The Seer by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 40

Tom had the building map of AMHI copied, and distributed them to each member of the team. He stressed that they would only be investigating the patient units and treatment rooms. There would not be enough time to cover the entire campus, and Tom didn't want anyone getting lost.

Before leaving, it was agreed the team would travel in two groups. Naturally, Donna spoke up, stating that she’d rather go with Gordon. Silently infuriated, Fraser's face flushed. This did not go unnoticed by the team, and Tom hoped that his reaction wouldn’t interfere with their investigation. Normally, a calm demeanor and a clear head were required, but because of the scale of the place they were investigating, a sharp wit was even more important.

It was three o' clock by the time they left Tom’s house. Gordon and Donna were in one car, and the rest of the team in another. Gordon did not yet know his way around Maine, so it was Donna in the driver's seat. Having looked up the history of AMHI, Gordon studied it, while talking to Donna about the absurdity of early nineteenth century psychiatric care. She did have to pretend to understand in order to realize how ineffective and inhumane mental health care used to be. She loved the sound of his voice, and admired him for his intelligence, as well as the broad scope of his knowledge.

With Donna at the wheel, the hour-long drive soon brought them to the turnoff to AMHI, and seeing it from a distance, they were both struck by its imposing size. Constructed of cut stone, AMHI stood like a fortress against the late the afternoon sky. It's main building appeared as a renaissance castle, clean and untouched by time. The parking lot had long ago been conquered by nature, as random weeds and tufts of grass had pushed their way through the weathered asphalt.

Parking close to the building's facade, Donna and Gordon waited for the rest of the team to arrive. The air was tense as each struggled for the beginnings of conversation.

“This place is a really big place,” Gordon began. “You gonna be okay in a place like this – in the dark?”

“Um...I hope so,” she replied.

Gordon reached over and took her hand. Her skin was warm and soft. Her grip was firm, yet tender, and served to solidify the bond they had discovered.

“We can pair off, if you still want to,” Gordon said. The team had never investigated a site this large, and he was quick to express his concern for Donna's safety.

“To be honest,” she replied. “I don't think I could concentrate.”

Her response was completely understandable, and in fact, Gordon felt the same way.

“I guess I could pair off with Fraser,” he said. Donna giggled with amusement.

“You're kidding, right?”

“No,” Gordon continued. “I think it would be good if we had a chance to talk.”

Donna was unable to let the smile leave her face, and began to question Gordon's sanity.

“About what?” she asked.

Gordon now saw the ridiculousness of their conversation, but continued with obvious humor.

“Oh, ya know, stuff,” he said.

There was a pause as Donna took a few moments to read Gordon's expression.

“You're really going to do this, aren't you?” she asked.

“We have to clear the air,” Gordon replied. “If we're both going to be on this team, we have to, at least, be able to talk, right?”

Seeing how determined he was, Donna resigned herself to Gordon's determination.

“Alright, Gordo,” she said. “Good luck.” Moments later, Tom's car pulled up next to them, and stopping only a few yards, Tom, Steve and Fraser got out. Each of them took a few minutes to stretch the tension from their bodies. Everyone gathered around Tom's car as the map was, once again, brought out and laid across the hood of his car. Tom felt it necessary to review the plan again. Once night arrived, their walk through AMHI's cold, dark hallways would begin, and it was critical that everyone followed the plan, and work together.

Before making their way to the back of the building, Gordon took a few moments to scan it's exterior. He was stunned to find most of the windows occupied by the former hospital's wandering dead. Their faces stood out with curious expressions, lost souls trapped by the confusion that brought them there. Some displayed a menacing grimace, while others, a silent scream of mental torture. The sight of so many souls in pain brought Gordon to a moment of overwhelming fear. He knew how many thousands of lives had been lost within the cold walls of Augusta's asylum, but he didn't expect to see so many of them staring down at him. However, Gordon was unaware that while they could not know who he was, they knew what he was, and as the team rounded the corner towards the back, the shapes and faces that so closely attended to his presence, faded into a pale vapor, disappearing into the blackness of the abandoned institution's cold, stale air.

Tom had already scoured the campus two or three weeks ago, and had located a safe entrance. Finding an unlocked door at ground level, he marked its location on the map. As he opened it, it's hinges let loose with an eerie chorus of chaotic screams, made more unearthly by the broad space beyond. Now, the team stood at the same door, as Tom divided them into two groups.

“So, Gordon,” he began. “Did you want to pair off with Donna?”

The two had already talked about the discomfort of investigating together, but it was Gordon who offered a quick response.

“Actually, I thought that Fraser and I could pair off for this one. Get a chance to talk a little.” Tom and Steve looked at each other in disbelief, while Fraser stared at the ground, trying to keep what had become his normal state from being obvious. But, living a life of anger and jealousy had pushed him into a place where anyone could see the inner workings of his insecurities. Tom directed his attention to Fraser.

“Hey...Fraser,” he began.

Hearing his name, Fraser pulled himself away from the patch of bare earth he chose to become lost in.

“You okay with that?”

“Oh, yeah, whatever,” he replied.

“Alright,” Tom said. “So, we're all set. You two take this half of the building, and we'll take the other. Let's stay on the floors where the patient units are. If there's any activity here, it's going to be in those areas.”

The team was now prepared, and with everyone properly equipped, Tom pulled the door as the loud screech of its hinges rang out through the darkness. Carefully, they walked in with flashlights and radios on. Once inside, everyone examined their maps, got their bearings, and started off. The inpatient units started on the third floor, away from the offices, kitchen, and maintenance areas. This would be their starting point. As they climbed the stairs they split up and began their search.