"People used what they called a telephone because they hated being close together and they were scared of being alone."
- Chuck Palahniuk



Oklahoma City, OK
Resthaven Funeral Home
Friday



It was 97 degrees in Oklahoma City today. The heatwave has gone on for days and will continue through the week. Mixed with rain and a constant overcast, the humidity and heat are nearly unbearable. It's late in the evening and the lights from the building illuminate the area around it. A sidewalk from the front door leading across a small body of water to the parking lot is occupied with several people just exiting the building. Men and women alike, dressed head-to-toe in black slowly make their way to their vehicles. It is a sad day for the family and friends of poor, young Sarah. Trials and tribulations of her life became too much for her and she ended it all.


Sarah was a free spirited, beautiful, young woman. Recently engaged to her fiancee, Nathan, the wedding planned about seven months away. Long distance relationships are hard to manage, but this one seemed to have promise. He proposed to her the previous weekend before heading back across state to Joplin. She resided in Chandler, about 40 minutes from the city and her job. She absolutely loved bartending. The friends she has made over the last year and the things she has seen. Unforgettable. While working one day she was visited by a traveler. A man she did not recognize. A man no one could recognize. He and his traveling partner, or patient perhaps, were heading north for a reason she could not remember. The whole encounter left her mind blank. She walked home that night, also not remember where she had parked her car.

Waking up the next day was like waking up from one nightmare into another. She felt extremely ill. Not a cold or flu, more like a feeling of withdrawal. She did not smoke and she wouldn't know drugs if she was backstage at a Motley Crue concert in the 80's. So what is this feeling? The migraines started it all, followed up by sweating and vomiting. She lied in bed all day shivering and sweating. Dark circles formed under her sinking eyes and bruises began to appear all over her body. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't eat, and she couldn't move. So she lied there and tried filling her mind of pictures for her big day soon to come, but the only thing she could think of was that mysterious doctor that had visited her. Who was he? The thought of her car going missing never crossed her mind. She was focused on the traveler.

Meanwhile, miles away Nathan responds to an emergency call regarding a car accident along a paved back road outside of Joplin. The horror show he just witnessed at the scene of the accident was enough to make him sick. However, nothing like what is about to come.

Quote:Nathan- That guy looked like he's been dead for days, didn't he?

Driver- I don't know, he looked really dead. That's all I can say.

Nathan- But there was barely any blood. He looked skeleton-like...

Driver- D'you always put this much thought in when you pick up a corpse? 'Cuz if you do, this is the last time your riding with me.

Nathan- Sorry. I was just saying...

Driver- Well, don't.

Nathan didn't really know the guy behind the wheel very well. His name was Bill and was a known alcoholic. His renowned roguery outside the workplace also made Nathan a bit nervous. How Bill managed to retain his license and job was a mystery. He's only spent half the day with this new driver and already has the feeling he's one of those "know-it-all's". Nathan chose to keep his mouth shut and just try to think about his fiancee, his wedding day, and his big transfer to a hospital unit in Oklahoma City. Everything was coming together great. He reaches into his pocket and pulls his cellphone from it. No missed calls and no text messages. He hasn't heard from Sarah in over a day and this is very uncommon. He looks up from his phone and sees an old man standing in the middle of the highway.

The ambulance flies off the side of the road, Nathan, after being thrown backwards out of his seat, pulls himself out of the vehicle. He sees Bill's bloodied face from smacking it off either the windshield or the steering wheel. Nathan hit his head as well and the ringing in his ears was deafening. His blurry vision saw an older man looking down at them. Bill walks over to the man angrily and begins shouting at him. Nathan can't really make out what's being said, his head is killing him. He walks over to the two of them to catch what happened when Bill turns around and grabs Nathan by the throat and throws him to the ground.

Nathan- BILL! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!

Nathan's words could barely make it out if his mouth. The look about Bill's face was blank and his eyes were cold. He seemed to have super human strength at the moment and Nathan just couldn't fight him off. He sees off to the right, the strange man opening up the ambulance and crawling in the back of it. Nathan continues his struggle until the world around him grew dark.

Sarah barely batted an eye when she received the phone call regarding Nathan's untimely death. She knew she should've felt something, but couldn't find the feelings anywhere. She couldn't cry, she could only think of the Doctor. The mysterious man that walked into her life, spent about an hour with her, and was gone. She knew she had to find him again, but how? His evil smile was imprinted in her mind and would not go away. The feeling scared her. She felt him, could hear him speak, but felt empty and alone. For over a week she didn't move from the spot on the bed. On the 13th day she rose up and walked into the restroom and started some bath water...



Our Doctor sits on a pew alone in the middle of the chapel inside Resthaven Funeral Home. He smokes a cigar as he stares forward to a casket displayed in the front of the room.

Doctor D'Ville- Hello, my friends.

The Doctor breathes smoke out through his nose and mouth as he speaks.

Doctor D'Ville- Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone. My thoughts on this session in a few days haven't changed. If I am to be the lone survivor once again, for the third week, so be it. My two comrades have yet failed to share their thoughts about this wild card team. As usual, I am a bit disappointed. Kristen Silver failed to shut her mouth once over the course of two weeks as she went shopping, ate out, and traveled to each destination where she failed miserably. My dear, not breaking your silence only proves what I have said before. That without the slightest effort from you, you continue to expect the world on a silver platter. Given to you. As a prize or gift. You deserve no prizes, my dear. And you surely did not deserve the two opportunities you've had the past two weeks. Granted, you do have some kind of title shot coming your way. Perhaps, after I become the XWF Television Champion in a couple of weeks, I could do the honors and leave you stomping away crying empty handed once again.

The Doctor raises to his feet and begins to walk around the outside of the pews. Seeming to admire the artwork and different statues of the Lord hanging about, he stands in front of a crucifix and chuckles a bit.

Doctor D'Ville- How's it hanging? Hm. The way this man dangles from this crucifix here reminds of an advertisement for this next session of mine. The last third of my party this Monday, Socrates.

The Doctor remembers a picture of Socrates with his arms spread out into the air. "Ascending" so to speak.

Doctor D'Ville- Socrates, my friend. I must say, your intention in the XWF has been made clear. You will ascend to the top! Climb the ranks of the XWF! Become a renowned, a champion, a legend. Hm. You certainly have a strange way of showing it. You had a Television Title Match at Relentless which lead to a a rock, paper, scissor loss at the hands of my future opponent Gator. Even I know, you always pick rock, my friend. Your display of sovereignty and sportsmanship all at once is mind blowing and almost contradicting. Do you wish to ascend? Do you wish to have your hand raised in the end? Or will you kindly pass the opportunity aside once again. I don't know about you, but I plan on being in Los Angeles Monday night. And my plan, like every session I have, is to remove the poison in that ring. Now, whether you are part of the solution or not, makes no difference to me. As I said before I usually work alone. If you truly wish to ascend, come to Los Angeles and please, leave the rock... the paper... and scissors in your bag.

The Doctor continues to walk to the front of the chapel. He walks passed a small, glass tub of holy water that sets on a small podium between the pews. He drops his cigar in and the water begins to boil and overflow over the top. The dim lights around the chapel dim even more and pulsate slowly. The Doctor continues to march up the steps towards the casket.

Doctor D'Ville- Well, after reminding my two comrades of our sessions this Monday, shall I remind the three across from us as well? Cain has already spoken quite highly of himself already regarding his event. I wish I could say the same for your two comrades, my friend. Chris Fame, a man of many words the previous week, has been silent to this point. As well as Tony Santos, a former XWF Champion. I know I am new here, friends, but I must say between the three of you I see no possible threat. Between Mister Cain and Mister Santos, their accolades in the XWF are great. But, do I brag of my former patients? Of my successes? Now, don't get me wrong I have a large resume filled with my accolades and achievements. But I do not constantly leave it out on display as a trophy. Your achievements prior to this day right now are meaningless. Mister Santos, September 2013 XWF Superstar of the Month. Well congratulations, my friend, but that was a year ago. Where do you stand today? Let's see, former XWF Television and X-treme Champion? Yes, yes. A twelve day reign as the X-treme Champion, even. How impressive. Hm. Cain, a former RTX Champion and Ark of the Covenant Champion... Gentleman, don't get me wrong. I am sure you were great champions. Were. But you've lost those titles long ago, my friends. A short memory that means nothing now. A few scratches in the record books. Perhaps, someday after your careers are long over the thoughts of being a champion will still linger in your minds. But as of right now, nothing, including what you've done in the past is going to help you Monday. As I've said, many times over, whether I face you alone or with two others, the outcome is already chiseled into stone. The writing is on the wall my friends, read it. Now, if you'll excuse me.

The Doctor steps up to the casket and opens it. Young Sarah lies motionless inside. Her eyes still dark shaded, visible even under the make-up. Her hands folded across her stomach decorated with jewelry. The dress she wears is a sleeveless white gown that floods the bottom of the casket. Two long, white sleeves seperate from the gown cover her wrists and forearms, hiding the tragic actions the young girl has done to herself. The Doctor reaches in and grabs Sarah by the hand.

Doctor D'Ville- Sarah. . .

The Doctor chimes as he strokes her hand with his.

Doctor D'Ville- It is time, my dear.

Sarah blinks her eyes a few times and takes a deep, extended breathe. She raises up a bit and looks up at the Doctor. Her eyes light up with joy.

Sarah- Oh Doctor! You're here! I've been looking everywhere for you!

The Doctor smiles as he helps Sarah from the casket.

Doctor D'Ville- Yes, my dear. You have found me. No time for a long reunion, however. We must be going.

Sarah- Yes, Doctor.

Sarah grabs the Doctor by his arm and walks with him down the aisle between the pews to the big doors at the front of the building. As they reach the exit, the two doors slowly creak open. The sidewalk and parking lot are no longer visible. Nothing is. No trees, no sky, no ground. An abyss. Sarah grabs the Doctor's arm even tighter as they walk together into the darkness.