I was plunged into darkness.
Instantly I froze. Strange voices were whispering in my ears. Heart pounding, panic set in and I thrashed at the air around me to try and find who it was. I heard several voices but had no idea what they were saying.
They got louder and faster as I turned around rapidly to locate them.
It felt as if sharp long tendrils were clawing into my head. Was this what it felt like to lose your mind?
Out of nowhere a light shone into the room. It came from the small door.
A shadowy figure stood in the middle of the entrance holding a lantern.
An overpowering smell of TCP drifted across the room. Whatever it was began hobbling towards me, dragging one of its legs along with it.
The light from the lantern illuminated it's face and body.
With sudden dismay I realised who it was.

Louie Howard.
But it wasn't quite him.
The poor tormented soul of a once great man. Two large black holes were where his eyes should have been. He wore an old distressed straightjacket with one arm free.
I felt as if I was frozen to the spot, were my eyes deceiving me?
His disgruntled mouth opened and dozens of eels spewed out.
I stepped back as they writhed around my feet and then slipped away into the shadows around us.
Was I hallucinating?

He looked from me to the piano and asked "Can you play?"

I struggled to reply and cleared my throat. "Piano? I can play a few songs but nothing good."

He limped over to the piano and placed down the lantern. Pulling out a long wooden seat from underneath he sat down. He looked over and with a long skeletal finger beckoned me closer.

It seemed as if he had some sort of strange hold over me. My head was telling me get out and run but my legs had other ideas. I walked over and sat down beside him. The smell of burning rubber filled my nose and I couldn't help but gag. He placed his fingers over the piano keys and began to play the most beautiful song I'd ever heard. I was mesmerised by the tune and suddenly looked down to find my fingers playing along on their own accord. My eyes rolled back into my head and I began rocking back and forth to the music. After a few minutes had passed we both stopped.

He turned to me and looked incredibly sad. "I have been trapped here since I died. I only have the spirits of my dead patients to keep me company."

I was silent.

"Follow me and I will take you back to your friend. She is waiting for you."

We got to our feet and he made his way slowly to the small door.
I felt like I was his puppet, following his every move and command. Arriving at the door he bent down and passed into the next room.
I followed him through.
Was I prepared to face what ever lay ahead?

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