30. Shh by Dani Fyffe

I sat at the desk of Deslexor mental health hospital, or a better name for it, a fucking insane asylum. Don’t ask how I ended up getting a job here.

It’s a bit calmer during the day when everyone is here. I have the graveyard shift. From 10 to 5. I know it’s a short time but the patients here never sleep. All I can hear is screaming and talking.

What makes this place scary as shit is cell 109. Well, who’s in there anyway? A boy who has to be no older than 19. He butchered his whole family then took off.

I haven’t seen him personally but from what I’m told, his face is enough to scar someone for life. According to his record, his name is Jeffery Woods otherwise for me known as a fucking psychopath.

Apparently, from what I heard people actually dare others to go in his cell. He’s been here for a few weeks.

All they found on him was a knife and the clothes on his back. Sounds silly I know but this fucker has killed over 2,000 people.

Took the police 5 years to catch him. So instead of putting him in a fucking cell for the rest of his life, they dump him on us. I sighed and got up. I slowly walked towards cell 109. I hesitated for a minute but gave in.

“Hey,” I said shakily.

“Hey,” Said a shaky raspy voice.

“I’m David.”

“Jeff.”

“Can’t let this place get to you. I was locked up here for quite some time. I know how those walls will make you feel.” I said.

There was silence for a minute, then Jeff spoke.

“I’m actually very comfortable in here. Nothing can cause me to lose my mind when I already have. Besides, I can get out of here really easily. It’s only a door holding me in. Let me rest and I’ll be out to visit in a few hours haha.”

I back away from the door. Was he fucking serious?! Nah he’s probably just trying to scare me. I walked away back to my post.

I continued to listen to the other patients until sleep overtook me. I shot awake and looked around. Nothing. I checked the time. 2:23 a.m. I stood up and noticed that it was deathly quiet here.

“Huh, everyone must finally be asleep,” I said.

I went to the nearest soda machine and got a Coke. The hissing and clicking sound echoed throughout the place. I sipped while looking around and went back to my desk.

Sitting down I turned on the radio. I was about 5 minutes into the staticky singing when the lights shit off. My eyes grew wide with fear. Worst place to be during a blackout.

I grabbed for my flashlight and shined it down the hall. This place strangely felt more closed while covered in a black blanket.

I got up and walked down the hall. I walked towards the basement door. I dread going down there even when it’s day time. Shuddering I opened the door. As I descended the metal stairs, my footsteps echoed. It was like a beat was being made. I finally reached the bottom.

The humming sound of machinery was all I could hear. I shook off every bit of fear and walked towards the box. I flipped it on and voila! Lights are back on. I dashed back up the stairs and sprinted my desk.

I breathed in a sigh of relief. Looking down the halls I got up and headed back to cell 109.

“Hey, Jeff. Are you okay?”

Silence.

“I’m fine. What happened to the
lights?”

“Power went out.”

“A true shame. I like the dark.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, how did you end up here?”

Silence.

I started to walk away when he spoke.

“Those…bullies. Haha. They thought they could push me around. I showed them no mercy. There was so much fire, pain. My skin turned white. My hair black. My new face….went so perfect with me! I…I couldn’t stop looking at it.

“Hahaha, I got tired, my eyes are forever open now. I’m always smiling too! Haha, mother and father didn’t like my new face… I…I cut them. My brother…I killed him too. I didn’t mean to… The thought of killing just….haha it just drives me insane!”

I was sitting with my legs crossed. Was I actually having a conversation with this psycho?

“How…how did you get here…David?” asked Jeff.

“After my mom died, my father beat me. One night while he was sleeping, I ducted taped him down and cut his fingers and limbs off one by one,” I said.

I heard Jeff laughing.

“Feels nice doesn’t it? Feeling the bones snap and flesh just slide past the blade.”

“I’ll admit it felt nice.”

I can’t call myself a psycho. My dad had it coming. I suddenly heard Jeff laughing hysterically.

“You… Haha, you think you’re safe out there? You’re surrounded by a bunch of insane fuckers.”

I looked around. He’s right.

“Well, I gotta get back to work. I’ll talk to you in a bit, Jeff,” I said.

“Hahahaha, I’m sure you will haha.”

I got up and headed back to my desk. 3:00. Two more hours. Mouthing my head I closed my eyes for a few minutes. I shot awake and it was pitch black. I groaned and got my flashlight.

I noticed the basement door was open. Did I forget to close it? I felt a sense of fear, anxiety. Quickly I jogged down to cell 109. The door was standing wide open. Fear gripped my body. I slowly went in and looked around. All over the walls was blood.

The sentence “Go to sleep” was written all over. Even on the floor. I looked down the hall to see the other cell doors open. I ran down the hall and checked every room. Every room was the same. Dead bodies with a smile carved in their cheeks.

I screamed at the sight. That’s when I heard it. The laugh.

I quickly made a dash back to my desk. Jumping under it and took deep breaths. There was no calming down in this situation.

Suddenly I heard footsteps. I held my breath and listened. The footsteps grew louder and louder. They were near the desk, suddenly a horrid scraping sound erupted. The sound of a knife on wood. The sound made my hairs stand on end.

It stopped. I froze and listened. No footsteps, no breathing. Just silence.

I slowly moved out only to be face to face with two pairs of cold black eyes. His face was white, lips red, a smile. A smile carved in his cheeks. I screamed at the top of my lungs.

“I thank you for talking to me. Unfortunately, I can’t stay long. So I guess it’s time for you to go to sleep.” He laughed.

I screamed one last time before I felt the blade slice into my cheeks. I pushed him away and ran into the basement.

Fuck! The first door I touched, it had to be the damn basement. I ran down and hit at the bottom.

‘Clang, clang, clang’ Jeff’s footsteps echoed throughout the basement. I moved towards the pipes. I put my hand to my cheek. He only cut them a little bit. They still burned.

Closing my eyes I tried to relax. It had to of been 4:20 I just have to hide for 40 minutes. Or at least stay alive. I heard his footsteps slowly approaching my spot. I opened my eyes and felt hot breath against my face.

“Found you!”

A hand shot out and grabbed my hair. Slowly he dragged my face to the pipes. I screamed as my skin melted. Pulling away I crawled out of my hiding spot.

Jeff grabbed my ankle and pulled me towards him. My nails peeled off as I desperately tried to claw for something to hold.

He flipped me around and stabbed my chest. I slowly felt his blade penetrate my heart. The pain is extreme. I took one last look at him and heard nothing but, “Go to sleep.”