CALL OF THE BLADE

Ch 9

Arriving at Saint Gabriel Medical Center with a smile on his face, Doctor Travis Pierce was happy to be at work. Considering everything that the heart surgeon has been through his work place feels more normal to him. Travis had no time to worry more about it, there were a lot of different surgeries that needed to be done today. Pierce took a look at the board and saw just how much work was ahead of him. The doctor would be spending his entire day in the operating room. Some of which he would even spend lead Doctor Rigsbee. Pierce's smile never faded from him, he even had a hop in his step. After getting dressed in hospital garments and reaching the operating room Travis found his first surgery of the day: replacing an aortic valve. The patient was already placed under anesthetic, this is a mix of analgesia, sedation and paralysis. All cardiac and respiratory parameters are being carefully monitored by staff. The patient was out for the time being. Holding out his hand Doctor Pierce was passed a saw which he used to cut through the sternum. Two hours later, Pierce has completed the surgery without any complications. As Pierce washed his hands thoroughly Doctor Rigsbee came in to the room as well. Pierce recalled that he hadn't seen him much since losing his dog. Before prepping Rigsbee took off his circular glasses and made sure there were no smudges. "How was it?" Rigsbee asked. "It was good. Better than I expected." Pierce replied. "I knew you would get your groove back. When I saw it for the first time, it grabbed me. You know what I mean?" Rigsbee began soaping up his hands. Pierce did not understand what he was referring to thus remained quiet. "My first operation. I know you've done good work." "Thank you." Pierce was grateful, however Rigsbee was not as smiley and happy like he usually is. Instead Rigsbee ignored Pierce's smile, and continued to dress. "Ready?" Asked lead Doctor Rigsbee as he left to the operating room without waiting for a response. Pierce looked through the window to see that Rigsbee had changed. Rigsbee and Pierce worked together on a bypass surgery. In this the doctors used sutures made of polypropylene. This is a plastic polymer as thin as human hair. Though these sutures are fine, they're built to withstand pressure. Thicker ones are used only for repairs of the heart itself. This surgery was a little more complex than the one Pierce performed solo. Two and a half hours later, the surgery was complete with no issues. Pierce followed Rigsbee out to remove the garments and clean off. While Pierce kept looking over to his fellow

Doctor, he got no attention back. Pierce at first was hesitant to talk to him. Even though Rigsbee had done so much for him Pierce held back, for he didn't really connect with him as a friend. Pierce followed Rigsbee and waited for his opportunity. An opening in which he could sit down and talk to him. It was clear now that something was getting under his skin. Pierce got his chance at the cafeteria. Pierce didn't even get a tray of food; he simply sat down across from Rigsbee and began the conversation. "Hey. Everything alright?" Pierce pondered the question. "What makes you think that something is not alright?" Rigsbee replied as he opened his orange juice container. "Listen, I get it now. I understand. I'm sorry for everything I've missed here." "This is your job Doctor Pierce. It's your duty to show up. Consistency; that is the key for you." "I know, I know. There is a lot that I have missed. And its effected not only my performance but my relationship with you and the staff." "Yes it has." Rigsbee used his fork to stir up his mashed potatoes. "" The silence from Pierce made Rigsbee look up from his warm meal. "What? You think you're really ready to listen to me?" Rigsbee stared at Pierce. "Yes I am. I'm here, I'm listening." Pierce stared back. "I've stood up for you. When no one else would. I am confident in your abilities. I have hope." "Thats good. Sothen we're good?" "Welltoday is a good start. Remember we have that really big operation tomorrow. Chief will be there." "Yes! I'll be there." Pierce says positively. "You need to be." "I'll be there!" Pierce promises to his fellow Doctor before leaving the table. Motivated to do his absolute best Pierce was a warrior's path. Seeking sick people to help cure, a way to prove his capabilities at work. The Doctor felt fresh, like starting a new, despite not eating a thing. Along his march through the hospital Pierce ran into his student Rebecca Kelly. Crossing paths made Pierce jump, in all honesty he had forgotten all about her. "REBECCA!" Pierce said alarmingly; this in reaction made Rebecca jump as well. "Ohumm hi Doctor." Rebecca didn't have the strength to look him in the eyes. "Where have you been?" Pierce wanted to say that he was wondering where she was, but held back from telling a lie. "You knowfamily stuff" Rebecca held her files of paperwork against her chest, as if she was hugging them for comfort. "Oh right. Small town girl in the big city, parents must worry about you a lot." "They check on me, whenever they feel it's needed." "Yes I see. They have every right to worry! You have missed so much weird stuff!" "Umm-yeah can we talk about this somewhere else?" Rebecca asked. "Yeah! Yes of course you're right! Tonight. Come to my place."

"No! I mean-maybe thats not the best idea" Rebecca was hesitant to speak her mind. She kept the files close to her and her eyes away from looking at Pierce. "Right again. I'll tell you what, we'll just meet at a bar. No big deal, I'll call you." Doctor Pierce walked away, as happy as he was before. Pierce felt this was a new beginning, a great way to start a new relationship with his student. A relationship that was not only professional, but friendly. Pierce could only imagine how in a matter of months he would have a more abundance of friends and his life overall would be better. Rebecca brushed loose hair behind her ear as she watched Doctor Pierce walk away. Looking around to make sure no one noticed her, she walked in the opposite direction. The papers hugged tightly against her, she kept her head down. For she could feel herself blushing, the slight red and pink colors appearing on her cheeks. Rebecca hid this well from staff, though many still wondered why Pierce's intern was not following him around. Questions and gossip such as that however never reached Rebecca. Thus she never thought the wiser of it. Rebecca continued doing small mediocre work that usually nurses tend to do. Pierce continued with his rounds, looking forward to his future at Saint Gabriel. With much thought about the subject Pierce even wondered how it would be without the title of Guardian. When the day was over Pierce went home to clean up for his night out. Rigsbee went home to his wife, who was waiting for him. "Hi honey! Dinner's ready." Said Helen as she give Dan a quick kiss before trotting back to the kitchen. Dan dropping his bag off and coat, lumbered into the dining room where his kids sat restlessly at the table. "HEY GUYS!" Rigsbee called out to get a big hug from his kids. "DADDY!" The children responded. Dan calming the kids down by talking to them sat and waited for his wife to appear with the food. As Helen placed the food around the table she saw her husband was happy. Dan's smile however faded as the family sat together to eat at the table. "So a lot has been happening at the hospital." Dan commented as he ate his food to his wife. "Danny you know the rules. No talking about work while eating." The kids looking between their mommy and daddy, before going back to eating. Dan knew the rules, he helped make those rules. Dan however wanted to talk, and he didn't want to wait until later. "Do you remember Doctor Pierce?" Dan asked his wife but got a silent answer in return. "He came byyou talked with him for a little bit. Do you remember?" "I guess we're breaking that rule." Helen remarked with raised eye brows, though she did not dare to look at her husband. She kept her eyes glaring at her food. "Well he's FINALLY showing that he can handle being a heart surgeon. Which is good. He is suppose to follow me and take my place." "Why? Do you plan on retiring?" Asked his wife. "No! Not at all. Just the way things work. Pierce is a new doctor at our hospital, he has to learn the ropes and he is suppose to grow under my wing." "Is there something you're not telling me?" The conversation was getting more and more of the kid's attention.

"No." Dan had to think for a moment to make sure he covered everything. "GOOD." Helen focused on her food, and so did the kids. Dan seeing his family continue with their day like it was nothing took a huge effect on him. He was suppose to be a father, a lover, a leader. However anger grew inside him, he did not feel welcomed or cared for. Keeping these thoughts to himself, Dan slowly ate his food while over thinking what had happened. "Daddy! You're staring!" One of his kids said. Dan hadn't even realized that he was lost in his own world. "Whats happening to me?" Dan moaned as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. When he placed them back on he noticed that his whole family was now staring back at him. "Huh?" "Did you say something honey?" Asked Helen. "No. Nothing. I said nothing." Dan slowly lowered his view and ate his meal. The rest of the night for the Rigsbee family was a quiet one. Meanwhile somewhere downtown in Zelma; Pierce sat and had a drink with his intern Rebecca Kelly. The two met at a nice establishment, a clean restaurant that also had a bar. The place was noisy, if they had shown up an hour later the place would have been packed. The two found a table to sit and enjoy a meal; something to go along with the drinks. Pierce leaned at the table to try to focus on Rebecca. It was hard not to get easily distracted. All the tables around them were filled with people socializing and having a good time. The Doctor knew that even this was not the best place to talk. It was however too late to turn back now, Pierce was there with her, might as well make the best of it. "I really wanted to thank you for coming out tonight." Pierce mentioned to Rebecca as she looked over the menu. "You did save my life. Even though it all still doesn't make sense." "Yeah tell me about it." Pierce began looking over his own menu and began thinking it over. After reading through his menu Pierce kept it opened. He used this as a coy, the Doctor continued to look from the menu to Rebecca, then back again. "Next time, I'll save myself. That's how I will stand on my own two feet." Said Rebecca. "So then, you're not giving up?" "I'm still suspicious. Aren't you?" Asked Rebecca as she looked straight at Pierce. "While I know this stuff is real, I'm just trying to make things right again. Make things better, for everyone." Pierce put down his menu but couldn't help tapping on table. His fingers dancing to an imaginary beat. Rebecca merely nodded her head understanding what Pierce meant. "Sowhat did I miss?" Rebecca asked as she felt the silence between them was too heavy. "Recently, there was this big demon. I mean huge-literally a fat monster that me and Maggie AND John helped take down!" Pierce drew Rebecca in with his details. At some points Pierce had to speak louder to be heard over the crowd at the restaurant. "Oh yeah I almost forgot, were you around about three weeks ago?" Rebecca thought about it before answering. "No like I said I had family stuff." "Right. There was this 'day of the dog'. I guess some witches wrote about it decades ago. Anyways, the city went nuts. Dogs were attacking humans for the chance to become the

dominant species!" Pierce let the excitement of telling the story get to him. "It was a prophecy? One no one took seriously" Rebecca said but Pierce didn't think twice about what she said. "I got stuck right in the middle of it all!" Pierce continued his tale, despite Rebecca losing interest. "I had to go with Detective Klines." "Who?" "Oh thats right you haven't met him yet. Thats something you can actually be thankful for he is a bit of an asshole." Rebecca went back to looking over the menu. Pierce had pulled himself out of his loop. No more stories for the night, the Doctor wanted to keep it simple. "Father Clark told me when I first started, that it would never end. There is a balance that can't be changed." "So why do we-you, do the things you do?" "Defeating the evil replaces it with evil. I guess I just like the idea that I give people time. More time to live, to enjoy things." "When I die, you mean I'm going to end up like them?" "NO! I don't think so! I haven't figured that much out. You should ask John about it." "You know what Pierce? I will." Rebecca said with a smile as the waiter approached their table. Next Morning Saint Gabriel hospital was not use to being so busy so early. Rigsbee came in to work thinking he would be able to relax before the big surgery. Dan only ended up having to help other doctors who were doing rounds and emergency calls. Keeping an eye on the clock Rigsbee stopped whatever he was doing and went to the locker room. There he changed again, while doing so he looked to see no one else around. Heading to surgery Rigsbee began asking staff if anyone had seen Doctor Pierce. None of the nurses or other staff had seen him for today yet. When Rigsbee entered the operation room to wash up there he ran into Chief Tom Hill along with other staff members. "You're early Doctor Rigsbee." Said Tom, Dan took a look at his watch. "I am?" "Indeed the operation has been pushed back a few hours." As Tom said this Rigsbee gasped as though he needed air. Dan was glad that he didn't have to cover for Pierce again. Looking around Dan saw the other staff members were in there own conversations. "Thank you Chief." Rigsbee said as he turned to walk away. "Dr.Rigsbee!" Tom called out to him as Dan stepped into the elevator. Tom approached but didn't enter with him. "I know you're not responsible for him, but I need to know where Doctor Pierce is. This operation will go on with or without him." Rigsbee's eyes opened wide, but immediately Rigsbee put on a big smile to cover it up. "Oh don't worry he just likes to relax in the basement before performing surgery." "The basement? You mean the morgue?" Tom wondered.

"Yeah it calms him down. Weird I know!" The elevator doors shut and Rigsbee leaned against the back of the elevator. Staring up at the ceiling he listened to the horrible elevator music as it went down to the first floor. Once there Dan got with staff at the desk to call Pierce, and to keep calling him until they got an answer. Rigsbee after doing this rode the elevator again. Dan continued down to the basement, where he signed in at the morgue. Dan had not only covered up for Pierce, but also told a private lie to the Chief of Staff Tom Hill. It wasn't Pierce that found the morgue peaceful and a good place to relax, but Rigsbee himself. He had been coming down here for a year now. Secretly, not letting the staff know that this was his place of solitude in the house of madness. Dan knew that people just wouldn't understand. It wasn't the dead bodies, it was just the silence of this place. The absolute quiet in each room. Rigsbee found it surreal, especially how just one floor above was a war zone. Dan would enter the doorway to each room, and stand there looking over the peaceful area. Noticing how clean and shiny the place was. The staff down here took very good care of the tools and other equipment. Each room having a feel that it needed to be seen, like a form of art. Rigsbee loved it, for in his mind he believed maybe in another life this could have been where he would work. In the last room of the morgue was where the examinations of the bodies were performed. Sometimes Rigsbee wouldn't enter, for he knew that people would be in there working. Respectively Dan would leave them be. Today was different, maybe it was the stress, or maybe the lies. Dan entered the last room without hesitation. In the center of the room was a body on a cold metal slab. Two men stood above it with tools in hands. "Doctor Rigsbee! How can I help you?" "I'd like to just stand here and watch, if you don't mind?" "Not at all. I'll explain what I'm doing-" His words faded for Rigsbee was no longer interested in anything the coroner had to say. The world, the hospital, the room-faded away. Rigsbee's attention was drawn to a specific item. One tool that sat on the metal tray near the coroner. Dried blood was on the steel blade. Clearly this tool was used to cut through the flesh of the bodies. It was much bigger than a knife, it made quite an impression. As Rigsbee's view was drawn in, a high pitch ringing came into his ears. Darkness surrounded Daniel; the blade came closer and closer. Feeling the sharp blade as it riddle his mind, Rigsbee didn't fear coming closer to it. The ringing in his ear made sense to him. The noise supported him, comforted him, inspired him. And in that moment Rigsbee stared at the large blade, he was reborn. "Doctor Rigsbee, are you okay?" The coroner asked as Rigsbee awoke from his trance. The darkness gone, Dan found himself back in that room, with the coroner touching his shoulder. "I'm fine." Rigsbee replied as he picked up the coroner's hand off of his shoulder. "You were out of it. Are you sure you're feeling okay? You look pale." The coroner mentioned but Rigsbee paid no attention to him. Looking over Rigsbee saw that the tool he was staring at, the one he was drawn too, had vanished. On the other side of the room, Rigsbee caught a glimpse

of it. The tool was getting washed clean of its blood by the other staff member. The coroner put his hand on Rigsbee again, this time Rigsbee made a hard turn, pumping his elbow back to ensure the coroner gave him some space. "I'm fine! I have to go, I have to operate." Rigsbee left the room as he walked down the hall he continued to look back. Checking periodically on the closed door of the room he was in. Signing back out of the morgue Rigsbee took one last look. Dan could still hear a high pitch ring, he knew it was from the blade. Dan wanted to go back, but he couldn't-not now. Rigsbee returned to the operating room with some time to spare, but not much. That was a whole hour gone. His memory for that timeframe was filled with the blade. Seeing Pierce there ready to go brought a smile to Rigsbee's face. As the two Doctors cleaned up they looked through the window into the operating room. Above the room sat many medical students wanting to watch and learn. Chief of Staff Tom Hill was among them, he sat up straight and kept a professional look on himself. The operation was a heart transplant. To any patient and Doctor this was a very important surgery. A person's life depended on it. The patient on the slab in the operating room however happened to be the son of a City Councilman, this made it that much more noticeable to the Chief. Rigsbee entered followed by Pierce, the two Doctors quickly came over to the patient and began working on opening him up. About an hour into the operation and Rigsbee was beginning to show signs of fatigue. Dan could tell right away, he vision would sometimes blur, his hand would shake. He couldn't get the image of the blade from out of his head. That shiny steel blade, long enough to drive through a human body, with its soft and gentle curve leading to the end. Rigsbee could even taste the metal on his tongue, as if he had recently put change in his mouth. Doctor Rigsbee was off his mark, and before anybody else would catch on he allowed Pierce to take on the role. Rigsbee stood back and gave instructions to Pierce, giving him a chance to do more work on the patient. The staff grew quiet and the students in the viewing box above leaned in for a better view-as Pierce flicked the new heart in the patient. With that simple touch, the heart began to beat. Rigsbee in response raised his hand with a big thumbs up, showing everybody that the worst was over. Pierce closed up the patient, and the two Doctors left the operating room. After disposing of their garments both Doctors met Tom Hill in the hall. "Good work Doctors. Especially you Doctor Pierce. It's good to see you are adapting well to this hospital." Chief of Staff applauded Pierce. "!Thank you sir I was actually surprised by what happened in there. Dan has never let me close the patient up before whenever we worked together." Pierce was lifted as though he could now fly. Rigsbee quickly replaced his blank expression with a smile as well. "There was never going to be a better time to test you then in there. In front of everybody, you did great job!" Rigsbee applauded Pierce as well, however he did not mean the words he said. "I'll make the call to his father, he'll be happy to know how the procedure went." Tom turned and walked away as Pierce and Rigsbee jumped on the elevator and rode it down to the first floor.

"That was really great! Thank you for letting me prove myself in there!" Pierce said as he pumped a fist in victory. "Calm down. Geez!" Rigsbee declared as he stepped away from Pierce. Dan braced the elevator walls, fearing as though it would not withstand Pierce's celebration. Once the two Doctors left the elevator they saw that it was now dark outside. The surgery had taken the rest of the day. "Goodnight Danny!" Pierce waved as he headed out to the parking lot. Something about the way he said this ate away at Rigsbee. He followed him; feeling disrespected. Only his wife called him 'Danny' and in no way did he like it. "Pierce! Hold on!" Rigsbee called out so he would turn in the parking lot. Facing Rigsbee the Doctor continued the conversation. "What did I tell you yesterday? Consistency Travis. You have to be here." "I know! I hear you. I was here-I'm sorry I just had a long night." Pierce tried to explain. "Really?" "I lost track of the time, slept in late. It happens." Doctor Pierce did not want to tell his superior that he was out last night having a drink with his intern. Even though that was all that happened last night, that could be considered stepping over the line. "So what did you do last night that made you lose track of time? Or any other time in the last six months or so?" With the questioning that Rigsbee was raising up-Pierce knew he couldn't explain about being a Guardian. How could he? All this stuff that he had been through so far hadn't made any sense at all. "What are you getting at?" Pierce asked to redirect the questioning. "I'm getting at you're a Doctor! You're an adult! You need to be responsible! You need to be here! I'm not here just to be the babysitter!" Rigsbee released his frustrations. "Is that how you feel? Is that what you think of me as? Someone you need to watch over?" "Yes Pierce!" "?But what about the operation. What just happened in there? Did that mean nothing to you?" "NO!" Rigsbee now shouting. Stopped himself briefly, taking a breath he reestablished the talk. "I've helped you, stood up for you, even lied for you. I have seen interns Travis-KIDS-take this more seriously then you!" "I take this very seriously Dan!" "WELL YOU'RE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM NEEDS TO BE RAISED! Travis-I don't even know anything about why you left that other hospital." Rigsbee claimed. "It's none of your concern." Said Pierce. "There was a fire?" "I didn't have anything to do with that! It was family problems thats all." "Is that why you came here?" Asked Rigsbee. "Yes. Does that make me a bad guy?" Answered Pierce. "Yesyes it does." Rigsbee walked back into the hospital, leaving Pierce wondering how he was such a bad man. The argument between the two Doctors had ripped them further apart. The

relationship that they had was getting stronger and stronger. But now that bond was ripped clean, severed like scissors cutting paper. Or a knife cutting butter.

Part 2

Thats all Rigsbee was thinking about now. That blade and how it called out to him, how it showed him things he wanted to see. Once at the morgue Rigsbee saw that the staff was now gone for the night. The door to the hallway closed, the little window on the door showed pitch black in the hall. Rigsbee knew where he wanted to go and knew just where to find that tool! Pounding on the door in anger, Rigsbee looked down and firmly grabbed the handle. With a gentle pull the door swung open. It is up to the staff to always lock this door down for the night. There must have been some kind of mistake-maybe. Rigsbee did not stop to question it he just ran down the dark hall to the last door. Reaching for the round metal door knob Rigsbee twisted it and pulled. Yet another door open, yet another opportunity. Rigsbee now knew that something was now calling out to him. Destiny had brought him to this point. Flipping the light on Rigsbee walked over to the center slab in the room. Feeling drawn in Rigsbee was able to take in a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the silence. With a few steps Rigsbee went to the drawers and found them all unlocked. This was even more odd, for each drawer had a lock for a reason of keeping the tools safe when not in use. Opening each drawer Rigsbee paused to stare at his lovely blade. Feeling reunited with a loved one Rigsbee very softly caressed the steel blade. Holding the handle Dan ripped it from the drawer and became immediately satisfied. At last a smile appeared on Rigsbee's face that was not fake. It was quite wonderful how the light shined off the blade and off of his glasses. The radiance of this gazed into Dan's eyes, making him feel pressure in his gut. Dan was so happy that even a tear ran down his face. That was when the sound came back. A high pitch noise that killed the silence of the dead. As he stared at the blade he wondered just how much blood has been spilt with this tool? Just how many bodies has it touched? The noise around Dan filled his head with information, but none of it was the answer he was looking for. Dan instead got overwhelmed, the noise now too much; the noise now was taking over. Pressing against his ears Dan could hear the instructions of where to go, but before he could wonder why the lights in the room went out. The Doctor was enveloped in darkness, which was nurtured by madness.

Three days have gone passed since the big operation. Three days and no one has seen or heard from Doctor Daniel Rigsbee. The entire hospital has been in an uproar about it. His wife Helen has been coming by the hospital every morning and afternoon; hoping Dan would show up. Because of his disappearance the police have been called and a missing person report is filed. Both Doctor Travis Pierce and Rebecca Kelly have been working long hours to fill in for him. The hospital was as busy as ever, somehow in the crowd Pierce was found by Detective Klines. Stunned to see the Detective in the crowd Pierce was immediately pulled away to a more quiet surrounding: the supply closet. A dark secluded room filled with toilet paper and brooms. "We need to have a talk." Klines said as he looked through the crack of the door. After making sure no one had noticed, he closed the door lightly. "Detective! I don't know where he is honest!" Pierce raised his hands to show that he meant no harm. Klines turned and faced him. "Are you sure?" "What you mean? Yes I'm sure!" "I mean you sure this isn't related to your OTHER job?" Klines put an emphasis on the word: Other. Pierce's face went from serious to in-raged. "No! Not that I know of! I actually haven't done much work with them for a little while now." "Report says you saw him three nights ago, you were leaving the hospital?" Asked Klines. "Yes we had an argument it was really nothing!" "Come on man you actually believe that? So the last time you saw him, the last time you were talking with him you were fighting. Can I ask about what?" "Just me. It was about how I haven't been taking my job seriously enough." "So he didn't know about what you did outside of the hospital walls?" Klines questioned. "No. But it was-has been effecting my work." Admitted Pierce. "Yeah me too. Changing my perspective on shit." "What about Rebecca? Did you ask her?" Pierce wondered. "Who?" Klines retrieved his notepad and jotted down the name. Pierce recalled at that moment that the Detective had not had the chance to meet her yet. "Never mind. But he was angry, very angry at me." "I'm going to assume then that maybe it was something from your other job." "You mean something from the Otherside?" Pierce asked. "Yes. Look I know he was your friend, I'm sorry." "Dan, was not as close to me as he made everybody believe. He wanted to be, but I couldn't let him. You understand" Pierce said looking down away from Klines' eyes. "Yes I do. I also think that what you've told me has been very helpful. But I think I can get more out of your other buddy. Father Clark." Detective Klines stated. "Haven't seen or heard from him for a few weeks!" "Well he hasn't gone missing. John is where he's always been." Letting Pierce go back to his work at Saint Gabriel hospital, Detective Klines took a trip into the city. A journey that brought him to Istra Road. When the Detective entered the church

the loud noise of the big wooden doors slamming shut awoken many of the sleeping homeless. One came forward with no shoes, a long beard, dark long hair, and a tan. The man asked for some change for so he could get himself something to drink. The Detective however knew better, the man smelled like shit and would use the money for drugs. Simply flashing his badge scared off that man asking for loose change. Klines continued his patrol down to the end of the church, and made his way through the narrow passage in the back to John's office; his private quarters. "Detective!" John surprisingly called out. Klines presence made the Priest stand from his seat behind his desk. The Detective leaving the office door wide open, stepped forward into his room and took a quick look around. "Reverend Clark I have a few questions for you." Klines stood with his hands behind his back as John leaned forward, putting his hands out onto his desk to hold himself up. "What about?" "A Doctor has gone missing." Klines reported. "My Doctor!" John's gaping mouth showed that he was stunned. "No. A close friend of his though. A Doctor Rigsbee. I think he might have be a possible 'case' for you." John now seeing where Klines is going with this, takes a quick look behind him. "Don't you have any manners?" John fast walking around his desk went to quickly and quietly close his office door. "When it comes to discussions such as this they are to remain private!" John was worried that someone would hear something they shouldn't. John turning back sees now Klines has made his way around his desk to take a look at what he was reading. "Do you mind?" John rushed over and closed the book. Sitting back in his office chair Klines side-stepped his way back to the other side of the desk. "Thats some interesting reading you have there. Myths and legends, I wonder who the source was for that book." Klines pointed as John opened a drawer to stash the book away. "You know who gave me this." John stated to the Detective bluntly. "Why am I not surprised. You're lucky the Circle is backing you up." "Of course they are. The book told of the Day of the Dog. The book needs to be studied, there could be more in here that is true." "You're telling me this old book told of a day of what?" "The day that dogs went crazy in the city. Survival of the fittest. You were with Doctor Pierce." "Oh yeah thats right. But thats not how I see it." Klines said without much thought or consideration. John gave him a confused look. "What are you talking about?" "I do remember the city going crazy over some misbehaving dogs. But I don't think that has anything to do with your book." Klines disputed. "You must be joking!" "The book could tell of a day in which it will rain hard. And when it happens then it must mean that everything else in that book is true!"

"You are intentionally just being argumentative. The book was accurate about exactly what would happen on that day. The only thing they had wrong was the date itself." "Are you gonna let me take a look at it for myself?" Detective Klines asked. "No." John looking away from the Detective thought to himself and then looked back into Klines' eyes. "But you already knew that. Must be why you're giving me a hard time. Must kill you not to have any power over me." "It impedes on my ability to perform my job." Admitted Detective Klines. "Well get over it. God is my boss." John adjusted in his chair. "So you believe Doctor Rigsbee has been 'touched' by paranormal?" "Yes. I don't know how but it could be possible. The doc's been missing for three days now." "That sounds seriousand if he has been taken, then there isn't a way to get him back." "What do you mean? You can't bring him back?" Klines argued. "I didn't say that!" John raising his voice caught himself after the fact. "I can absolutely save a person from the darkness. Monsters send them down the wrong path, it is not hard to show them the way back. However-three days! By now that man is gone. And I mean mentally-gone. He is a lost soul, totally succumbed to the evil." The Priest explained. "Well thats just great!" Klines thrusted his hands into the air and began to pace. "I'm sorry." John tried to be apologetic. "What are you going to do about it?" "A good start is everything you have on him. That will save me some time. Next is to trace his movement backwards. I need to know what took him. With that I will be able to piece together what sort of 'work' he-the Doctor-will be doing for the evil." John went into further explanation. "Sounds like standard police work. I'll get you Rigsbee's file but I want in on your search. You understand? Wherever you go; I go." Klines gave his ultimatum. "Are you sure? I would feel guilty if something was to happen to you because you just won't open your eyes." John said with a worried look on his face. "I am not your responsibility father. I'll be fine. Let's just, figure out whether or not my hunch is right." After Klines said this, John arose and grabbed his coat and briefcase. "One more thing, father." Detective said as they John's office. "If we do find him. And he is as far 'gone' as you say he is, then I will not hesitate to put him down." "Detective, you really don't know anything about how this works. You can kill a man, but the evil will rage on." "If he comes at me or an innocent bystander I WILL finish him." "Let me save him!" Said Clark. "I thought that wasn't possible!" Said Klines. "Killing him, could further endanger more lives." As the two left the church Klines took a bit of a lead to show John to his vehicle. "Then we have the time in which to find him to further discuss how this is going to go down." Fastening the seatbelt in the passenger seat, John couldn't help but feel how trigger happy Klines was recently. Maybe this was because the Detective had no power with the Priest and had

to show it off in other means. John could not believe the attitude of Klines and kept his view outward to the street, never giving Klines a glance. The Detective was fine with this, he wasn't use to partners. Klines felt that if this was another case then John really was the right man to call. Father John along with Detective Klines drove to Rigsbee's house, where hopefully they can start fresh with the investigation. By nightfall the two had found nothing, Klines said he would keep looking. Check around with his 'connections' to see if someone has seen the Doctor. Meanwhile at Saint Gabriel hospital: Doctor Rigsbee entered without being noticed. Without hesitation or a sound Dan made his way to the elevator and headed down to the morgue. By this time at night the morgue was completely closed. Dan walked forward and waited, the doors opened for him, controlled by an outside source. The hallway was dark and quiet, with the exception of a janitor. The man was mopping the floor and quickly turned when he saw the Doctor's shadow against one of the walls. As he stood up straight the janitor pulled two white headphones from his ears. Music playing from these headphones, the man kept one hand on his mop handle. Dan slowed his walk but did not stagger, he continued toward the man. "Doctor Rigsbee is that you! Everybody has been looking for you." The Doctor standing feet away from the janitor stopped. His face was blank, Dan stared down at the tile. Raising his right arm up the shine of the blade caught the janitor's eye. While he tried to dodge the attack Doctor Rigsbee was too quick. Moving the blade at a horizontal direction, it left a fresh new cut on the janitor's left forearm. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" The janitor called out as he staggered backward hitting the wall behind him. Blood now on the blade, Dan watched as a few drops fell onto the white tile below. What was a shiny clean floor was now being covered with that red. The janitor went into panic mode, looked for an exit, but found all of the doors closed. He cried for help and looked down the hallway, past where Doctor Rigsbee stood, but got no response. Sloping down against the wall, the janitor held his forearm as the cut began to glow. The glow was a strong green that shined from the wound, and could be seen clearly from under the skin. The green glow grew quickly, crawling underneath the man's arm, overcoming his shoulder, and moving into his chest. The janitor could feel a great pressure on him, making it difficult for him to breathe. Unable to move his limbs the janitor over time would end up just twitching. The green color glowing from under his entire body, fades. The janitor's eyes open wide revealing the light color green, brightly shining. The janitor now slowly arose from the ground. His arms to his side, he slouched forward a little, in a way showing a sign of exhaustion. Rigsbee walked over and opened the door at the end of the hall, and waited for the janitor to follow and arrive at the elevator. "Time for the world's treatment." Doctor Rigsbee said as the janitor went up in the elevator. Rigsbee with a smile took another look at the blade before heading back into the last room at the end of the hall.