Dr. Blake took Larry and Linda outside the room, leaving Dana to monitor Jay. He was still sitting on the side of the table, still with the Versed running into his veins. But, Dana had already bolted the door to the padded room, unwilling to enter until the others returned from the corridor.
Dr. Blake shut the door behind him, as Larry and Linda turned to face him.
"Ok, so I see what you're saying now", said Dr. Blake.
"That man in that room is not my husband!", said Linda.
"Linda, just try to stay calm", said Larry.
"I am calm, Larry. I can look in that man's eyes and I can see the same person that had his hand around my throat threatening me that night in our bedroom. Whoever that is, I know, it is not my husband."
"I understand that, Mrs. Trent. Believe me, he doesn't look or act like the same man we just examined over an hour ago. But this is the bizarre nature of Diassociative..."
"No!", Linda interrupted Dr. Blake, "Don't you dare try to cover this up with the same crap those other doctors did. I don't care about conditions, or mental degradation, or sleep deprivation. That is not what is going on here. I've seen it too many times and I'm telling you both right now, that man is not my husband. HE IS NOT JAY!"
"Ok, I believe you", said Larry.
Dr. Blake just stood there and looked at Larry for a moment, then he looked down at the floor, pondering in his mind all that had just transpired. Finally he looked back up at them both.
"Ok, if we go on the assumption that the man in the room right now is not Jay Trent...", Dr. Blake paused.
Linda and Larry stared at Dr. Blake, hanging on his every word now.
"...then who is he?"
"Only one way to find out", said Larry.
"We'll ask him questions, controlled questions that make him respond with a more indepth answer. We'll try to find out where this place Anderson, South Carolina is at. We'll try to get a name out of him, something to call him other than Jay, since that only serves to enrage him further. Then we'll try to settle him down enough to sleep and see what happens", Dr. Blake surmized.
"So what happened with the console?", asked Larry.
"I don't know. I've never had anything like that happen before. The only thing I can think of is that it was a power surge of some kind. But from what, I have no idea."
"Could that be part of what happened to him? I mean before that happened, he was laying that sound asleep and as soon as it cleared, he was sitting up", said Linda.
"Perhaps. But what that indicates is still a guess at best. It essentially disabled the scanning equipment. While we are in there I'll examine it briefly to see what kind of damage we are talking about. But, why it occurred and if it had anything to do with his shift in personality, I honestly just don't know", said Dr. Blake.
"But what if it was a literal shift? Like someone or something replaced his personality completely?", asked Larry.
This grabbed Linda's attention.
"Now you're talking science fiction, Larry", said Dr. Blake.
"Yes, but you don't know what happened in there, right?"
"Right."
"Then I don't think we can rule anything out, do you?"
Dr. Blake stared at Larry. He didn't want to admit it, but Larry had a good point, although highly far-fetched. No credible scientist is willing to admit an impossibility such as this, but when face-to-face with a virtual impossibility even the most respected of scientists have to lend some credit to the unknown.
"There could be greater forces at work, I'll admit", replied Dr. Blake.
Linda looked at the doctor now, "What forces?"
"Something that caused the surge, and changed Jay's personality, but there's nothing credible to hang your hat on. I could range from anything. Could be a complete fluke, to aliens, or even something supernatural. But you didn't hear me say that."
"Your secret is safe with us, doc. Let's go ask those questions and see what happens next", said Larry.
"Wait, I want to talk about this more, Larry. I mean what are we talking about now? Aliens? Supernatural, like ghosts? Demons?", asked Linda.
"It's highly improbable, but so is a man sitting up on a table with Versed coursing through his veins, Mrs. Trent. We may actually have to consider all possibilities. But for now, let's try to get more information. Come back inside with me and let's find out", finished Dr. Blake.
The three of them re-entered the room. Dana was still sitting at the consoles monitoring the man in Jay's body's status. She couldn't take her eyes off of him. She looked scared out of her mind. The man was still sitting on the side of the table, staring right back at Dana.
"Is he stable, Dana?", asked Dr. Blake.
"He's creeping me out", Dana replied.
"That sounds like a yes to me", said Larry.
"Just keep monitoring him, we're going inside."
Dana wield around in her chair and stared at the doctor after his response. She couldn't believe he was serious.
"Are you sure about this?", asked Linda.
"I'm sure", Dr. Blake replied, as he leaned down to turn on the intercom to address the subject in the padded room.
"Hello again, I'm sorry we had to leave, sir."
"Don't call me sir", the man in Jay's body replied.
"What should I call you then?"
The man sat there, staring back at the doctor. He didn't answer for several moments. Neither man looked away from the other. Finally, the man answered.
"Call me Rob."
"Rob, I'm Dr. Blake. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Rob grunted at him and looked away towards another part of the room.
"Is there anything we can get for you? Perhaps something to eat or drink?"
He still looked away, but hen redirected his eyes back to the doctor as he responded, "I can use a beer."
"What kind of beer?"
"I could use a Brau Lite."
"Brau Lite, what the hell is that?", asked Larry whispering toward Linda. She shook her head, unsure as well.
"I'm not familiar with that brand", replied Dr. Blake.
"Why am I not surprised", said Rob, chuckling to himself.
"We will get you something complimentary, along with some food. Would that be acceptable?"
"And can you take this damn thing outta my arm too?"
"Certainly."
Rob motioned that he was agreeable with these terms. Larry went to fetch the food while Dr. Blake and Dana prepared to go into the room.
Larry came back with beer and pizza. Linda found the combo funny, as Jay detested both. Larry held the pizza up to the observation window and Rob seemed quite agreeable. Dana stood next to the door to enter the padded room. She wasn't about to open it until the doctor and Larry both entered with her.
"Rob, we're going to come in now with your food and to take that out of your arm", said Dr. Blake.
Rob nodded, and looked over towards the door as it was being unlatched.
Dana slowly pulled the door towards her to open it up. Larry moved passed her as it opened fully and went in first. He had the pizza in his hands. Dana entered carrying the beer, and Dr. Blake was close behind. Linda stayed outside in the observation room, waiting to see what happened next.
Rob watched all three of them intently, not moving a muscle.
Larry laid down the pizza on the table beside him. Dana also laid the beer down, the bottles clanging together in the six pack carton from her own trembling. She was very nervous around him. Dr. Blake approached him as well.
"Hey there Rob."
"Hi", replied Rob.
"Do you mind if Dana helps remove that needle from your arm?"
Rob looked over at Dana. He could see her shaking. He nodded in agreement. As Dr. Blake watched him he did notice one unusual difference. He had noted in his examination of Jay that the subject had blue eyes, but Rob's eyes were green.
Dana moved towards Rob, to begin removing the tape from the IV in his left hand. Rob reached for a piece of pizza and took a huge bite. Within a few seconds he had downed the entire piece. It was apparent he was very hungry.
"You haven't eaten in a while have you?", asked Dr. Blake.
"No", replied Rob.
Rob took a swig of a beer, after popping off the top with his right hand. He tasted it and loved it.
"That tastes just like Brau Lite", said Rob.
"I've never heard of that beer. I've never heard of Anderson, South Carolina either. Can you tell me more about where you're from?", asked Dr. Blake.
"Just that I'm not there anymore, and I'm not planning on going back."
"I take it something happened there?"
"You could say that."
Rob, realizing Dana was now done removing the needle pulled his hand away from her, so he could dig into the pizza much more quickly.
Linda was amazed.
"What happened in Anderson, South Carolina, Rob?"
Rob was eating and paused to swallow his huge bite, "Everything. Anything."
"Could you be more specific?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Did something bad happen?"
"I said I don't want to talk about it!"
"That's fine, but we just want to know so we might can help you."
"You already have. I'm not there, remember?"
"Well, how about if I ask you about other stuff?"
"Like what?"
"Maybe like, what country you're from?"
"The United States."
"Can you be more specific?
"You don't know what the United States is either?"
"I do, but what is the full name?"
"Are you going to do nothing but question me all damn day?"
"I just want to learn more about you, Rob. I'm just curious."
"Well, you know what curiosity did to the cat, right?"
"Can you tell me who the President of the United States is?"
Rob took a deep sigh. Dana was now back on the other side of the padded room, near to the door. Larry was till at the edge of the table, and Linda watched on from the observation room as Dr. Blake and Rob continued with their exchange.
"If you must know, the President of the United States of AMERICA is Barack Obama, on planet Earth, with seven billion other people, in the Milky Way galaxy, somewhere in a big, black void we call the universe. But none of that really matters now anymore."
"It doesn't matter anymore?"
"No, because they are all dead! ALL OF THEM."
"What happened to them, Rob?"
Rob stared at Dr. Blake, still unsure of what he was hoping to accomplish, but becoming more willing to share information.
"Something bad."
"How bad?"
"Bad enough I never, ever want to go back, ok?"
"I understand, and I don't mean to frustrate you. But these questions are the only way to help us know what has happened to you, Rob. We have to ask."
"Well, I have told you enough. Now can I get some more..."
Rob stopped mid-sentence. Then he began to shake. Finally, Rob's body flunge backwards violently and he became rigid. Dr. Blake rushed over to him, as did Dana and Larry. Linda came to the opening of the door and stood there waiting to see what was happening. On the consoles in the observation room the white blinding light returned. It went unnoticed this time as all four of them were fixated on Rob, in Jay's body, having some sort of convulsion. Dr. Blake shouted out things for Dana to acquire. Dana ran out to the observation room as Linda entered.
The light finally diminished, and with that so did Rob's convulsion.
Rob's body was laying there, his eyes closed, drenched in sweat. Dr. Blake felt he was now calm.
"What in God's name is happening, doc?", asked Larry.
"I don't know", replied Dr. Blake.
Linda was right beside the table now. She believed her husband may have returned. But the moment of concern was quickly changed when Dana let out a blood curdling scream. Dana fell backwards into the room, dropping all of the supplies she had in her hands. She quickly moved away crawling behind the table.
Larry, Linda, and Dr. Blake looked on at the open doorway, but could not believe what they were seeing walking through. Into the room walked a person. A person who's clothes were soiled, torn, burned, and bloodied. The skin on this person was ashen. They were dirty, unkempt, and almost looked decaying where they stood. But the worst part was in their face. The mouth hung open, lifeless. The eyes were grayed out, deathly. This person embodied the appearance of a lifeless corpse, but yet was walking. It looked like a zombie.
Larry was trembling. Linda and Dr. Blake both moved back towards the back of the room, as Dana coward down behind the table in fear. The creature was now aware of them and began moving towards them all. It's mouth opening wider, and it's eyes seeming to light up with life from the knowledge that something it wanted was present in the room.
As the four of them stood silent, quivering, and unsure of what would happen next, Jay sat up. He sat straight up at the side of the table. But he wasn't empty handed as his body had been moments earlier. This time he was holding a revolver in his right hand. He cocked the trigger, aimed and fired at the creature approaching Larry. The shot went straight through the creature's head. The back of it's head exploded, blood splattering out on the other side of the padded room. Then the creature collapsed to it's knees and fell limp on the floor. It now appeared to be dead, completely.
As smoke still bellowed from the end of the revolver everyone took notice of Jay. Jay lowered the weapon and placed it on the table. Larry looked at the gun and thought, Where the hell did that come from?
Jay then turned to face Dr. Blake and Linda. Linda looked at him, but more importantly she looked at his eyes. They were blue again, even Dr. Blake noticed this. Linda knew before Jay ever said anything, and ran to embrace her husband. Apparently, he had just saved all of their lives.
Finally, after embracing Linda for a few seconds, Jay looked back up at Dr. Blake and addressed him.
"Dr. Blake, don't you ever put me back to sleep again!"
Dr. Blake couldn't agree more.
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