Run & Hide

by Brett Calhoun

  “They didn’t make it.” I answered behind sad eyes, “It’s just us, but I have the key to the exit, so I say we get out of here.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice!” Selena said, “I’ve been moving from hiding spot to hiding spot for what seems like hours! I was starting to lose hope.”

  “We’ll make it.” I smiled for what felt like the first time in an eternity, “Let’s go.”

  Selena was barely scratched compared to me, however her nice white pants were now thoroughly dirty with grime and her shirt had a torn sleeve. My blood was now on her as well since she had hugged me. We began to make our way to the stairs and I immediately realized just how tired I was. Selena was walking at a normal pace, but my pace was almost half her speed. She had to stop to make sure I was behind her several times. I now had to clutch my right arm to ease the pain as I walked. My teeth felt like they were permanently clenched in agony as well.

  Somehow we made it to the first floor. As soon as we went through the stairwell door red flags began to pop up in my mind. The air was colder than it had ever been before. I could easily see my breath and parts of the walls were covered in slight layers of frost. The lights were also out so it was difficult to see anything. I immediately thought of that one hunter with the night vision goggles, but I wasn’t sure if any hunters were currently stalking the first floor. The siren hadn’t gone off, but that didn’t mean anything. Lastly, a low hum was emanating from the loudspeakers throughout the first floor. It wasn’t particularly loud, but it was enough to be an annoyance.

  “I don’t like the look of things out here.” I cautioned Selena, “Be careful and stick together.”

  Selena quietly glanced at the blood trickling from my right arm and then nodded. We stayed low and made our way to the elevators first. There was no movement or noise of any kind. The elevators remained switched off so I was at least able to say that if the hunters were around they weren’t traveling to another floor. The blood trails from the elevators had become more distinct and fresh. I thought of Lee and Sal briefly but then shoved the thoughts from my mind. I was almost out of here.

  We crept down the main hall and arrived in front of the information desk. Everything was just as I remembered it. I strained my ears for any noises to indicate a trap and heard nothing. We approached the front doors again. I pulled the brass key from my pocket and saw that it looked like it would perfectly fit in the double doors’ old fashioned keyhole. I put the key in the lock and saw it would work.

  “Hey guys!” A voice said from behind.

  Both Selena and I turned to face the voice. Suddenly my world flipped upside down and chaos ensued. A gun went off four times. I watched three bullets rip into Selena. The first one hit her hip; the second hit her shoulder, and the final one smashed into her skull killing her instantly. She dropped like a rag doll. The final bullet slammed into my right leg. The pain was excruciating and it felt like getting hit with a sledge hammer. On instinct I dove over a barrier and hid.

  “Damn, sorry about that Michael.” The voice said with no hint of sympathy, “I meant to hit you in the head as well. I was never much good with a gun though you know.”

  I peered over the barrier and saw Mark standing in the darkened hall. His coat was smeared with blood and the smile he had on his face was something I knew I would never forget. He was holding a silver snub-nosed revolver with a pearl handle. Slung over his back was The Nihilist, my shotgun.

  “It doesn’t need to play out this way, Mark!” I shouted from behind the barrier, “We can both walk out of here alive and free. You don’t have to do this!”

  “Michael, you just don’t get it do you?” Mark said with a constant smile, “Didn’t you read my note? Only one of us gets out alive. That’s how the game works!”

  “This isn’t a fucking game!” I shouted angrily, “You just killed a person! What the fuck is wrong with you!? What did Selena ever do to you!?”

  “I couldn’t care less about the girl, you, or anyone else in this fucking place.” Mark suddenly spat back, “Only one walks out of here and that one is going to be me!”

  I said nothing in response. My mind raced for an option or ploy while my eyes darted around looking for anything I could use to my advantage. Unfortunately there was nothing in reach that I could use and all options seemed useless in the face of madness.

  “Ya know, Michael, I really have to give you credit though.” Mark stated as he unslung the shotgun from his back, “That’s why I’ve got a special gift for you. I’ll tell you who I am. My name is Marcus Sawyer. Ring any bells?”

  My mind flashed back to the newspaper clipping and the other documents I had come across and it suddenly dawned on me.

  “You murdered all those people by experimenting on them…” I growled as I clutched my bleeding leg.

  “That was in the name of science!” Dr. Sawyer spat before recomposing himself, “Ya see, I had quite the advantage in this hospital. Being a prior worker here I knew all the nooks and crannies to hide in from the freaks set loose in here. I figured I would just wait for everyone to get killed off before finding a way out of here, but you went above and beyond, Michael. You not only got me another weapon, you led the others to certain death and even brought me the key to the front door. If it weren’t for the fact I’m holding two guns right now I’d clap!”

  “You’re no different from the freaks running loose around here.” I replied.

  “You’re wrong, Michael.” Dr. Sawyer said with a gentle shake of his head as he took a step closer to my hiding place, “I’m a survivor! I’m smarter than the rest of you and I’m willing to do what I need to do to walk out of this place!”

  I didn’t say anything in response at first. I knew I was probably going to die, but I wouldn’t go out quietly like Barbara or begging for mercy like Clark. I was going to die on my own two feet like a man. I stood up and faced the mad scientist.

  “Okay,” I shrugged, “You say whatever you want to make yourself feel better. That doesn’t change what you are.”

  “I’m going to give you a choice before you die, Michael.” Dr. Sawyer as he brandished the shotgun and revolver, “Which one of these do you want me to kill you with? The revolver would be less messy, but after all the effort you put into getting this shotgun I almost feel like it would be a shame not to get any use from it.”

  Suddenly Patrick appeared from the darkness and leapt onto Dr. Sawyer’s back causing him to fall flat on his face. The shotgun fell from his hands and skidded off into the darkness.

  “Gonna eat your soul!” Patrick snarled before he bit deeply into Dr. Sawyer’s upper shoulder.

  Dr. Sawyer and Patrick rolled around on the ground clawing and hitting each other in any way they could. Patrick bit deeply into his hand and spat out a chunk of flesh as Dr. Sawyer screamed in agony. Dr. Sawyer attempted to pull Patrick off his back however the vile psychopath remained latched on for dear life. Patrick punched Dr. Sawyer in the side of the head causing him to accidentally fire the revolver he held into the ground. The bullet punched into the floor and cracked one of the ground’s tiles.

  Somehow Dr. Sawyer managed to get back on his feet with Patrick still on him. Patrick wrapped his arms around the doctor’s throat and attempted to strangle him. Sawyer fought him and hit him but Patrick would not let go. The life began to drain from Sawyer’s body as he fell to his knees and blood clouded his eyes. With one last attempt at survival Dr. Sawyer raised the revolver behind his head and fired one shot blindly. The bullet struck Patrick in the temple and blew his brains out all over the information desk. Patrick fell lifelessly from Dr. Sawyer.

  Sawyer clutched his throat and gasped for air while resting on his knees. He looked at Patrick’s corpse briefly before whipping his eyes around for me.

  “WHERE ARE YOU!?” Sawyer screamed out into the darkness.

  “Right here.” I said as I emerged from the shadows.

  I limped straight toward him. Sawyer saw The Nihilist was in my han
d and immediately raised his weapon at me. He pulled the trigger however the only thing that issued from his revolver was a metallic click.

  “No more bullets, asshole.” I stated as I continued to limp toward him.

  Sawyer pulled the trigger three more times with no more success than the last. He held the gun up to his face and saw that I was right. What little color that was left in Sawyer’s face drained quickly. His eyes darted around and then landed on me. I recognized the look in his eyes well. It was the same look that Lee, Barbara, Clark, Sal, Ricky, and Selena had had since we’d come to this hospital.

  “N-Now wait a second, Mike.” Sawyer stammered as he raised his arms out in submission, “We can talk this out. It doesn’t need to be like this ya know?”

  “I’m afraid it does, doctor.” I replied as all the hate and anger filled my soul

  “IT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO END LIKE THIS!” Sawyer began to scream hysterically, “I WAS SUPPOSED TO WIN!”

  “Not this time.” I said as I booted Sawyer onto his back with my good leg.

  “NO!” Sawyer shouted raising his hands up again.

  “This game is over,” I said as I pointed the shotgun at his face, “and you lose.”

  Sawyer screamed right before I pulled the trigger. The shotgun kicked hard into my already injured right shoulder. Sawyer’s face exploded into a cloud of red mist and mangled tissue. When I looked down there was nothing left to even resemble Sawyer’s face.

  I took a deep breath and let the carnage and psychosis wash over me. I looked over at Patrick and saw his eyes were still open even though he was dead. I didn’t feel sorry for him at all. Even in death the monster’s eyes radiated madness. Seeing Selena almost made me just as sad as when Lee had died though. I hadn’t known Selena well and I had barely spent much time with her in Saint Thomas More’s Grand Hospital, but to me, she felt like the last good thing left in the building before she died. Her eyes were open as well and they stared deeply at me almost as if they were begging me for an answer as to why things had come down to this. I had no answer for her. I could not help her anymore; I couldn’t help anyone anymore really. Despite this thought though, I walked over to her body and closed her eyes.

  Chapter Ten: The Light at the end of the tunnel

  As I closed Selena’s eyes I saw something out of the corner of my eye by Patrick’s body. I walked over to his corpse and saw a manila folder pinned to the inside of his vest with a safety pin. Patrick’s body was covered in blood and grime, but I managed to unfasten the pin and pull the folder from his body. The exterior of the folder was covered in Patrick’s slimy blood, but the insides were still mostly clean. Two documents were inside the folder. One was a military looking document while the other was a black and white surveillance photo of me at a meeting with a bunch of men from South America. I didn’t recognize any of the people from the picture and barely recognized myself. I was dressed casually and had a cigar in my mouth. I was wearing a pair of shiny metallic sunglasses and seemed to be smiling in the photo. I turned back to the military document.

  (U) IIR 7 556 2043 84/OPERATION JUNGLE CASTLE – US Army Counter Intelligence Mole Meets with Panamanian Foreign Intelligence Service

  (SECRET//NOFORN) Executive Summary: REDACTED

  (SECRET//NOFORN) Text: A. SFC Michael ((Callahan)) met with an unknown Panamanian Foreign Intelligence Service ((FIS)) on 6/24/1984 to disclose information regarding current informants within the Panamanian government and Medellin Cartel that are cooperating with the United States Intelligence Community (see attachment A). As a sign of good faith, Callahan has already disclosed three identities at an earlier unknown date. In return for cooperation Callahan is receiving payments in unknown amounts of US currency and the promise of providing a safe haven to Callahan in Colombia once he is no longer able to pass on further intelligence.

  (SECRET//NOFORN) B. Callahan is scheduled to meet with Panamanian general Manuel ((Noriega)) on 8/7/1984. Callahan and Noriega will discuss current US Intelligence operations currently in Panama. (Source Comment: I don’t know which operations will be discussed).

  The rest of the document was redacted. I looked back at the surveillance photo and remembered what Lee had said to me. We all deserved to be here. I swore to protect my country and instead I gave up everything for cash and a safe house in Colombia. I crumpled up the documents in disgust and tossed them back into the darkness. I didn’t even want to think about my actions. Pain in my arm jolted me back to the present and I remembered needing to escape for what it would be worth.

  I looked at the front door to the hospital and saw the key was still in the lock. I limped over to the door and turned the lock. I pleasant and beautiful clack came from the lock to signify it was unlocked. I didn’t know what I was going to face outside these doors, but I was done with this hospital. I was done with the murder, the fear, the dark, and especially the madness. I pushed the doors open and saw that they opened into a long dark tunnel. Cameras were even in the tunnel but I had long stopped caring about them. With Patrick gone there would be no one to look at them.

  I slowly made my way through the dark tunnel. There was a light at the end of it. Was I dead? Had I finally succumbed to my wounds? I didn’t think so, because I could hear loud upbeat music playing ahead. I could hear a buzzing sound ahead as well, different from what I had heard in the first floor of the hospital. A black tarp was draped over the exit of the tunnel. I gripped the Nihilist tightly in my right hand and pushed my way through.

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,” a magnified voice broadcasted, “I GIVE YOU THE SEASON SEVEN WINNER OF RUN & HIDE: MICHAEL CALLAHAN!”

  I had to be hallucinating. There was no way what I was seeing was real. It couldn’t be.

  I found myself on a purple and white stage with bright lights lined up along apathway. On either side of me were throngs of cheering people. They were all dressed in attractive clothing and screaming with satisfaction. Some of them held signs like “GO TEAM MICHAEL!” and “LEE WAS MY FAVE!” Large video cameras pointed at me from several directions and cameras flashed in my face. People, closest to where I stood, shoved colorful pieces of paper in my direction and pleaded for my autograph and shouted with glee.

  I looked forward and saw a well-tanned man wearing a white and blue suit waving me over from across the platform. His teeth were shiny white and his hair was white as snow and yet extremely youthful looking. His gold watch shined brightly in the cameras’ light and the large purple-tinted sunglasses he wore made him look like a movie star.

  I limped over to the man and looked him in the face.

  “So, Michael, I’m sure you’ve got a lot of questions,” The man said between smiles, “but we’ve got a question for you first.”

  “Sure go ahead,” I replied figuring I was probably on some type of hallucinogenic trip, “I’ll tell you whatever you want to hear, although I have to admit I’m kind of disappointed my subconscious couldn’t dream up something crazier looking than you.”

  “Ha, ha, ha, there’s that wit of yours!” The announcer remarked as the crowd burst into laughter, “So the question we have then is how it feels to be out of that hospital?”

  “I’m still in it, you damn mirage.” I snarled, “Can you punch me or something so I can wake up?”

  “Oh, Michael, I assure you that we, and everything else here, is very real.” The man responded with a serious expression at last.

  I shook my head in disbelief and looked at the crowd. I saw a large pink sign that a color picture of Sal and next to his picture it said “SAL’S MY HERO!”

  “Michael, let me explain something to you.” The announcer said delicately as he put a well-manicured hand on my shoulder, “Everything you experienced and saw in that hospital was a big game. All those guys with the masks and weapons that hunted you are employees of our company, along with the others you encountered on the thirteenth floor, third floor, and basement floor. We’ve filmed Sal’s, Barbara’s, Selena’s, Lee’s, Clark’s, Mark’s, Ri
cky’s, and your adventures in that building. In return for risking your lives, the eight of you all volunteered to play this game and in return, if you survived, your criminal records would be expunged and you would be granted freedom.”

  “T-That’s crazy!” I said with complete skepticism while shaking my head, “There’s no way!”

  “But it is!” The announcer smiled as he produced a waiver with my signature on it, “It’s always hard for the winner to come to terms with the truth, but I’m not lying to you. Right, folks?”

  The crowd roared in agreement and continued to wave at me. I looked down at the document held in the announcer’s hand.

  IMichael Callahan hereby waiveSandbox Entertainment Studios its officers and employees from any liability of injury, loss of life, or damage to personal property associated with participating in the Run & Hide show.

  IMichael Callahan consent to have my person and voice be recorded and aired publicly on national media forums and herby waive any and all profits that will be made from filming my person and voice.

  IMichael Callahan hereby consent to have my memory altered/partially erased to qualify for the Run & Hide show.

  I understand and acknowledge that if I win the competition my criminal record will be expunged both by the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Defense, I will be required to undergo a minimum of six months of psychiatric treatment, and exactly $20,000.00 will be placed in my bank account upon satisfactory completion of said psychiatric treatment.

  IMichael Callahan acknowledge that I have volunteered to participate in the Run & Hide show and that I was in no way coerced or tricked into participating.

  IMichael Callahan acknowledge that I understand the waiver described in this document. Waiver is made to the maximum extent permissible under the laws of the Department of Justice and Department of Defense within the United States of America. I acknowledge that I have signed this document under my own free will.