Josh regained consciousness with the sound of a respiratory machine in his ears and the constant hum and noise one could only find within the wall of a hospital, this particular hospital's name is St Michael’s Hospital, a place Josh knew all too well thanks to his now weekly sessions with Dr Meredith the only therapist within twenty miles of Hartwood.
Josh made to sit up, when he heard the worried voice of his mother just beyond the privacy screen, “what do you mean you don’t know when he will wake up!” “I mean what I said Miss Rowe your son has sustained a large amount of blunt force trauma, there is no sign of a being in a comma, his body simply needs to process the ordeal it has been through”. “Oh and what about the person that but my boy through this ordeal? What is being done about him?” “That isn’t my job to deal with, but we both know how this will play out”.
Getting up Josh pushed his way past the thin sheet, to see his mother nearing tears and a tall dark skinned man in a doctor’s coat talking, Elizabeth Rowe looked just as beaten as when they spoke in the kitchen, Josh grit his teeth in frustration he couldn’t help but think that this town was slowly killing his mother, and Josh wasn’t doing a thing to help, she should be in work right now, but instead she’s here, because of him, if she lost her job because of him running his mouth Josh wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.
Clearing his throat Josh said “Mum I’m fine you should head back to work and I will sort all this out and clean myself up for work” they both looked over to Josh at his words, the tears his Mother had been holding back finally fell at the sight of her oldest son, beaten black and blue still with dried blood matting his hair into clumps. The doctor walked over to Josh hands out as though to steady Josh “you shouldn’t be out of bed just yet son, now that your awake I would like to run you through a few tests to make sure you didn’t receive any internal damage”.
“Don’t!” Josh snapped at the doctor “don’t call me son, trust me you don’t want the baggage that comes with that” Josh said softening his voice slightly so as not to seem completely unhinged, after all this doctor didn’t know his family history and didn’t deserve the drama that came along with it. “My bad Josh I didn’t mean to offend you, but I am serious about those tests”.
“Look I’m fine okay I am up and moving no slurred speak and I’m not wobbling all over the place, there isn’t any need for the tests I feel fine, but there is a need for me to go to work tonight, the dead tend not to bury themselves after al” Josh said trying to make a joke out of his predicament because if he did anything other than pretend that this new job was going to be a piece of cake, he thought he might just break down right here right now, and he would likely never see the outside of this hospital, in that case, a strait jacket would make opening doors quite tricky Josh thought.
“Well I can’t force the tests on you and you are over eighteen, so it is your decision, however, I will stress the importance of these tests one last time, you may feel alright right now, but there could be quite a bit of internal damage I’ve seen patients just like you walk out without a care in the world, thinking themselves immortal, to only wind up back here in the morgue because it was too late to help,” the doctor said aiming his last words at Elizabeth in the hope that the boy’s mother would listen even if he didn’t want to, and talk some sense into him.
Biting her lip in indecision she looked between the well-intentioned doctor and her stubborn son, eyes settling on the doctor she said “Please if you could give us a few minutes to talk, it would be appreciated”, “sure why not, I’ve said what I have to say I can’t force him either way, just remember what I said, missing one day of work isn’t life or death, but ignoring this might well be”.
Turning to go back into the modest privacy provided by the bed and partition, a wave of dizziness hit Josh mid-stride making him miss a step and stumble so slightly that he was sure his mum wouldn’t have seen his bodies betrayal, he knew how serious it could be if he did in fact have internal bleed of some sort but, he also knew that the doctor was wrong about one thing.
Elizabeth Rowe followed behind her eldest son, the spitting image of his Father no matter how much he tried to deny it, she did what countless mothers before her had done and examined her child for any hint of a lie or trick, which is why even worn and weary as she was her keen eyes saw it when Josh stumbled, her heart beat picking up panicked thoughts running rampant through her mind, she also saw that he tried his best to hide his weakness from her, to not let his pain show.
Hearing his mother’s footsteps following close behind past all the noises of the hospital, that mindless chatter and constant beeping from lifesaving machines working tirelessly and the squeak of constant shoes, doctors shoes who are working just as tirelessly to save people, that in the end will only thank God that they live to see another day and not even give a second thought to the hours of work and effort people put in so that they could live to be ungrateful, Josh truly hated hospitals, this used to be one of his father’s favourite places to score some extra cash, taking advantage of the sick and dying, pretending to bring salvation when in fact all that man dealt in was despair and misery.
Josh span to face his mother the sour thoughts coating his words in venom, “he doesn’t know a thing, not life or death, really? I guess he’s never had to choose between paying the bills and having a home or eating, people like him think life is so simple, I bet once he leaves here despite how sincere his words are, he won’t give us poor people a second thought as he walks into his warm home, a feast waiting for him on the table. These people will never know what it really means to be us, somebody should teach what being on the other side feels like”.
With a look of deep sadness Elizabeth looked her son in his eyes, “you know I used to know a man that had that exact same thought, good intentions don’t always equal good deeds, it’s fine to feel like life is unfair and that you pulled the short straw, but don’t think that you are the only victim of life, nobody is spared from its cruelty.” Flinching at the implied words left unsaid, Josh refused to back down, he’d been doing that too much lately, and it was getting harder to do each time.
“On yeah it sure looks like he drew the short straw alongside us, I bet he will be crying his eyes out while driving home in his Lamborghini” Josh would have kept running his mouth on the unfairness of life, but to the surprise of both of them, the sound of Josh’s mother’s open hand smacking into her son’s face managed to stop the rant before it really started to pick up steam. “You know what Josh yes Dr Richards does own a Lamborghini, and your right I’m sure he never has to worry about where his next meal comes from” Elizabeth said.
“But do you know why? It’s not simply because he was so lucky to get a well-paying job, let’s just ignore the time and effort I’m sure he put into getting to where he has in his career, the reason he doesn’t ever think about where his next meal is coming from is because he couldn’t care less, the reason he has so much money to burn, is because ever since his wife passed away and he was unable to save her, the only thing he’s been able to care about is this job, he is the only doctor here, to be refused overtime, because otherwise, he would never leave this hellish place, he lives and breathes his work.”
Stunned hand pressed to the throbbing pain in his cheek all Josh could say was “I didn’t know about his wife”. “I know I’m sorry sweetie I shouldn’t have hit you, I’m sorry there’s no way you could have known any of that, it’s just he is one of the few men in this town who is actually trying to change this place for the better, he has made helping people his life obsession, and to hear you demonise his struggles and efforts really set me off, I’m sorry”. “No mum that was my fault I’m sorry I let my words get away from me, I know he was just trying to help, but I promise I’m okay I just want to leave and get ready for work, it’s probably just the thought of what I will be doing putting me on edge”.
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Internally Josh winced at the half-truth, but if a little pity and guilt stopped his mother from prying about his health or what ended him up in here in the first place, then that was a prince he was willing to pay, he had already inconvenience her enough, and likely cost her a good amount of her wage today, her boss could be ruthless when it came to deducting pay. Not to mention Josh refused to lose another Job, not this time, they could not afford for him to be unemployed any more, things were tight already, another month of late payments and they will be on the street for sure.
“Are you sure, if you think there is anything wrong then you’d tell me right your health is more important than some part-time job, I don’t mind picking up another shift or two if needs be, you don’t need to worry about money right now” Elizabeth said knowing full well that there was not enough time in the day to pick up another shift she was already only getting four hours of sleep each day. Every fibre of her being hoped that Josh would smile and say everything was fine, as his mother she could not force him to go into work if he thought something might be wrong, but if he said he was all good, and then she had no choice but to believe him right? Elizabeth hated herself for feeling this way, but it was true that they could not afford for Josh not to get this Job.
As though he could read her thoughts, Josh smiled and said with absolute certainty “I promise mum everything is fine” those six words broke Elizabeth sprit even more, she knew it was a lie, but she couldn’t help but be thankful to Josh for his sacrifice, she swore to herself to keep an eye on him, and no matter what if he showed any sign of injury to bring him straight back for Dr Richard to examine regardless of anything else. She made this promise to herself knowing full well that she was barley home enough to see her children for more than a few minutes here and there each day. A tear ran down her face as she smiled and said “great let’s get you all signed out and ready for your first shift then, you will need something to eat before work, it will be a long night after all.”
“Alright, that should about do it, any questions kid?” Said Benny the fat disgustingly rude alcoholic who just so happens to be Josh’s new boss, it was all Josh could do to hold in the grimace at the man’s smell, a sickly tangy mix of sweat and stale beer. Josh knew life wasn’t like the movies and that he wasn’t going to find the Father figure he had always lacked in Benny but still would it have been too much to ask for at least a decent male role model, Josh knew his life was sourly lacking in that department.
“Nope it’s all pretty easy so far, dig holes deep enough and wide enough,” Josh said in answer to Benny’s glazed expecting stare, “whatever smartarse just don’t screw up, because it’s me who will have to clean your messes, and the only reason you’ve even got this job is because I don’t want to do the work anymore, don’t forget that”.
Frowning at the man, Josh didn’t know if he should curse Benny for being a lazy good for nothing, or thank him after all he wasn’t wrong Josh only got the job because Benny didn’t want to have to keep up with the increase in deaths around town, before the last few months, he had it pretty easy, maybe a death a month if that the rest of the time he sat around wasting the town's taxes.
“Actually Benny” Josh said trying to not pull a face while saying the name “I do have a small question” “oh and what’s that college boy?” “How exactly am I supposed to dig the graves you haven’t shown me how to use the machinery” Josh said guesting over to the big yellow digger, which someone had lovingly spray painted the name Tulip on.
“Ah well I’m technically not licenced to teach you how to use that, but you’re a smart one aren’t you college boy I’m sure you can figure it out, if not then I can always get you a shovel, the old fashioned way might help you look less like a skeleton yourself, I mean seriously kid when you walked in I thought the end times was upon us, and the dead had decided to rise and put me out of my misery. I take it you’ve not heard of a tan before either” Benny said laughing as he walk way head shaking.
“Damn him” Josh muttered under his breath so as not to lose his wonderful new job, Josh thought back to what Benny had said looking around past the grave stones, there were no markers for a new grave site just yet, since the official word weather or not the newly deceased from the recent attack will be getting buried or cremated, so all there was for Josh to do for tonight at least was walk around and tidy the graves up if any are in need.
Sighing Josh mentally prepared himself for a boring night of walking around grave sites and avoiding Benny. Three hours into his five-hour shift Josh was really starting to feel the time, The last he checked it had just turned twelve in the morning, with only two more hours to go. Josh wasn’t sure his body would be capable of keeping to this new schedule, college four days a week and work three nights a week from ten until three in the morning, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays good thing he had no social life to speak of because it would have to of been put on the back burner otherwise.
Fighting a yawn Josh bent to pick up a crippled and discarded bear can from the side of a grave, Josh stiffened the uncomfortable feeling of eyes on him making him uneasy, standing and doing a quick look around for Benny only now realising just how alone he actually was in the middle of the night standing in a grave yard, Josh couldn’t help but chuckle “calm down Rowe the only monsters in this world are people, don’t get all spooked now”.
Though it could easily have been the wind Josh swore he heard a light chime like a laugh from somewhere in the impenetrable darkness, following Josh’s weak attempt at bolstering his confidence. The sound sent a shiver up his spine and not just because it was unbelievably creepy, but because there was something almost familiar in the sound though Josh couldn’t place it.
“Seriously alone for three hours and I’m already going crazy” Josh said out loud trying to laugh off the uneasy feeling. Deciding to focus on work to keep his mind occupied, Josh came across a rather recent grave site the soil only having been disturbed a month ago. The Grave stone read Janet Cooper, Janet was a woman a few years older than Josh and she had it even rougher, because despite Janet being just as well off as Josh meaning as poor as could be, she had the looks of a model, which meant every guy in this town thought that they could buy her with gifts and bribes, until they were done with her.
Shaking his head at the poor way Janet ended up, Josh felt that familiar warmth of anger though Josh and Janet were never that close, her death was a prime example of how the others saw people like Josh and Janet, she was meant to meet a guy in the woods a weekend camping trip apparently, but the guy never showed he was too busy with his girlfriend that weekend, which left poor Janet alone in the woods, when whatever wild animal that has moved to Hartwood found her.
For three months now this wild animal has been using Hartwood as its hunting ground, just the thought of it had Josh peering into every shadow and patch of darkness expecting to see a beast's eyes staring back. No one knew what kind of animal it was, Josh had seen its handy work first hand. That was the reason this job existed since no one knew what it was, no one knew how many more would die, meaning that Hartwood’s mortality rate was about to skyrocket.
Pushing the dark thoughts out yet again, with a show of mental willpower, Josh cleared the small vase of dead flowers from Janet’s grave, all that her Father could afford to spare for his deceased daughter, after all Janet was the oldest of five siblings. There was rarely a penny to spare on none essentials in that family, which made it clear why despite hating herself for it Janet kept accepting gifts and presents from interested men, because that all went straight to feeding her family, any expensive gift was sold by the next day to make sure that her brothers and sisters didn’t grow up weak and starved.
Josh somehow managed to get through the last two hours of his shift not seeing a single sign of Benny anywhere, the old drunk was probably somewhere sleeping off a hangover or causing one, Josh thought chuckling if he saw Benny he’d be sure to excitedly and loudly talk him through all of the events of the night, that would serve the man right, just because Josh was here now didn’t mean he can just give up on all of his duties, it’s a wonder he gets away with this kind of thing, though it’s not like anyone was lining up to take his job after all.
