Destined - Episode 9

Novella Thursdays

The coast was not clear back up on the male ward, with both the nurse Jimmy had fled from and Dr. Moran talking to Aaron in front of the nurse’s station. Jimmy had discarded the orderly uniform, the patient garb he had kept on underneath now placing him back amongst his fellow crazies as he peered around the corner. The atmosphere was relatively calm, no doubt the incident having resulted with the sedation of many. A controlled state he was most likely to meet as well.

Thinking about where he was in relation to the nurse’s station, and the second office Moran kept down here, he realized that the floor plan was exactly the same as up on the female ward. And felt sickened in now knowing that the drama between him and the nurse could have been avoided. But hindsight was 20/20, with the only thing mattering now being how was he going to get Aaron alone without first being zombified with those damn chemicals they used to control everyone.

Although it was the long way around, if he could make it to Moran’s office without being detected there would be a pretty good chance of Aaron returning there by himself since he spent more time in said office than the doctor. Jimmy went for it.

The space below the desk was tighter than the maintenance closet, but Jimmy was just glad he had made it. While waiting he recited the information he had found in his beloved’s file, along with connecting a little bit more of its content with his theory.

What he couldn’t crack was how she had come to be drugged up in the first place. He couldn’t imagine her being a drug addict, as it would have impaired her ability to send him messages. Messages he believed she was not even aware of sending out. And what was Sodium Pentothal, anyway? Maybe she had come across some bad people while visiting the city. Jimmy had glanced over quite a few shady characters out there.

The door to the office suddenly opened.

‘Start writing up the report, and let me know when they find him,’ Dr. Moran instructed. ‘I’ll go upstairs to check and see if he got into anything else, and in a couple of hours I’m off to catch my flight.’

‘Ok, doctor, will do,’ Aaron replied. ‘If I don’t see you before you leave, have a nice weekend.’

The door shut and Aaron’s footsteps could be heard approaching the desk. Jimmy shot out from underneath it and immediately placed his hand over the phone to prevent Aaron from calling for help.

They were on opposite ends of the desk, the distance between each and the door being equal. He hoped he wouldn’t have to race Aaron to the other side of the room, and began to speak fast just in case the thought was crossing Aaron’s mind.

‘Please, just give me a chance to explain. I’ll do whatever you want, just please hear me out first.’

Aaron’s eyes quickly looked over Jimmy, then around their general vicinity. Believing himself to be in no immediate danger, he sat in the chair normally reserved for patients. Jimmy took the seat behind the desk.

‘Last week when we first met you said you were here to help me. Did you really mean it?’

‘Absolutely,’ Aaron assured. The sincerity in his voice instantly made Jimmy feel a little bit better, and so he began to open up. ‘Have you ever heard of dream telepathy?’

‘I’ve read a little on it, yes.’

‘Then you’re aware of the studies they did back in the 60’s and 70’s, right?’

‘Doctors Ullman and Krippner, yes.’

‘And how they were able to prove that telepathic images could be sent to the receivers who were dreaming? That the connections succeeded more times than not, proving that it had to be more than just chance. That dream telepathy really was real?’

‘Correct.’

‘And how about reincarnation? Have you ever heard of how the Tibetans find their long-lost teachers after they die? How they test a kid who they believe to be their reincarnated leader with things once owned by the deceased? How the results have proven to be stronger than just chance guessing?’

‘Yes.’

‘I know you’re a guy of reason, Aaron, and I’m sorry about the whole chicken bullshit. I am of sound mind, and I put myself’here on purpose. It was the only way I could get to her-‘

Surprising the both of them, the office door suddenly opened. Seeing the two at his desk, Dr. Moran stopped in his tracks.