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.