Free Dark Exorcist by Tim Miller

the desk.
         “Oh? Hey Doc. How’s it going?”
         “Fine so far. How’s everything here?”
         “All good. Everyone’s still sleeping. How’s that girl?”
         “She’ll be all right, I think. She might be back on our unit in a few days.”
         “Oh, cool,” he said, looking back at the phone.
         I walked down the hall, looking in on each patient as I did. People usually slept well on this unit. Medication to help them sleep was given during evening rounds. Many mentally ill patients suffer from lack of sleep. It’s such a vicious cycle. Their illness prevents them from sleeping, either due to anxiety, obsessive or manic behavior, or a variety of other causes. As a result, they don’t sleep, and become even more restless and agitated. Even the most mentally healthy people can experience hallucinations, memory loss and anxiety symptoms, when deprived of sleep. So just imagine the effect it has on the mentally ill.
         Thankfully, everyone slept through the commotion. I checked on nurse Chloe, she was stirring a bit. I noticed one of her eyes opened, as she rolled over.
         “Who’s there?” she asked, while partially sitting up.
         “It’s Dr. Bennett. How are you feeling?”
         “Like I was hit by a bus.” She rubbed her eyes.
         “You may as well have been. It’s just the Geodon. It should wear off soon. You can stay in bed if you like. It might be a few more hours before it wears off completely.”
         “I have work to do,” she said, yawning.
         “It’s okay. I’ll call a day shift nurse to come in an hour or so early, to administer morning meds. Just get some rest.”
         “Thanks Doctor,” she said, her eyes already closed.
         I walked back into the hall, when the lights went off again.
         “Dammit,” I said to no one in particular.
         “You there Doc?” I heard Bobby call.
         “Yes Bobby, I’m here. The power went off again.”
         “Why does it keep doing that?” he asked. It’s times like this when I wonder why he’s not working at 7-Eleven. How did he even get this job? He must have family who works here or something.
         “I don’t know Bobby. I’m sure it will be back on soon.”
         I returned to my office to find my flashlight. It was in the bottom drawer. Thankfully it wasn’t a small light, but one of those handheld, spotlights. It wouldn’t work at first, but I finally got it to come on. As I stepped back out to the unit, it went off again. In the darkness, I called out to Bobby.
         “Bobby? Can you hear me? Do you have your flashlight?” I asked, while slapping the side of my light. Nothing. Still darkness. The batteries could have been dead, but I thought I’d just changed them. There was no answer from Bobby either. I felt my way along the wall and behind the desk. He wasn’t in his chair. “Bobby?” I called a little louder, “where are you?” There was still no answer.
         I walked back down the hall, literally feeling my way along the walls as I went. This time, when I shook the light, it came on. I shined it at the desk area and saw Bobby’s phone lying there, but he was nowhere in sight. Turning  to look the other direction, I saw him standing about twenty feet away from me, but he wasn’t alone. There were several people behind him, at least ten of them, all wearing hospital gowns.
         “Bobby? What are you doing? What’s going on?” I walked closer to the group. This night had been downright spooky, and I didn’t need my own staff losing it. “Why are all these patients out of bed?”
         None of them spoke. Once I was within a few feet of the group, I noticed their eyes were glowing yellow, the same way Amanda’s eyes looked earlier. Maybe I should call Father Pierce, after all. While I’d never believed in the supernatural, there was no logical explanation for the events