This piece was my contribution to the 3DSP story. Writing this story was a true test of my suspension of disbelief. I really enjoyed the freedom such a creative story gave me to write whatever I wanted.
Doctor Raven The following journal entries were found at the Annex. Although the exact date they were written is unknown, they are believed to have been written in the days leading up to the Event. The author is a nameless nurse who was working with patients affected by Frei fever. Entry 1 I do not even know how to start. Well, first off, I am not even really sure what is happening. I just know that patients are disappearing. We have learned not to question the patients’ disappearances, but I think something is wrong because patients who are actually getting better have been disappearing recently. I know it is not my place to say anything because, as they constantly remind us, and Frei fever is an extremely contagious and always fatal disease. Or so they say. I really think some of the patients would have survived the Frei fever. My daily checkups show that the strongest, young men and women are often recovering before they disappear. I am afraid to tell this to any of the other nurses because we are under constant surveillance. The other nurses accept Doctor Raven’s explanation for needing the cameras that record our every word and action. They believe that the cameras are there to help the doctor notice any early symptoms of Frei fever among the staff and nurses. But I think there might be another reason. Doctor Raven is the only one who has access to the surveillance footage. He is with patients all day, there is no way that he is constantly monitoring the cameras. But he does have an unnerving habit of appearing in the doorway right before we call for him, right before we realize a patient is going to die or miraculously recover.
Entry 2 I do not know what the date is. We are so isolated from the rest of the world and even the rest of the base that all the days blur together and I have no way of knowing the actual date. Doctor Raven is the only one who is allowed to leave the building and therefore our only link with the outside. I envy him. I wish I could come and go as I please instead of constantly attending to the steady stream of new patients. Some patients are admitted straight to Doctor Raven’s personal ward. None of the nurses even gather basic information about these patients before they are gone. These people are never very sick; I am beginning to doubt that they even have Frei fever. Doctor Raven says that these people have been diagnosed in the very early stages of the disease and everyone believes him. Doctor Raven terrifies me. He is constantly lurking around the hospital. Just when I least expect it, he is standing in the doorway. His long black coat flaps behind him as he walks in to inspect the patients. His pale hand reaches out to pull back the bed curtains like desperate claws. I have learned to keep my ideas about Dr. Raven to myself. I just know that if I so much as uttered my innocent suspicions my words would echo and find their way straight into his ears covered by long black hair.
Entry 3 I knew I was right, but I wish I had been wrong. Today Doctor Raven’s door was left open on accident. As I walked past, I could not help but hear a man’s demented cries of agony. They filled the narrow halls and murdered any happy thoughts I had been having. I was immediately worried that this patient had not been given his daily dose of nerve-dulling serum. I ran into Raven’s Ward without thinking twice. I should have realized that something was wrong judging from the heavy metal locks on the outside of the patients’ room, but I was too focused on ending this poor man’s pain. The closer I got, the louder the wails of agony rang in my ears. I began to wonder if it really was a human who was uttering these gut wrenching, wolf howls. As I rounded the corner, I saw an open door and Raven’s dark silhouette in the doorway. His head turned slowly and his beady eyes met mine. I was instantly aware of the mistake I had made. Paralyzed by fear I could not explain myself. I silently turned around and rushed back out of Raven’s Ward.
Entry 4 I know something terrible is going to happen soon. Someone needs to know what was really going on here before it is too late. I pray someone finds this journal and is able to give it to the authorities. Raven is an evil man, if you can even call him a man. I am afraid to write too much because him. He is not helping anyone be cured; he is preforming some sort of unorthodox experiments on completely health people under the guise of treating them for frei fever. He knows that I know and I can sense that my remaining time here is short. If only I could tell the other nurses. But that would be far too risky. Raven would swoop in and end us all. This is the only way. Entry 5 They aren’t sick at all, he is torturing them. I know this because one of his personal patients escaped two nights ago. I was working the four am shift and saw a young man limping down the hall. He was extremely pale and weak. He had bloody marks around his hands and feet. Which he later told me were from the manacles and chains that had held him down. The instant I saw him, I knew all my suspicions had been confirmed. I whispered for him to sit in a wheel chair and that I would help. By helping him I knew I would never be safe again. But I also knew that if I did nothing to help him I would never be able to sleep at night. As is, I doubt I will ever forget Raven’s dark figure and haunting presence. He has murdered so many. So many innocent people. If only I could have realized this sooner. Maybe I could have done what I am doing now long ago. But I can’t write much, were on the run. Oh wait, I hear something in the darkness. A wild, inhuman cry of angry malice
He knows
The journal entry ends abruptly here.
New Draft
Doctor Raven
The following journal entries were found at the Annex. Although the exact date they were written is unknown, they are believed to have been written in the days leading up to the Event. The author is a nameless nurse who was working with patients affected by Frei fever.
Entry 1
I do not even know how to start. Well, first off, I am not even really sure what is happening. I just know that certain patients are disappearing. We have learned not to question the patients’ disappearances, but I think something is wrong because patients who are actually getting better have been disappearing recently. I know it is not my place to say anything because, as they constantly remind us, and Frei fever is an extremely dangerous disease.
But, I really think some of the patients would have survived the Frei fever. My daily checkups show that the strongest, young men and women are often recovering before they disappear. I am afraid to tell this to any of the other nurses because we are under constant surveillance. The other nurses accept Doctor Raven’s explanation for needing the cameras that record our every word and action. They believe that the cameras are there to help the doctor notice any early symptoms of Frei fever among the staff and nurses. But I think there might be another reason. Doctor Raven is the only one who has access to the surveillance footage. He has an unnerving habit of appearing in the doorway right before we call for him, right when a patient seems to be recovering.
Entry 2
I do not know what the date is. We are so isolated from the rest of the world and even the rest of the base that all the days blur together and I have no way of knowing the actual date. Doctor Raven is the only one who is allowed to leave the building and therefore our only link with the outside. I envy him. I wish I could come and go as I please instead of constantly attending to the steady stream of new patients. But I accept my duty as a nurse and all I want is to help these poor people.
Some patients are admitted straight to Doctor Raven’s personal ward. None of the nurses even gather basic information about these patients before they are gone. These people never seem very sick; I am beginning to think they may not even have Frei fever. Doctor Raven says that these people have been diagnosed in the very early stages of the disease so the symptoms have not manifested yet and everyone believes him. Doctor Raven terrifies me. He is constantly lurking around the hospital. Just when I least expect it, he is standing in the doorway. His long black coat flaps behind him as he walks in to inspect the patients. His pale hand reaches out to pull back the bed curtains like inspecting claws. I have learned to keep my ideas about Dr. Raven to myself. I just know that if I so much as uttered my innocent suspicions my words would echo and find their way straight into his ears covered by long black hair.
Entry 3
I knew I was right, but I wish I had been wrong. Today Doctor Raven’s door was left open on accident. As I walked past, I could not help but hear a man’s demented cries of agony. They filled the narrow halls and murdered any happy thoughts I had been having. I was immediately worried that this patient had not been given his daily dose of nerve-dulling serum. I ran into Raven’s Ward without thinking twice. I should have realized that something was wrong judging from the heavy metal locks on the outside of the patients’ room, but I was too focused on ending this poor man’s pain. The closer I got, the louder the wails of agony rang in my ears. I began to wonder if it really was a human who was uttering these gut wrenching howls. As I rounded the corner, I saw an open door and Raven’s dark silhouette in the doorway. His head turned slowly and his beady eyes met mine. I was instantly aware of where I was and how far away I was from where I should be. Paralyzed by fear I could not explain myself.
I silently turned around and rushed back out of Raven’s Ward.
Entry 4
I know something terrible is going to happen soon. Someone needs to know what was really going on here before it is too late. I pray someone finds this journal and is able to give it to the authorities. Raven is an evil man, if you can even call him a man. I am afraid to write too much because him. He is not helping anyone be cured; he is preforming some sort of unorthodox experiments on completely health people under the guise of treating them for frei fever. He knows that I know and I can sense that my remaining time here is short. If only I could tell the other nurses. But that would be far too risky. Raven would swoop in and end us all. This is the only way.
Entry 5
They aren’t sick at all, he is torturing them.
I know this because one of his personal patients escaped two nights ago. I was working the four am shift and saw a young man limping down the hall. He was extremely pale and weak. He had bloody marks around his hands and feet. Which he later told me were from the manacles and chains that had held him down. The instant I saw him, I knew all my suspicions had been confirmed. I whispered for him to sit in a wheel chair and that I would help. By helping him I knew I would never be safe again. But I also knew that if I did nothing to help him I would never be able to sleep at night. As is, I doubt I will ever forget Raven’s dark figure and haunting presence. He has murdered so many. So many innocent people. If only I could have realized this sooner. Maybe I could have done what I am doing now long ago.
Doctor Raven
The following journal entries were found at the Annex. Although the exact date they were written is unknown, they are believed to have been written in the days leading up to the Event. The author is a nameless nurse who was working with patients affected by Frei fever.
Entry 1
I do not even know how to start. Well, first off, I am not even really sure what is happening. I just know that patients are disappearing. We have learned not to question the patients’ disappearances, but I think something is wrong because patients who are actually getting better have been disappearing recently. I know it is not my place to say anything because, as they constantly remind us, and Frei fever is an extremely contagious and always fatal disease. Or so they say.
I really think some of the patients would have survived the Frei fever. My daily checkups show that the strongest, young men and women are often recovering before they disappear. I am afraid to tell this to any of the other nurses because we are under constant surveillance. The other nurses accept Doctor Raven’s explanation for needing the cameras that record our every word and action. They believe that the cameras are there to help the doctor notice any early symptoms of Frei fever among the staff and nurses. But I think there might be another reason. Doctor Raven is the only one who has access to the surveillance footage. He is with patients all day, there is no way that he is constantly monitoring the cameras. But he does have an unnerving habit of appearing in the doorway right before we call for him, right before we realize a patient is going to die or miraculously recover.
Entry 2
I do not know what the date is. We are so isolated from the rest of the world and even the rest of the base that all the days blur together and I have no way of knowing the actual date. Doctor Raven is the only one who is allowed to leave the building and therefore our only link with the outside. I envy him. I wish I could come and go as I please instead of constantly attending to the steady stream of new patients.
Some patients are admitted straight to Doctor Raven’s personal ward. None of the nurses even gather basic information about these patients before they are gone. These people are never very sick; I am beginning to doubt that they even have Frei fever. Doctor Raven says that these people have been diagnosed in the very early stages of the disease and everyone believes him. Doctor Raven terrifies me. He is constantly lurking around the hospital. Just when I least expect it, he is standing in the doorway. His long black coat flaps behind him as he walks in to inspect the patients. His pale hand reaches out to pull back the bed curtains like desperate claws. I have learned to keep my ideas about Dr. Raven to myself. I just know that if I so much as uttered my innocent suspicions my words would echo and find their way straight into his ears covered by long black hair.
Entry 3
I knew I was right, but I wish I had been wrong. Today Doctor Raven’s door was left open on accident. As I walked past, I could not help but hear a man’s demented cries of agony. They filled the narrow halls and murdered any happy thoughts I had been having. I was immediately worried that this patient had not been given his daily dose of nerve-dulling serum. I ran into Raven’s Ward without thinking twice. I should have realized that something was wrong judging from the heavy metal locks on the outside of the patients’ room, but I was too focused on ending this poor man’s pain. The closer I got, the louder the wails of agony rang in my ears. I began to wonder if it really was a human who was uttering these gut wrenching, wolf howls. As I rounded the corner, I saw an open door and Raven’s dark silhouette in the doorway. His head turned slowly and his beady eyes met mine. I was instantly aware of the mistake I had made. Paralyzed by fear I could not explain myself.
I silently turned around and rushed back out of Raven’s Ward.
Entry 4
I know something terrible is going to happen soon. Someone needs to know what was really going on here before it is too late. I pray someone finds this journal and is able to give it to the authorities. Raven is an evil man, if you can even call him a man. I am afraid to write too much because him. He is not helping anyone be cured; he is preforming some sort of unorthodox experiments on completely health people under the guise of treating them for frei fever. He knows that I know and I can sense that my remaining time here is short. If only I could tell the other nurses. But that would be far too risky. Raven would swoop in and end us all. This is the only way.
Entry 5
They aren’t sick at all, he is torturing them.
I know this because one of his personal patients escaped two nights ago. I was working the four am shift and saw a young man limping down the hall. He was extremely pale and weak. He had bloody marks around his hands and feet. Which he later told me were from the manacles and chains that had held him down. The instant I saw him, I knew all my suspicions had been confirmed. I whispered for him to sit in a wheel chair and that I would help. By helping him I knew I would never be safe again. But I also knew that if I did nothing to help him I would never be able to sleep at night. As is, I doubt I will ever forget Raven’s dark figure and haunting presence. He has murdered so many. So many innocent people. If only I could have realized this sooner. Maybe I could have done what I am doing now long ago.
But I can’t write much, were on the run.
Oh wait, I hear something in the darkness.
A wild, inhuman cry of angry malice
He knows
The journal entry ends abruptly here.
New Draft
Doctor Raven
The following journal entries were found at the Annex. Although the exact date they were written is unknown, they are believed to have been written in the days leading up to the Event. The author is a nameless nurse who was working with patients affected by Frei fever.
Entry 1
I do not even know how to start. Well, first off, I am not even really sure what is happening. I just know that certain patients are disappearing. We have learned not to question the patients’ disappearances, but I think something is wrong because patients who are actually getting better have been disappearing recently. I know it is not my place to say anything because, as they constantly remind us, and Frei fever is an extremely dangerous disease.
But, I really think some of the patients would have survived the Frei fever. My daily checkups show that the strongest, young men and women are often recovering before they disappear. I am afraid to tell this to any of the other nurses because we are under constant surveillance. The other nurses accept Doctor Raven’s explanation for needing the cameras that record our every word and action. They believe that the cameras are there to help the doctor notice any early symptoms of Frei fever among the staff and nurses. But I think there might be another reason. Doctor Raven is the only one who has access to the surveillance footage. He has an unnerving habit of appearing in the doorway right before we call for him, right when a patient seems to be recovering.
Entry 2
I do not know what the date is. We are so isolated from the rest of the world and even the rest of the base that all the days blur together and I have no way of knowing the actual date. Doctor Raven is the only one who is allowed to leave the building and therefore our only link with the outside. I envy him. I wish I could come and go as I please instead of constantly attending to the steady stream of new patients. But I accept my duty as a nurse and all I want is to help these poor people.
Some patients are admitted straight to Doctor Raven’s personal ward. None of the nurses even gather basic information about these patients before they are gone. These people never seem very sick; I am beginning to think they may not even have Frei fever. Doctor Raven says that these people have been diagnosed in the very early stages of the disease so the symptoms have not manifested yet and everyone believes him. Doctor Raven terrifies me. He is constantly lurking around the hospital. Just when I least expect it, he is standing in the doorway. His long black coat flaps behind him as he walks in to inspect the patients. His pale hand reaches out to pull back the bed curtains like inspecting claws. I have learned to keep my ideas about Dr. Raven to myself. I just know that if I so much as uttered my innocent suspicions my words would echo and find their way straight into his ears covered by long black hair.
Entry 3
I knew I was right, but I wish I had been wrong. Today Doctor Raven’s door was left open on accident. As I walked past, I could not help but hear a man’s demented cries of agony. They filled the narrow halls and murdered any happy thoughts I had been having. I was immediately worried that this patient had not been given his daily dose of nerve-dulling serum. I ran into Raven’s Ward without thinking twice. I should have realized that something was wrong judging from the heavy metal locks on the outside of the patients’ room, but I was too focused on ending this poor man’s pain. The closer I got, the louder the wails of agony rang in my ears. I began to wonder if it really was a human who was uttering these gut wrenching howls. As I rounded the corner, I saw an open door and Raven’s dark silhouette in the doorway. His head turned slowly and his beady eyes met mine. I was instantly aware of where I was and how far away I was from where I should be. Paralyzed by fear I could not explain myself.
I silently turned around and rushed back out of Raven’s Ward.
Entry 4
I know something terrible is going to happen soon. Someone needs to know what was really going on here before it is too late. I pray someone finds this journal and is able to give it to the authorities. Raven is an evil man, if you can even call him a man. I am afraid to write too much because him. He is not helping anyone be cured; he is preforming some sort of unorthodox experiments on completely health people under the guise of treating them for frei fever. He knows that I know and I can sense that my remaining time here is short. If only I could tell the other nurses. But that would be far too risky. Raven would swoop in and end us all. This is the only way.
Entry 5
They aren’t sick at all, he is torturing them.
I know this because one of his personal patients escaped two nights ago. I was working the four am shift and saw a young man limping down the hall. He was extremely pale and weak. He had bloody marks around his hands and feet. Which he later told me were from the manacles and chains that had held him down. The instant I saw him, I knew all my suspicions had been confirmed. I whispered for him to sit in a wheel chair and that I would help. By helping him I knew I would never be safe again. But I also knew that if I did nothing to help him I would never be able to sleep at night. As is, I doubt I will ever forget Raven’s dark figure and haunting presence. He has murdered so many. So many innocent people. If only I could have realized this sooner. Maybe I could have done what I am doing now long ago.
But I can’t write much, we’re going to escape.
Oh wait, I hear something in the darkness.
A wild, inhuman cry of angry malice
He knows.
The journal entry ends abruptly here.