Enoughfor her to ask, “Cass, You...you please stay?”
Terezianeeds time, rest before action.
AndNurse Bitch won’t come in—won’t ruin her plans—
withCass in the room paying close attention.
Blessher granddaughter, she nods, taking her hands.
Tokeep Cass while she heals, she asks more questions.
Strangely,Nurse Emma’s forgotten the necklace.
Ordoesn’t know better... Terezia thinks.
Whatis her alliance? Just what is her place?
As theold woman plans, she doesn’t want kinks.
Shestill sees the ghosts, but they all avoid her.
Confidencemoves her; she’s reclaimed her power.
Eventoting oxygen, using her walker.
Sheobserves what happens every hour.
Thatdevil of a doctor keeps strict schedules.
Tereziawatches each resident’s state...
Whenthe doctor does take them, steal from their souls,
shenotes each recovery, how long it takes.
Beforehow long is the next soul pulled to feed?
Howlong before it is Terezia’s turn
to betaken for Audaire’s abhorrent need?
Andwhat she learns is she hasn’t time to burn.
Thewise woman knows she has no time to spare.
Shewanders all hallways, explores every room.
Shespies on the doctor when he’s not downstairs.
Whenhe’s not, and it’s safe, she goes down there too.
Withprotective measures from her mother’s gram,
shestudies the tables, the machine, the wires.
Mechanicaldark magic, work of the damned...
Howhard would it be... an electrical fire?
As ifthey know, as if they too are watching,
ghostsfollow Terezia through others’ eyes—
Torturingthose pushed out and stuck watching
theirtortured families staring at empty eyes.
I’llend their suffering. I will fix this all.
Shesneaks oxygen tanks from storage downstairs.
Dayspass, she waits for Cass to visit or call.
Thenit’s time to be brought to Doctor Audaire.
Shestill fights, she still loses, she’s drugged and tied.
Broughtdownstairs and restrained, she maintains her glare.
Shedoes not look where her mischief’s work all hides.
Instead,she focuses hate on Doctor Audaire.
Unfazedby her scorn, he sets all his buttons.
Henarrows his eyes, fixes them on her neck.
Hepulls at the pendant; it won’t come undone.
“Youmust think you’re clever with this little trick?”
Theold woman bats her eyes innocently.
“Emma,”orders Audaire, “Do take care of this.”
“Youpromised.” Terezia burns intensity.
Thenurse pauses, at least, but does as he bids.
That nurse pockets the necklace, walks outthe door.
Flipthe switch. Spirit split. Steals life from her soul.
Andthis time it hurts so much more than before.
Backin her room, she knows she’s so much less whole.
7.
Shewatches. She watches. She watches their eyes.
Shewatches. She watches. In silence, she cries.
Penancefor silence, see the ghosts in their eyes.
Thevery next day, Cass comes for a visit.
Tereziafights with the ghost who possesses...
tooweak to reclaim her own body that sits
staringat nothing, while she floats so useless.
“Gram,can you hear me? It’s your granddaughter, Cass.”
Theywere careful enough so as not to leave
obviousinjuries, so Cass can’t assess
thetruth of dark magic; she only can grieve.
“Ithought you’d be better...” Cass turns to hide tears.
“And Ithought you might let them color your hair...”
Casssmooths away roots of grey—something appears!
Alight, a glow, between them. A touch of care.
Tereziasmiles. Dear, there’s magic in you yet!
Youmay shun the truth of your blood, but it’s there.
That momentof love, its own magic begets.
Tereziareclaims herself—ghosts beware.
Likebefore, it takes time to fully come back.
ButCass’s embrace heals the doctor’s damage.
Herarm, her hand... she waves, grasping at her neck.
“What’swrong? Can you breath—Your necklace! Those bastards!”
Casskisses her forehead. “I’ll be right back, Gram.”
Aroundher, the ghosts fight to take her once more.
Hurry,Cass, she thinks,bracing for a last stand.
Hergranddaughter’s voice commands the corridor.
Cassreturns victorious, necklace in hand.
Combinedmagic sutures back body and soul.
Tereziaworks out the last of her plan.
Shecoughs and wheezes, spits bile into a bowl.
“Water...please, bring...water...?” she begs her granddaughter.
“Ofcourse, Gram,” Cass leaves, purse still on the bed.
Shesmiles again when Cass returns with water;
she’sgot the last piece, lighter and cigarette.
Terezianow has more time to review,
recoverher strength—she has only one chance.
Cassvisits unknowing it’s her last “Love you.”
For thenext day has scheduled a staff conference.
You’renot getting younger...whynot choose your death?
Ghostspress against her; she’s not felt so alive—
eventhough with each step she struggles for breath.
Downthe hall, down the stairs. It’s time. She arrives.
Whiletaking a walk by the nurses station,
Tereziaambled close enough to view
thecalendar notes, meetings and vacations,
astaff conference—her window she now knew.
Theold woman stumbles to each hiding place.
Sheleft the ghosts behind, yet their presence weighs...
Whatif her plan strips them of any last grace?
Whatof those who were trapped, who unwillingly stay?
Shepasses and releases each tank’s O2 hiss.
Whenall are open, she takes the doctor’s chair.
Shethinks, she debates—is there something she’s missed?
No.Now finish before you can’t breathe the air.
Shetakes out a pen, she pulls her cigarette,
andshe writes her spell out on the wrapping paper.
It’stime to end the pain at Pinehaven Rest—
Fromthe stairs Doctor Audaire does appear.
Tereziafumbles, dropping the lighter.
Movingfaster than she, the doctor attacks.
Hepushes her down. “I know you’re a fighter.
I cameprepared.” He puts a knife to her back.
With achant, he begins his final dark spell.
Tereziastruggles, but cannot break free.
Thud. A violent release. “You’re done withthis Hell.”
“NurseEmma?” Can she believe what she sees?
Thatnurse stands over that now-fallen doctor.
O2tank in her hands, and blood on his face.
Sheswings again. And again. Once more.
Shelooks at Terezia. “Let’s end this place.”
Tereziaprepares her last cigarette.
Shelights up the butt, takes a drag from her smoke.
NurseEmma snickers, like she’s just won a bet.
“What?You expected this place would just explode?”
“Allyou medical people told me to quit!
Justone fucking spark and my house would catch fire!”
“Canonly you smoke that magic cigarette?”
Shepasses it with more annoyance than ire.
“Oxygenaccelerates, but it doesn’t ignite.”
NurseEmma puffs, then shows the butt’s now half ash.
“First,you need more of a fire. Now pass me your light...
O2makes a small flame blaze up in a flash.”
NurseEmma walks over to the doctor’s chair.
“Whatyou wrote here—this...spell?—just what will it do?”
Tereziafollowed, one eye on Audaire.
“‘Toan appropriate end’ once the fire burns through.”
Nodding,Emma turns to the doctor’s console.
Shesmacks the lighter until fluid drips out...
ontohis seat, soaking through the fabric’s holes.
Handsthe butt. “Last puff’s yours, before it goes out.”
Tereziainhales, nods, meets Emma’s eyes,
anddrops the smoldering butt down.
Thechair catches, but the flames don’t quickly rise.
Agroan sounds; Doctor Audair moves on the ground.
“Fuck,”mutters Terezia, turning his way.
Liftingher own tank, she pommels him once more—
thensees the knife he dropped, and pulls it away.
Onequick stab. The ghosts in his eyes are no more.
“Isthat it? Did you kill him?” Nurse Emma gapes.
“Doesthat...undo the ghosts? Do we still have to—”
“Wedo. This place must burn.” Terezia states.
“He’sdead, yes, but magic’s not easy to ‘undo.’
It’sfilled this house, each board, every corner.
To‘undo’ this evil, it all has
