Blue June Ch.5

Chapter 51

“Hey Eileen, have you seen Michael?”2

“Sorry Adam, I haven’t heard from him yet today… maybe he’s got the flu or something, it’s been goin around.”3

“Okay, uh, well did you get a hold of Marie Piper for me?” Detective Monroe asked the petite secretary.4

“No one answered.” Adam sighed at her reply and put on his coat.5

“I’m gonna head over to her place, see how she’s holding up but I’ll be back in a little while… Hey, let me know as soon as Michael calls.”6

Adam stood outside Marie’s door, he noticed a small, strange red smear on the knob. He turned the handle and the door opened. The lights were left on as the smell of stale tea hovered round his nostrils. The little porcelain cup still lay on the floor, in pieces. Adam quietly retrieved his gun from the holster and began to look around, finding nothing, he decided to call the station. 7

“…uh huh… yeah, can you send a car to Detective Holt’s too?… Okay, thanks.” His phone clacked shut. He bent down to look at the bit of now dried blood that had mixed with tea. “What in Hell is going on here?” He sighed to himself. Another night passed and Adam still had no word or clue as to what was going on. All he could determine was that Marie and Holt had gone missing, just like June. He found his mind wandering back to Tom Cutler’s case, had he really died or was June perhaps right? The only lead he had lay in an empty, white room. 8

Adam read the rusted metal words aloud “Saints Asylum Rehabilitation Center.” He had to chuckle at that, “Rehabilitation…here? What a joke.” He followed up the long cobblestone path to the large sanitarium. It was a dirty, faded white establishment, he drew up the dull grey knocker and let it loudly slam against the wooden doors. A few moments later a burly man in white scrubs answered the door. His cleanly shaven head glistened with sweat. He stood there silently for a moment, gathering his breath. Adam noticed a few spattered blood smears near the bottom of the mans uniform.9

“Sorry about that, we had a bit of a… situation. What can I do for you?”10

“…Uh, my name’s Detective Adam Monroe.” He flashed his badge “I’m looking for one of your…patients.” He wanted to role his eyes, everyone knew there were no such things as ’patients’ here. Or at least they were given no help, more like thrown into empty rooms to scream and claw at the walls, beaten or pumped full of drugs in hopes of quieting their madness. “His name’s Harold Krumly, would have been brought in about two weeks ago?” The man lead Adam inside to a desk. He sat down and began tapping at his computer’s keys.11

“… Yeah… I know that one… he’s a loon, he is. So, what exactly is your business here Detective?”12

“Just following up on his case, there are still a few details I need to sort out.”13

“Alright then… I’m Porter… down this way.” He brought Adam to a wall of lockers. “Anything that’s metal or sharp or hazardous to our patients health must be left here.” Adam placed his wallet, gun, belt, and other various items in one of the small lockers. “Right then, he’s in solitary.” They began to walk down the dimly lit hall. “He went psycho… or more so than he already was… on the other patients and doctors. Nearly tore my ear off, see?” He pointed to his right ear which held two stitches. They reached a gate, Porter retrieved his jingling set of keys from his belt. The gate slammed behind them as they made their way through numerous more halls and gates. Finally they reached a corridor with big metal doors, the dreary white paint chipping away. He peaked through the round Plexiglas window and then unlocked the door. “Like me to come in with you?”14

“No thank you Porter, that wont be necessary.”15

“If you say so Detective, but I’ll be right outside if something should happen, so just give a shout.”16

Adam breathed deep and crossed the threshold. “…. Harold?” He watched the thin body rock back and forth in the corner of the room. Harold wore a straightjacket, he faced the corner. Again Adam called to him. “Harold… it’s Detective Monroe… do you remember who I am?” Adam bent down and reached for Harold’s shoulder. Harold let out a shriek as Adam’s fingers touched him. He whipped around and revealed his bloody, cut up face. The whites of his eyes were a deep red. “Dear God, what’s happened to you!?” Adam was shocked. He began to whisper. “Did they do this to you Harold, the men who work here?” 17

“Nnn….nnnn...nnnooo….” Harold stuttered and winced. He wiggled backwards forcing his back deep into the corner of the room. “Shh…shadows…shadows everywhere…they’re alive! Alive, ALIVE!” He pressed his face onto the cement wall and tried to bang it again and again. Adam grabbed his head and forced him to stay still. “Pleeaase…. make it stop, make it stop, I can hear him still… it burns! And those eyes, those eyes, those eyes…. I couldn’t stop it!”18

“Alright, just hold on, calm down Harold, calm down. You couldn’t stop what Harold… what couldn’t you stop Harold?” Adam asked over and over a thousand different ways but Harold stayed silent. “Come on Harold, I can help you, just tell me what really happened? What did you do with Tom Cutler?”19

“Nnnooo, I.. I didn’t doo it.” He began to shake. “Ttt…two men tt… took ..me there. With the shadows… I couldn’t move…or..or breathe… and I woke up…. by all that bl…bl…blood!” He was gasping as he forced himself to remember. “I…I couldn’t control my…my words….”20

“Did you hear names…see faces…anything, something?” 21

“…Th…that man… you’re par…par…part..partner…” He grew violent. “Yyyou… it’s you…isn’t it…yy..you’re one of the shadows!” He broke loose from Adam’s grasp and attacked him. His strength was fierce for his small stature. Harold broke loose from his restraints and the two rolled and wrestled for a few minutes before Porter glanced through the window. Porter ran at Harold but was quickly knocked down. Adam reached to his ankle and drew out a small gun he’d hid from Porter, then aimed at Harold, whose foot was placed firmly on Porter’s neck. One good stomp and he’d be dead.22

“Stop Harold… stop or I’ll shoot!” There were no acknowledgments of Adam’s words. “Don’t make me do this Harold!” His foot twisted deeper into Porter’s flesh. Adam breathed deep and pulled the trigger. Harold’s hollow eyes returned to their once, long ago, blue as he clutched his heart and fell to the floor. Blood spewed as he tried to cough out words.23

“Th…thank… yoouu…” His eyelids grew heavy and his breath ceased. Adam helped Porter to his feet and down the hallway to the infirmary. After the whole mess had been sorted out Adam returned to the locker and retrieved his things. ‘Voicemail’ flashed on the face of his cell phone. He listened intently, it was Eileen.24

“Hey Adam, we’ve been trying to reach you since last night… there’s apparently something you have to see at Michael’s… something you’re not gonna believe.”25

Adam pulled up to a large building in a very nice part of town. He reached into his pocket and looked at the address written there, it read ‘875 Garden Springs Boulevard’. He couldn’t believe that Michael would live at such a nice place, especially on a Detective’s salary. After making his way to the elevator and up to the 9th floor, he pushed open the loft door and gaped at what he saw, among the fine furniture and decorations was a large wooden desk covered in parchment. Adam took a closer look and immediately recognized a black candle and a strange seal, there was no doubt that this was where the letter June had received came from.