FILE 2: THE ASYLUM PART 2

I have no experience caring for anyone except myself and Mars. I do not know how to respond when someone has a psychotic attack or such.

I have never even been to a therapist, but here I am, helping to tend to a female patient who has been in the hospital for the last two years. 

My trainer was an old ward nurse called Eun Jeong. He was nearing retirement and looked exhausted. The girl sat in a corner, sulking as we cleaned and aired out the room.

"She's a good kid as long as she takes her medicine. As you can see, she hates noise, so we gotta act fast or she gets annoyed at us." He gave her a wink and said, "Don't worry, dear, we're almost done." 

He continued, "Asylum nurses are not like your average nurses. You can have a chat and take a break in your average hospital, but here, you need to be quiet and always on alert.

Patients don't have an alarm button, so there must always be someone on patrol. We're done here now, dear."

We quickly left the room with the upset girl and locked the heavy door. Eun went on, "No matter what kind of patient they are, always lock the door.

Not just for our safety but for theirs as well."

He continued to instruct me as time passed, and I found that one had to be dedicated to be an asylum worker. My job was dangerous, but theirs was terrifying.

I drank coffee, which was offered to me by an administrator as we changed shifts. They worked out a schedule for me, as I requested night shifts.

Are you still wondering how I got this job when I lacked skills and qualifications?

Connections. I called a previous client who recommended me, and after that, I just lied my way through the interview. 

When I was handed my timesheet, I nearly spit out all my coffee. 

"What? I'm starting work tonight?" I protested. The admin didn't even look up from her computer. "Welcome to the civil service," she said blandly.

I had planned to take it easy and get to know other staff members, but I'd be too tired. Looking dejected at the sheet, I got up to get ready for my shift. 

The hospital had four buildings with twelve wards, and I was appointed to Ward Eight for the night. I trudged along the corridor, checking the locks and the patients.

I activated my SENSE skill and listened for odd sounds. The night was uneventful, unlike what you see in horror films, so when the sun rose and my shift ended,

I was seriously thankful. I just crashed into my assigned nurse's dorm room and fell asleep.

It was noon, but I was eating my breakfast. Hamburger and soda. I was sitting alone when I heard a couple of bystanders gossiping near me.

"It happened again last night," a tall nurse with a ponytail muttered.

"Not again. Where?" the other curly-haired petite nurse asked, shocked.

"Ward Three. It's Park Bong that's gone missing this time," the ponytail answered.

"But Baek was on duty. His eyes are as sharp as a hawk's. He would have noticed if anyone was missing."

"When he checked, Bong was still in his room, fast asleep."

"What in the world is going on in this place?" the petit wondered. They both glanced around and quickly left, leaving me thoughtfully behind.

I checked my timesheet and saw that I had a shift in Ward Three two nights from now. I guess I would have to wait until I could investigate. 

However, tonight I was in Ward Five. I tucked it back in my pocket, threw the plate in the trash, and marched to the pharmacy.

I was still in training, and my mentor this time was a young woman, HaYoon Lee who worked here for seven years. Cool.

She was a pharmacist and showed me all the medications and emergency procedures.

"When there's a patient that has an attack, the male nurses have to rush in first and try to restrain them as quickly and proficiently as possible.

The female nurse provides support, and the doctor or pharmacist on the ward administers the medicine. 

Ward nurses are allowed to administer the medicine only, and only mind you, when neither the doctor nor pharmacist can be found within five minutes." I nodded absentmindedly.

She was so cute with her black hair and small red lips. She could have been a model. What is she doing in a mental institution?

I automatically ran my hand through my hair, but she didn't look around. "No relationships between staff." Crap.

"Now we sometimes transfer patients from one room to another when-" she continued instructing me, leaving me feeling despondent.

I sighed inwardly, and after the hour-long training was over, and she asked me if I had any questions, I decided to ask her about the disappearances.

"Yes, I do, as a matter of fact. I heard some nurses talking, and it seemed patients kept going missing or dying in mysterious circumstances. Could you please tell me about it?"

I gave her an intense look. She looked away and twiddled her hair. "Dunno what you're talking about. Who spoke that nonsense?"

"It's no use hiding it. Before I applied for this job, I heard all about it." I lifted her chin toward me. I won't let her keep lying to me, money is at stake. I smiled slyly.

Her eyes fluttered. "It's already gotten out? But I thought-" she bit her lip. I grinned in triumph. I released her as her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Dammit. Who tattled? All right. There have been strange things occurring. Three patients died, and yesterday our fifth patient went missing."

"Could you describe the deaths?" I implored intently.

"Why? Are you a detective or a journalist?" She demanded sharply. She was on guard. I shook my head. "I have to know these things, you know?

Since I'm working here and all." 

Looking doubtful, she spoke, "If you say so. The first person to die was an immigrant from America, Francis Jones. He died from a supposed heart attack.

We called his family, and they took his body away. He was in his late thirties."

"Supposed to have a heart attack? Could you elaborate?" I asked suspiciously. She twiddled her thumbs, looking anxious. "Nothing unusual there.

He was always frail. The second death was of an elderly woman, Park Hana. She had schizophrenia her entire life.

She was also a convicted murderer and, at first, a suspect in the missing patients, until she died." So we're moving on? Okay then.

"What happened?" I inquired anxiously.

"She was found strangled to death. But there were no other wounds, so it was concluded that she didn't struggle with her attacker. That confused everyone."

"And the last person?" She gulped, looking pale.

"Sung Beom Seok. He was a new patient and in his early twenties. His death was the most suspicious. He died of a drug overdose." She peered at me tearfully.

"It could have been suicide. What's wrong?" I was surprised.

"That's impossible. Patients can't get their hands on drugs in this asylum. But, the one who was in charge of him that night was me! I didn't do it, I swear!" She cried softly. Oh dear. 

I was in Ward Five for my shift. It was quiet, with only a few mutters here and there, but I didn't let it bother me.

I activated SENSE and this time I looked for an intruder who might want to cause harm. For several hours, I saw nothing, but the one male patient kept muttering.

We weren't allowed to admonish them, so I went to his door and knocked softly.

"Mr. Kim, is there anything wrong?" I asked quietly. There was no answer, but he kept muttering. Feeling concerned, I unlocked the door and peeked inside.

I didn't like what I saw. Jun Kim cowered under his bed and muttered incoherently while a shadow loomed over him.

It was transparent, tall, and menacing-looking. It reached for Jun Kim with snake-like arms, so I acted quickly. I activated LEAP and jumped on the shadow.

I punched, hoping something would happen. Maybe make it evaporate and disappear. My hand just went through.

But what I did manage to do was get its attention. Its head snapped in my direction, and two glowing green cat-like eyes glared at me with hostility.

It opened its mouth wide, showing large white fangs that sent chills down my spine.