Chapter106 Epilogue

Just then, the cabin lights go out, and the emergency lighting kicks in; but, starts flickering. The plane engines are running…but, occasionally sputter…causing the jet to keep abruptly descending and ascending; bouncing the passengers about. "What's going on, Jack?!" The doctor's panicking. The senator tries to keep his composure as he tells him, "It's probably rough turbulence causing us some minor mechanical problems; or, something." Now, Vivian panics; as she sarcastically yells, "Jesus, Jack; is that all!" Suddenly, the lights come back on and the engines run smoothly; keeping the jet level. Senator Steinman wipes the drink that he spilled on himself off and says, "You see, it was nothing; just like I said." "What's that horrid smell?" Vivian asks as she covers her mouth with a napkin. A strong, stomach-churning, putrid smell begins to permeate the air aboard the jet; and, as the odor becomes stronger, everyone starts gagging from the awful foul taste that it's leaving in their mouths. Their eyes begin to water as the stench burns their nostrils. The lights go out again; and, the emergency lighting flickers on and off. The engines sputter, and the jet descends rapidly. Everyone's thrown about. Senator Steinman falls about two feet from the curtain. As he stumbles to get to his feet…between the alternating darkness and dimness of the flickering cabin emergency lighting…he notices the curtain slowly open. Then…the ghastly sight emerges from behind there. He screams… "No!! No!! Chelsea, no!!!" It's a crisp, New England autumn morning at the Steinman Psychiatric Facility in Woodland Falls. The staff's treating some of the less extreme conditioned patients to some fresh air outside on the grounds of the hospital. Of course; she won't be outside today. Orderlies Lloyd Faulkner and Mike Hopkins are accompanying Dr. Wilhelm Rhyies and Nurse Cindy Lidestrom into the maximum security ward; which houses the criminally insane patients. She's been rowdy all morning; and, the staff assigned down there had her in restraints for the past two hours. Dr. Rhyies and Nurse Lidestrom are going to check up on her; seeing if she's made any improvement. As they walk down the fluorescent-illuminated, sterile, bare hallway in her wing; they can hear her scream out from behind her locked door. "Anna! I want my Anna! Give me back my Anna!" They ask the husky orderly assigned there to unlock her door for them. "Thank you, Al." Dr. Rhyies says while entering the room. Nurse Lidestrom and orderlies Faulkner and Hopkins follow. Orderly Cromwell locks the group in with the agitated patient; but, he vigilantly stands by and listens at the door in case they need it opened immediately. She's screaming for Anna; writhing in the restraints which are securing her to the hospital bed. Nurse Lidestrom walks over to a small closet in the corner of the room and takes out the doll. She walks over to the overly agitated patient, while Dr. Rhyies reviews her chart; with the two orderlies standing by…ready for anything. Nurse Lidestrom tries to appease the upset ward. "I need for you to calm down for me, Beth, Honey. Calm down…and, I'll give you your dolly. You want Anna; right?" Beth stops fighting the restraints and lies still; breathing heavily, as her chest expands up and down rapidly. She stares at her doll and nods, as she bites down on her lower lip. Nurse Lidestrom cautiously places the doll beside Beth on the bed. "There you are, Beth, Honey; there's your dolly. Good girl." The seven-year-old turns and smiles at her doll. "Hi, Anna, Sweetie." The doctor finishes jotting down some notes, puts down the clipboard, and walks over to Beth's bedside. "And; how are we doing today, Marybeth?" "Okay." "Are you sure? I heard you've been quite the loud one today?" "Wasn't me, Dr. Rhyies. Maybe it was another Beth." She precociously smirks. The doctor nods. "I see…another Beth. Are you sure about that? Now, now, now, Ms. Marybeth Chelsea Howell, you wouldn't be lying to us; would you?" "No, Dr. Rhyies; I wouldn't lie to you." "If you say so." "I do." She looks around the room; then, asks the doctor, "When can I go home? I want to go home now. I want to leave. I don't like it here. I want to go back to our farm." "I'm afraid you can't leave just yet, Beth." "Why not?" "Because; you're not well, yet." "I'm not sick! I feel fine! I want to go! Now!" "You can't, Beth. Not now." "Fine…then get Tommy for me, please." "Tommy; Beth?" "Yes, Tommy. I want to see Tommy, please." "Beth; you can't see Tommy any more." "Why not?" "Because; you killed him, Beth. Remember? Back in August, when your family was on vacation at the cabin by the lake? The hammer? Don't you remember hitting him in the head with the hammer, Beth?" "No! You're lying! No!" "Yes, Beth…" "No!! …No!! …I want to see Tommy, now! Tommy! Where are you?! Cindy, please; find Tommy for me!! …Where are you, Tommy?! Tommy, where are you?!"