Ally was supposed to stay an additional day for monitoring and processing before she was scheduled to be released first thing tomorrow morning. Mary spent as much time as she could with her, before being sent home at the end of visiting hours. She was naked, except for the airy hospital gown, and had an IV hooked to her arm feeding from a stand. Finally, a doctor arrived with a small box, and handed it to her.
Ally examined the box, made of thin cardboard, and after careful consideration asked, “What is it?”
“It’s your new prosthetic eye,” the doctor replied matter-of-factly.
Ally lifted up the box and turned it over, seeing that there was the logo of Lamb on it. She found something almost disturbing, considering the deaths they had just caused, of them being represented by a child with a lamb. She remembered the fortune the masked beast had told her, wolf in sheepskin. How appropriate. “Did Lamb make this?”
“Correct. Randy J. paid for the eye, and had it made as an apology for what happened during your stay at his medical facility.”
“Randolph.”
“Pardon?”
Ally didn’t bother explaining how she knew that. What was she going to tell the doctor? That she met him in a dream and told her that was the media’s name for him? No, that would be insanity. Instead, she just insisted on, “He prefers to be called Randolph.”
“… Okay then.” The doctor proceeded to explain to her the care and usage of the eye, making sure that she understood that if she didn’t properly take care of it, she could get an infection and would need to replace it sooner. And considering a replacement was a few thousand dollars, she probably wanted to make it last as long as possible since standard insurance didn’t cover it. He then pardoned himself for the evening, telling her that they would be discharging her from the hospital tomorrow morning. Ally went to the bathroom, pulling the IV stand with her that had a bag of antibiotics hooked up on it, so that she could use the mirror to aid in putting in the fake eye. She found it awkward to pull the stand with her to the bathroom, but pushed through it regardless, opened her eyelid, and installed the prosthetic before rolling it around in her head. She looked in the mirror and doubled back.
The prosthetic’s iris was glowing, like a sapphire, and she recognized it as the same color of the cats and dogs she had seen over the weeks, or she supposed months now. She returned to the sink and stared intensely at the glowing orb before whispering, “What in the world?” She turned her head to the side so her good eye could make it out better, and it faded back into her natural eye color. She paused, turned her head again and it flared blue. She closed her good eye while keeping the fake open and found that despite it being prosthetic, she could still see out of it, with the only observable oddity being that it glowed blue. “What’s going on?” She shuffled awkwardly out of her bathroom with the IV stand and walked out into the hallway, hoping that maybe she could ask the doctor more about the eye. Maybe Lamb had done something to her prosthetic?
She froze as she stepped into the hospital ward and looked over to the nurses’ desk, where a couple of cats, one black, the other white and both with glowing blue eyes gleamed as they glanced at Ally and then back to the nurses, deciding that she didn’t matter. They were lounging on the desk, with one paw of the white cat’s dangling off the desk while the black cat did its best impression of a loaf of pumpernickel bread.
“Excuse me?” Ally called out in slight confusion towards the nurses manning the station.
One of the nurses looked up, a middle-aged and kindly woman with blonde hair, and exclaimed, “Allison, what are you doing out of bed?”
Ally paused for a second to consider the question, and instead of coming up with an excuse opted to ask, “Should there be cats here in the hospital?”
“I’m sorry, what?” The nurse’s face scrunched up in confusion, and Ally closed her prosthetic eye for a second causing the cats to blink out of existence. Ally’s jaw dropped ajar for a brief moment before she recovered and opened the bad eye again. As soon as she did so, the cats reappeared, relaxed and lazily regarding the nurse station as they had been before.
“N-nothing,” Ally struggled to recover her shock, hoping to mask it as best she could, “I just needed to stretch my legs and move, is that alright?”
The nurse looked her up and down in concern, and then said, “Let me get you some slippers. Do you need someone to walk with you?”
“That’s alright.” A minute later Ally was continuing to make her way down the hall, the gears of her mind cranking as she tried to understand what the cats were about. A doctor walked by, and she saw a large white dog, with glowing eyes, following him and its tail wagging enthusiastically. She closed her bad eye to double check, and sure enough, the dog ceased existing for as long as she kept that eye closed. Only her missing eye, her dead eye, could see the animals in the hospital.
She walked into the elevator and stared at the buttons with numbers indicating their floor and destination, thinking and thinking, pondering and pondering, yet nothing seemed to make sense. She closed her eyes and remembered the first dream she had met the masked beast, and she realized that the cats and dogs were just like from then. Some as dark as the night, others white as snow, all having blazingly brilliant blue eyes that stared into your very soul. She pressed seven on the elevator keypad, not really knowing where it went, and waited for the elevator to give a little shake. She felt her inertia fight her ascent as well as the pull of the floor as it raised her up. Something about elevators always made her feel out of place, and it was heightened by the images that her new eye was revealing to her.
The door opened the floor before her destination, and a doctor walked in with a clipboard in one arm. There was a massive cat following him, with wicked fangs and a large whip of a tail. Its head was built like a tiger, and she felt frail and fragile beside it even as its muscles shimmered beneath its gorgeous fur coat. She stared at the creature as it stuffed itself into the elevator, its body wrapping around her and the doctor who stood beside her and consulted his clipboard. The fierce animal hissed into her ear, but still the doctor ignored it, and Ally felt cold sweat drip down her back.
He lifted one finger and pressed for floor eight, and the door slowly shut. Too slowly, Ally felt. Silence permeated the air, thick as the worse humidity, and Ally glanced at the doctor, then at the large cat, who met her gaze at the same time and snarled lightly in warning. Ally immediately snapped back to staring straight ahead as the hairs on her arms stood on end. One floor. She just had to travel one floor and she could get off of this death trap.
Ding! Ally rushed out the door and was trying to make as much distance as she could when the doctor called, “Hey!” She turned around slowly to see what he wanted and saw the large cat curling up around him looking quite pleased now that she was gone. “You dropped your slipper, miss.”
“Th-thank you,” she grabbed it hurriedly, snatching it from his hand, and made as much distance as she could from the insane encounter and rushed into whichever ward she had landed. Once she was out of sight she bent over and brought her foot up so that she could slide the slipper back on. She turned the corner, sighing in relief now that she was free of the beast, before freezing in place as she found she was out of the frying pan and into the fire. Dozens of dogs and cats were curled up in this hallway, and she slowly tiptoed around them, dragging her IV stand behind her with one hand. “Nice kitty,” she said to one of the larger ones who had raised its head up to observe the intruder. The animal rolled its eyes at her, yawned, and proceeded to ignore her. Ally continued down the hallway, and found she was almost free of the last of the furry guardians.
Suddenly all the animals got up and started walking ahead of her, causing her to look around her feet in shock and awe. Ally watched in fascination before deciding that she had to follow them, feeling drawn by the procession of animals. They moved in unison, as if one minded, and their singular purpose, Ally was sure, was something she had to discover. They were entering one of the patient’s rooms, and the last cat, small enough to be a pet, padded its way in silently.
She stopped outside the door they had gone into, and watched as they gathered around the hospital bed, with an old man laying down, an IV hooked up to him and heart monitor, breathing weakly and faintly. His heart rate was painfully slow on the monitor, and she saw one white dog attempt to jump onto the bed. It failed, and one of larger dogs opened its mouth and grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and lifted it up onto the bed. The dog happily and slowly scampered up to his chest, struggling to get its little paws over the folds in his blanket.
It was a young puppy and yipped excitedly before grabbing at his gown and pulling lightly, but playfully. His heart line flattened, and a moment later from the nurses’ desk came yelling as they responded to his death. Ally stepped back as she continued to watch in wonder.
The puppy continued to pull at the gown, even as the nurses gathered around, and something transparent emerged from the body, until a ghostly visage broke free from the body and sat up, awoken by the pull. He looked down at the puppy, and his mouth moved as if to say something, but nothing came out, at least not for Ally’s ears to hear. The puppy jumped off the bed, turned back while vigorously shaking its tail and barked.
The pale ghost got up from the hospital bed, its spirit breaking free from the body and the old man followed the dog, walking past the yelling nurses who were trying to resuscitate the spirit’s body. Past the determined doctors who were only just now arriving after the nurses. The dog walked into the hallway and turned left, parading proudly before looking Ally in the eye and yipping triumphantly. She looked back at the old man, who threw his head back as if laughing, who trailed behind it. A light appeared, and the puppy sat right outside it, staring back at the old man. He stopped beside the dog and patted it, in response it ran behind him and pushed against him, as if urging him to walk through the light. The man made a face like laughing again, and then stepped into the light, leaving the puppy panting happily as the light snapped out of existence, and with it the ghost was gone. The puppy barked once more, and one of the larger cats leaned down and nuzzled the puppy encouragingly, as if congratulating him on a job well done.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Ally found a tear dripping down one eye and touched it. Why was she crying? The man had passed, but she didn’t know him. She didn’t feel sad. No, this wasn’t a tear of sorrow, what she had witnessed was not something to be mourned. It was a tear of… “Joy?” she asked out loud.
Yes, that’s what it was. She had just watched something so indescribably beautiful. The passing of a life in peace, one well lived. One that had been happy to go, guided by a young puppy, giddy to perform its duty! Death! What a wonderful thing it could be! Ally walked away and headed back to the elevator and hit one on the keypad. She walked by the cats and dogs without fear, for she knew now why they were here. They were shepherds of souls, or so she gathered. Shepherds prepared to escort the spirits to the next step.
She walked out onto the first floor, silent and mostly empty, and walked down a hallway that had doors that were still open. They were empty with the exception of the occasional cat or dog, who roamed the hallways free of consequences, hidden from all but her eye. She walked deeper and deeper, until she heard some loud noises down through a set of doors. She walked through it and found herself in the waiting room of the emergency room.
She stood there, and looked at the chaos, a few people who looked mostly fine, someone cradling a bleeding arm, crying and sobbing, those who looked sick, those who looked injured. Suddenly the front doors burst open, and through it came two gentlemen, one screaming for help, the other holding onto his chest and struggling to keep it upright even as he leaned on his companion for help.
“Help! My brother’s been shot!” Cried the first man, and at that moment before anyone could react, a large black cat leaped across the room and sunk its teeth into the throat of the injured man. From his throat it lifted free a spirit by the neck, shaking and shuddering, and carefully carried him by his neck. The ghost assumed a fetal position, and the light appeared again. The black cat carried the man to the portal and deposited him inside gently before it dissipated into thin air as easily it had appeared. The cat stretched, and then sat down, eyeing the crowd as if looking for its next prey.
“No, no, no! Stay with me! Help! He isn’t breathing!” Ally watched in wonder as the nurses rushed out and pulled out a mobile bed to place him on, working quickly to try and save his life. Little did any of them know, his spirit was already gone. Ally walked over to one of the chairs in the waiting room and had a seat while she continued to watch. They pulled the body into the back, and more people continued to come in as occasionally the nurses called forth people by name for treatment. The order didn’t seem to follow who came in first, but rather the severity of the injury or disease. One man was given a bowl to throw up in while he waited for care, and Ally looked upon all of this in fascination.
She didn’t know how long she had watched, but as she did, she had time to think. Time to think about the animals that watched, only acting when someone died. About Philip Conway and the murders, seemingly conducted against his will. About Rebecca and Randolph, both from Alaska, and both somehow so closely connected to the masked beast she had met. Both had been given conditions that cost them their lives if they were to break it, as Rebecca had unfortunately made the mistake of doing so.
She didn’t respond when a large white neck made its way through the front doors, a black mask turning to look at her. The majestic form of the beast gracefully made its way in, and it set its neck resting on the row of chairs that shared its seat with Ally, the rest of its body seeming to pass through the other people in the lobby and its tail wrapping around the room. Its eyes were fully open, azure, and brilliant as they peered into the soul of Ally as it sat there.
“What are you thinking, child?”
Ally didn’t respond, continuing instead to monitor and watch the emergency room in curiosity. The masked creature turned to watch with her, and several minutes of silence passed by while they sat together. “I think I understand now.”
“Understand?”
“Who you are. What you are.”
“How curious, child. In that case I ask you once again. Tell me, child, what is it you see when you behold me?”
“Death.”
The mask’s eyes flared as childish laughter shook the neck of the beast. Finally, she became still and said, “Hm, hm, hm, how fascinating! First, you see me, and now you know my name! Never in all my years have I met someone such as you, Allison Thomas.”
Ally finally looked at the mask and said, “May I ask you some questions?”
The mask tilted to the side, as if in thought, and said, “I may, though I suspect, you know many of the answers.”
“Why did you give Philip Conway the blessing of the second chance?”
“I do not remember. It was many years ago, and there are many things that I have forgotten over the millennia.”
“You saw in him the same thing you saw in Rebecca Whitlock, that’s why, isn’t it?”
“And what do you think I saw in her?”
“The potential to save lives.”
“Hm, hm, hm. What makes you think Death wishes to save lives?”
“Because you don’t cause our death. You merely are. You don’t wish us harm. If anything, you give meaning to life. I think that’s why you are.”
“Hm, hm, hm. Correct, child. I love humanity. But its avarice, uncontested, would ravage the world until there was nothing. I am relief from such affliction. But I do not wish anyone’s life to end before its time. Death is necessary, but I have my time and place, no matter how cruel.”
“Is that why you let the trespasser be free?”
“No. The wolf in sheepskin is a danger to myself and the world. Were he to succeed, death would cease, and in its wake the world would consume itself. I do not seek him, for I have already behold him with my own eyes. Those who have met my gaze cannot escape me, no matter how hard they try.”
“You know how he is going to die.”
“Yes.”
Ally looked the mask in the eyes, and said, “And if you can see me, you know how I am going to die.”
“Hm, hm, hm. Would you like me to tell you, child?”
“That’s alright. I’ve already decided how I’ll die. You have nothing to tell me that I don’t already know.”
“Rare it is, to meet a soul so willing to face her own death.”
“I was wondering, why are your avatars are cats and dogs?”
The mask looked at Ally, and then turned to the floor. A black dog and a white cat came up to meet it, as if summoned. “They are my relationship with mankind. I am a constant companion. I, from the moment you are born, walk beside you and am excited to be there. I am a friend who will greet you into the unknown as happily as a dog would greet its owner returning home.” The dog at this barked, and then walked away, leaving only the snowy cat. “I am the hunter, always searching for my next prey. I steal across the night, pouncing on those unsuspecting who have not prepared themselves for death. Those who run from it will find themselves victims to me. I am a hunter that thrusts those into the unknown as mischievously as a cat would greet its peers.” At this the cat mewed before walking away.
“So can you see and hear everything your avatars can?” Ally asked.
“Tell me, child, can you see and hear everything the cells of your body experience? No, the mind is separate from the white blood cell that fights disease in the body. You cannot communicate with it, nor help it directly. Each avatar acts independently to serve the whole, and I, myself, carry out only the tasks meant for the head of animal. I am able to respond to the knowledge of my avatars, but I do not have the capability to know where that information comes from, or to hold on to it for any amount of time. For my memory is fleeting, like the snow.”
“I see.” Ally was quiet for another minute while she thought some more. The mask looked at her, and then set a portion of its neck against her lap. Ally began to pet its billowing fur, its texture impossibly soft as it waved in the air as if defying gravity. Finally, Ally said, “I’m ready to do what I must do.”
“What is it you must do?”
“Force Philip to accept his blessing and end the nightmare.”
The mask laughed again, and then said, “Then what is it you will need from me, child, so that you can perform this task?”
“I think you are the one who needs something from me.”
“What, my dear child, would Death need from you?”
“To find the boar.” Ally didn’t wait for a response as she broke the medical bracelet from her wrist and pulled out her IV, allowing blood to drip down her arm. The masked beast removed its head from her lap as she did so, and she stepped out the front door and marched slowly into the parking lot.
The white puppy from before ran up growling playfully, and Ally looked down to see it holding onto a pair of keys. She bent over, took it from him with a scratch behind the ears, and pressed the unlock button. A vehicle in the parking lot beeped twice in response, and Ally walked to it and started up the engine.
As she pulled out of the parking lot, she saw on the road lined hundreds of cats and dogs that stood in front of her on the side of the road. Ally remembered the first dream, and said, “Show me the way.”
Ally pulled into the cemetery around midnight and jumped out into the cold December evening wearing nothing but the hospital gown and slippers, but she did not feel the biting cold, or smell the crisp winter air. She was too focused on nothing but the lone living creature in the cemetery, and she walked over to it. She kept her bad eye shut; it was slightly disorienting to see the glowing eyes of the avatars if she didn’t.
At the top of the hill was a shaggy, black dog. It had an old, beaten, and worn collar around its neck, with a dull metal nametag on it. She approached the animal, gaunt and malnourished, and the dog ignored her, its dull eyes fixated only on the headstone. She looked at the headstone, revealed by the moonlight, to be the final resting place of Philip Conway. The dog threw its head into the air and howled miserably, mourning the tragedy that had befallen the young man.
Ally bent to one knee, touching the icy ground, and upturned the nametag so that she could read it. “Hello Chester.” The dog gave a scruffy bark in affirmation. On the back of the tag was an address, one that Ally was able to recall was the same as the Conway’s house. It was the runaway dog, who had disappeared on the night that Philip had first died. It had found its way back to its boy, and now waited patiently for the coming of his second chance.
Ally opened her bad eye, and instead of the dog was the giant boar from the dream, larger than ever as if representing how powerful the blessing had become as it struggled to fulfill its purpose against the wishes of its recipient, with its skin pulled taunt over its ribs. Its tusks shined wickedly in the moonlight, even as thick whiskers lined its snout, and it snorted while looking at her from its glowing blue eyes. The monstrous boar was the size of a sedan at this point, and it trembled under its own weight, even as it shivered in the winter night air.
“Hey, buddy. Are you ready to bring your boy back to life?” Ally asked while rubbing the boar’s neck. Chester snorted in response, tapping its front hooves on the ground impatiently. Ally pulled the boar’s head close and embraced it as she leaned forward to his ear. “Take me to him.”
The hog lifted its head towards the sky and squealed as loud as it could. Ally turned back as the braying and hissing of cats sounded behind her, an army of avatars emerging from the darkness as they responded to the cry. Slowly the symphony of felines and canines was replaced by the brazen brass of swine as they morphed and transformed under the cry of Chester. Behind the great crowd emerged the snow-white masked beast, its great tail flicking violently in the air and cracking like a whip as it reared its neck. A song erupted from its throat, even as its fur turned black as the night. It was a song of declaration, a song of endings, a song of second chances. Death was ready to reclaim its blessing, freeing it of the corruption of a man unready to accept it.
The hog turned from Ally and broke out into a trot as it headed towards its owner, ready to fulfill its purpose. Ready to bring back life to its owner after the greater part of a decade. Chester had found someone who could help him save his boy, who had revealed him to the masked beast, and he was not about to let such an opportunity go to waste.