This is a creative writing experiment, shamelessly stolen from the Chopin Manuscript: a serialized story where each author writes a different chapter. The members of this blog are each writing their own chapter, and we’re calling ours the “Cakepan Manuscript”. This is our second story.
For this story we used a random plot generator, which gave us: “The story starts when your protagonist gets lost. Another character is an anesthesist who is researching something terrible.” You can start reading at Chapter One, and we posted a new chapter until now… the thrilling conclusion!
We hope you enjoy!
Chapter Six: Paging Dr. Winston
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Terror was taking hold and the last thing Russ heard clearly was Tony saying, “Let’s get him out of here.”
Though the bag muffled the conversation that continued, Russ could still feel every bounce as he was wheeled down the hall and into the elevator. He had never experienced the feeling of a muscle paralytic without an accompanying sedative and it made him feel helpless. If they didn’t get him on a respirator soon, he realized, he would stop breathing. At least he would then be released from the prison his own mind and body had become, a consoling thought amidst the terror.
His thoughts turned to the last words that Alex Udo had said. He had no recollection of having a wife, let alone a lovely one. Miriam, Udo had called her, but thinking the name brought no specific memories, no matter how hard he tried.
Russ felt the elevator come to a stop and he mentally pictured the doors sliding open as he wondered excactly where they would be taking him. Two sharp reports, clearly from a small caliber pistol cut through the muffle of the heavy bag. That was sure to be noticed in a hospital, thought Russ, a thought that was cut short by a blinding light as the zippered opening parted and the face of Nurse Ratched swam into view.
“Let’s get him on ventilation, stat! And Tony, clean up this mess I’ve made,” she said. “Mr., err Dr. Winston, everything is going to be just fine. We’ll talk after the paralytic works its way through your system. We’re going to sedate you now, I’m sure you’ll appreciate waiting things out in dreamland.”
It seemed like it was only seconds later that Russ was waking up, groggy but no longer paralyzed. Through his hazy vision he saw Tony and Nurse Ratched talking at the foot of the bed, a very different room from the one on the fourteenth floor where he had started the day.
“Oh good, you’re awake,” said the nurse, noticing his fluttering eyelids. “You have had quite a day, I know. First off, let me tell you that you are safe and sound.”
“What about…” Russ mumbled, still shaking off the effects of the sedative.
“Dr. Morrissette and Mr. Udo? Hmmm, they have had a most, shall we say, unfortunate accident,” said Tony, choosing his words carefully. “And we have recovered all of your research notes as well.”
“Your amnesia was drug-induced Dr. Winston and now that you are no longer being given those drugs, you will be regaining your full faculties,” added Nurse Ratched. “You have a lot of patients that require your expertise. Thankfully, you did not join their ranks.”
“I am indeed starting to remember things, but tell me this, what about my wife… Miriam? Alex said she…”
“Oh, but Dr. Winston, you aren’t married. Never have been. Too engrossed in your work for… romantic pursuits,” offered the nurse, “no matter how eligible a bachelor you are.”
“Udo always was a sadistic little prick,” said Tony, “you shoulda fired him a long time ago but Maureen always talked you out of it. I guess we’ll never know why.”
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