inside the cell, one of the guards has his hands around Travis’ throat as gray smoke drifts out of the guard’s mouth

"Let me go!” exclaims Travis as smoke continues to bellow out of his mouth. “Let me go before he kills us all!”

“Jimmy, let the patient go,” orders one of the other guards.

“He is a murder, Thomas,” states Jimmy in a shadowy voice. “He should pay for his sins.”

“Let him go!” Tom shouts as he grabs Jimmy’s arms, trying to release his grip around Travis’ throat.

In a blink of an eye, Vlad watches as Jimmy grabs Tom’s throat, and with a single jerk upwards rips Tom’s skull off his spinal cord like he was ripping off a sheet of notebook paper. He drops the severed head onto the floor as gray smoke begins to exit from his mouth. He collapses next to the lifeless corpse, the smoke still drifting from his mouth. As the smoke begins to drift further into the cells, Vlad starts coughing as a wave of nausea washes over his body. Vlad slumps to the floor as smoke begins to exit from his mouth as well. Within minutes, everyone inside Domus Metis collapses onto the floor as the gray smoke fills the entire area.

 As the smoke begins to drift further into the cells, Vlad starts coughing as a wave of nausea washes over his body. Vlad slumps to the floor as smoke begins to exit from his mouth as well. Within minutes, everyone inside Domus Metis collapses onto the floor as the gray smoke fills the entire area. Inside Travis’ cell, the blood splatter on the wall begins to shift and spells out a word Vlad has never seen before: Vola

As Vlad tastes blood in his mouth, he watches Michael leave the area cackling up a storm as his eyes continue to burn red. Once Michael is gone, the smoke begins to stop as Vlad looks up, and sees another feather drifting downwards. As the feather gets closer, the smoke turns into mist as the guards begin standing up. As the feather lands on Vlad's chest, he hears the whisper once more saying, "Liberate me...."

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.