The Nightmare Grows
Chapter 3
The next day, there was no difference to Anastasia’s mental condition.
She was moved from my house and taken back to the Doctors lab.
But it didn’t make a difference. Anastasia still stared blankly into the abyss, ignoring everything around her.
Her wounds were healing steadily. And she skin was growing back to its natural colour.
But there were other issues about Annie’s physical condition as well as her mental condition that were concerning the Doctor.
“I knew it.” The Doctor announced.
“What? Knew what?” Emma asked nervously.
“Hypothermia.”
“Hypo what?” I puzzled (In a town of the dead, there’s no such thing. But these children aren’t dead).
“Hypothermia. It’s when the body temperature of a living organism get’s to low. Annie’s immune system is heavily damaged. There’s a significant decrease in white blood cells and the flu virus has played trick or treat at Annie’s door. That’s what happens when a living organism has spent so long outside in that condition.”
“If she’s got flu then shouldn’t she be, well, acting a little more ill than she’s acting right now?” Emma questioned.
“That’s the second part to that problem. With the mental condition Annie’s in she won’t respond to anything. Not even pain.” The Doctor explained.
“Then we’ve got to help her condition. Is there anything we can do, Doctor?” I ask. I was just as concerned for Annie as Emma.
“Talking to her will help an awful lot.” The Doctor began. “We need to know what happened to her last night. Whatever happened to her that night has caused this condition. If we ask Annie if she can remember then maybe we can find out what caused this so that I can reverse it.”
“You really think that will work?” Questioned Emma.
“Oh she of little faith.” I proclaimed.
“You should never doubt anything the Doctor says, Emma. He’s a...”
“I know, I know. He’s ‘quite a genius’.” Emma mimicked.
“Well the sooner we start this plan the sooner our problems will be over. I Think we should start right away.” I suggested.
“For once, I totally agree with you.”
I headed for the lab door.
The Doctor wheeled over to me and Emma and followed us out of the door.
We walked down the Sally’s old room where Sally, Benjamin and his Benny Bear were watching Annie and keeping an eye on her condition.
“What’s wong with Annie, Sally?” Benjamin politely asked.
“Well, she’s...she’s.” Sally searched for a way to explain so that Benjamin would understand.
“She asleep and she can’t wake up.”
“If she’s asweep why isn’t she laying down?”
“It’s a different type of sleep.”
“Like sweep walking?”
“Yes, like sleep walking.”
Benjamin got up to his feet and put his arms out in front of him. He then started marching across the room saying:
“I’m sweep walking. I’m Hankenstein.”
“I think you mean Frankenstein, Benjamin.” Benny Bear corrected.
Sally smiled at Benjamin’s daft impression.
However this time, she couldn’t laugh.
She was too worried for Annie to be feeling too joyful.
But help was on its way when Emma came running into the room.
“Sally, the Doctor’s thought of a way we can get Annie to come round. All we have to do is talk to her.”
“But Emma we’ve tried.” Sally doubted.
“We need to talk to her about what happened last night.” I improved Emma’s explanation as I too entered the room.
“We need to know what happened.” The Doctor put clear in little words.
So, when everyone was in the room, the attempt to wake Annie began.
The Doctor was the first one to try.
He wheeled over to the mesmerized child.
“Now Annie, I want you to listen to me very carefully.” The Doctor began. “I want you to think back to the night when you disappeared. I want you to think about what happened when we weren’t there. Imagine this in your mind. Picture yourself in your room, where you were, how you where...”
Little did anyone know, Annie Rose was doing just that.
Annie still remained silent.
A few seconds went by.
“It’s not working.” Emma sighed.
But then, I saw Annie’s hand twitch.
“Look.” I whispered.
At least there was some response to the Doctors attempt to wake her.
I then noticed Annie’s breathing getting heavier.
She was also sweating on her forehead.
Her breathing gradually got faster.
“Doctor what’s happening?” Emma urgently asked.
I saw Annie’s hands trembling.
Tears then started rolling down her face.
“Doctor!?” Emma cried.
I began to worry, really worry about what was happening to Anastasia.
And then, after trembling, sweating, gasping and crying, Annie let out a blood curdling scream.
“Aaarhhh!”
“Annie!” Sally cried. “Annie what’s wrong?” She tried to comfort her.
Annie then practically fell of the bed.
She screamed and sobbed and cried uncontrollably.
“Annie!” Emma cried and almost bearing tears herself.
Benjamin covered his ears.
“Benny Bear, what’s wrong with her?” He asked worryingly.
“I don’t know, Benjamin.”
Annie’s face was red from hysterically screaming.
“Annie, it’s alright. It’s ok.” I came to where she was sobbing on the floor.
“Annie.” I tried to help her up.
As I did so, she clung onto me while she got to her knees.
She leaned and clung to me as she continued cry.
I hugged her back and tried to calm her down.
“It’s ok, Annie. It’s alright.” I comforted her as she cried on my shoulder.
Though I would later now of why she cried, at that moment I was deeply concerned. Whatever made her cry like that must have been more than just fear.
I knew that I must know what had done this to her. Whatever had done this to Anastasia I would find them out.
But it wasn’t over for Anastasia. She still had illnesses that she’d picked up from being out in the cold all night. She still needed to recover from them.
However, recovering from hypothermia and a flu were still the least of her problems. Little did I know at the time, but there was a lot more to fear than I imagined.
