death. He no longer seemed full of darkness, inhuman with unearthly powers. What I faced was now just a man, frail and full of fault.
I walked over to him and looked down at the man, this monster of monsters, directly responsible for all the evil that had been done.
"How many patients did you kill?" I asked him, kneeling down to look him in the eyes. I saw the little demons in those white orbs staring back at me defiantly.
"As many as I could," he mumbled, spitting blood out from between his lips. "I had as many people as possible committed to the Ward, so that the Tree might feast on them. After I learned that it could give me what I wanted, I made it my goal in life to keep it fed."
"Where did the Tree come from?" I asked.
He didn’t answer me for a moment and I thought he might be gone, eyes closing with death. But then they snapped wearily open again to look at me.
"Hell, probably. It was already here when I took over from Siegfried. Already leeching the life out of this place and sending its roots through the walls. I just gave it what Siegfried didn’t have the guts to..."
"Do you regret it?" I asked quietly, staring into his eyes, trying to find the answer as to why someone would do this.
He just coughed once more and laid his head back, eyes closing for the last time. There was a whispering sound like a deep sigh, on the very edge of my hearing. It was as if Atrium Psychiatric Ward itself was relieved at his passing, glad to be free.
I heard another sighing sound behind me, this one very much real. I turned to find myself face to beak with the Ethereal Vulture, who stood staring down at the Director’s corpse with a resigned expression on his face.
"Fool," he muttered, words aimed at the Director. "All of this, and you let a little girl beat you?"
"In his defense, I had help." I said to him.
The Ethereal Vulture turned to me, eyes doing that weird twinkling thing.
"Nillium Neems. You are a rather unexpected force to be reckoned with. I underestimated you."
I shrugged.
"I got lucky. But I’m too tired to stand here and banter. Are you going to kill me now, bird brain?"
He moved closer, almost beak to nose with me now.
"Tempting. But I did tell you that safe passage would be yours. You are free to leave Atrium, Nillium Neems. Don’t cross my path again, or I will be forced to deal with you personally. Go and lead a normal life."
He turned his back, floating away over the broken ground.
"Who are you?" I called after him. "What’s your part in the events that took place here?"
He didn’t answer, soon disappearing out of sight. I was too weak to follow him. And at this point, I decided it didn’t matter who he was.
I turned to look at the Director’s body once more, only to see it fading away. There was a small flash of light and a little pink rose appeared where he’d lain, emitting a cheerful glow of its own that brightened up the room. I reached out and touched one of the petals with my good arm, feeling the damp softness beneath my fingers, smooth like silk.
So much had happened here, and many good people had gone to rest. I smiled, figuring I had earned some rest myself, a long sleep, perhaps forever. After all I’d done, I surely deserved one...
For the final time, my Bookish Friend,
Nillium Neems, Out!
Day 1
Hi. My name is Nillium Amelia Neems. I am twelve years old. I’m rather hesitantly writing here, because today has been rather... eventful, and I need to get my thoughts down on paper. Even if what I’m about to write may seem a bit strange.
Anyways, I slept in a bit today, since it was a weekend and I had no school, and Mom thought it would be fun to have a yard sale. Yay... Not that we really need to get rid of stuff, she just decided it would be an entertaining way to spend the day. Mom’s weird sometimes.
So, I was sent upstairs to rummage for stuff in the attic, when I found myself surrounded by Bogey Men. Don’t worry just yet, they weren’t real. I suffer from what people like to call schizophrenia (supposedly), and sometimes I have these ‘mental attacks’ where weird stuff starts appearing. Usually I just wait it out.
As I sat there in the attic, waiting for the Bogey Men to go away, I took the opportunity to study what junk we might have that could possibly sell.
An old mattress, too small for me now, some cheapo writing desk, boxes and boxes of who knew what, and a deep blue-colored shelf. It was the shelf that interested me, for I didn’t remember ever seeing it.
Realizing the Bogey Men had disappeared, I wandered over to inspect this little blue shelf, which seemed remarkably dust free considering the other items in the attic. Four items sat on the shelf.
The first was a big, thick, leather-bound Bible. I plucked that one off right away. It would be nice to have a proper Bible as opposed to the little pocket one that I always carried with me when we went to church.
The second item on the shelf was a Nickel Pocket Watch, with a poem on the back. I twisted the little turn screw, and it started ticking away. That too I kept, stuffing it in a pocket.
The third item on this shelf, was a worn and beaten old Cap, a Charlie Brown one with Snoopy on it. My hands shook as I picked it up, and I’m really not sure why. I’d never seen it before. It was as if my hands knew what it was without any input at all from my brain. I placed it on my head and felt that’s where it belonged.
And the fourth, last, and most intriguing item was a small Journal. This Journal, that you have just read. I didn’t want to believe it myself, not until I’d read it through to the end. It was as if reading this opened a floodgate in my mind, gushing forth all those forgotten memories, of another time, another life.
For it was real. Believe me, I did research (after I got done panicking). I got on Dad’s computer in his office and Googled Atrium Psychiatric Ward. It was a place in Pennsylvania that burned down twelve years ago. Remember, I am twelve years old. The ruins of the Ward were closed and condemned. Countless bones were found there, creating a media-storm.
All kinds of dark rumors began to circulate as to what had gone on within those walls, but only one person living now knows the truth. Me. The Savior of Atrium Psychiatric Ward.
For my bravery there, it seems I was granted a shot at a normal life. Born again to start over, a normal kid in a normal place. Sunny San Diego California. I’ve always been a bit weird growing up, seemed to know a little more about life than I should, and now I know why.
I doubt I can ever be normal, but hey, maybe I can try. Memories of Atrium haunt me in my dreams, and that place will always be a part of me. I heard the ruins are soon to be plowed over to make a shopping mall. It won’t succeed. Atrium is forsaken ground now, not to be trifled with.
Well, my Bookish Friend, I had best draw this to a close. I hear Mom calling to me from downstairs, anxious to start the yard sale. Guess I have to get ready for another day of life. A life lived outside the walls of Atrium, lived as an ordinary, twelve year old kid.
It won’t last forever. That, somehow, I know within the Atrium of my own heart. All of my friends, Mousy, Siegfried, Jeremy... I expect I will see them again someday. I feel there are tasks left for me yet, unfinished business with the Tormentors. Memories intact, from another life.
Yes, someday. Not today, not tomorrow, but soon enough. Until that time, my Bookish Friend,
Nillium Amelia Neems, Out!
Author's Note
Enjoyed this book? Look for the upcoming part 2 in the series 'Nillium Neems and the Internet Killer'.
Keep up to date with everything Nillium Neems related at:
Website: www.franciscojruiz.com
Facebook: Francisco J Ruiz
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends