32
Tuesday, June 6, 2006 – 7:31 p.m.
Aspen Memorial Hospital – Room 511
Maisie opened her eyes. The bright lights of her room and the flickering television set wreaked havoc on the cones and rods of her eyes. Squinting, she closed them again and then slowly peeked through the thin slits of her eyelids. Slowly letting her eyes become accustomed to the light, Maisie finally opened them all the way.
“How are you feeling?”
Mommy’s soothing voice made Maisie feel warm and happy.
“I’m feeling much better. My head doesn’t hurt now and my tummy is full. Can I have a cookie?”
“We’ll see. I’ll have to see if the nurse can get us one.” Karen put her hand on Maisie’s head. Maisie’s warmth flowed into Karen’s hand. Her small face smiled up at Karen, her curly hair tousled on the pillow.
“You don’t feel warm. That’s a good sign. And your head feels better?”
“Yes, much. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
“That’s great!” A warm mommy smile spread across Karen’s face as she looked into the eyes of Maisie. “I love you so much Maisie.”
“I love you too mommy.” Maisie’s smile was accented on both sides by small dimples. Her bright shiny eyes gave indication of her healthy state and her energetic disposition. “Do you think Papa will come back and read me a story like he promised?”
“Well, I’m sure he will since he promised he would.”
“When?”
“I don’t know honey. He’s a very busy man. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Maisie took a deep breath and sighed. “I wish I could go home. I’m tired of being here.”
“I know. But Dr. Slaterbaugh said you’d probably be able to go home tomorrow. In fact, as well as you’re feeling, I’m sure you’ll get to.”
“I hope so.”
Maisie stared at her mom’s face. Karen looked at her and smiled warmly, a motherly look of relief wrinkling her forehead and a small blemish beginning to appear on her right cheek. Maisie blinked and looked again. The blemish was growing.
“Mommy, something’s on your face.”
“What?”
“There’s something on your cheek.”
Karen reached up and ran her fingers across the area. A small bubble was beginning to form. “What the…” Karen got up and walked over to the mirror. Looking at her reflection she saw the area slowly getter redder and redder. “That’s strange,” she mumbled to herself. Turning back toward Maisie, she saw Maisie staring at her hand.
“I’ve got one too.”
Karen walked to the side of the bed and looked at Maisie’s hand. A bright red bubble was forming on the back of her hand as well.
“It’s starting to hurt,” Maisie said.
“Mine too.”
Karen reached up and began to rub the area. Maisie did the same on her hand. Maisie looked at her mom just as the bubble grew bigger. Then, it suddenly erupted. The skin burst open and a large night crawler began to emerge. Karen screamed out in pain in unison with Maisie as her bubble erupted and the head of a small garter snake appeared in the wound. Reaching down in panic, Maisie grabbed the snake by the head and pulled. As it squirmed, Maisie could feel the length of the snake’s body wriggling inside her wrist and arm. Screaming, she began to pull harder. Suddenly, the head snapped off and the body of the snake disappeared back inside her hand. Her hand and arm bubbled up and down as the headless body writhed inside her body. Maisie frantically began tearing at her arm. Using her fingernails, Maisie tore away skin from her arm as she attempted to remove the reptile.
Meanwhile, Karen had pulled the night crawler from her face. More worms were oozing out of the open wound. As Karen screamed in pain, Maisie looked up to see several worms squirm out of the open orifice followed by a glob of maggots and other squirming creatures. Millipedes, centipedes, Guinea worms, earthworms and more continued to pour forth from Karen’s face. Her entire head was in a state of metamorphosis as the squirming of the creatures caused her face to bubble and twist in and out of shape. Her cheeks stretched from one point to another, her scalp rolled down her forehead and back up again, her nose moved from side to side and her lips grew to enormous size before bursting. Maisie was covered in flesh and blood, worm entrails, fatty tissue and muscle. Karen’s eyes rolled back in her head as she reeled in pain. She attempted to speak but the only sounds that emanated from her were the sounds of bubbling liquid. The sounds were muffled by the mass of shredded tissue and exploded tongue membrane in Karen’s mouth. Rivers of blood ran down her face and covered her shirt with dark stains of life. Maisie screamed out in horror.
Maisie looked back at her arm. It had stopped quivering and the pain was gone, but now she noticed the rest of her body was itching and felt very irritated. A crash brought Maisie’s attention back to her mother who collapsed in a heap on the floor, a pool of blood forming around her head. A sudden sharp pain stabbed Maisie in the back and her lower leg. Ripping the covers off her, Maisie reached down to grab the areas. When she did, she felt the skin of her leg rising. As it stretched tighter and tighter, Maisie’s pain increased exponentially. The pain was almost unbearable. Maisie grabbed her leg in a death grip to stop the pain and felt it split from her knee to her ankle. A huge snake two inches in diameter squirmed free of its’ prison. Looking like some newborn animal, it was covered in blood, membrane and tissue. Flopping onto Maisie’s bed, and still connected to her torso, the snake raised its’ head which was formerly her foot. Dark, evil eyes stared her in the face. Slowly opening its’ mouth, the snake revealed four huge fangs, two on the top and two on the bottom. A long forked tongue flicked out and caressed Maisie’s face. The deep throaty sound of hissing burst forth from the snake’s mouth and it lunged at her sinking its’ teeth deep into Maisie’s neck. Maisie reached up to tear it from her, a silenced scream attempting to emerge from her small mouth. Black curls of hair matted with blood stuck to Maisie’s face and head. As she pulled, the snake bit harder. A searing, hot sensation coursed down her neck and began to fill her body. The heat quickly filled every nook and cranny until she felt as if she were on fire. Maisie’s small body began to tremble and shake. Her eyes rolled up into her head and she couldn’t think straight. Maisie attempted to control this horror thinking that it might be a nightmare. She tried to apply the lucid dreaming techniques she’d read about but with no success. She tried shutting her eyes but it didn’t work. She could still see just as clearly as if she had them open. She tried screaming, but her voice was frozen as if in a block of ice. Terrified, she tried to get out of bed to run.
The snake let go of her neck and flopped over the side of the bed. Maisie looked down only to see that both of her legs were no longer legs but two thick, serpentine, squirming snake bodies. Her feet were snakeheads that writhed back and forth, their tongues flicking the air in search of warmth and food. Maisie’s heart was pounding so hard that her chest was reeling in pain. The sensation of something crawling inside her chest and wrapping itself around her warm, life-giving pump made her vomit. Retching in agony, Maisie crumpled onto the floor. Her snake legs crawled toward the door where the warmth of the hallway was seeping underneath. Maisie’s upper body was being drug behind. Attempting to stop herself, Maisie tried with all her might to dig her hands into the tile floor. It was to no avail. Moving faster, her snake legs slithered this way and that as they made their way around the legs of tables, monitors and other items. Maisie’s upper body was being whipped back and forth like a rag doll in the mouth of a vicious dog. Hitting her shoulder and sides on chair legs and monitors, Maisie silently screamed. Then, with one sudden movement, the snake legs went the other direction sending Maisie’s upper body the opposite way. In horror, Maisie watched as the doorframe suddenly loomed into view. With a loud crack like that of a watermelon hitting the floor, Maisie’s head smashed into the metal frame. Her vision darkening, her body burning and grotesque, blood streaming from a gash on her head and her mother dying, Maisie quickly faded into a realm of complete and total darkness.
***
Karen awoke from a dead sleep. The monitors next to Maisie’s bed were going crazy. Her heart rate was sky high, her temperature was nearing 105º and her entire body was shaking violently. Shocked fully alert, Karen jumped to her feet and reached out to steady Maisie’s frame. A trickle of blood ran from Maisie’s ear and trickled down her face dripping onto her pillow. Karen screamed for help.
Seconds later, Darcy came barreling into the room followed by Raisin Woman.
“What’s going on?” Karen screamed. “She’s bleeding and shaking and the monitors are all going off. Is my baby dying?”
Darcy circled the bed and stood opposite Karen. “She’s not dying, but she needs immediate help. I’ve already paged Dr. Slaterbaugh.”
Just then, Ken walked through the door, the epitome of calmness. “Hey Miss Shirley, how are….” Ken stopped in mid-sentence realizing something was wrong. He’d come in to read a story to Maisie and tuck her in before paging Spike. He wanted to give him a little more time to reveal himself and explain where he’d been. Looking at Maisie Ken was shocked. He hadn’t expected this. Dropping the book he had on the table, Ken jogged the last five feet to her bed.
“When did this start?”
“Just now,” Darcy said a quaver in her voice. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
“She’s dying isn’t she?” Karen asked, her voice filled with panic.
“No. She’s not dying.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Karen’s horrified face revealed her deepest fear, that of losing Maisie.
“She’s having another nightmare,” Ken said. “Only this one is far worse than any of the others. Look at the EEG monitor. The delta waves are coming at a rate of 150 – 200 per second. That’s almost three times the normal rate during REM sleep.”
“Will it kill her?”
“No, it shouldn’t. But it’s not good either. If she doesn’t calm down in a minute or two, I’ll have to administer something to quell the brain activity and calm her body.”
“Can’t you do it now?” Karen asked in a pleading voice.
“I don’t want to give her something if she doesn’t need it. Usually nightmares pass in just a few seconds to a few minutes. Although to the one having the nightmare it may seem like eternity, in reality it is usually a very short time.”
“What about the blood?”
“Blood?”
“Right here. It’s coming from her ear.”
Ken stepped up next to Karen, his arm brushing hers. Looking at Maisie’s face, Ken reached out and gently tipped her head. Her convulsions had abated and she was slowly relaxing. Taking out his otoscope, Ken looked in Maisie’s ear. The eardrum had ruptured. No apparent damage other than a small tear in the membrane was visible.
“She should be fine. There’s a small tear in her eardrum, but that’s all. It will heal.”
“Why did her eardrum rupture?”
“Probably due to the high fever and the violent thrashing.”
“What do you think is causing these terrible nightmares?”
“Well, I’m not sure, but I’m working on it.”
Ken didn’t want to inflate Karen’s fears by telling her about his suspicions regarding tryptamines and the possibility of someone tampering with the needles and IV bags. For now, he wanted her to know that he was working to find a solution.
Maisie’s temperature began dropping and her body, although covered in sweat, was beginning to relax. The EEG readings were back down around 25 and her heart rate was steady.
“I’ve decided to spend the night,” Ken said.
“What?” Darcy and Gretchen said. Both nurses had stood helplessly by while Ken had talked with Karen and checked on Maisie.
“I’m going to spend the night. I’m still working on finding a solution to this. Besides, I want to be close if there are any more episodes with either Maisie or Hank. I feel it’s in their best interests.”
“That’s so kind,” Karen said looking at Ken. “Do you often stay like this?”
“Not usually, although I have a few times in the past.”
“Just don’t start snoring like last time,” Gretchen bellowed. “I could hear you clear down the hall.”
“I don’t snore.”
“Bull pucky you don’t.”
Ken blushed. Darcy didn’t say anything.
“I’m going to check on some other things I need to do,” Gretchen said.
“Fine. Thanks for paging me.”
“It was Darcy. But, you’re welcome.” Gretchen gave Ken a half sneer and left the room.
“I’ll take care of this for a bit if you want to get some other things done,” Ken said to Darcy.
“Thanks doctor. Do you need anything else?”
“Not right now. I’ll let you know if I do. I just want to keep an eye on Maisie for the time being. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome.” Darcy turned, her dark hair streaming behind her as she left.
Ken walked back to Karen’s side and reached out laying his hand on Maisie’s forehead.
“She’s a good kid. Why do things like this happen to the good ones?”
“They happen to everybody, not just the good ones.”
“But, it’s just not fair.”
“Is life fair?” Ken asked. “It never is.”
“I’m just so tired and scared. I don’t know what to do.”
“She’ll be okay.” Ken’s thoughts went back to his discussion with Chandini about another powerful episode hitting Maisie due to the integration of some form of time-release technology into the tryptamine elixir. He knew that this was what was causing these episodes, but he didn’t want to tell Karen, at least not right now.
“Do you think these nightmares, these headaches will ever stop?”
“Eventually, I’m sure they will. In the meantime, we need to determine the exact cause and work from that angle. I have some ideas, but I still need to do some testing and a little more research.”
“It seems like the nightmares are getting worse, especially today. I don’t understand what’s changed to make things so much more severe. It’s as if she just snapped and the floodgates were opened. I don’t remember her ever having nightmares so bad that she became feverish or was thrashing around uncontrollably. And the broken ear drum, that’s just too much. I need some answers.” Karen was becoming more and more agitated. Ken could see her stress levels rising and her body tensing up under the pressure.
Reaching out, Ken laid his warm, reassuring hand on Karen’s shoulder. Immediately a feeling of calm settled down on her. She could almost feel his concern radiating out from his hand and into her body through her shoulder.
“I know it’s not easy Karen. But you need to try to keep yourself under control. Maisie needs the reassurance that you’re okay. If she senses your anxiety, it may make her clam up and hold in even more of the stress she’s already feeling.”
“As if she needs me. Have you noticed how independent she is? She’d do fine if I weren’t around.”
“Perhaps she would. But she is still a kid. Although she acts like an adult, physically, mentally and emotionally she’s not. Behind that façade of strength and determination is a little girl screaming for help. Hopefully, we can provide some.”
“Thank you doctor, Ken. You’re a godsend.”
Ken smiled and ignored the compliment. “I’m just trying to do my job. I want to help people and kids especially. They get such a bum wrap in this world that I feel like maybe I can do a little something to help.”
“Well, she certainly has grown attached to you in a short time.”
Maisie moved uncomfortably in her bed trying to find a better position to rest. Tossing her head back and forth a couple of times, she finally turned on her side facing Ken and Karen. A small whimper of discomfort emanated from her. Wrinkling her forehead, Maisie’s face revealed that not all was well behind that wall of bravery.
Ken dropped his hand from Karen’s shoulder. “I need to do a couple of things. I’ll be back in awhile. If Maisie wakes up before then, have Darcy or Gretchen page me. I’ll be right over.”
“Thanks, I will. So tell me, is Gretchen always such a sourpuss?”
“Yup. That’s her. She’s always had a bad disposition about her. She does her job well, but she’s just not a people person. We just try to ignore the negative side of her.”
“She is hard to talk to. It’s like pulling teeth trying to find anything out.”
“I know. Don’t worry. I’ll fill you in on everything you want to know.”
“Sounds fair.”
“Okay. To be continued.” Ken reached out and lightly slapped Karen’s shoulder in a gesture of friendship and support. Looking down at Maisie, he reached over and softly stroked her head. She smiled in her sleep and a look of contentment spread across her face. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
Karen thanked Ken again and he left the room. As he headed toward his office, the elevator doors opened and Slick stepped out.
“Slick. What are you doing here? Chandini said you’d left.”
“I had exited the premises, but I came back for some books I’d left behind. Chandini told me about the outcome of those tests she ran for you on the syringes and IV bags. I thought it only prudent that I come and talk to you immediately.” Slick’s smooth demeanor and courteous qualities were always evident whenever anyone talked to him.
“Oh and why is that?”
“Well,” Slick paused in deep thought, his body language graceful and relaxed, and “I believe I know who may be behind this horribly inhumane treatment of our dear patients. What kind of sick mind could even think of such a thing?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. So you think you know who it is?” Ken asked raising his eyebrows in surprise.
“I do.” Slick waited for Ken to ask.
“And who might that be?”
Slick allowed a few seconds of silence to build the anticipation level surrounding them. Then he said in a controlled, confident voice, “Spike.”
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