WHO COULD THAT BE?

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Getting a good job these days is very difficult. So many graduates go around in search of jobs. The system failed us all, we should have been trained to be job creators instead of job seekers.
My mother and sisters depend on me, now that I'm done with my higher education. But still to no avail. I've been searching for a job even though it's below my qualification, but still I need it. It's been two years since I left school. My Dad died in a plane crash when I was 19. Though he left us with a little investment, which my mother has been managing for long now.

One Saturday morning, I received a text message from my friend Mike saying, " dude, be at my place on Monday morning by 7:00AM and please make sure you look smart." I was perplexed reading the message. I tried reaching him through his phone number. But it was switched off.

That Monday morning, Mike told me he had gotten a job for me, though I won't like the place. But I was eager to know,because I have nothing else to do at the moment. He told me, it was a security job at a hospital. I will be working as a hospital security.

The pay was good, so I accepted it. I was told to resume immediately at the surveillance room. I was shown how everything worked there and got to meet my colleagues and superiors too.

That night something strange happened.

I leaned on the surveillance room's door frame and glanced over the six screens set up above the desk.

"Hey Steven, how's it going?"

Steven had a headset on his head, swivelled his chair to give me a high five. I walked into the room and relaxed into the spare seat. And observed the screen as well.

"It's been crazy tonight" I said, just to start up a conversation with him.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, three bodies were rushed in today. An accident occurred, the two ladies survived but the man didn't. I just helped the nurse to move the body to the morgue. Well things have quieted down now, we hope for the best."

Steven was silent as he kept watching the screen.

"Something interesting happened tonight?"

"Well, not much.Had a little boy, who couldn't let go of his mother's death, his tears reminded me, when I lost my sweet Grandma." He said

"Oh, what a pity."

Steven leaned forward to look at the indicated signal on the screen.

"Isn't that Dr.Felix office? And who's that entering there?

"Yeah, it absolutely is. But he's not a doctor, or a worker here. So who could that be?"
The man was dressed in a torn, dirty singlet mixed with red stains all over it. My best guess is that it should be blood. His frantic movement was alarming. He was searching for something yet unknown to us.

He had his back to the camera, so all what we could see were his bald head and his hands having six fingers each.

"Are you not going to do something about that?" I asked, as he glared at me.

"It's a restricted section. That is the head of the department office, where patients files are stored. Not everyone has access to it." He replied.

"So?"

"Fine keep watch, I'll go and check it out. But give me updates."

"Fine, I got you covered."

He took the walkie talkie, torchlight and his pistol. In a few minutes, the door to Dr.Felix's office opened, he stepped through the door, he too backed the camera and faced the man who showed no concern towards his presence.

Steven walked deeper inside the room, seemingly he saw nothing. He then unclipped his walkie-talkie and spoke into it.

"There's no sign of anyone here. Over!" He said as his eyes scanned the entire room.

"He's right behind you." I shouted.

"I can't hear you. Speak up. It seems like there's interference."

He then turned to look at the security camera and spoke again. I wasn't able to read his lips. He turned and left the office, locking the door after himself.

The man didn't care, as he continued to pace, his hands were busy opening files and labels. There was something strange and disturbing about the way he moved, walking awkwardly with his hands vibrating. He glanced at each of the files. He was searching for something or someone.

Then Steven entered the surveillance room.

"Where did he go?" He asked me.

I hissed at him, then frowned. "Nowhere, he was right behind you, why did you leave?"

"What? Behind me? He wasn't there. Did he leave the office? And how?"

I turned back to the screen, and zoomed into the image with the help of my wireless mouse. The man turned and faced the camera. At that moment, I recognized him. He was one of those three bodies they rushed into the hospital today.

And now he's desperately in search of his body.



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13 comments
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That is a great story, horror without gore. The greatest power is in the mind, and you played on that well here. The reader knows Steven is not alone. This is the scheme in many horror movies where viewers want to scream at the screen, "Watch out!" You build the suspense, and fear, carefully. The last line is the best

And now he's desperately in search of his body.

Thank you for posting this well-crafted horror story in the Ink Well community. Please be sure to read the work of other writers in the community and share comments with them. We are urging everyone who posts in The Ink Well to take this step, going forward, to ensure our community members are supporting one another. (We also have this in The Ink Well community rules on our home page and in our weekly writing prompts.) Thank you! (And thank you for being a positive community member.)

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Thank you so so much for your support.
I'm grateful❤

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This is my kind of horror, @ubani. In my youth I was a fan of de Maupassant and Poe. Both of these authors were masters of horror, but there was little blood that flowed in their stories. They played upon the mind, and our instinctive fears. You do a good job of that here.

It was a pleasure reading the story.

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I'm glad i was able to bring back those good memories ❤

Thank you for your support.

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This is really creepy. The ghost of a dead man in search of his body.
Really creative.
This is a good work, i love it. Keep it up @ubani1

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Those who can see fear the most in every things they only can see. You gave us (the readers) to be thrilled by Steven going in that room. It was unexpected that the person was the one who died already. It became scary already when Steven went to that room you ended it with a revelation that made me afraid by seeing his face in the camera.

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😊😊 wow, i'm really amazed by how you slowly analyze my story.
Thank you so much for your support❤❤👌

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This is a thrilling story, @ubani. The setting is great - the almost mundane talk of security workers in a hospital who have to experience death every day. But then the odd character who enters becomes more bizarre by the moment. I had the chills when Steven entered the file room and couldn't see the man right behind him! Excellent horror story. Thank you for sharing your work in The Ink Well.

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Incredibly spooky! :-)
When the man was in the room and the dead man was right behind him, the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up! ha ha!

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😂😂😂. I set you in a state of fear 😂

I'm glad you enjoyed it

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The adrenaline was pumping! When they threatened to slice him open, I felt my blood pressure rise! 😅

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