West Street Hospital

Kian’s phone buzzes in his pocket. He groans, annoyed, as he takes off the headphones and stretches out his legs, kicking the door. “Dammit…” he winces and sighs, taking his phone out of his pocket, silencing the alarm, before standing up to exit the closet and closing the door behind him. Kian scrolls through his text messages and emails, finding the newest one from the security guard.

“I’ll be at the hospital on West Street tonight.”

He rolls his eyes sending a text back.

“Anything specific about the hospital on West Street?”

“Missing persons about a member of the staff. No body was ever found.”

Kian thinks of plopping down on the couch before answering.

“It could be another murder.”

Placing his phone down, he decides to meet the security driver there. This is a horrible idea, but… what if I am right about them? That they somehow awaken those spirits. Until I know for sure, I can’t leave them alone in those places, Kian thinks to himself. “Here we are yet again, awakener.” he greets his boots walking over gravel. “Awakener?” the security guard questions, tilting their head to the side.

“It’s because you awakened the first spirit at the abandoned school.” Kian chuckles. The security guard uses their keys and unlocks the metal door, pushing it open. They motion for Kian to go first, who smirks, thanking them before walking inside. Two sets of footsteps echo off the walls as they enter the Emergency Room Bay. Soon after, they stop in front of the registration desks, the sound of metal chains clanking along with the sound of a turning door handle.

“Why didn’t they keep this hospital open?” Kian asked. The security guard explained about the murder that occurred where a worker was incinerated alive in the waste disposal. “Any suspects?” he questioned, surprised.“Nobody was ever caught on camera. They don’t want to admit it’s supernatural,” the security guard replied. “So, the administrators are skeptics then… that doesn’t surprise me.” Kian shook his head with a sigh.

The security guard takes out a keycard badge scanning it. The card reader beeps giving off a chime as an employees only door opens for them. They both head towards the waste disposal room first heading down a long hallway. Entering an elevator the two step inside and the doors close as it begins its decent. “I’m surprised that you contacted me again so soon.” says Kian tapping his foot.

“Why do you say that?” The security guard questioned confused with a tilt of their head.

“I mean, after what you said last time…this kind of stuff would scare you away. To know that certain types of ghosts can manifest like that man did.” Kian replied, leaning against the wall. “No, I wanted to fix what I had done.” the security guard shook their head. “I see, so you didn’t know that you had woken these spirits up.” he scoffed. The security guard shifted on their feet and leaned against the wall, frowning. “I’m sorry, Awakener… I didn’t mean it like that.” said Kian, apologizing.

The elevator doors open, and the security guard exits first, followed by the spirit guide. The security guard opens the door to the waste disposal room and props it open. “Has anyone else been down here since the incident?” Kian questions, a bit tense. “No, waste was sent to another location to be burned.” the security guard replies. “That’s good… I’m glad they don’t allow people down here anymore.” he said with a nod.

He shivered, taking a deep breath and exhaling, “Where are you?! Show yourself!” Kian called out.

The incinerator door slowly creaked open, the sound of bones popping followed. A raspy breath gasps for air, and the sound of bare feet on cement. “ Well, I did ask for it to show itself,” he thought to himself. A Geist stood before Kian, its skin charred, eyes hollow with swirls of white. The Geist lets out an angry yell and rushes towards him.

Kian curses under his breath, and then he begins to run, dodging out of the Geist’s way, sliding into a corner of the room. It lets out an angry yell and chases after the spirit guide, who starts running again. Alarmed by the sound, the security guard peered into the room, since they had been waiting outside. When they stepped inside, the door shut with a soft click. Kian had a charm in his hand, going towards a section of the room with his back to the wall.

“Come on, ugly!” he says out of breath. The Geist was close to Kian, but it stopped, turned, and listened, hearing the security guard call out to him. “Shite… Awakener, get out of here!” he yelled, panicked. Kian chased after the Geist that was heading towards the security guard, who was frozen in place. “Get out of the way!” he yelled.

Eyes widened in surprise, the security guard humped out of the way just in time, and the Geist hits the wall.

“Ashes to ashes, spirit to spirit, light take this soul and banish the evil!” Kian chanted. The Geist shakes, making the sound of rattling bones before hitting the floor, clattering in a heap of ash and bon. ““Awakener, are you alright?” he sighs, his breath shaky. Kian walks over to them, seeing them holding their knee, and he kneels next to them. “You could have gotten yourself killed!” Kian yells, angry and concerned as he looks them over.

The security guard flinched and slapped him on the shoulder. “I was worried about you,” they exclaimed.

“Ow… thanks for worrying about me, but you should have thought about your own safety.” Kian sighed.

He picks the security guard up bridal style and walks out of the waste disposal room. “Let’s get out of here and call the police. Besides, we need to have your knee looked at.” Kian says tiredly. He looks over his shoulder at the room, mouthing, “May you rest in peace.” The sound of a siren and the chatter of people talking fill the outside. The security guard is being checked by a paramedic, and Kian walks up.

“I told them about the remains we found. How is your knee?” he questions. “It’s fine, just sore and bruised.” the security guard answered. “I would take bruised and sore over broken.” said Kian, relieved, rubbing the back of his neck. “Awakener, I’m sorry that I yelled at you earlier. I didn’t want you to get hurt. Geist’s are dangerous to deal with.” he explains. “What makes a spirit turn into a Geist?” the security guard asks.

“Usually, an unjust death will turn a spirit into a Geist. I do not think it was a spirit that locked that nurse inside the incinerator.” replied Kian. “But the footage…” said the security guard, confused. “We should obtain the original footage to determine who is responsible. Someone is trying to hide a murder and cover up what they have done.” He protested, looking towards the temporarily closed hospital. Faint whispering fades into the background.