Maniac on the Loose

by Steve Hudgins

  MANIAC ON THE LOOSE

  By

  Steve Hudgins

  Copyright © 2018 Steve Hudgins

  All rights reserved

  CHAPTER 1

  WEDNESDAY

  Early Morning

  MADISONVILLE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

  John Bromley sits on his bed in his chilly room, looking out the small window.

  His head turns when he hears the door to his room being unlocked. It’s unusually early for any of the doctors to be visiting him.

  He stares at the door for a moment expecting someone to enter, but nobody does.

  He listens, expecting to hear the squeak of the door opening.

  Silence.

  John rises from his bed. He notices that the door is slightly ajar.

  He quickly shuffles through his mind as to why someone would unlock and open his door. The most likely scenario is that the psychopathic head of security is baiting him, daring him to leave his room to justify a beating.

  John, ever so slowly pushes the door open enough to ease his head out and assess the situation.

  He’s shocked.

  The long hallway is quiet. No security. No other patients. The only sign of life is a doctor standing at the far end of the hall apparently filling out some paperwork.

  The doctor quickly finishes up and turns the corner.

  This is John’s chance.

  He rapidly exits his room and moves swiftly down the hallway.

  Before his mind can even begin calculating how to escape from the secure floor, he notices a block of wood holding the stairwell door open.

  John wastes no time and hurries down the empty stairwell. He slows when he reaches the ground floor.

  Normally this door would also be locked and guarded, but today is different. No guard, and again, another block of wood holding the door open.

  John slowly moves to the door and pushes it opens slightly, just enough to see how many people are in the hall.

  The only person John sees is a young, janitor sweeping. The janitor pauses for a moment, causing the hair on John’s neck to rise. If the janitor spots him, he’ll have no chance.

  The janitor renders John’s concern irrelevant as he continues up the hallway allowing John to sprint to the side entrance, unnoticed.

  The door should have security, but it doesn’t.

  It should be locked, but it isn’t.

  Serial Killer, John Bromley is on the loose.

  CHAPTER 2

  FRIDAY

  Early Afternoon

  Melissa, a woman in her late 20’s, athletically built and sporting short brown hair looks into the bathroom mirror. She applies lip gloss and rehearses to her reflection.

  MELISSA: Hi Alex, my name is Melissa.

  (Pause)

  Hello Alex, nice to meet you, I’m Melissa.

  Melissa exits her house smiling and enters her car.

  She begins driving and turns on the radio. A funky song plays, fitting for her mood as she drives through downtown Madisonville, Kentucky. The music is abruptly silenced by a booming voice.

  RADIO ANNOUNCER: We interrupt this broadcast to bring you this special report. A patient described as extremely dangerous may have escaped from the Madisonville Psychiatric Hospital two days ago according to an anonymous tip. Hospital officials have released no information and WMAD is still trying to confirm details. So far we have had no luck reaching Dr. Franklin Grimm, the director of the hospital for comment. Our experts recommend that if you see or have seen anyone behaving strangely or wearing hospital patient attire, contact local authorities immediately.

  Melissa looks down at the radio and adjusts the volume. As she raises her head she gasps and slams on the breaks.

  Her car stops inches from a large, shaggy looking man in an oversized black jacket.

  The strange man doesn’t react. He simply stares emotionless at Melissa through the windshield.

  Melissa catches her breath as the man slowly walks to the driver’s side window. Melissa, blood boiling, quickly rolls down her window.

  MELISSA: What the hell were you doing? I could have just killed you!

  The man bends down and grabs the side of the door as he stares at Melissa with icy eyes. Melissa looks down at the radio again.

  RADIO ANNOUNCER: To repeat, a patient described as extremely dangerous has reportedly escaped from the Madisonville Psychiatric Hospital though that information has not yet been confirmed.

  Melissa looks back up at the cold stare of the man and immediately steps on the gas.

  As she peels away from him, she peers back into her rear view mirror to see what the man is doing. He is merely standing, watching as she drives away.

  CHAPTER 3

  FRIDAY

  Early Afternoon

  Dr. Franklin Grimm sits in his office at the Madisonville Psychiatric Hospital with his phone to his ear. His nervous eyes dart around as his mind races. He is in his late 50’s with dark hair and bushy eyebrows. Frustration flows over his long face.

  DR. GRIMM: Call me just as soon as you get this message.

  He hangs up the phone, gathers a stack of files from his desk and quickly exits his office to his secretary’s adjoining office.

  His secretary, Gloria, immediately bombards him.

  GLORIA: Dr. Grimm, I know you said to hold all of your calls, but…..

  DR. GRIMM: No, no, no, I don’t have any time! I have to go!

  GLORIA: I know that’s what you said, but….

  DR. GRIMM: No! Don’t even start, I…uh…did the head of security call?

  GLORIA: You mean Ski Mask?

  Dr. Grimm rolls his eyes.

  DR. GRIMM: Yes, Ski Mask.

  GLORIA: Well what do you call him when you talk to him?

  Dr. Grimm pauses for a moment.

  DR. GRIMM: Ski Mask.

  (Pause)

  Did he call?

  GLORIA: He’s on vacation this week isn’t he?

  Dr. Grimm is losing his patience.

  DR. GRIMM: Yes, I know he’s on vacation, but did he call?

  GLORIA: No.

  DR. GRIMM: Good, let me know if he does.

  Dr. Grimm turns and opens the door to exit the room but freezes when he sees Dr. Lewis, one of his head doctors. She is walking down the hall with two of her underlings.

  DR. LEWIS: I can’t believe it.

  UNDERLING: Me neither.

  DR. LEWIS: Have you seen Dr. Grimm?

  UNDERLING: I don’t think he’s here today.

  A Dr. Grimm duck back into the office and shuts the door behind him.

  GLORIA: What is it?

  DR. GRIMM: If anyone sees me, I’ll never get out of here!

  The door opens and Dr. Clark, a man in his early 50’s and Dr. Grimm’s second in command, begins casually walking into the office.

  Dr. Grimm pulls him in and quickly shuts the door.

  DR. CLARK: Dr. Grimm, I need to talk to you.

  DR. GRIMM: I’m on my way out!

  DR. CLARK: You can’t leave yet, we need to talk.

  DR. GRIMM: I’m on my way out. We’ll talk tomorrow.

  DR. CLARK: Tomorrow will be too late! The situation is such that…

  DR. GRIMM: You’re supposed to be in Dawson Springs, aren’t you?

  DR. CLARK: My talents are being wasted in Dawson Springs!

  DR. GRIMM: Tomorrow doctor, tomorrow, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.

  Dr. Grimm turns to leave and accidentally drops all of the folders onto the floor.

  DR. GRIMM: Dammit!

  He bends down and begins fumbling for the files. Dr. Clark attempts to help him, but Dr. Grimm gathers them up before he can be of much assistance. Dr. Grimm rises and reaches for the door.

 
DR. CLARK: You’ve got to hear my complaints sooner or later!

  DR. GRIMM: Tomorrow!

  Dr. Grimm rushes out into the hall as a frustrated Dr. Clark runs his hand over his grey mustache and takes in a deep breath.

  CHAPTER 4

  FRIDAY

  Early Afternoon

  Melissa pulls into the driveway. Before exiting her vehicle she double checks the address on a piece of paper to make sure it’s correct. Sure enough, it is.

  She exits the car and stands staring at the large, white, Victorian style house.

  It is very well kept, like an oversized dollhouse.

  Definitely not at all what she expected.

  She takes in a nervous breath and walks down the pathway to the front door. She takes in another breath and knocks.

  There is no immediate answer. After several seconds, she knocks again.

  The door opens quickly. A tall man in his late 30’s with brown hair and matching goatee stands in the doorway. His untucked, greyish-blue work-type shirt matches his menacing eyes. The top few buttons of the shirt are undone revealing the light tan t-shirt he wears underneath. His eyebrows are furrowed and he looks annoyed. He stares at Melissa, but doesn’t speak.

  MELISSA: Is Alex home?

  THE MAN: Alex?

  MELISSA: Yeah, I have a date with him. Actually, I’m running about ten minutes late. Is he here?

  A sly smile breaks the stone expression of the man.

  THE MAN: You must be Melissa.

  (Pause)

  Come on in.

  As Melissa enters, the man takes a nice look at her ass. Melissa senses this, briefly stops and looks back at him. The man smiles at her. A slightly reluctant Melissa enters the house. The man looks back outside and takes a quick look around the area before moving inside and shutting the door.

  Melissa stands in the foyer. The man walks to her. He stares at her and says nothing.

  MELISSA: So is Alex home?

  The man speaks with no emotion.

  THE MAN: He had to go out.

  MELISSA: Because I’m actually running late and he said he’d be here all ready to go.

  THE MAN: He should be back soon.

  MELISSA: So, where did he go?

  THE MAN: It’s not my place to say.

  MELISSA: Oh, c’mon.

  (Pause)

  Well, how long ago did he leave?

  THE MAN: About fifteen minutes ago.

  MELISSA: And you won’t tell me where he went?

  The man shakes his head and then looks Melissa up and down as she speaks.

  MELISSA: Look this is a blind date, I’m already running late as it is and when I get here my date is already gone? And he left before I was even supposed to show? And you’re not going to tell me what was so important that he’d just stand me up?

  THE MAN: He’s not standing you up.

  MELISSA: He’ll be here soon?

  THE MAN: He should be.

  Melissa takes a breath and looks around.

  MELISSA: This is weird, but I’ll wait for a minute.

  She steps into the living room and takes a seat on the couch.

  The man grabs a nearby stool and sits it close to Melissa. A bit too close. He sits down and says nothing. He simply stares at Melissa.

  Melissa breaks the uncomfortable silence.

  MELISSA: Well, you know I’m Melissa, but I don’t know your name. So, what’s your name? What should I call you?

  THE MAN: Those are two different questions.

  MELISSA: Huh?

  THE MAN: You asked me what my name was and then you asked me what you should call me. Those are two different questions.

  (Pause)

  I’ll answer the second one.

  The man looks away from Melissa as he ponders, he then smiles and looks back at her.

  THE MAN: You can call me, Max.

  MELISSA: Max?

  MAX: Yeah, that’ll work.

  He breaks his stare from her eyes and gazes down at her breasts. He smirks and begins slowly sliding his tongue over the top row of his teeth.

  MELISSA: Okay, this is too weird, I’m leaving.

  She gets up moves toward the door.

  Max rushes past her and blocks her way.

  MAX: No, no, no, don’t go.

  MELISSA: Get out of my way!

  MAX: Don’t go! He’ll be back.

  MELISSA: Well then tell me where he went!

  MAX: To the store.

  MELISSA: For what?

  Max says nothing.

  MELISSA: Look, you’d better tell me what he went to the store for or you better get out of my way so I can leave!

  Max says nothing and he doesn’t move.

  MELISSA: Okay, let me put it this way. If you don’t get out of my way I’m going to take my knee and ram your balls up through your skull!

  MAX: Deodorant!

  MELISSA: What?

  MAX: He was getting ready for your date and realized he was out. He ran to the store to get some deodorant.

  MELISSA: Deodorant.

  MAX: Deodorant. So if you want to leave, go right ahead!

  (He moves aside and gestures toward the door)

  If you want to stay and wait for him, he shouldn’t be much longer. It’s your choice.

  Melissa contemplates for a few seconds.

  MELISSA: I’ll give him another minute.

  MAX: Okay.

  Melissa walks back to the couch and sits down.

  MAX: Where are my manners?

  Max bends down over the back part of the couch and begins caressing the cushions.

  MAX: Can I get you anything while you wait?

  MELISSA: I’ll take something cold if you join me.

  Max flashes an eerie smile at her and exits into the kitchen.

  Melissa looks around the elaborately decorated living room. She sees a stack of magazines on the coffee table in front of her, reaches down and begins to leaf through them.

  The top two are Log Home Living and Log Home Illustrated. She pauses when she sees the third one in the stack. Bra Busters, featuring a woman on the cover who is fitting of that description. She looks at the next two under that, Naked Divas and Dirty.

  She quickly restacks the magazines, puts them back as they were and nonchalantly begins looking around the room again.

  In the Kitchen, Max turns on the faucet and fills two glasses with tap water. He walks back toward the living room but stops before he enters. He peers around the corner to see Melissa, still waiting and looking around. He takes Melissa’s glass of water, brings it close to his mouth and licks the entire outer rim. For good measure he licks the inner rim as well. He then walks casually back into the living room and immediately hands the licked glass to her.

  MAX: That’s good water. Go ahead, drink up.

  Melissa moves the glass close to her mouth, but stops when she notices the fireplace across from her.

  MELISSA: Is that a working fireplace?

  MAX: Yeah, other than the fact that it doesn’t have a damper.

  MELISSA: Damper?

  Max turns away from Melissa and stares at the fireplace as he speaks.

  MAX: It’s the thing that you open when you’re burning a fire so the smoke goes out the chimney. Then you close it when you’re not burning so you don’t lose any heat. It also keeps animals out. Birds and such.

  MELISSA: I guess I don’t know much about fireplaces. They’re pretty though.

  MAX: I like the flames. They remind me of a bunch of tongues, licking at the wood.

  He smiles again, that same sleazy smile.

  MELISSA: So, do you live here with Alex?

  MAX: No. How’s that water?

  She raises the glass toward her mouth.

  Max licks his lips in anticipation as the glass gets closer and closer. Max’s expression appears slightly orgasmic as her lips finally touch the very rim that he had licked and she takes a drink.

  MELISSA: Good, how’s yours?

  Max looks sat
isfied as he picks up his glass.

  MAX: So how’d you meet Alex?

  MELISSA: Over the internet.

  Max sits his glass back down and gives Melissa a perplexed look.

  MAX: The internet? You have to be careful with that stuff, there are a lot of nuts out there on those computers!

  MELISSA: I’m not worried. Alex seems like a perfect gentleman.

  MAX: So you meet some stranger over the computer and you come to his house? And you said this is a blind date, so you don’t even know what he looks like.

  MELISSA: That’s right.

  MAX: Not so smart if you ask me.

  MELISSA: For our first in person meeting we decided to meet for coffee in public, early in the day, wouldn’t you say that’s safe?