“I’m not staying here on my own!”
Stephen shook his head. “We can’t risk anyone spotting you. You’ll be safe down here.” At least he hoped she would. “Wait in the cupboard and I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“This is like what they do on every bad horror movie I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s either this or risk being spotted.”
Joanna nodded, stepped inside, and Stephen closed the door behind her. “I can’t see you through the slats from this side, so you should be alright. How does it look from your side?”
“I can see you if I crouch down.”
“Great. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
Stephen hurried back up into the hospital, his heart pounding and palms sweaty. He kept his head down as much as possible, trying to remain inconspicuous. When he reached the A & E reception, he let himself in.
“I thought you were off today,” Clair said. “And what’s happened. It’s not raining is it? You look like you’ve been soaked.”
Stephen shrugged. “It’s a long story.”
Clair narrowed her eyes and glared at him. “So what are you doing here now?”
“I love the place. Can’t keep away.”
“Since when?”
“I’m just after a few notes that I left, that’s all.”
“Notes on what?”
“What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?” He grinned, hoping to lighten the mood.
“Well it’s not like you to turn up on a rest day, that’s all.”
Stephen made his way towards his desk. “There’s a first time for everything. You been busy?”
“When aren’t I? It’s like Beirut out there. John from security said…”
Stephen stopped listening as he logged into his computer. He nodded occasionally when he thought he should, added a “really” and a “yes” when he thought she needed a response, but his mind was elsewhere. Even if she started telling him the meaning of life, he still couldn’t care less.
After entering his log-in details he accessed the archive files and searched for Joanna’s records. It didn’t take long to access the donor’s details. After that, he tracked the other cornea recipient’s file, printed out the information he required, and then logged off.
He didn’t realise how much he was sweating until he heard Clair say, “Are you okay? You look awful.”
“Cheers, you really know how to make someone feel great.”
“Well you do.”
“I’m fine. Just had a late night yesterday. You know how it is the day after. Head’s killing me.”
“So what have you printed out?”
Stephen stuffed the sheets into his back pocket. “Just some info Jo was after about her transplant.”
“I hope it’s nothing private. You can get in trouble giving out private information.” She stared at Stephen for a second. “What did the police want with her yesterday?”
“There was an incident involving her friend.”
“Incident?”
“Nothing important.”
“Then why were the police here?”
“They just wanted to know if Jo had seen her.”
Clair chewed her top lip. Stephen could tell she didn’t believe him. “Anyway, I’ve got to shoot.”
He felt Clair’s eyes burrowing into him as he exited the room, but didn’t look back. At the end of the corridor, he glanced at the sign for the wards, wondered what Lincoln was doing now. It still seemed far fetched to believe that a demon was residing in the hospital, waited on by the National Health Service at the taxpayers’ expense. It made foreign immigrants seeking free treatment passé by comparison.
He studied the faces of the people he passed. How would he know if any of them were possessed? Any one of them could be housing a demonic entity. The thought made him shiver and he bowed his head to avoid eye contact. The enormity of the situation was beginning to set in, bringing with it a whole host of fears that set his nerves jangling.
He gripped the handle of the water pistol in his waistband. If he didn’t think it would look ridiculous, he would have taken it out and brandished it. To think that his life might depend on a gun that cost £4.99 seemed ludicrous, but it was a damn sight more reassuring than being unarmed.
When he reached the door to the basement, Stephen opened it and descended the stairs. As he started along the corridor, he heard the door open behind him and his heart missed a beat when the clomp of footsteps reached his ears.
Someone was following him.
Panicked, he ran towards the room where Jo was hiding, his temples pounding.
They had followed him. The demons had followed him.
Once inside the room, he fled towards the storage cupboard and tore the door open, terrified to find Jo wasn’t there.
Panic exploded within his body like a neutron bomb. He tried to take a breath; felt faint, thought he might collapse. Unsure what to do, he stepped back, turning as he did so to view the room. He wanted to call Jo’s name, but fear held his tongue.
He reached to withdraw the water pistol, when a hand grabbed his leg.
CHAPTER 20
Stephen almost jumped out of his skin. He managed not to scream – just turned and looked down to see Joanna staring up at him.
“Down here,” she said.
Stephen dropped to his hands and knees and crawled into the small space inside one of the metal cubicles, and Joanna pulled the cover back across.
Light from the room shone through metal grilles, and the air smelt of dust that tickled his nose.
“There’s someone coming,” he whispered. Next second, he heard the sound of footsteps as somebody entered the room.
Legs and arms constricted, he struggled to withdraw the water pistol in the cramped space; he felt sick with fear, certain that whoever entered the room would hear the thrum of his heart.
Through the metal grille, he saw a figure walk towards the storage cupboard. A man in blue overalls. The man started whistling an out of tune melody as he opened the door and withdrew a mop and bucket. Cleaning aids in hand, he turned and walked back out of the room, the sound of his whistling petering into the distance.
“Now aren’t you glad I didn’t stay in there,” Joanna said.
Stephen exhaled loudly. He felt as though he had been holding his breath throughout.
They crawled out of the space and Stephen struggled to his feet and rubbed his face. He felt dirty after the confines of the dusty cubicle.
“How did you find that place? And why?” he asked.
“I got bored when you left, so I had a nosey around. I didn’t feel secure inside the cupboard, then I noticed this panel hanging off.” She pointed down at the cubicle. “It wasn’t very big inside, but I thought it was a better place to hide. Looks like I was right.”
“Well you almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry!”
After taking a moment to recompose himself, Stephen withdrew the papers from his pocket. “Well, you’ll never guess who the organ donor was.”
“Try me, who was it?”
He handed the papers across. “A priest. A goddamn Catholic priest.”
Joanna stared at him open-mouthed. “Oh jeez, it all makes sense now.”
“Well I’m glad you think so.”
“Don’t you see, he would have been sworn to renounce evil. And somehow, his corneas are allowing me to see that evil.”
“Ah, now you put it like that. Jesus Jo, this is crazy.” Stephen raised his hands in an exasperated manner.
“Have you got a better explanation?”
“Yes, it’s all a bad dream and I’m going to wake up any minute.”
“If only. Face it, this is real.”
“Then God help us.”
“Well if he doesn’t, then I think we’re well and truly screwed.”