Dracula Book ©

Email:
from: carmellab@faculty.uc.edu
to: lucywash@paranormals.org
08.07.04
subject: hi from carmella

Luce: hey. How are you? Are you getting any business yet at the Paranormal Investigation Society? I have to say, when you first told me about your plans to start this sort of thing, I was suspicious. You know I do not believe in those things...well, can you blame me? lol I mean, after all, I am suppose to be some sort of scholar, though you know I am as silly and goofy as I always was. Actually, I wish I could believe in ghosts and things, but I just find it hard to believe but you know, the whole physics thing, the tenure and such might make it difficult for me to convince my colleagues lol...but seriously, have you got any business? I would love to hear about it. Oh, Jonah emailed, but that was a couple days ago, and he didn't call like he said he would try to. Should I be worried? I dunno, I guess he's just busy, but I'm busy too you know. Oh well...I just wish he would call. He's supposed to be home pretty soon though. Ok, well, let me know how the business is going. I am interested, all joking aside. See you later, Carmella.

Email:
from: lucywash@paranormals.org
to: carmellab@faculty.uc.edu
08.08.04
subject: abnormal paranormal

Hey Carm: What's up? So, believe it or not (à la Ripley's), i got my first case! it's finally confirming what i always believed...that there are things out there that we cannot explain, but that are just as real as the sun and the moon..remember even quantum physicists, like you (hehe) admit the possibility of parallel or alternative dimensions, but anyway i am rambling let me tell you about the case. basically, a man (a good looking man, but that's another story :), a certain Dr. Michael Roy, who works at a long-term psychiatric hospital, came into the office (and you've seen the office, definitely unprofessional right now due to lack of money) and was very nice. he said that he just moved into a new house in mount adams, right on belvedere, up near the church you know...you probably know the house, it's on the left as you look uphill, the big dark stone one with the sort of foreboding fence. anyway since he moved in last week, he has been having some VERY strange experiences, noises and footsteps and stuff, and a book even fell off the shelf right in front of him! yeah, i know what miss scientist is thinking...books fall off shelves lol, but what about the noises...just house settling? maybe so, but that's what i hope to find out! since he is rich (obviously, living on the hill), he's going to pay the full fee! a few (hundred) more like him, and i might actually be able to pay the rent on the office lol...so, on another topic, i am sensing some very disturbing vibes from your last email, especially about jonah. i think we need to meet in person and talk about this, cuz i have some thoughts that i simply must share with you. can we meet at that café i love in mount lookout? how about tomorrow, about 2 pm? See ya, Luce

--Email:
from: carmellab@faculty.uc.edu
to: lucywash@paranormals.org
08.08.04
subject: coffee

Will do. See you tomorrow, Carm

Jonah West's Journal, August 6, 2004

I am so thankful that I have been able to keep my journal with me, for the events of this day and this night have been more than remarkable, and to not relay them in written form would be a crime. Let me commence at the beginning.

I stopped at the library at about six o'clock, the Baron's gathering having been set for eight. I found Sjeklia laboring over some records, and she did not even notice my entrance. I coughed, and she was startled, but when she saw me her face was illuminated. I felt relieved, after our rather awkward departure this morning. She must have felt the same way.

“Jonah! I so sorry for argue this morning! I glad to see you now.”

“I, too, am sorry. I know the night must have been..awkward for you, but that is no reason to argue. I hate to bring this up, Sjeklia, but the Baron's party is in two hours, and I have determined to go. Have you changed your mind about going?”

“Jonah, I know to go to castle is death, is bad evil. You not knowing this man, this country. Jonah, Transylvania not like America.”

“But he is having many people there tonight! Surely he cannot murder us all and hide it? Why, all the guests could simply overpower him if he even tried such a thing.” I was, of course, being absurd, but I found this ridiculous vampire superstition equally absurd.

“So I decide, Jonah, if you to castle must, then I go with, because you cannot die alone, to be so sad. I to die with you.”

“Sjeklia, this makes me very happy. If I can prove to just one of your countrymen that there is nothing but ancient superstition about the Baron, then I shall have accomplished much to bring the great country of Transylvania into the Modern Age. So, shall you finish up your work, and then shall we go?”

“Ok. Not feeling good for this, but if I die, then I die. Give me few minutes.”

Dr. Michael Roy's Personal Medical Journal, August 7, 2004

Made usual rounds today. Saw ten patients: Mr. Blangs, Mr. Berry, Ms. Genton, Mrs. Long, Mr. Dufois, Ms. Casey, Mr. Moque, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Renfield, in that order. Note: patients suffer from, in the order of their names: Paranoia-Schizophrenia, Classical Schizophrenia, Severe Mania, Suicidal Depression, Dementia, Catatonia, Classical Schizophrenia, Severe Paranoia, Severe Bi-Polar Disorder, Megalomaniacal Delusional Paranoia. Notes follow:

Blangs: vital signs within normal limits; not taking medication for past week; believes that I and other staff are, in his words, “robots bent on stealing his brain;” forced him to swallow his medication; 200mg Seraquell daily; gave orders to staff to continue to force medication; barely coherent today, but not violent; believes he has a wife, which he does not; exam otherwise within normal limits

Berry: vital signs within normal limits; not taking medication for past three days; has been hiding medication between mattress and springs; forced him to swallow his medication; 150mg Seraquell daily; delusions actually lessened, but hallucinations increased; believes he sees shadow people stalking him in his room at night; assured him that his room is inaccessible, but no luck; passive, not violent, took exercise today; exam otherwise within normal limits

Genton: vital signs within normal limits, but heartrate slightly elevated at 110; arrived in room and Ms. Genton was completely naked and masturbating; she saw me and claimed to be God; she assaulted me, requiring staff assistance and restraint; placed her in restraint bed for the day until she calms down; clothed her of course; has been taking medication; 250mg Lithium daily; will have to increase dosage, considering 300mg daily; mania not responding well to Lithium, considering changing prescription to Lamictal 300mg daily; not to self: reread literature on Lamictal; could not complete physical exam due to her violence

Long: vital signs within normal limits except breathrate, which was unduly low at 15; placed her on oxygen for two hours; breathrate returned to normal rate of 40; said she had not slept in three days, asked me to prescribe a hypnotic; prescribed Ativan/Lorazepam 50mg to be given prn; talked to her about her suicidal feelings; she said that they have returned in full force, but insisted she had been taking medication regularly; 400mg Zoloft XR daily; considering changing to Effexor XR; asked her if she would understand if I placed her under suicide watch, she said she understood and was very nice about it; explained that it was for her own good, she understood; she is a very compliant and sweet patient, and pulls at my heart in a way the others do not; exam otherwise within normal limits

Dufois: vital signs within normal limits; found him sitting in chair naked, had staff dress him; tried talking to him, he was very disoriented and confused; asked him standard ten evaluation questions, he answered three correctly; he thought Johnson was president; could not name his wife; I examined him very intensely to check for pain, as the poor man could not even communicate pain if he had it; not tender on palpation of abdomen; bedsore on back; scolded staff about turning him more often; prescribed 150mg Cephalexin/Keflex daily until bedsore is clear, as well as topical triple antibiotic; instructed staff to give him 25mg Valium/Diazepam prn for pain; talked to D.O.N. Donavan and strictly instructed her to see to Mr. Dufois more carefully; bedsores are never warranted; she agreed to keep a more careful eye on staff; exam otherwise within normal limits

Casey: vital signs retarded slightly; temperature 98.2; breathrate 30; heartrate 50; Ms. Casey is still severely catatonic; left arm is held horizontally straight out from torso; eyes exhibit glassy stare; very little pupil dilation; body fairly pliable, but stiffness is present; no response at all to external stimuli; instructed staff to massage legs and arms to increase blood flow; hygiene excellent, praised staff; note to self: order C.A.T. scan at hospital for next week to monitor brainwave activity; exam otherwise within normal limits for catatonic patient

Moque: vital signs within normal limits; has been taking medication; 225mg Seraquell daily; was relatively lucid and calm; no hallucinations or delusions reported; hygiene good; slight distortions in thought patterns, but well within normal limits for medicated schizophrenia; he said something odd of which I must make note, and I quote him verbatim because I made him repeat it: “Renfield is dangerous and has been talking about the dark lord and his return, and has spoken of plans to murder the entire staff and residency of the hospital; he has also been walking around my room at night” note to self: cross-examine Renfield and notify staff of increased security; I am very pleased with Mr. Moque; he is a model patient and is very compliant and pleasant for all he is going through; he requested a day's chaperoned leave, and I readily granted it; I believe that more fresh air and more exposure to society will only help him; of all my patients, I believe that Mr. Moque has the greatest chance of returning to society in time; exam otherwise within normal limits; advised him to watch his weight, at which he laughed

Montgomery: vital signs within normal limits except raised heartrate, explainable by his bout of paranoia; claims he has been taking his medication, 50mg Ativan/Lorazepam daily, but I have reason to doubt him; paranoia has increased; he cannot sit still for a moment but is constantly pacing his room; he speaks very rapidly, and his eyes are wide and fearful; note to self: consider changing medications, research literature on paranoia; halfway through my examination he became absolutely panicked and in extreme fear; he began to scream and corner himself; I instructed the staff to give him an IM injection of 10ml Valium to calm him down, which it did; while sedated, I asked him about the source of his fear; he claims that Renfield has been visiting him at night and sucking air from his mouth; I explained to him the impossibility of that, but he insisted that he saw the dark figure in his room nightly; I did not argue, but instructed the staff to continue with the injections every two hours for the next day, and to increase the dosage of his regular medication by 5mg daily; note to self: consider psychotherapy with Mr. Montgomery; the poor man is destroying himself; exam otherwise within normal limits

Jackson: vital signs within normal limits; patient is very compliant, and has been taking his medications dutifully; 300mg Effexor XR and 200mg Lamictal daily; his bi-polar is all but non-existent; he has no problem with taking medication; says he has never felt better; I am considering releasing him in three months if he continues his regimen this well; he has never been violent or abusive, and has always been compliant; during our discussion, Mr. Jackson asked if he might speak to me frankly, and I told him that he should always feel comfortable doing just that; in a very calm, logical, and very convincing manner, he told me that Renfield has been wandering the halls at night and staring into his room; he said that Renfield appears overly pale with dark eyes and an overly red mouth when he appears in this manner; Jackson begged me not to think he is “crazy,” but insisted that this was the truth; given that this was the third such report, I told him that I believed him, which I do, and went out immediately to question Renfield; Jackson's exam was completely within normal limits

Renfield:

Here I will depart from my notational style because of the queer nature of Renfield's examination. I asked Jim, a staff technician, to accompany me to Renfield's door and to keep an eye on the interview, in case there was a problem. Now Jim is six and a half feet tall and weighs two-hundred and fifty pounds, and is all muscle, and so I always used him when I was dealing with a violent or questionable patient.

As we approached Renfield's room in Ward Six, which is the violent ward, we heard him screaming in strange syllables and throwing himself against the walls. Renfield, like all of the six-warders as they were called, lived in a padded room to protect his own safety. They were also not allowed into the general population except when proved trustworthy. Renfield was generally trustworthy, and so I allowed him to mix with the rest of the patients. His room is fairly standard, and had all of the furniture of the other rooms. The only times that a room is stripped bare is when a patient is constantly violent and either suicidal or homicidal. At this time, there is only one such patient, a certain Mr. Patricks, who suffered a head injury when he was a boy, and was convicted of seven murders by the courts and sentenced to life in our institution.

It seems our friend Mr. Patricks had a particular taste and appetite for the flesh and organs of young women, and I need not say more. He is indeed a serial killer and, while at first seeming calm, cool, and collected, is known to pounce upon staff in an instant, with the mannerism of a lion leaping upon his prey. He once even bit a nurse's finger off before we could stop him, and after that he was committed to the padded cell without any furniture or furnishings, both for his own safety, and for our safety. I am afraid that Mr. Patricks is now hard-wired for murder and violence, and though it pains me to see any man treated like an animal, he is certainly closer to animal than man, and operates by instinct. The only comfort I have allowed Patricks in his room, for I cannot bare for him to see nothing but white walls, is a small, red, rubber ball. There is no way that I can even imagine that Patricks could harm himself or anyone else with a red, rubber ball, and I have seen him tossing the ball about gleefully. Ah, my heart breaks for the poor man. He almost never leaves his cell, and has no contact with any of the other patients. I know that he is a murderer and has caused great pain to other people, but he is a human being, and his poor life... But on to Renfield.

Renfield is an odd little man. He is short, maybe five feet and eight inches, and slightly stocky, although not obese or even fat. He is bald and has squinty little eyes. A phrenologist would have had a field day with Renfield. His mannerism is that of constant hiding and manipulation, and he often rubs his hands together and looks sideways at the staff, as if he is in the middle of some great plot. He suffers from Megalomania, and believes that he is the world's greatest genius, and that he can manipulate everyone. I must admit, he is indeed very intelligent. I once gave him an IQ test just out of curiosity, and he scored a 150, which is genius. But he believes he is even smarter than that, and has told me of his plans to conquer the world. He also attempts to manipulate people, and although he has succeeded with some of the, shall I say, more gullible and less intelligent staff, he is not able to control and manipulate me, but I pretend not to notice to draw his thoughts out.

Renfield is not only a megalomaniac, but also suffers from Delusional Paranoia, and so is constantly convinced that everyone in the hospital, and particularly the other patients, are plotting against him, and so he guards himself well and is venomous with the other patients. However, to Renfield's credit, I must admit that, in his seven years of commitment here, he has only acted violently once, and that was when an inexperienced nurse tried to physically restrain him after Renfield had begun a verbal argument with another patient. That nurse did not know Renfield, and did not understand that verbal arguments were his daily habit, and that he had never been out of line physically. Well, he had made quick work of the nurse, striking him in the face and pinning him to the ground in just a few seconds, but when he had the nurse pinned down, Renfield did nothing but look at him curiously. I can forgive Renfield that one violent attack because someone who is paranoid and physically assaulted is only acting instinctively and out of fear, and not out of hatred or violence. Other than this incident, Renfield has never so much as threatened a fly, and I do not believe that physical violence is in his nature. I am careful to instruct the staff to restrain Renfield verbally and not physically, and if they follow that simple rule, Renfield is always compliant, though he may huff and mutter, but he always obeys orders from the staff. I do not dislike Renfield, and I wish,for his sake, that he could have had a normal brain, for someone with his intelligence and cunning might have made a good lawyer or politician or businessman.

Well today, as Jim and I got within perhaps twenty feet from his door, the screaming stopped at once, as if he could sense us. Indeed he could, for he called out in a pleasant, booming voice, “Why hello doctor! I am pleased that you have decided to pay me a visit.” Renfield always had a way of sensing my approach, and I am still not sure exactly how he does it, for even if I creep up silently, he knows. I have theorized that he has an elevated sense of smell, but that is just a conjecture. There must be some way that he perceives me.

We opened his door after checking through the gated slat that he was not threatening, and found him sitting at his desk, which was piled with papers. We try to let patients have as many comforts as they wish, so long as they do not misuse them or demonstrate violence, and so Renfield, after having earned my trust through the years, was allowed pens, ink, paper, diaries, and many other comforts. I have no problem with this as long as Renfield continues to be a good patient.

I told Jim to wait outside the door, so as not to arouse suspicion or distrust in Renfield, and I asked his permission to sit in his chair. I have learned that to respect the privacy of patients, and to treat them like real human beings and not freaks, will greatly improve relations. Too many psychiatric doctors see these patients as crazy, and do not remember that they suffer from physical and chemical abnormalities of the brain. These people do not choose to be mentally ill, and would gladly trade lives with anyone with a normal brain, and so I always remember to view them as sick and not as sub-human.

“Good day to you, Renfield my friend. How goes it?”

“Hello doctor. How nice to see you. I was just writing some things down.”

“Hmm. I see. It sounded like you were also screaming. Is something the matter? Can I help you with anything?”

He chuckled deep within. “I apologize for the screaming, doctor. I was merely in the throes of the muse, of my artistic endeavors. I have taken up poetry, you know.”

“Yes I know, and you write very well, Renfield. But, the screaming is excessive, don't you think?”

“Is there a rule here against screaming while writing poetry?”

“Well, I suppose there is not.” I laughed good-naturedly. “I suppose you have me there, my friend. So, how do you feel today? May I check your temperature, pulse, and breathrate? There. Ok, your vitals look normal Renfield. In fact, you are in pretty good health you old codger.”

Renfield laughed. I tried to keep him on friendly relations to gain his trust, as I did with most of my patients. I saw no reason that they should view me as a cold doctor instead of a helping friend.

“So Renfield, have you been taking your medications every day?”

“As always, doctor, as always.” I believed him, for he has a history of taking all medications as instructed.

“Good man. And they seem to be working?”

“I suppose so. The hallucinations have almost stopped completely, and my poetry is certainly more clear since I started the new medicine.”

“Great Renfield! I am very, very glad to hear that. This is great improvement. So tell me, have there been any side effects that you've noticed?”

At this question, he looked towards the ground uncomfortably and shifted in his seat.

“What is it, Renfield? Have there been side effects? Tell me please, and we can adjust the medications so that you don't have to suffer side effects. What has been the problem?”

“Well, doctor, there have been some..some very strange and disturbing dreams.”

“I see. Nightmares and such?”

“Well, yes. Very persistent and realistic nightmares, doctor. Very disturbing indeed.”

His small eyes drifted off.

“Well Renfield, the truth is that nightmares are listed as one of the possible side effects of this medication, but they are supposed to go away after about two weeks, and it has already been one week. But, I don't want to see you suffer. However, this medication seems to work so well for your illness. Hmm. What to do? What to do? How about this, Renfield. These dreams should last only about another week, if that. In the meantime, I can give you a strong hypnotic, a sleeping pill as they say, that will knock you out all night without dreams. After a week, we can taper off, and then the dreams should be gone. How's that sound?”

“No, doctor! Why would you do that? Why would you take away the dreams?”

“But Renfield, you told me that the dreams were nightmares, that they were disturbing!”

“But I never said I did not enjoy them, doctor.” He grinned thinly and his teeth, brown from a life of bad oral hygiene, seemed to mock me.

“You..you enjoy the nightmares?”

“I must confess that I do, doctor. They give me power, and might, and control. I can influence people while out of this small cell.”

“Out of the cell? Are you leaving your cell, Renfield?” I asked, quite startled.

“No, doctor. I leave it only in my dreams.”

“Why don't you describe one of these dreams to me, Renfield? I think that would help me to know how to help you.”

“Very well. I do not mind. Most of the dreams are the same. I arise from my bed, and I am cloaked in black. I see colors and textures much more clearly, more fluidly. I am able to pass through walls and doors, and so I leave my room and walk the halls. I have left the institution also and walked in the forest, but I am frightened out there, frightened of the one I know awaits me. I walk the halls, and I enter into the rooms of other patients, and I do not think they can see me. I lie down by them, and press my face to theirs, and suck their souls from their mouths. I am then strong, very strong, and I return to my bed feeling alive and powerful.”

“I see. Most interesting Renfield.” I was already developing a theory in my mind. Renfield had told the others of these dreams, and the others, especially those with paranoiac delusions, believe they see him at night. It made sense.

“And, Renfield, whom have you told about these dreams except me?”

“No one, doctor!” He looked at me almost as a child, quite sincere.

“Are you sure, Renfield?”

“Positive. I have told no one, lest they think me crazy and mistreat me. I want no trouble from anyone here.”

“I know you don't, and you will have no trouble as long as you continue to be such a good patient. And these dreams seem very real you say?”

“Very real.”

“Tell me whose rooms you have entered into?” He gave me a long list of patients, but the most curious was Mr. Patricks.

“You have entered Mr. Patrick's room in your sleep, Renfield? But I thought you were scared of Patricks because of what he did.”

“I am scared of him, doctor, but not in my sleep, for in my sleep I am powerful and dark, and he is scared of me when I am sucking out his soul, his power.”

I thought of a quick experiment, for I knew as a positive fact that Renfield had never entered nor seen the inside of Patricks' room, and that Renfield avoided it at all cost because he feared Patricks greatly. There is absolutely no way that Renfield would have any idea of the red ball in Patricks' room, because no patient ever went near enough to the room to even see in, and I do not allow Patricks to take his ball out with him on his rare excursions. Moreover, when he is allowed a brief excursion, it is always in a straight-jacket, with the company of three strong, male nurses, and only for a short walk around the garden after it is cleared of all other people. When he is out, we issue a code orange over the loudspeakers, and everyone is required to clear out of the entire sixth ward until we announce that they may return.

“So tell me, Renfield. When you visit Mr. Patricks' room, what does it look like?”

His head turned towards mine quickly, and his eyes opened wide. There was a Mona-Lisa-smile on his lips, and I realized that he knew I was testing him, for he is clever indeed.

“There is Mr. Patricks, and a red, rubber ball.”

continued...