In a famous mental hospital known as The Haven, there was an old man with long white hair and long white beard sitting on a wheelchair facing the window and the light, staring into nothing in particular with his head bent abnormally.
The room was a small and simple space with white walls and a window that allows natural light to filter in. It is sparsely furnished, containing only a hospital bed with crisp white sheets, a small bedside table, and a reclining wheelchair where he sat alone.The room is quiet and still, with the only sound being the soft hum of medical equipment.
A click sound was heard and his door opened, followed by a female voice. "Mr. Blackwood, you have a visitor." His nurse announced but he just remained the way he was since he was not in a position or mental state to reply.
"Thirty minutes, Mr. Blackwood. No more, no less." The nurse told the visitor and allowed him entrance.
The visitor nodded and he entered the room toward where the old man was seated, half conscious.
The visitor was a striking seventeen-year-old guy with an athletic build. He has jet-black hair that falls in a messy style around his face, with a few unruly strands often falling into his bright green eyes.
He walked toward the window and stood in front of the old man, blocking the light. "So how are you doing – grandpa? Remember me? It's your one and only grandson Devon. Remember?" He said innocently.
But there was no response.
Devon sighed, his teeth gritted and he looked away, his gaze facing the white wall and at the same time, feeling something growing in him.
"Do you believe I get to live this long, grandpa? Now, I understand why my so-called adoptive mother hate me. I'm just a freak who can't even stay dead." He said and looked back at his grandpa, his once innocent face turning hard and cold.
"You're here, completely out of your mind. Failing to answer the questions so deep in my heart. Questions that only you could answer." He kept talking, hoping deep down, he was listening.
"Why did you kill dad?" He asked, getting all emotional once again. "Why did you kill your one and only son? What came over you?" He questioned and a shaky breath escaped him. "And me too. You almost killed me. Almost."
Still no response.
Devon tilted his head at his grandfather with furrowed brows. He just stayed there without even a blink of an eye.
Nine years ago, he remembered it like it was just yesterday. He was only nine when the Blackwood tragedy happened.
"Hmm." He monotonically said as he kept staring at his grandfather. "You – became something else. I know what I saw. I'm not a kid. I was not a kid. I was nine and I know what I saw. I know – yes I know what I saw."
His body shook as his phone began ringing, causing him to revert his gaze away from his grandfather. He looked at the phone and saw it was his mother.
He sighed with a frown, wondering why she was calling as if she cared because she never did. He answered, "Hello, mother."
"Devon, where are you?!"
"Chill, mom. Why? Did Trevor spill the beans? That bastard!"
"Devon!" His mom called in a warning tone.
"Stop pretending like you care, please, because I know you don't! Quit calling me!" Devon lashed at her in anger.
"For the past week, you went missing and it got me thinking that something bad must have happened, something that wasn't supposed to happen…" she let out a shaky breath and said, "You know what? Leave where you are and come back home this instant! There's nothing there for you except that murderous psycho you call grandfather! Come back home now!"
Devon angrily cut the call and looked back at his grandfather. "You see – everyone sees you as a murderous psycho. You suddenly went on a rampage that destroyed my life even till the future to come. But here you are – lost in your own mentality."
He walked further toward his grandfather so he could be face to face with him. "Look at me. LOOK AT ME!!" He yelled and grabbed his head in anger. "Why don't you just die?! If you're gonna be this useless, just die!!" Then he pushed the chair which rolled and hit the bed in the room.
The door opened and the nurse looked at the patient and at Devon with furrowed brows. "Is everything okay here?"
Devon blinked and nodded before looking at the nurse. "Yeah. I was just – having a moment with my – grandfather. I'm actually done with him. Time for me to leave."
The nurse was surprised to hear that the old man has a grandson. She nodded and opened the door widely for him to leave.
However, as Devon was about to walk away, a hand grabbed him causing his eyes to widen in shock. He looked at his grandfather whose eyes were suddenly on him in a scary manner.
"It's – in – you." His voice came out huskily.
Devon frowned. "What?"
"The – dark – ness."
Devon snatched his hand away with the frown still on his face. "What the hell are you yapping about?!"
"Ho – me. Ho – me. Go."
The nurse was intrigued and walked toward the old man. "Oh my God. We haven't been able to get him to talk. This is a miracle!"
Devon huffed and said, "Yeah, whatever. I've got a fucking life to live."
The nurse looked at him in shock as he walked out.
When he returned home, he couldn't help but stare at the necklace belonging to his mother. His eyes were completely fixed on it as if it brought him close to a woman he never knew.
He was shocked to see the dim light flickered inside…