Sample Chapter from Origins Book 3

With just a little over a month to go until the release of Origins: Reformation, I though I would give the followers of this blog another sneak peek. Enjoy

DR. JEFFREY HOLMES found himself alone inside Henderson Home Psychiatric facility during the dark hours of early morning. The prior evening his brother Mark called to inform him that his new patient, Hastelloy, presented a serious threat to his safety.

Jeffrey trusted his brother’s judgment implicitly. What’s more, he knew Mark worked for the government in some sort of security capacity that required a high level clearance. Still, Jeffrey couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He had spent two whole days with the patient over the last week and was quite certain he had an accurate measure of the man. The only thing dangerous about Hastelloy, that he could tell, was the man’s intellect and rapier wit.

Hastelloy’s delusion of being an immortal alien trapped on this planet while fighting to prevent the evil species Alpha from conquering the planet was only harmful to himself, not those around him.

Against his better judgment, Jeffrey followed his brother’s instructions. He phoned his wife to take the kids to a hotel for a few days and then spent the night on his couch in the office. Mark assured him adequate protection was already here. Henderson Home was the safest place for him to stay.

The stabbing pain in Jeffrey’s back from laying on the overly plush couch all night let him know that the added safety did come at a price. Unable to fall back asleep because of his stiff back, Dr. Holmes sat up and rose to his feet.

He still wore his navy-blue dress shirt and khaki slacks from the day before, but his tie lay unknotted on the coffee table in front of him. He bent at the waist and arched his spine upward and drew a rapid fire popping of his joints moving back into proper alignment.

Jeffrey felt his mouth run dry so he stepped out into the hallway in search of a water fountain; closing the office door behind him. The long, dark corridor with doors on either side every fifteen feet had a haunting silence about it. The deep red lighting cast upon the white industrial tiled hallway by the illuminated exit signs on either side did nothing to alleviate his anxiety. It took very little imagination to picture himself just outside the gates of hell waiting for the devil to arrive and pass judgment over him.

Dr. Holmes forced his childish fear of the dark aside and headed toward the cafeteria water fountain at the far end of the hall. Midway down the corridor he saw a shape step out of the shadows. As the figure stepped under the dimly lit exit sign overhead, a devilish hue brought Hastelloy’s features to light and Jeffrey felt a gush of ice water flood his veins.

Hastelloy said nothing. The man simply paced toward Dr. Holmes as if on a casual evening stroll. Jeffrey found himself instinctively stepping backwards from the patient approaching with an air of indifference.

Just when Jeffrey was about to call for Terry, or whatever orderly was on duty this time of night, a door slammed open from behind Dr. Holmes. He about wet himself as he whirled around to see the culprit and found it was his brother Mark. This wasn’t the lighthearted brother he knew and loved. There was a primal anger in him that Jeffrey had not seen in his brother since the last time he tried to ride Mark’s bicycle without permission when they were toddlers.

Mark pulled a gun out from behind his back, aimed a two-handed grip at Hastelloy, and silently stalked his way toward Dr. Holmes; never letting his aim waiver. Hastelloy’s only response was to quietly raise his palms up to shoulder height in surrender.

When Mark reached Jeffrey’s side, he motioned with his head back toward the office door. Slow and in step like ballroom dancers, the two floated ever closer to the closed door. At the same time Hastelloy paced forward, still with hands raised, to maintain the same threatening proximity to Jeffrey and his brother.

Jeffrey nervously fumbled around with the door handle until finally it turned allowing the door to open and reveal the familiar confines of his private chambers. Mark stepped through the doorway first and Jeffrey moved to follow but was held back. Jeffrey glanced behind to find Hastelloy his shoulders with an iron grip. Jeffrey faced forward once more to enlist the help of his brother but jumped backwards at the sight of a snarling rabid dog lunging for his throat.

Dr. Holmes sat up on his couch with a start. He looked around the room to find himself alone in his office breathing heavy from the intensity of his dream. Jeffrey had tossed and turned all night with anxiety about spending the night away from his wife and kids. He must have finally relaxed enough to fall asleep.

Faint rays of orange and red light were peeking through the tall narrow window in the middle of the far wall to let him know dawn was approaching. Jeffrey finished rubbing the last remnants of sleep out of his eyes on the way to his desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out a fresh tie and affixed it around his neck. At least one part of his wardrobe would be fresh for the day; perhaps no one would even notice the wrinkly mess that was the rest of his ensemble.

A knock at the door was soon followed by the welcome sight of his secretary, Tara, entering with a piping hot cup of coffee in her hands.

“Morning boss, nice tie,” Tara said with a set of raised eyebrows.

Dang it.

Tara was not one to let such things slide by without comment. “I saw your car in the lot when I pulled in and thought I would bring you a cup of coffee to celebrate you finally beating me into the office for once. Now that I see you cheated and stayed here overnight, I’m not sure you deserve it.”

Jeffrey took the cup of joe and loosened his back by flexing from side to side. “After spending a night on that thing I deserve this and a medal.”

Dr. Holmes was not about to divulge the true reason he slept on the couch. Tara seemed particularly fond and trusting of Hastelloy’s seemingly gentle nature; she might accuse Jeffrey of being the crazy one. Yet he didn’t feel like making up an excuse, so he just dove right into his day before Tara had a chance to inquire further. “I’d like to have another session with Hastelloy this morning. Can you please have Terry escort him to my office as soon as possible?”

Jeffrey knew his brother instructed him, in no uncertain terms, to keep his distance from Hastelloy until Mark arrived. Still, he felt an undeniable compulsion, a necessity to understand what was going on. Maybe it was just curiosity, or perhaps an instinct to help or protect his patient. If the man truly was ill, then he needed an advocate. If he was indeed dangerous, then Mark would arrive in due time to handle things.

“You sure you don’t want to freshen up a bit before receiving visitors this morning?” Tara asked while glancing up at Jeffrey’s mangled bed-head hair.

Dang it.