4 Darkness

(Carter's point of view)

"Carter Winters?"

The nurse's voice almost makes me jump out of my seat.

"It's time."

I leave my seat and follow the nurse. The hospital's smell is driving me nuts. It smells as if dead corpses have been here for weeks.

I'm becoming dizzy. It's like I'm being sedated.

"Right this way, Mr. Winters." She leads me through a dimly lit hallway, and through two doors.

The place gives me the creeps. It's like I'm in a horror movie. The place smells like ashes of the dead and has narrow hallways with dim lights.

What I've noticed is that there aren't any windows.

Horror. Movie.

We finally reach the doctor's door.

The nurse knocks the door then enters, holding the door open for me. She nods at me then at the chair near the doctor's desk. She clears her throat.

"Doctor Miles? This is Carter Winters, the patient with the... peculiar case."

"Thank you, Ms. Annie. I'll take it from here. Leave his file here and you may be excused." He says it with a quite weird voice. I don't know if he's making his voice deeper or it's his natural voice.

The nurse exits the room, leaving only me and the doctor.

"So, Carter, is it? Your case was rather.... amusing. It's a very strange case, yes. But you're not the first person to show up to any hospital with this case. Not many people have showed symptoms. I'd estimate it to maybe 5 or 6.. So, to get started, what are you feeling right now? As of this moment?"

I hesitate for a second, but answered, hoping he might know something.

"My head hasn't stopped spinning for about 2 hours. Just a few minutes ago, I went completely dizzy. I thought I'd lose consciousness. Right now I'm just trying to concentrate, but everything sounds so unpleasant, as if sounds are just coming and going."

"I see. How long have these symptoms been showing?"

"I'd say... maybe... maybe about 1 and half months ago."

"Extraordinary. All patients have listed about the same period of time."

He keeps blabbering about other patients but I've lost all my hearing. I can't hear or concentrate on anything. Instead, I'm looking around the room.

The room is a small square, painted white, has a small patients bed, the doctor's desk, his chair, and two chairs in front of his desk. Other equipment and tools are hanged near the bed. The lights are white yet have a low quality. The room looks yellow-ish and is a bit dark for the afternoon sun.

And again, no windows here either..

"Mr. Winters! Mr. Winters." That's when I realize he's calling my name.

"I'm glad I finally caught your attention. Just like you, other patients have been.. zoning out. Losing concentration, ability to hear for a small period of time, and your eyes aren't displayed, even though there's little light."

I can barely focus anymore. I can't hear the rest.

Then, as if I was hit, darkness closes in. And a distant voice is barely clear. "Mr. Winters!"

I spring up, but I'm in my bedroom, and it looks like it's about ten in the morning.

I'm in my sleepwear, and tucked rather well in blankets and pillows.

I don't remember anything.

Where was I yesterday?

What happened?

What's happening now?

Oh, I'm going to be late for the meeting. I need to get up.

I jump out of bed, and head for the washroom.

The water feels like needles prickling at my skin. It's not cold, it's not hot, either.

I quickly finish my business and head to the dressing room. I pick out my suit and quickly get dressed.

I head out of my room, to see Noah, waiting on the couch near my door.

"Noah?"

"Carter! I heard what happened. You fool, why didn't you tell me you were in that much pain? Could've escorted you to the hospital myself."

I'm stunned. What hospital?

What?

What?

What?

I'm so confused and my head isn't helping.

"Noah, slow down. I'm confused. What hospital? I don't even remember what happened yesterday, or the day before. What are you talking about?"

"You idiot. You've been out for 16 days in the hospital. You only returned last night when you woke up for a few minutes. So they got you home."

"What?"

"You were at a hospital with a doctor when you completely wiped out. What happened?"

"I what?" I'm starting to panic.

"What about the meeting? Isn't it Wednesday?

We have to go, we'll be late!"

"Carter! Calm down. The meeting was postponed after we received your news. And it's not Wednesday. It's Friday, 16 days after Wednesday. After you lost your consciousness "

"I don't understand..."

"You mean you don't remember anything? The doctor told us you were zoning out and then fainted. You've been in a coma for 16 days, Carter."

That's when I sit down. I barely remember anything. I don't even remember going to a hospital. What is going on?