Chapter 1

He slid the window cover shut and stood holding the handle for a moment, shaking his head then turned to face his colleague. Kristen Haver brushed at strands of hair, sadness in her grey eyes that they both felt.

"You did your best, Douglas."

He smiled grimly. "The best I could anyway. He needs someone smarter than me."

"Nonsense, you're tops in your field. If you can't get through no one will." She gripped his sleeve in emphasis.

Doctor Douglas Southall sighed, placing his hand over hers. "Thanks, Kris, loyalty is nice . . . it's just that- I don't know. . ."

They left the lockdown area and began walking down the drab corridor, shoes clicking on the stained terrazzo floor. A fluorescent bulb flickered, dancing their shadows on the faded green walls.

******

White Pine Psychiatric Facility stood sombrely at the end of a macadam drive that wound its way through a dense stand of its namesake trees, well back from the main highway. Built in the early 1900's, White Pine was the estate home of wealthy industrialist, Anton Lucirk, who crashed with the market in 1929. It was seized for taxes.

His daughter Angela paid the outstanding taxes and converted the property into a therapeutic facility for victims of severe trauma. Her father was the first of only a few patients admitted, and after less than two years died through a series of predictable circumstances that included insufficient skills, lack of equipment and a poor bottom line. Angela suffered her own breakdown from the stress and the property was once again reclaimed.

This time, through the enterprise of several wealthy entrepreneurs, White Pine Psychiatric Facility was created. Ironically, Angela became one of the first patients in the new facility. Reluctant at first, she insisted she did not need psychiatric treatment, but conceded on advice from her doctor and lawyer, citing the need for a clean mental record when they took her outstanding tax case to court.

Angela suddenly became docile and very accommodating to those studying her. For the most part she seemed quite normal but her condition could never be diagnosed satisfactorily, and so she remained a patient with special perks. When they found an intern curled up under her bed, screaming and scratching at her eyes, they decided Angela was not as normal as she appeared and needed to be studied with caution . . . or better still, left alone

******

Doctor Southall sat at his desk leafing through the file of the man he was gradually giving up on. Rafe Messenger had admitted himself for chronic depression. Almost immediately there was no voice communication and minimal response to all treatment. Southall hoped he could see something he was missing. The office door opened after a quick knock and Kristen entered, closing it softly behind her. She walked to the desk and glanced down at the file.

"You have to let this go, Doug. It's eating you up."

He shook his head and sucked in a deep breath. "I just can't believe there isn't some way . . ."

"You've tried everything that made sense; this is just one of those cases."

"I can't accept that. This isn't a police station that has a file of cold cases." He flipped the folder over. "And you're right; we tried everything that made sense. What about something that doesn't make sense?"

"What do you mean?"

"Angela."

Kristen leaned forward. What?"

"We introduce him to Angela and see where their chemistry leads."

"Douglas, are you crazy? You know what she did to that intern, and there have been other incidents . . . it's why she's kept in that wing."

"The intern was- was normal, Kris. He isn't, and maybe, just maybe two abnormal minds will reveal something we haven't been able to find by conventional means."

"They won't let you do this, Doug. I think it's crazy too."

He got up and came around the desk. "I'm not waiting for clearance from a bunch of politically correct, non-medical managers."

She grasped his sleeves. "You realize you're throwing your career away?"

"Not if I succeed, Kris. Not if I succeed."

Her head fell against his chest and he slipped his arms up her back, pulling her close, then he kissed her . . . long and hard, bodies pressed together with familiarity.

******

Angela sat at the small writing desk in her oversized room in the lockdown wing of the facility. The wing contained ten rooms, seven of which were occupied. Three of the occupants were almost always comatose, the other three were in various stages of instability, prone to violent outbursts, hallucinations, and managed by daily doses of anti-depressants and relaxing agents.

Angela was not bothered in the least by her neighbours. She enjoyed the privacy and the special concessions to decor she received. Her room was as attractive as any downtown condominium with all the expected furnishings. Other than physically enjoying trips outside, everything was right here in her private room. The visits from the institution's medical and managerial staff she found amusing interruptions, which allowed her to glean little facts of information, carefully stored away for future exploitation.

The sound of the window sliding caught her attention and she looked up to see a pair of eyes peering at her. A moment later the door opened and she smiled as Doctor Southall relocked the door and then faced her.

"Good evening, Angela. How are you doing tonight, things all okay?"

"Come and sit, Doctor Southall." She rose gracefully and moved to the long sofa against one wall, sitting and smoothing her dress around her legs. Another concession to Angela was her wardrobe of personal clothing instead of the standard, grey smocks.

"Thank you." He sat at the other end, out of reach.

"Am I to have another session, Doctor?"

"No, no, not tonight. I wanted to ask you- to ask a bit of a favour."

Her eyes lit up and she turned to face him, the dress skirt riding a touch higher.

"A favour? What could I possibly do for you?" Her tone suggested she knew plenty she could do.

"Your neighbour, Rafe Messenger-"

"Ah, the silent one." She nodded.

How did she know that? Douglas frowned.

"You'd like me to speak to him."

Now how did she know THAT? He licked his lips and cleared his throat.

"You uhm- you are quite perceptive, Angela." He felt slightly uncomfortable, his head began to ache and his mouth began drying up.

"I keep up on my surroundings." Her voice had dropped an octave and seemed to echo slightly.

"Maybe- maybe I'll come back later. I don't think I-"

"You will always be welcome, Doctor Southall."

The words reverberated in his head as he stood, fumbling for the key to the door.

"I'll talk to Mister Messenger."

He turned as he stabbed the key into the lock. "Huh? What are you- what do you mean . . ."

"You take care of that headache and drop back when it's gone." She seemed to rise effortlessly, hands clasped in front.

Douglas opened the door, blinking at the appearance of fire flickering in her eyes.

******

Kristen Haver closed her laptop after having answered her important mail and chatted with her mother, an evening ritual ever since she took the position with White Pine. She cranked open the old casement window and breathed in the scent of the forest. One wonderful feature of the place, she thought, was the smell of pines and how fresh the air seemed.

She thought about Doug's idea using Angela as a conduit to Rafe and shivered at the thought of dealing with that woman. The only contact she had shared with Angela was when she first began working at White Pine and was given a complete tour of the facility and all the residents. Several of the cases had been described on the tour but Angela's was by far the thinnest and least informative. Aside from learning her history and that of her husband, all she knew was that Angela, for the most part, was better left alone.

Slipping out of her clothes, Kristen padded into the bathroom and after a minute or two of examination, loaded up her toothbrush and scrubbed until the foam spilled out of her mouth. Rinsed, washed and cleansed of makeup, she grabbed her robe and went back to her comfortable living room. From the small beverage cooler doubling as a tea wagon, she took out her bottle of wine, poured a hefty glass and curled up on the sofa with the book she had been reading for weeks.

The noise startled her and she stopped reading, staring at her open window. It sounded almost like a roar but elongated and muted, at least that was her best definition as she got up and went to look. Kristen's room was on the same side of the building as the lockdown unit's windows. At this time of night there should be no light but she could make out a flickering on the lawn. There was no way to tell which room it was coming from but it pulsed in intensity and just as it blinked out, the noise repeated.

She returned to her desk and her laptop, connecting to the facility intranet. There was no alert or notifications and the channel allowing her to view several of the camera monitors were all quiet. She shut down and chewed her lip. Well, she hadn't imagined it. Something was happening down there. She got dressed again and went down to investigate.

The hall leading to the doctor's quarters ran at right angles to the lockdown wing and as Kristen reached the intersection, the lockdown hall lights flickered, pulsing bright and then dim in a steady rhythm. She paused and watched for a moment, curious. There was no sign of anything or anyone and that curiosity drew her down the hall toward the lights.

She paused at Angela's room and slowly and carefully, slid the window cover open just a hair, satisfied the room was dark, and closed it again. She moved further down the hall, glancing at each of the doors, unaware that the flickering of the lights had ceased. At Rafe Messenger's door she stopped again, her heart a tangible thump against her chest. She slid the window cover open very, very slowly, pausing when she saw the lights in the room were on. Taking a breath she opened it further and leaned close to see in. Two wild looking eyes stared back at her and she screamed, falling back against the opposite wall.

Chapter2

"Finish that drink and tell me what in God's name you were doing down there in the middle of the night, looking in Rafe's window." Douglas tucked his shirt into his pants and sat on the arm of the chair opposite Kristen.

She set the glass down and squeezed the bridge of her nose.

"I was coming down to see if you heard that noise just outside the LD wing."

Her screams had brought several people running, including Doulas, and once they determined she was all right, departed, muttering a variety of complaints. Douglas had looked into the dark room, noting the sleeping form on the bed before closing the slide.

"I never heard anything. My God, Kristen you scared the life out of the lot of us."

"There was flickering lights as well and I went to check."

"We saw that earlier. It was just a faulty bulb."

Her look said she didn't agree. "He was up and staring right back at me when I opened the slide. That's why I screamed; his eyes were- they were wild!"

"He was sound asleep when I looked in."

"How do you know he was sleeping, he could have been pretending." She snapped.

"Okay, look, you've had a fright and you're upset. Let's get you back to your room and we'll discuss this again in the morning."

Without another option, she nodded and stood, letting him take her arm. They left and went back upstairs to her floor and down to her room. When she got to the door she noticed the suite was dark. I never shut the lights out when I left.

"Doug, would you mind coming in and having a look around? I'm sorry to be such a pest, I just- it would make me feel better, you know?"

"Sure. No problem." He went ahead, snapped on the lights and walked down the hall to the bedroom, looked around, checked the bathroom then back to the kitchen, rejoining her in the living room.

"All clear."

"Thank you. Sorry."

"Nah, you get some sleep and we'll see you in the morning." He patted her arm and let himself out, hearing the lock click firmly behind him.

Angela lay in bed staring at the ceiling, her smile pure smug, self satisfaction.

******

"It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!" The excited comment was coming from one of the doctors seated in the cafeteria as Douglas and Kristen entered. They wandered over to the table smiling and asked what was happening.

"It's Messenger! He pushed his contact bell and actually asked for some breakfast!"

Kristen's hand shot to her throat and she emitted a small gasp. Douglas just stared, his jaw dropping slightly.

"When they went to check, he was sitting on the edge of his bed looking at some of the magazines that were left there ages ago . . . and smiling!"

Recovering and clearing his throat, Douglas asked if anybody was with him now and learned that Montrose, the assistant facility manager, and Doctor Isaac Merker were with him.

"I'll see you later," he said to Kristen, turning to leave the cafeteria.

"Oh no, I'm coming too."

"I don't think it's- oh, hell- c'mon then."

Almost trotting, the pair left, each trying to process what this might mean.

Douglas rapped on the door, holding his face close to the window and drew in a large breathe as it opened admitting he and Kristen.

"Doctor Southall," Montrose spoke. "Do you have some reason for being in here right now?"

"I certainly do. This man has been a patient of mine since he arrived." He dismissed Montrose from his thoughts and nodded to Doctor Merker.

"Isaac. What happened?"

"Nothing I can explain. Something has taken place in his brain that triggered this."

Rafe was watching the two men, a smile on his calm features. His eyes drifted to Kristen and when she looked at him, he winked. Her response was another body jerk and a flash of his face in the window the previous night.

"Rafe," Douglas said, direction his attention to his patient. "How are you feeling?"

"Wonderful, Doctor Southall, just wonderful." He slid another look at Kristen.

"I mean- I uh- do you remember anything before this morning? About being here?"

"Oh yes, sure. I admitted myself several years ago. My mother was afraid I was having some kind of mental breakdown. How is mom anyway?"

Douglas stared, absolutely confounded.

"You know you've been here that long?" Doctor Isaac boggled.

"Well sure. I've all those sessions with Doctor Southall here. All those different approaches to get me to speak or react somehow." As he related a litany of tests and procedures, his voice grew harder and colder until he finished and then the calm smile returned.

"You- you recall all that? Everything?" Douglas asked.

"Yes, as I'm sure you would as well."

The calm rebuke stood Douglas up and he backed away shaking his head, speechless.

"I think we need to continue all this in the director's office, gentlemen." Montrose said, indicating a departure.

Rafe bade them all a cheery goodbye as the group moved woodenly into the corridor, securing the door behind them.

"I told you . . ." Kristen started and stopped.

"What was that, Miss Haver?" Montrose asked.

"It's Doctor Haver," she said, hoping to deflect his question.

"I can't believe what we have just witnessed in there!" Douglas was running his hands through his hair. "What possible explanation . . ." He stopped suddenly, blinking. His thought went directly to Angela Lucirk.

"What is it, what's the matter?" Isaac took Doug's arm and steadied him.

"I need to talk to you, Isaac. Alone." He whispered, nodding at Montrose.

"I think we should postpone our discussion until we have had an opportunity to examine the recent event, Edward." Isaac addressed Montrose in a, 'don't give me any arguments', tone and steered Douglas toward his room.

Kristen followed, happily watching Montrose strut down the corridor, excluded from their conference.

******

Rafe went to the window in his door, and with practised expertise, slid the cover open and stared across at the wall to Angela's room. There was a slight buzzing beginning behind his eyes and his head throbbed suddenly. He backed away, hands over his ears and shook his head from side to side. Sounds mixed with voices bombarded his brain and he staggered back, falling onto the bed, moaning. As suddenly as it had begun, it all stopped and Rafe struggled into a sitting position. The idea and exactly how to accomplish it was quite clear in his mind.

******

"Douglas, for heaven's sake, you didn't really consider putting those two together did you? Angela's and Rafe alone could be disastrous. You know what happened to-"

"I know. I know." Doug waved a hand. "But I didn't do it, yet right after asking her, don't you think it strange he's suddenly as lucid as any other normal person?"

Kristen blurted out what she had experienced the previous night and while Douglas started to look vexed, his attitude changed as he listened. Before he had been quick to dismiss but now, together with other happenings, he struggled with the possibility of some kind of telepathic connection between Rafe and Angela.

Isaac looked kindly at her when she finished and noted that maintenance had replace a faulty lamp in the corridor fixture, which likely caused the flickering she saw and as for the noise, well, White Pine was surrounded by woods and animals.

"It was not an animal." She stated defiantly.

"My dear-"

"It doesn't matter what it was." Douglas interrupted. "I think we are looking at an entirely different phenomenon here."

"What do you mean?"

He went on to explain his wobbly theory, halting their protests with a stop sign hand until he finished.

Isaac removed his glasses, looked through them at the light and cleaned the lens with his tie. His demeanour said he thought Douglas was reaching way beyond scientific or even common sense. He replaced his glasses, gave them both a pitying look and excused himself.

"Do you really think that's possible?" Kristen asked, as soon as Isaac left. "I don't think you'll get much support from Doctor Merker."

"What about you?"

She twisted her bracelet and looked helplessly into his eyes. "I don't know, Doug. I don't."

Outside, the sun had reached a point where its harsh light carved brilliant angles across the furniture and the walls. He got up and adjusted the blind.

"I'm going to pursue this, Kris, with or without help."

She moved quickly to his side and wrapped her arms about him. "Oh, Doug. . ."

He leaned back and tilted her face up toward him. Their eyes fixed on one another's and in an instant, their lips. All the fear, frustration and uncertainty were released as they stumbled back onto the sofa, mouths still locked together.

"The door . . ." Kris murmured without ending the kiss.

In the end the door didn't matter. No one knocked or entered and the next little while was spent huffing for breath and reassembling garments. They had been on this road before but with planning and caution. This was spontaneous and borne of a mutual need to answer the stress of the recent events. They both realized that and avoided the sloppy, insincere apologies.

Chapter3

Angela was at her tea table wearing the same knowing smile on her face.

"Welcome back Doctor Southall, May I pour you some tea, it's wonderful for preventing headaches."

Douglas sat and watched the smile grow as she poured him a cup. He knew exactly what she was referring to and again the sensation of being in the presence of a powerful force began to overwhelm him.

"I'm going to ask you straight out, Angela. Did you have anything to do with Rafe's miraculous recovery?"

The lips pursed and she sipped her tea, looking away and then back with such intensity, Douglas sat up in his chair instinctively.

"How is Mister Messenger now?"

"I think you know. Look, I'm not trying to stir up trouble or cast stones; I just want to know what's going on. I've been treating him for years now without one inch of progress. I mention to you about possibly talking to him and before that even happens he's suddenly lucid and- and perfectly normal."

"You should be pleased then."

"Angela! Please, what did you do? I know you did something."

"I think you should probably lie down and rest until that headache goes away."

"What hea-" Douglas suddenly felt a blinding pain over his left eye and he grabbed his head, wincing.

"Have a sip of tea; it will keep it at bay until you get to your room."

He obeyed automatically, sipping some of the tea and feeling almost normal again. With a fearful parting glance at Angela, he stumbled to the door and out. Back in his room the pain returned and he collapsed on his bed, groaning.

Kristen stood nervously in front of Doctor Merker, a resident intern named Moody and Montrose. Rafe had begun demanding attention and Doctor Southall was in his room suffering from a massive headache. As his associate, she was expected to deal with the patient.

"But I've had no direct contact with him. That was always Dou- Doctor Southall's duty. He's done it for years."

"Well there is no one else who has had anything to do with him so it falls to you Doctor." Montrose lifted his chin, brooking no nonsense.

Kristen opened the door and stepped into the room. The intern, Moody was told to wait in the corridor by Rafe.

"I would prefer he remains in the room, Mister Messenger." Kristen said.

"The hall or I start complaining again."

"Please be reaso-"

"That's it. Get me Montrose."

"Fine, fine, okay." She turned to Moody and nodded. He stepped outside, keeping watch through the window.

"Now, what exactly can I do for you, Mister Messenger?"

"Rafe. Call me Rafe. Come and sit down." He pointed to the end of his cot and he took a seat on a chair kitty corner.

She tentatively perched on the end of the cot, knees together and her notebook on her lap.

"It has occurred to me, Kristen- may I call you Kristen?"

"I prefer Doctor Haver, thank you."

Rafe looked at her and puckered his mouth. "Okay." His attention went to the window and Moody staggered back, his eyes stinging relentlessly.

"I going to climb into your head, Doctor Haver, and I am going to become you. What do you think of that?"

She gaped at him then jumped up and ran to the door calling for Moody. When she looked out the little window she saw him on floor, silently clawing at his eyes. Panic seized her and she spun around to find Rafe almost nose to nose, his eyes flickering with a red fire and his mouth twisted into an evil grin.

******

The group of doctors and members of the management all stood around the bed where Moody was strapped in, sedated. Kristen was the centre of their inquisition and she calmly explained what happened from the moment she entered the room until she managed to push the security button.

"What happened to Messenger?" Montrose was almost on his toes, his cheeks pink, and perspiration glistening on his upper lip.

"I greeted him. Sat on the edge of the cot . . . by vocal invitation, and then he never said another word. He was just as he was before we saw him the other day."

"Where is Douglas?" Isaac asked.

"In his room. He has been in bed since yesterday with what I think is a massive migraine." Montrose said, calming down and looking sheepish.

Moody was given another cursory examination by the team and then they filed out, returning to their duties.

"I want a full report on my desk before end of day, Doctor Haver."

"Certainly. But it won't contain any more than what I have already told you. I took blood pressure, temperature. Listened to his heart and peered into his ears and eyes. All perfectly normal. Just no communication of any kind."

"Well something's not normal," Montrose fumed. "Yesterday the man was completely lucid."

"The mysteries of the mind, sir." Kristen smiled and excused herself.

******

Douglas sat up, resting his head against the bed's headboard. His eyes were bloodshot and he was pale around the mouth. Kristen sat on the edge of the bed holding the cup of tea she had brewed.

"You look awful, Doug. What on earth happened?"

He sipped the tea and closed his eyes. "I went to ask Angela about Rafe . . . if she had anything to do with his condition."

"Oh, Doug, for goodness sake. You can't still be serious about that theory of yours."

"As soon as the subject came up I got this damned headache. It's the second time, Kris, and I don't believe it's a coincidence."

She urged him to drink some more tea and his headache seemed to subside.

Huh, that's funny."

"What is?"

"Last time, Angela gave me tea and the headache went away."

"Tea is good for that," She said, setting the empty cup aside.

"I want to get back and talk to Rafe some more. That might be the best way to solve this medical mystery."

"Ah, about that . . ."

Kristen related the recent events and what the results were and Douglas sat listening in stunned disbelief.

"Nothing? He demonstrated nothing of what we saw the other day?"

"Nothing."

"But Moody, that's what happened to the intern with Angela! There has to be a connection, Kris. There has to be." He started to get up and she eased him back.

"There's nothing you can do right now. Angela won't go anywhere, nor will Rafe, and Moody is heavily sedated. They think his sight is gone for good. He practically clawed his eyes right out."

"I need to do something. I can't just lie here."

Kristen stood and leaned over, kissing his neck, lingering long enough for him to respond with an arm up about her waist.

"Just relax for a while, Doug, until that headache is completely gone." She knelt beside him and then settled down across his lap.

"This isn't relaxing, Kris." He managed a smile as he adjusted to her weight.

"Then let me try a little harder."

The kiss almost burned his lips and her tongue was like fire in his mouth. He tried to lean away but she advanced closer, pinning him to the bed and in a matter of seconds, had him completely subdued.

Chapter4

Angela tilted her head back and studied her nails. A secret smile played across her face as she thought of how things had progressed. Only a short time had passed before she experienced her first out of body experience. Terrified at first, she found it oddly empowering how she could impose her influence on unsuspecting subjects. After several subsequent experiences, a young intern had been the first manifestation of her inner demon and from that moment, Angela began her campaign against those who had condemned her to White Pine.

Rafe Messenger was the perfect subject for her plans. Deeply depressed when admitted, he responded with limited success to medications, stimulants and intense, clinical examination. Angela made her first visit several weeks after his admission and planted the seeds of her dominance in his fertile brain. Rafe proved a tough subject for Angela. There was something, some part of his mind she just could not breach and it bothered her, but not so much that she gave up the idea already set in motion.

Douglas Southall was the attending doctor in Rafe's case and when she felt that he was despondent enough over the failed treatments, she pressed the button on her plan. She inserted herself into Rafe's mind and let everyone think he had suddenly appeared lucid. When Douglas approached her for help, she set the second part in motion. She saw to it that he was afflicted with massive migraines, and paved the way for Kristen Haver to deal with Rafe. She took over Rafe's mind once again and waited.

When Kristen was in his room alone with him, she removed Moody the security guard from the equation and made her move on Kristen. There were a few moments when she couldn't make a full connection and even when she did it was not totally secure but it was good enough and she directed her attention to Edward Montrose first, leaving Rafe seemingly comatose once more.

******

Montrose closed his ledger, put his pen in the desk holder and was about to shut out the lamp when he heard the noise. He went to his office door and looked out, seeing nothing. Not satisfied, he walked the short distance to the elevator bank and stood there a moment listening. Nothing. Back to his office and over to the desk. The rustle was right behind him and he spun around, stumbling and sliding a hand through the file folders, spilling them onto the floor.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded.

"You asked for my report, Monty."

"Mon- who do you think you are that you can call me that? It's Mister Montrose." He stood a little straighter and faced her with a facade of authority.

Kristen giggled and placed her report on his desk, brushing against him as she did.

"Don't be so stuffy, Monty. I know why you wanted me up here."

"What! Wha- Doctor Haver, you will report back here in the morning and we will be discussing this behaviour."

She smiled and reached behind him, turning off the desk lamp. "Something I'd like you to see, Monty."

"Turn that lam- oh . . . oh my God!"

"Anyone but, Monty."

He leaned back on his desk trying to get away. The image that filled his vision in the dark office made his skin crawl then he felt her touch his arm and slide her hand up to his neck.

******

"Have you called the police?" Merker snapped off the rubber gloves he had pulled on before examining the body of Montrose.

"Are you aware of the storm we are having? Power lines are down and we are running on the facility generator. There is no cellular signal from anywhere in the building and the internet connection is sporadic at best. We are, for all intents and purposes, cut off from everyone."

"Land lines?"

Peter Cline made a face and a matching sound. "Land lines at White Pine went the way of the Dodo when we renovated. Who could have done this- this . . .?"

'Somebody here on site would be my guess." Merker glanced down and noticed the report folder from Doctor Haver among the mess of papers on the desk.

Several of the staff stood huddled in the hallway outside, whispering and straining to see what they could.

"Well, as assistant manager, Peter, I think you had better come up with a strategy to implement until we aren't cut off." He nodded pointedly at the crowd in the hall.

"What about . . .?"

"I'll have the office sealed until we can get the police out here."

"Shouldn't we put him . . . somewhere?"

"It's a crime scene, Peter. Montrose didn't die of natural causes. I don't think the police would appreciate us messing everything up."

******

Cline sat with the office employees and drafted a plan of procedure. They would shut down all unnecessary lighting and electrical equipment. The balance of the lighting would be reduced to a level that would still ensure safety. The generator needed as much help as possible. Two of the staff would make continual rounds of the facility in search of a live signal for either the cell phones or the internet. If they found one, they were to call the police immediately.

Medical staff would follow their usual procedures as best they could with the patients and maintenance and housekeeping would prepare for the possibility of a long isolation.

******

Merker knocked several times with no result then left to find one of the maintenance crew to unlock Doctor Southall's door.

"Douglas? Douglas, are you alright?" He stood beside the bed, jiggling Southall's shoulder.

"Huh- uh . . . ooaaah . . . God." Douglas rolled over, a hand clamped to his forehead.

"Douglas, can you wake up? Are you alright? We've had a terrible acc- event."

Southall sat up on one elbow and squinted at Merker. "What . . . what event?"

Douglas was still in no condition to help in any way so after relating the news of Montrose and the storm keeping them isolated; Merker left and went upstairs to Doctor Haver's suite.

"Kristen, sorry for the intrusion. May I come in?"

"Surely. Is something the matter?"

"Can I ask when you delivered your report to Montrose?"

"My report? Sure, it was just after his office hours. He was just leaving."

Merker stared at her a moment. "You were with him just as he was leaving for the night?"

"Yes." Kristen smiled and turned away, leading him into the living room.

"And you gave him your report?"

"Yes." The smile grew. "Is there something wrong, Doctor?"

"Well uh- he . . . so you said good evening and left?"

Kristen turned and came up close to Merker. "No, not right away." She slipped a finger under his collar. "I introduced myself . . . Angela. And then I killed him."

Merker blinked and his mouth fell open. He watched the smile change to a leer and finally a grimace then he staggered back as the hand on his collar clamped around his throat and squeezed. His eyes bugged and the feeble attempt to get free failed as his throat was gradually crushed.

Angela frowned. It took longer and was more difficult than it should have been. She let Merker's body drop then straightened her clothes before appearing as the overwrought, hysterical victim who found a body in her suite.

Chapter5

Rafe Messenger tossed on his cot. The pain in his head was becoming unbearable. Images burst like fireworks behind his eyes and he saw a kaleidoscope of himself, Doctor Haver and Angela mixed with the gory snaps of bodies, and blood bursting from faces. He grasped the rail at the head of the cot and pulled with all his strength.

Angela stopped outside the room, a sudden dizziness overtaking her. She shook her head and cursed to herself. Something was fighting her power and it confused and annoyed her. She gathered her wits and then went into her performance, screaming down the hall, looking terrified.

Two of the maintenance men working the corridor stopped and grappled with Angela, getting her under control.

"Doctor Haver! What happened? What's wrong?"

"My room- Doctor Merker . . . somebody . . ." She swooned and sagged to the floor.

"Get Cline I'll stay with her and check her room." The man lowered her gently to the floor and dashed off down the hall.

Angela sat up, feigning confusion as Peter Cline helped her to her feet, bombarding her with questions. She told him, in a halting delivery, how she had gone to check on Doctor Southall after the meeting and then to her room and found Doctor Merker inside . . . dead.

"We'll have him moved to autopsy. You need to get some rest. You may still be in shock."

"Oh, I couldn't stay there- not tonight- not after . . ."

"Aah, alright- come back to my office and we'll find a spot for tonight. Maybe one of the kitchen staff- anyway we'll see. Can you walk okay?"

"I think so. Thank you, Peter."

He noted at the familiarity but let it go, chalking it up to stress and shock.

******

Rafe lost his grip on the cot bar and sank down, sweat-soaked and drained. He fought through the maze blitzing his head, seeking a point of focus, a point he could anchor to preparing for what he knew was coming. Never in the past had he been under such strain when doing these missions.

******

Southall drifted awake slowly. His headache had subsided and he felt nervous and hungry. The hunger surprised him until he realized how long it had been since he'd eaten anything. He saw the empty teacup on the night table and immediately thought of Angela. Past events flooded into his mind and he looked for the rest of his clothes.

The dim lighting in the hallways puzzled him and a young nurse hurrying by told him about what had happened. He stared after her, his head spinning again. Montrose? Murdered! He ran down the stairs two at a time and along the hall to Angela's room. Sliding the window cover open slowly, he could see her form on the large bed and he watched for several minutes, assuring himself she was asleep.

He did the same thing at Rafe's room but the scene was much different. Rafe was groaning and tossing on his cot, the sheets wound around his hips and his bare legs hanging over the edge. Southall let himself in, calling calmly and softly to his patient as he drew closer and bent down.

"Rafe? Rafe, it's Doctor Southall. Can you hear m-"

The hand flew up and grabbed his smock collar causing Southall to lose his balance and topple down on top of Rafe. Their faces were almost touching and the smell of fear assaulted Southall's nostrils.

"It isn't Doctor Haver."

"Rafe, let go."

"It isn't Doctor Haver!"

"What are you talking about? Let go?" He pulled himself free, still holding Rafe's wrists.

"It's Angela, she took over Doctor Haver's mind."

Southall stared in confused amazement. "You- you're talking . . . I mean- I mean you're making sense. Not real sense but you're speaking sentences!" He let go of Rafe and sat back.

"I can explain everything later, right now you have to stop Angela." Rafe, wiped at the sweat on his face.

"From what? What is she doing?" He jerked upright. "Montrose? You mean she-"

"Yes. And she's killed Doctor Merker as well."

"What? Merker? How do you know this?"

"I told you, I can explain everything. Now is not the time. You have to stop her."

"How? What can I do? I don't even know what's going on."

Rafe quickly related the string of events beginning with his admission to White Pine. Southall tried interrupting but was silenced. When he was done, Southall just sat, stunned to silence. Nothing he had ever imagined came close to the mind boggling tale he just heard.

"You have to act, Doctor. She's going after all of you, and she won't stop on her own." He sagged back onto the cot, exhausted, and closed his eyes.

******

Following Rafe's instructions, Southall raced up to Cline's office and entered without knocking.

"Doug, you're up!"

"Uh yeah, head feels better. I just heard about what's happening here. My God, where's uh, Peter." He couldn't help staring at her and he saw her own curiosity over his behaviour.

"Peter's trying to arrange some accommodation for me; I can't stay in that room tonight."

"Oh, no. Of course." He had to remember to call her Kristen.

She crossed the room and placed a hand under his collar, her smile sweet and innocent. "I could have said accommodation was available in your suite, but that wouldn't have been very professional."

Rafe had said to kill her but Southall could not imagine himself killing someone, especially the woman he had strong feelings for.

"Something bothering you, Doug?"

"I guess so. We have a killer loose in the facility and we can't contact the police."

"You're right. Well, I'm going to see who Peter is bunking me with tonight. I'll tell him you're waiting."

She was out of the office before he could stop her. What the hell was he going to do?

******

Angela went straight to the kitchen area and sure enough, Peter was speaking with one of the young women.

"Ah, here he is. Kristen- Doctor Haver, this is Janet. She says you are more than welcome to stay with her. I let her tell you the details." He turned to go and Angela caught his sleeve.

"Could we talk, in private for a moment?"

"Certainly." He guided her to a small room off the kitchen proper.

******

Cline put up quite a struggle and Angela had the feeling of losing her strength. She suspected something was interfering with her control and she swore under breath as she hurried down the hall to the lockdown wing.

******

Southall entered the kitchen, asking for Peter and the help told him they had gone around the corner to talk. He found the little room and opened the door. The sight made him gag as he backed away, hand over his mouth. Peter's body lay twisted in the corner, blood leaking out from his throat onto his shirt and tie. Rafe had to do something. He couldn't handle this alone. The syringe he'd loaded and held in his pocket felt slippery in his sweaty palm. He slammed the door and took off for Rafe's cell.

They were facing one another in what looked like a standoff. Both had arms raised and fingers pointing. Southall closed the slide and opened the door.

"Doug, oh thank goodness. He's having an episode." Angela dropped one arm and backed away.

Rafe looked at Southall and queried him with a look. He was sweating and starting to go into a crouch. Angela's breathing was strained as they both fought one another with invisible powers. Southall felt the syringe in his hand and decided this was his chance, maybe his only chance. He took it from his pocket and moved toward Angela.

"What are you doing, Doug?" Her eyes became yellow and he faltered.

"Do it, Doctor, do it!" Rafe cried.

He plunged the syringe into her bicep and pressed the plunger all the way. Angela screamed and turned on him, her hands grappling for his throat. She kept screaming and her face changed into a horrid mask of an evil Southall couldn't begin to describe. The syringe fell to the floor and Rafe began to stand straight once more. He walked toward her slowly and she whined as she lost her grip on Southall.

He gasped as Rafe took hold of a swirl of gelatinous matter released from Kristen's body and moulded it into a flaming ball that he crushed in his hands. The sound was horrific and Southall was lucky he could react to Kristen falling to the floor. He caught her around the waist and settled her across his knee.

"It's over, Doctor. Angela is gone."

"But I saw her sleeping in her room." He lifted Kristen to a sitting position.

"That is the real Angela Lucirk," Rafe began changing into street clothes that seemed to come from his locker.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm done here, I have to return."

"What? What are you talking about?" Southall lifted Kristen to her feet and she managed to stay steady.

"She needs rest; she's had a very traumatic experience. She'll be okay but she should rest." Rafe moved to the room's casement window and pushed it open.

Kristen stared at him and let out a soft moan, her hand at her throat. Southall grabbed her and steadied her and when he looked back, Rafe was gone.

******

A staff meeting ended with the instruction that what had taken place was to remain within the walls of White Pine. The real Angela's mind had been destroyed by the recent events and she was presented as the perfect scapegoat for the murders; the truth would never be known and the police investigation had been satisfied. A government agent reviewed the matter, made recommendations and the incident was filed away.

Douglas Southall sat back and exhaled mightily. His coffee had grown cold answering the questions the police had for him, and then sat while they grilled Kristen. He stayed because of her lingering medical concerns.

"Thank God that's all over." He said.

"I still can't believe it. Angela was never really Angela the whole time, she was this- this demon?"

"That's not the strangest part. Rafe Messenger, his name was really Raphael, and he came as a," Southall made finger quotes, "messenger to heal the real Angela Lucirk."

Kristen made a face. "You're telling me he said he was an angel? An angel!"

"He never actually said it. But whatever he pulled from you in that cell and crushed in his hands was the reason for all the killings. He said Angela, the real one, had such strong resentments over being committed that it left her exposed to being possessed. Hence the demon, Angela."

"Do you believe all that?"

"Kris, the witnesses who swore it was you with Cline and Merker didn't lie. She took over you to do her dirty work. Rafe was overmatched at the beginning and she was able to control him but she spread herself too thin and he got the upper hand finally."

"But an angel?"

"And a demon." He sat up and took her hand. "Let's just be happy the storm ended, the police came and the surface facts have been satisfied. To try and tell them what we know would have us committed as well." He smiled and squeezed her fingers. "It's a shame about Angela but there's nothing we could have done or can do now; her mind is completely gone."

******

Angela rolled over on her large bed and stared up at the ceiling. A small smile tickled the corners of her mouth and she snuggled into the sheet, a sensation of something coursing through her veins causing a welcome moan as she listened to Douglas Southall's remarks in her head.

END