Dracula Book ©

Dr. Michael Roy's Personal Journal, August 12, 2004

This morning I went to Renfield's room at 6 AM, earlier than I knew he gets up. I was rewarded, because he was fast asleep. I actually wanted to be there when he woke up, to test a couple of my theories about his “sleepwalking” episodes. If is truly just having dreams, and he wakes up in the middle of one and tells me about it immediately, and I am there to witness him sleeping, then it is a fact that he is merely dreaming the midnight excursions, and the other patients are hallucinating.

Another theory of mine is that Renfield is actually walking around at night, and has somehow bribed one of the staff to let him out. And, if whoever this staff member is can be bribed to let Renfield out, then he cal also be bribed to let him into other patients' rooms. Now suppose that a patient, even one so dangerous as Mr. Patricks, wakes up in the middle of the night and sees Renfield in his room on his chest, then he will naturally be terrified, and I suppose that this sort of fear would even paralyze Patricks. One thing I have learned in my experience with the mentally ill is that most mental diseases accompany anxiety and fear, so that the mental patient is more easily frightened than most. And Patricks, with his horrible background, is probably more prone to fear than others. And if even our infamous Mr. Patricks the chopper is afraid of the lurking, nocturnal Renfield, then the other patients must be absolutely terrified.

These are my main theories, for the small window at the top of each cell is not only barred, but too small for a human to fit through. So either Renfield is actually getting out at night, or he is not. And of course I put no stock on the theory that some of the staff have postulated, that Renfield is leaving his room in spirit, and is some sort of evil, soul-sucking creature. That is absurd, and I expected better than that from my staff.

I gently shook Renfield, and he rose from his sleep as gently as a baby. He was even smiling distantly, and seemed at first to not recognize his surroundings. But then he spoke to me.

“Ah, good morning, Doctor.”

“Good morning, Mr. Renfield. Tell me, were you having one of your dreams again?”

“Dreams? Well not exactly. I had the dream earlier, probably about midnight, and then I fell asleep again and didn't dream any more. I feel really refreshed for once.”

“Good, good. Now are you positive that you were not just dreaming as I woke you up?”

“I swear it, Doctor!”

“Ok, ok. Well, sorry to bother you Renfield. Enjoy the day.”

My little test had really accomplished nothing. So, I decided to test my other theory with a few tricks. The hospital is old, and has a series of connecting hallways from wing to wing, designed so that the staff and doctors could travel privately, or safely, or so that a violent patient could be escorted as quickly as possible out of the general population. As luck would have it, one of these tunnels ended across from Renfield's door, and so tonight I've determined to stay in that hallway and observe through the window Renfield's door. If there is anything funny going on, I will catch it and make things right.

(later the same night)

I really do not know what to say. What happened tonight has defied reason, and yet I know there must be a reasonable explanation. I was in the hallway watching Renfield's door, when I heard a sort of whooshing sound from somewhere in the main hall. Because I was behind the door, I could not pinpoint the source, but it came generally from Renfield's direction. Well, I had turned around just for one second, to make sure no one was behind me, and when I turned back, there, through the window in the door, I clearly saw Renfield, dressed in a black robe, walking down the main hall! I was shocked, and I think my heart almost jumped into my throat, but I kept my cool and decided to follow him.

I stayed a safe distance behind, and I saw him rounding the corner towards Mr. Patricks room. I was very nervous, because if he really would enter that room, there could be major trouble. So, I thought I would try to restrain him myself. But when I turned the corner, not far after him, he was just gone. I peered into Patricks' room, and the only person in there was Mr. Patricks himself, sleeping the sound sleep of the murderer.

I ran back to Renfield's room, peered in, and saw Renfield sleeping as calmly as ever, in his night clothes. But I am sure the man in black was Renfield! I would bet my life on it. He has a very distinct torso and build, and walks with little steps. I really don't know what to make of all this, but tomorrow night I am going to set a bigger trap involving some of the staff. Also, if I am not putting her in danger, I am thinking of asking Lucy and her friend Carmella to join me from behind the locked door, to get Lucy's opinion. With the weirdness at the hospital and at my house, I feel like I am under attack from spirits! And yet I don't believe in ghosts and spirits. I am a scientist, and man of medicine, and I refuse to believe that all of this is anything other than natural. I am confident that some sort of tricks are being played on me, and I will get to the bottom of it.

Email:

from: carmellab@faculty.ou.edu
to: lucywash@paranormals.org
08.12.04
Emergency!

Oh Lucy I don't know what to do! Jonah emailed me saying he is in some sort of serious trouble! I can tell from the email that something horrible has happened. He said someone was coming for him! Lucy what do I do?? I called the American Embassy in Transylvania, but they said they couldn't do anything unless he contacted them. They said they can't just storm a castle. He is at some sort of castle oh lucy help me please!

Email:
from: lucywash@paranormals.org
to: carmellab@faculty.ou.edu
08.11.04
Re: Urgent

Carm, hold tight sweetie. I am coming over to your place RIGHT NOW. Don't go anywhere. We'll figure something out i promise i love you sweetie...just hold tight ok?

Lucy Washington's Journal, August 11, 2004

Geez today was hard. Poor Carmella. She emailed me and said that Jonah is in some sort of trouble in transylvania, and that he is in a bunch of danger. I called the american embassy transylvania and really let them have it, but they insisted that their hands were tied unless either Jonah or the us government contacts them. I called the fbi and the cia, but they said they couldn't do anything. Basically, we're screwed. But, I think I know just the person who can help us. I told carm that he will help us, that he owes me a favor from a long time ago.

Letter: Ms. Lucy Washington to Mr. De Tocqueville, c/o St. Peter's Cathedral, Jackson Square, New Orleans, Louisiana, August 11, 2004

Mr. De Tocqueville,

I wish that I could write you in better spirits. But something has happened, something bad, and my friend Carmella Burns is almost at the point of exhaustion from worrying. Her fiancé, Jonah West, is in Transylvania researching a book. He emailed her the other day and said that he was in bad trouble there, that someone was after him, and that she needed to call the American Embassy. We called them, but they said they can't help us unless either Jonah or the American government contacts them, and both are impossible.

De Tocqueville, you may not be crazy about me right now. Hell, I don't even blame you. The last time we parted, things were not so great. And I never like to recall favors. But this is my friend Carmella, and something is really, really wrong with Jonah. Lucy is my life, my soul, and we are linked cosmically. We love each other as best friends, and if anything happened to Jonah, well, Carmella would die one way or another. I just know it.

Well, I'm sure you remember that time in Haiti when I saved your life from the zombi. Remember that I had a vision that the witch was going to give you the poison. I am sure you remember, old friend. Do you also remember that you swore on your good name that you owed me your life, and the next time I ever needed anything, no matter the cost, you would do it? Well, De Tocqueville, I am calling in that favor now. Nothing is more important to me than finding and rescuing Jonah from whatever trouble he is in, and you are the only man I know who even has a chance of doing that.

You have my address. You know where I live. I will expect you soon. If I am not at home, just come to the office. We'll fill you in on everything. I look forward to seeing you again, though I am sure you don't feel the same. But a favor is a favor, and I love Carmella too much to let anything happen to Jonah.

Sincerely,

Lucy Washington

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