10 of 211

Write now Article Tools

Page 3 of 11

believe his finger just fell off. He figured he had an accident of some kind and just didn't want to say so. Jan tried to tell him there was no blood on the sheets or pillow case, just a small portion of the scab that had formed under the skin line, but he refused to listen."

"It happened again?" Howell asked shakily. He too was feeling weak and nauseated.

"Yeah, it happened again," Joe replied ironically, "couple of days later, Hadley felt this same numbness and deep itching in his right wrist. He panicked." Shaking his head, Joe added, "Well, guess I would too if I was scared to death my hand was getting ready to fall off.

"Did it?" Howell could scarcely utter the words.

"Uh huh." Joe's reply was barely audible.

The men sat in silence for several minutes; Joe overcome by emotion and Howell in near shock. Neither man had taken more than a couple of sips of his coffee.

"Want me to go on?"

"Yeah, if you can."

"Well, it was the same deal. Only this time Hadley tried to steel himself for the possibility. He kept it wrapped. And he went to Doc Robbers. Made a believer of old Doc, too. Fell off, or rather, came off, when he unwrapped it. Luckily, Hadley was in the best place he could be. Freaked out again, but Ann (Doc's nurse) put him out with a shot." Joe felt hot nausea in his throat and he had to stop for a moment. "Shit. Think I'm going to be sick."

While Joe was in the restroom, Howell had his first moment alone since hearing this bizarre story. He hoped he would wake up soon from this nightmare, only he was wide-awake and alert. He was numb and felt sick himself, but the full horror of it all would not come until later.

Joe returned looking pale but a little better. "Sure you want to keep on?"

"Yeah, I'll be OK now. I think." This nightmare would not go away for him, either. No horror in this life ever bothered him, or ever would bother him, as this one did, and he was a man who had seen plenty in Korea. He took a sip of his now tepid coffee and started again.

"After what happened in Doc's office, Hadley never recovered mentally. Oh, there was very little blood when his hand went. Again, it scabbed over underneath before detaching. No pain, just numbness and itching. But his mind couldn't handle what was happening. He was being brave as possible, but in the next two weeks he lost the middle toe on his right foot, his left foot, and his left leg just below the knee. Doc and Ann tried to keep him sedated, but still he spent all of his time screaming or crying." Joe's

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• ...
• 11
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Short stories: Tales of horror?
We want to hear your view. Write now!