Dark and stormy, the best way to describe this very evening. Since early that morning, heavy sheets of rain poured down onto the city, while thunder boomed and lighting flashed across the skies. While not exceedingly dangerous, the weather was far from pleasant, safety officials having encouraged the public to stay off the roads and businesses to close for the day. All through the entire day the storm persisted, occasionally letting for brief spans before breaking loose once more.
It was now just past five P.M. The rain, though lighter compared to prior downpours that day, was heavy still, and the roads slick. Traffic in the city was just over half as busy as usual, mostly being people getting off of work, public service workers, and safety officials. A great blast of thunder suddenly shook the skies as lighting streamed through the stormy gray clouds above. The weather bulletin declared that the storm should subside around midnight, an hour which many eagerly awaited.
An ambulance came speeding through traffic, it’s siren screaming away as it’s red lights flashed. An accident had occurred nearby and required immediate response. This case alone proving the hazard of the unforgiving weather that hung over the city.

Delilah applies pressure to the brake pedal as she came upon the red light. Once she was at a full stop, she exhaled heavily and sat back in her seat, taking a moment to collect herself. Work had been crazy the last few hours. With the unusually heavy rain, accidents were happening every time you turned around. Some of the patients weren't as bad as others, but then there were the ones with smashed faces or ones that had gone through the windshield. You really never realize how dangerous conditions like these can be, until you see something like that. Sure, she knew to be safe, even when it just sprinkled. Tonight though, she was being extra careful.

The woman tapped her finger against the steering wheel out of boredom and looked up at the nearly blurred red light still glaring her in the face. Her poor windshield wipers were going as fast as they could, but they just couldn't keep up. Delilah's eyes glanced in her rearview mirror, seeing several cars lined up behind her. She then glanced to the clock on the console. It read 10:43. Again, she tapped the steering wheel, starting to feel anxious. She looked out of the drivers side door, then proceeded to lean forward and lol out of the windshield. The best she could anyways. It was nearly impossible to see anything from afar.

Delilah clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, almost willing the light to turn. It was strange it was red for as long as it was, especially since the traffic wasn't very heavy. All she wanted to do, was get home, and get a decent night's rest. Cat napping on a hospital bench isn't easy, nor comfortable. And then, as if on cue, the light turned green. Finally. Delilah placed her hand on the wheel and released the brake pedal, only to begin applying pressure to the gas.

What happened next was instantaneous. The heavy, blinding rain continued to pour down from the gloomy gray sky. As Delilah edged out into the intersection passed the traffic light, she could not have forseen the immenent danger. A large box truck, it’s weak lights barely visible through the rain, ran the adjacent red light. The driver, too sidetracked on getting home and out of the storm, failed to see the small vehicle pulling out in front of him. Not to mention that he was driving over the advised speed limit for this weather.
By the time he had passed the red light and spotted the vehicle before him, it was too late. He vainly slammed his foot down on the brake, while pounding his fist onto the horn. The truck slid on it’s brakes across the sopping wet pavement, horn blaring and brakes screeching as it slammed violently into the side of the smaller vehicle. With a horrible crash and the shredding screech of metal, Delilah’s car was flipped violently over to the right as the horrified driver pointlessly jerked at his steering wheel.

It was just... dark. Nothing but darkness and silence. This darkness however, didn't frighten Delilah like it normally would have. It was almost like she was just asleep. Then slowly, her senses started to come back. At first, there was a dull, muffled beeping sound. It was steady. She then felt her body be coming warm. It was like when your foot falls asleep, and as it's waking up, gets that warm tingly feeling. Delilah wiggled her fingers. After a moment, the Berlin became less and less muffled. It was a sound she was all to familiar with. A heart monitor. Why was she hooked up to a heart monitor?

And as if a tidal wave had hit her, the memories came flooding back. An accident. An had been in an accident. The rain that night was like a thick blanket, enveloping everything around it. The red light. The .ca that had hit her.

Suddenly, the heart monitor began beeping a little more rapidly, and she opened her eyes. She expected bright lights to temporarily blind her, but there were none, except one. It was in the corner by the door. Delilah stared at the ceiling for a moment before left in her eyes wander around the room. It wasn't a the hospital she worked at. Turning her head, she hissed sharply and ceased her movements. It was then, that she realized, her entire body felt sore, and weak. However, despite having been in an accident, she was surprised she did hurt more than she did. Or have any casts on. Not that she could feel at the moment anyways.

Where was a nurse? She needed to talk to someone. Bracing herself, she turned her head further, searching for the call control. She exhaled when she saw that it was out of her reach.

Knock-knock-knock, came a sound at the door, the sound of someone knocking to announce their entry. The door immediately opened thereafter and in stepped a young nurse. She was of average height and had long brunette hair tied into a pony tail. She was of slender build and stood up straight as could be. The young nurse gently pushed the door shut with a sharp click and then slowly approached the hospital bed where Delilah lay.
A short, friendly smile etched across her face as her eyes met Delilah’s face.

“Your awake,” she said, her voice gentle and calming,”this is good news. I’ll go and get the doctor. But first, how do you feel Miss Stevens? Though I suppose that’s a silly question, I still must ask.”

The nurse stood over Delilah looking down at her. She was standing right at the edge of the hospital bed, her arms clasped behind her back as she awaited a response from Delilah.

Hearing the sudden knock at the door, Delilah's eyes snapped towards it, watching, waiting. It was only seconds later when a nurse came inside. She was a pretty girl; friendly looking enough. It put her at ease just a little. Delilah watched the nurse approach the bed and ask her how she was feeling. All she could really do, was stare at her for a moment. There were so many questions she wanted to ask the girl, but refrained for the time being. Clearing her throat, Delilah began to answer.

"I feel like shit," she replied quite bluntly. "I'm sore, my head is foggy. We're there any serious injuries? Concussion, internal bleeding, ruptured organs?" She wanted to know everything. So much for refraining. "Tell me everything... can I get something to drink? My throat feels like sandpaper. Hell, it sounded like it was. Her mouth was dry and her voice as hoarse. She instinctively reached up and rubbed her throat as if it help ease the pain she del in it.

The nurse nodded as Delilah described how she felt, her face solemn as she listened. When Delilah asked regarding her injuries, the nurse calmly replied,”You suffered a serious concussion Miss Stevens, you were in a coma for the past four weeks in fact.” She briefly paused to allow this news to sink in before continuing,”you suffered several bone fractures and moderately serious cuts across your body. Fortunately, everything seems to be healing up nicely. Excuse me please, I’ll go fetch the doctor and bring you a drink of water as well. The doctor will explain everything.”

The nurse stepped back from Delilah and headed for the door. She passed through and gently closed it behind her as she did when she first entered, leaving Delilah alone with her thoughts.

Delilahs jaw dropped at the news. She had been in a coma for four weeks!? Four weeks? She stared at the closed curtains for a while before she came to a decision. One she knew she shouldn't do. Four weeks. Has anyone come to visit her? Has tried to find her? Delilah slowly brought her hand up and unzipped the heart monitor on her finger, making the steady beeping flatline. With a groan of pain, she flung the blankets off of her and pushed herself up on her elbows. Her face was scrunched up in pain, and she dough I down as best she could. Thank God they had her on some sort of pain medicines.

She took a deep breath and groaned again as she moved one leg, then the other so that they were draped over the bed. Delilah took a moment, taking several deep breathes as she did, then pushed herself up so that she was sitting upright. At this point, she ripped the I.V. needle out of her arm and dropped it. With one more loud groan, she slid off the bed and onto her feet, which nearly gave out under her. It had been a month since she had used her legs, it was understandable they were weak. "Okay," she whispered to herself as she took a few deep breathes. "Okay." Using the bed to help support her weight, Delilah began to slowly man her way around it, heading for the door.

The room itself was somewhat empty and bland, even for a hospital room.
There was a small table against the far wall away from the bed. Next to the bed, on the right side, there was a small night table with a simple lamp, which was turned off. The bathroom door stood open and the light was off.
On the small table were several assorted items.
A glass vase of flowers, red roses to be exact, wilted and crumbling. A sealed white “get well” card with a heart on the front, from Delilah’s coworkers. A small white box of assorted chocolates, still unopened and wrapped in plastic. All of these items lay together and were obviously untouched since having been delivered. The digital clock that hung over the door states the time as 7:04 P.M.
There was no sound at all coming from the hall, no voices could be heard, no one walking up or down the hall, not but deathly silence. The only audible sound being the flatlining heart monitor nearby the bed.

Once Delilah felt more confident in her feet, she released the bed and stood for a moment, just to make sure . Her eyes wandered around the room, noticing the it lacked many things that other hospitals had. While she examined the room, she noticed the small table that sat next to the bed, and the items it contained. A small vase with wilted red roses. An unopened box of chocolates, and an unopened envelope. Someone had been here. Surely the hospital staff didn't bring those for her. She figured she'd open them after a while, and turned her attention back to the door, where she was originally heading. She took a cautious step, then another, and another, until she was upon the door.

Delilah paused and took a moment to catch her breath. She felt like she had ran 3 miles without slowing down. Reaching up, she gently wrapped her arm around the right side of her ribs, and with a heavy exhale, she reached for the doorknob and twisted it. As she pulled the door open, she was greeted by a sight most unsettling. When the door was open enough for her to walk through, Delilah stared out into the hall. It was dark. There were no sounds. Nothing, except the still flatlining heart monitor, and her shallow breathing. No light whatsoever, and nobody. Not that she could see.

Delilah stared for a moment, her heart started to beat a little faster. Why was it so dark? And where was everyone? Brows furrowed in confusion, Delilah cleared her sore throat and called out, "Hello?" There was no answer. No light was flipped on. Nothing. There was no way she was going out there. Uh uh. It was dark. She stood there for a moment, telling herself she wasn't going out there. It wasn't happening. She took a step forward. Then another, and another. Apparently, she was doing this. "Hello!" She was standing, in what she assumed was the middle of the hall now, the only light, coming from the one inside the room she had just left.

It was then in that sudden moment that a single light suddenly came to life. At the far end of the hallway to Delilah’s left, a single ceiling light could be seen, casting away the darkness around it. This lone beacon shone at the hallways’ end, which was a good sixty feet ahead of Delilah.



The entire hallway held an ominous presence. It was as if some unseen force or being brooded over the entire length of the corridor, warning Delilah to return to her room. While not threatening nor dangerous, this unseen aura radiated an unsettling mood. It was then that a single sound split through the air, echoing through the hallway’s length. It was the sound of heavy footsteps, though it was unclear which direction they came from, due to the heavy echo that sang across the walls of the hall.

As if her single word had flipped a switch, a light suddenly came in at the end of the hall. Delilah's head snapped towards it's direction and felt her heart skip a beat. A light came on. That meant there has to be someone down there, right? She turned her body towards where the light was coming from, and started to take a step in its direction. Something stopped her, though. A noise. Her head whipped in the other direction, seeking where it was coming from. It was footsteps. "Hello," she called out again, a little more hesitantly, this time.

Delilah looked back in the direction of the light, then back behind her, into the darkness. The footsteps continued, echoing, making it damn near impossible to determine where exactly they were coming from. She took a slow step backwards, intending to go back into the room, but stopped. Goosebumps rose all over her skin. There was something there that made her feel uneasy. She could quite explain it had someone asked her, but she could feel it. Like there was some sort of evil presence there with her.

Biting her lip, Delilah started walking towards the light at the end of the hall. She was slow going, her body still sore from her accident. The footsteps continued, making her look back more and more, torn between wanting to see who or what it was, and not. With her hand on the wall now, for support, she sped up as much as she could, trying to hurry and get to the light. Like it was her sanctuary. Like it would protect her from the feeling she was getting. It was silly, but she believed it. Her breathing was starting to come faster, her heart pounding, and just when she was a few feet from the light, she turned. Delilah walked backwards into the light, but was trying to see if the footsteps would ever reveal themselves.

As the footsteps continued, their direction was finally revealed. They were in fact coming from the direction of the light. They were somewhat fast-paced, but not hurried nor frantic. They seemed to be closing in, whomever it was was quickly approaching upon Delilah.

It was then that a shadow could be seen. Or rather the shadowy silhouette of someone walking down the hallway in Delilah’s direction. It was a woman, as could be seen from the height and shape of the approaching figure. As they closed in on Delilah, the mysterious figure was revealed as the nurse from earlier. Her long black pony tail swung against her back as she briskly approached Delilah, her blue scrubs rustled together. In her right hand she carried a tall clear plastic cup filled with water.

Her face held a stern and rather cold expression, her blue eyes pierced into Delilah’s as she came to face her. “And just what are you doing out in the hall,” she demanded rather harshly,”you should be in bed getting your rest.”
She stood before Delilah now, still and unmoving.

“The doctor can’t see you yet I’m afraid,” she said,”there have been some difficulties. Here, take your water and get back in your room Miss Stevens.”
She extended the plastic cup outward to Delilah, her face stern and somewhat demanding.

Still, as the footsteps neared, seeming to quicken, Delilah could tell that they were now which direction they were coming from. She quickly turned her attention to her left and saw a shadow. A rather feminine shadow. Moments later, the nurse from earlier emerged from the darkness and came into the light. Gone was the sweet woman that had greeted her just moments ago. She seemed more hard and irritated now. Of course, had the roles been reversed, Delilah would be a tad irritated as well. With her injuries, she shouldn't be up.

The nurse informed her that the doctor was busy at the moment, but still offered her the drinknahe had asked for earlier. Delilah looked down at the offered cup, back up to the nurse, and back at the cup again. She hesitantly reached for the cup, her eyes meeting the nurse's, and forced a smile of gratitude. With a nod, Delilah slowly turned anx started to make her way back to her room. There wasn't much she could do at this point.

With her free hand against the wall again for support, Delilah slowly made her way back to her room. She paused half way there and drank from the cup, then continued on her way. Being in the dark still bothered her, but it wasn't nearly as bad with the glow of the light coming from behind her. It took her a little longer to reach her room than it has to reach the light, simply because she took her time this time around. Once she made it to her room, she stopped and looked back towards the light, that uneasy feeling she felt earlier, coming back. Something wasn't quite right.

The nurse had turned and was briskly heading back down the hall, toward the light. Her long black ponytail swinging behind her once more as she took short, quick steps. The rustling of her scrubs becoming distant as she faded within the light, becoming a simple shadow in it's cast glare once more. It was at that moment that the unpleasant happened.

A shrill, ear-splitting pitch broke through the quiet hallways. Not that of a human or animal, but the unpleasant sharpness of a whistle or radio equipment. The high-pitched sound was intense within the ears of Delilah, so much that it effectively altered the surroundings into a blur as it drilled into her eardrums. The unpleasant sound lasted for roughly ten seconds before suddenly stopping, screaming within her mind with a vengeance.

As the shrill noise stopped, the surrounding area had changed. The bright light at the hall's end was gone, the entire corridor once more enveloped in darkness. The nurse was gone, and no sound could be heard from the hallway's length. The only remaining light was that within Delilah's room, just as things had been before the nurse returned. The heavy ominous presence from earlier seemed to have strengthened, the entire hallway now warped with a strange and unpleasant aura, as if something angry and unseen was stalking through the darkness.

Watching as the nurse disappeared, Delilah went to take another drink from her cup, when a suddenly dropped it and cried out, her eyes squeezing ahut. A sudden noise so intense, it felt as if her eardrums were going to explode. Delilah's hands shot up to cover her ears in hopes of blocking the sound out, but it didn't help. It was inside her head, ringing relentlessly. She cried out again as she fell to her knees, pressing harder against her ears as if the action would help. It didn't.

And then, as soon as it had come, it had gone. The ringing in her head continued for a moment longer, before it too, dissipated. When it had all finally stopped, she opened her eyes. She turned her head to the end of the hall. The light was gone. Her head jerked in the other direction. No light. It was dark, just as it had been before. All except for her room.

Delilah took a few deep breathes, trying to ease her nerves. It seemed to work for a moment, but a sudden chill ran down her spine. Goosebumps rose all over body and it felt as if someone, or something, was standing behind her. Frozen in place, her eyes widened and she held her breath. She was terrified to look behind her. It was irrational, but the dreadful feeling she felt, was not. After working up the courage to turn, she quickly whipped around, falling onto her rear as she did. Her eyes frantically searched the immediate area, but saw nothing.

It was if she was moving on autopilot at this point. She didnt tell her body to move, it just did. Delilah started pushing herself backwards, using her hands and feet. She kept going until she was back inside the room. Jumping up to her feet, she grabbed the door and slammed it shut, locking it as she did. She slowly backed away from the door, her heart beat thrumming in her ears. Delilah's breathing had resumed, coming in quick shallow breaths. Her blue eyes never left the door, even when she stopped walking backwards, they remained locked on.

"What the hell," she thought to herself.

It drew closer, that cold, angry presence that seemed to be following Delilah. It was near a climax, the unseen energy seemed to be swirling around Delilah, closing in around her from the surrounding walls in her room. Whatever the source of this maliciousness was, it was approaching, seemingly from every direction. It was at that moment, with a sharp fizzing of electricity, the light in Delilah’s room failed. There she sat, surrounded in total blackness.

The darkness held. The cold, sinister force was stronger than ever, as if some unseen demon was embracing Delilah, wrapped around her in an unforgiving hold. Then it came again, a sharp fizz of electricity, and the light returned to function barely, providing just enough light to illuminate the room. But this was not for the better. Because standing there in front of Delilah, towering before her in the way of the door, stood a dark and gloomy figure. Its face dead and it’s body shrouded in a black robe and cowl.



It glared at Delilah with milky eyes, it’s face twisted into a sneer of hate. It was without saying that whatever this male-like apparition of death was, it was the source of the dark aura that plagued Delilah’s mind and surroundings. It stood still and unmoving, seemingly paralyzed in place yet alive and active.

It was still there. That presence. That dark and unnerving presence was in the room with her, and it only felt stronger now. She felt it all around her, as if it were a blanket slowly being wrapped around her body. Her he's jerked all around, trying desperately to see what wasn't really there. And then suddenly, the light in the room went out. Delilah whimpered and stepped back, her body coming in contact with the bed she had been in earlier. All she could hear, we're her shallow breathes and beating heart, which only seemed to quicken.

Moments later, the light can back on. Only, it wasn't as bright as it had been. It seemed dull. The light it cast around the room was sickly. That's when she saw someone standing in front of the door. A soft whimper escaped her, and her eyes widened as she took in the dark cloaked figure. They looked dead, but was very much alive. Or was It? There was no color to its eyes, other than a milky white color, and they felt like they were staring right through her.

It stood there, statue like, staring at her as if it wanted to murder her in the worst way. Delilah's mouth went dry. She couldn't swallow. She was terrified that any move she made, would send this thing after her. The presence that thing emitted was heavy, and terrifying. Delilah felt her eyes water with tears, but she blinked them back, trying to stay brave. Even though she didn't feel it at the moment. Not at all. She felt like she was a dead woman walking.

The light flickered again, going dark for only a minute before returning.
The cloaked figure was now closer, roughly five feet away from Delilah. The light flickered again, darkening and then returning. The malicious being was now face to face with Delilah, hardly two inches from standing nose to nose with her. It’s ghoulish face stared back into her own. It’s moon-like eyes seemed empty and hollow, yet beheld a certain darkness within. It’s grayish skin was leathery and looked decayed, and yellowed teeth could be seen between cracked, parted lips.

In remained silent, leering back at her, cold and unmoving. The light began flickering again but only slightly, never completely darkening the room.
The figure moved suddenly. It raised its right up upward in a jerking motion.
It held it’s right hand out palm-up before it, a boney, clammy looking hand with long skinny fingers. It was then that the strange entity smiled slightly.
The corners of it’s mouth turned upward slightly, it’s cheeks riveting with crooked dimples.

It suddenly grabbed her. It’s right hand lurching upward and grabbing her throat tightly in a cold, deathly grip. It’s long fingers squeezed tightly as it remained stiff and smiled leerily at her.

Each time the ligjt flickered, the being was closer. Closer. Closer, until it mere inches from her. Her eyes had gone so wide, she imagined that they were the size of dinner plates. Nearly every breath she took, was accompanied by a whimper. Delilah was beyond terrified. She couldn't move. Even if she wanted to, an was completely frozen in place. And then, the lights began to flicker once more. This time, it wouldn't stop.

And then it happened. The being moved. It's hand can up, but there was no flesh. No muscle, no blood. It was all just bone. Before she could really react, the being grabbed her up by her throat. Delilah cried out and instinctively grabbed onto the bony wrist of the being. She stared down at him, watching as he smiled maliciously at her. Delilah choked and gasped for air, crying out again, praying that someone would help her.

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"No!" Delilah's eyes shot open and she jerked violently in her bed. She was gasping for air as if should really had been choked and grasping at the sheets as though they were the bony hand that had choked her. Her eyes were frantically searching the room, trying to find the being, but not seeing him. "Where is he? Where is he!?" The more she looked around though, the more she recognized her surroundings. She was back in the hospital bed, still hooked up to the heart monitor, which was beeping erratically. Still hooked up to the I.v. She began to slowly calm down, trying to take deeper, slower breathes. Delilah swallowed hard and closed her eyes, still trying to calm herself.