Chapter 14— The First strange Night

"Shh! We can't afford to wake him up!"

"Everybody, focus!"

"Do we really have to do this?!"

"Yeah, we have to know the person we've let into our home!"

"Keep your voices down guys. I gave him one of the hints in the book".

"Alright, that's rule number what?"

"Monica, bring out the rule book".

"Oh here it is, rule number four, 'To find the key, you must first unlock the door, find two keys and begin your journey'".

"Oh no you guys, go easy on him, he seems like a nice guy!".

"That's not important for now, let's get on with it, shall we?"

"Ok so, what's quest number 4?"

"Sleep walking!"

Uncle Millie rubbed his palms against each other with excitement and brought out a large candle. William sprayed some paprica on the lit candle and everyone present, smiled mischievously.

"Seven candles, for seven nights!"

"Hahaha, let the show begin!"

A party of seven tiptoed on to the guest section. The unknown candle was placed on the ground in front of Joe's room. It's scent and smoke would sneak in through the door and fill the sleeping man's bedroom. The deed was done and they all stole away to bed.

A few minutes later, Joe was suddenly awakened by a weeping voice.

"Who's there?" He could hear the creature sobbing. "Am I dreaming?" He whispered.

"Flee from this place Dr Joe, they are coming", the creature sadly said and sobbed on.

"Who? Who's coming?"

There came no reply, the creature only sobbed. Then the room was silent again. Joe shook his head, "I must be going insane!" He returned to bed.

Few minutes deep into another quick sleep, he was awoken once more. The bed shook, it seemed there was an earthquake, he could see the walls cracking on all sides. The ground continued to shake with great anger, he looked out the window to confirm what was happening, but he began seeing people screaming and running outside. His instincts controlled him to the door, he had to save himself too, but the door proved stubborn to his push and pull. A memory seized him, he could remember the misty voice of Viola, he recalled the words clearly. But how could he unlock a door without a key? The Doctor had seen nothing like this before, he was greatly disturbed.

Immediately, he began the search for the key, picking through every crook and corner of the room, he found nothing!

His eyes opened up to the wonder he saw in his room-- men and women in white form, screaming and running past him and some, through him.

"I've surely gone crazy!" He screamed and shivered within him. "Ghosts!" He moved quickly to the large window to confirm if he could jump or climb down, the distance was quite high up, how could he climb down? What would he use?

He could feel a sneeze in his nose, and a cough in his throat; they let themselves out, but his coughing wouldn't stop, soon he began to bleed from his nose he coughed again and strangely, his palms held a red liquid and a key came out with it!

"Oh my God! What on earth-- ?"

At once, he stabbed the key into the key lock on the door, but the door still won't unlock. Taking out the key, he struck it against the wall in anger, it was only then the door unlocked itself.

The poor man's heart was filled with fear, disgust and wonder. He began his journey around the pool, he slipped and fell into the water, he could feel his body sink deep into the bed of the pool. All efforts to swim upwards were against him.

Something began to twinkle at the bottom of the water, he swarm towards it and picked up a golden key. He swarm back up, pushed himself up on the edge of the pool and fell flat on his back, on the smooth floor. He couldn't help but breathe heavily. To him, he had just survived through death, thinly!

"This is the second key, now I can begin my journey", he panted. "My journey through where?!", he threw his arms in the air and sighed.

Dr Joe ran along the scented passage and led himself to the hall, but when he got there, everything seemed normal. He could even hear the Johnson's sleeping and snoring! There were no more earthquakes, when he checked, his palm which held the keys was empty!

Joe shook his head; feeling sorry for himself and he chuckled beneath his breath. He had no choice but to walk back to his room. To his surprise, the room was as perfect as before-- there were no cracked walls, no ghosts, no sobbing creature. Somehow, he felt at peace with his room, he laid himself on the bed, and though he was still shaken up, he fell asleep.

The alarm by his bed sang at exactly 06:00am, but there was no one there for the clock to awaken. Joe found himself in the living room, standing by the door and he couldn't quite understand how he got there. He recalled that he had slept through the night and that he had the most strangest of dreams, but he just couldn't connect the dots. Did he sleep walk? But how?

"Good morning Joe! How was your night?" Viola's voice came from behind him.

"It was a total nightmare! I just found myself here!", he replied and held his breath. "You sure this house isn't haunted?" He whispered.

"We've lived here for fifteen years now, I can assure you, it's not haunted".

"Hmm. Okay, if you say!"

"Joe! Breakfast will be served in thirty minutes, do get ready, you wouldn't want to be late on your first day of work in Rye town, would ya?!" Viola said rhetorically.

"Yeah! You're right".

***********

The letters on the tall sign board read— RYE, WINCHELSEA AND DISTRICT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, the location address was written underneath those large words— PEASMARSH ROAD, RYE FOREIGN. While on the building it read clearly, HOSPITAL, with two red crosses on both sides. Dr Joe had to take a taxi to the hospital, his car hadn't arrived yet, it was to arrive tomorrow or the next.

Joe stared at the large building and its surroundings for a minute or two, he was nervous for sure, and tired too. It felt like he hadn't slept in a week, last night was like a dream yet like reality, he was going crazy for real, he shivered at the thought.

Dr Joe walked into the building and went straight to the reception. Miss Janet, a receptionist attended to him and he was directed to one of the seats at the reception. His manly well-built body sat gently inside a black suit and trousers, with a pair of shining black shoes. A blue tie held firmly to his neck and rested on an inner white long sleeved shirt, his hair was nicely done. He was a British gentleman!

Sitting and waiting in a room full of other impatient people, Joe's mind wandered off into nowhere. How could anyone have crystal eyes? He wondered. He could remember the way Viola's eyes pierced through his mind, she made him lose his balance, then he remembered the shady things he had seen in that house.

"I have to win that challenge, I can't leave yet, she said only a week. Oh! What have I brought myself into? The Johnsons hold too many secrets of which I must find out. God if you're out there somewhere, protect me. I pray I don't die in there", he whispered underneath his breath.

"Excuse me Sir. Sir, Dr Joe!" Someone called out to Joe.

He was awakened from his thoughts by one of the doctors in charge. Joe raised his eyes to see a man in a white long coat and a tie.

"Oh sorry about that!"

They shook hands and introduced themselves.

"Call me Joe!" He smiled.

"I extend a big welcome to you Joe, I'm Freddie. I'll show you to your office".

The two men walked for a while until they stood in front of a white door, there was a header above the door announcing 'The eye clinic'.

"This is it!" Freddie and Joe walked into the room. He surveyed the room and placed a smile on his cheeks. The room swallowed a large brown desk and three large chairs just at the end of the room, he had enough space for the rest of the equipments and activities. There was also a long brown stretcher which was raised at the other end to aid the position of the patient's head. Standing above the bed was a light stand. Close to the bed stood a long table carrying almost all the necessary equipments the Optician needed. There were imformative pictures hung on the wall, pictures about the eye, care of the eye, pictures on general hygiene, the human body, eye infections and so many others.

"I know it's small, it's still in progress. I hope you like it!" Freddie said. "The other Doctors, nurses, the staff and I, look forward to getting to know you more!" He continued.

"Thank you so much Freddie, I can manage. I'm sure we'd get along just fine!"

"I know there might still be more equipment you'll need, just call on me or make a request, we'll do our best!" Freddie added excitedly and Joe nodded.

"There'll be a meeting today by 5pm in room 201, please be there. Also, the files here, are complaints from some persons in need of an Optician, they came in a week ago. We took down little information about the patients. Give them a call and schedule a meeting, the telephone is at your service!"

"Thanks, you make it so easy!" They shook hands once more and smiled into each other's eyes.

Joe filled up his desk with the few decors he brought-- a photo of his loved ones, some large books, a dictionary, a laptop side-by-side the hospital's computer, a coffee mug and a certificate to prove his expertise. He took a long look at the office and something was missing, "My lab coat, and some extra clothes!", he hung his lab coat on a rack then he kept two set of clothes in a box.

The doctor retired in his chair and read one of the large books for a refreshment of his brain. After an hour or two, Joe placed calls to the different telephone numbers on his desk. Complaints were made, meetings were scheduled, and for today, he was to meet with ten patients; his hands were full!

Doctors, nurses, and staff, occupied room 201 at exactly 5. Those present were either off duty for the day or those whose shifts were over. A few of them ran in late, and in that room, Joe met some interesting persons-- they all discussed for a while; raising opinions and making suggestions, joking and causing laughter. Refreshments was provided for everyone, they all met and welcomed Joe to the circle. Some ladies were already crushing and fighting over the newbie. He only saw it as drama and paid no attention to them. They all left the room with cheerful hearts!

Joe returned to his office by 6:45pm. He slumped into his chair and sighed. He began to study through the cases of each patient and he decided to provide possible solutions to their problems. He carefully jotted down his findings. When he was done, he cleared up his desk, saying tomorrow is another day. He relaxed his coat back on the rack, wore his suit, took out the lights, scrambled his name and signature on the attendance register, then he sat in the back seat of a taxi. The first day was fulfilling.

He finally arrived in front of his temporary residence, at first he had the reflex to place a knock on the door, but then he remembered he had been given a key and it was in his pocket. One of his hands went into one of the pockets, he grabbed the key and brought it out but a white card came out with the key.

"Oh, the address!" He smiled to himself. Looking at the paper surely this time, he knew he had made a mistake. "I'm in the wrong house?! With the wrong family? Didn't they knew all this time?!"

These were his thoughts, he felt confused. "They must be up to something, I just have to stay until I discover what they are!"

He decided to go into the dark house. Turning the key, he could recall his first day and night at the Johnson's; the poor man shivered a bit, but he was no quitter.

"Hello, good evening, it's Joe!" The house was so silent. Without wasting time, he took off to his room, took a bath, changed his clothes and ran downstairs. He planned to fix up something nice for the family. If there was a way to find out the truth, he was going to treat them nicely until they were full of guilt.

He found some veggies, fruits, spices and every other thing he needed. Food was ready in two hours!