Chapter 17: Life Essence

Days later….

“Time of death….15:03.”

 The silence in the emergency room was solemn as Beth took a deep breath and squeezed Dr. Casper’s arm as he called the time of death. This was the part of her job that she hated deeply and passionately,losing a patient when they had done everything in their power to save him.

 She stepped forward to take a closer look at the young man,the victim of an automobile accident. A bus carrying twelve passengers had crashed into his car. The emergency room was completely overrun with all the injured, but he was the worst off.

Dr. Casper turned to her, his face clouded with sadness. He had been a doctor for over thirty years and every time death touched his work it seemed like the first time.

“You did everything you could,Doctor,” Beth said. “He’s in a better place now.”

She looked down at him. So young,not even thirty yet. His wife and young daughter were waiting outside. She could see that Dr. Casper was dreading to break the news to them.       “Thank you,”Dr. Casper replied. “It never gets easier does it?I’ll go tell his family.”

When he was gone Beth pulled the sheet up, to cover the gaping hole in the young man’s chest. No need for his wife to see him so broken and torn when he was obviously such a handsome young man. His almond eyes stared up lifelessly at the ceiling and she gently closed them, waiting for Dr. Casper to break the news.

Today was her last shift for a while. She’d put in a leave of absence to deal with all that had happened. After reading Polly's journal, she was more apprehensive than ever and Ethan had at first insisted she move into the manor where he could protect her, but Marcus, sweet mischievous Marcus, had pointed out to them that she might actually be in more danger there than at her own place.

For all intents and purposes,whatever supernatural forces were at work were more centered at the manor than anywhere else. Ethan at first had resisted the idea of her going back to her home,but after some time to think,he realized the wisdom of Marcus' words. The one thing he wanted more than anything in the world was to keep her safe. She'd taken Polly’s journals but hadn’t read anymore of her entries. Work had been hectic and Emma had almost choked on her tea when Beth told her what was going on. She still had some disbelief, but after she met Ethan and Marcus, she slowly came around to the idea.

On the other side of the door, she could hear the heartwrenching sobs of the young man’s wife who was now his widow. It was true what Dr Casper said.It never got easier.

She knew the woman would soon come into the room and before she turned to leave she cast a final look at the young man in the bed….and her blood froze in her veins.

His head was turned her way,his lifeless eyes open and boring into hers.

“Beth,”her name escaped his lips,the voice distinctly female. “Beth…”

“Who are you?” Beth asked, steeling herself against the fear threatening to paralyze her where she stood. “Katherine?”

A low chuckle, sounding more like a growl escaped his lips, the face of the young man contorting against the laws of nature and God. His tongue moved in snake like movements over his lips, his dead eyes never leaving hers.

“Katherine?” the voice came again, followed once more by the same guttural laugh. “No Beth. I am the other.”

Beth felt the coldness seeping into her, replacing her fear with morbid dread. Dear God, this was the one who lived in the shadows…

She considered the option to buck and run, but that was impossible. On the other side of the door was Dr Casper, the young man’s widow and a room full off patients and medical staff. To run and show her terror was not the way to go.

The lady in the shadows was here, inside the lifeless body of the young man and there was nothing she could do.

“You know I plan to end you Beth, along with your beloved and whoever else stands in my way.”

“Why are you doing this?” Beth said in a hoarse voice, biting back her tears. “Why do you want to hurt Ethan? Who are you?”

It felt as if she were standing in an ice locker, the cold was becoming unbearable.

“I am the woman he killed!” The voice was more forceful now,angry and raw. “He ended me as I will end him!”

Beth reeled at her words, grasping at the table next to the bed, the phone crashing to the floor. It made no sound to her perception. All she was aware of was the animated corpse before her, speaking words she had never imagined she would hear.

Vaguely she became aware of someone next to her, pulling her out from wherever she was. 

“Nurse Collins? Are you allright?” Dr. Casper’s eyes were full of concern.

“Yes…yes Dr. Casper. For a moment I just felt dizzy,” she lied, looking at the young man, resting, in the peaceful sleep of death.