Greed Becomes You!

 

            He stood by the hospital window glaring outside, mesmerized by the view of the city beams under the light rain. The busy landscape that stretched in vastness ensnared his attention. It diverted his tangled mind from the vague thoughts that haunted him since yesterday. The vehicle headlights, the neon lights on the billboards hanged on every building; and the shimmering glow of lampposts made him escape from his half-lit boring room.

             He gazed above. The dazzling luminance has perished in the sky. It was shrouded by the extreme blackness of chasm that met the horizon where he could see the lightning devouring the mountains’ peak. The bolts of electricity were scattered over the pinnacle as if heaven was enunciating his wrath.

             The rain now began to pour heavily. He could barely see the outside afterglow that adorned the night. His visions became blurry. Everything was obscure just like his thoughts. He scratched his eyes with his hands like a poor child to clear his visual prowess. Then he laughed hilariously. Yes, all was hazy cast by the droplets dripping down his windowpane. He was deluded by the mirage on the glass.

             He felt the drowsiness again. He pushed the intravenous stand toward his bed side. He covered his body with the sterile cloth while carefully fixing the small tube attached at the back of his palm. Then he settled himself comfortably.

         He begun to recall the events that transpired in the past few days. But he was completely baffled and disoriented, unable to focus his mind. There were images that zoomed in and zoomed out on his cognizance, an episodic picture. The visions were entirely alarming. He suddenly felt nauseated and dizzy as he tried to remember everything. The doctor said it was the side effect of the medication, and it was normal to feel drowsiness and weariness. He was also advised not to push himself too hard bringing all the memories back.

            The relaxing voice of the physician reverberated again.

“The medicine that has been administered to you makes you forget some of the events that occurred in the past few days. It is a pharmaceutical drug that we use to cure post-traumatic stress. When someone endures a horrific experience, for example, the events will be deleted in your short-term memory before it migrates to your long-term memory, or before it becomes part of your mind.  It makes you lose all the recollections for several days of life.”

 

           “Meaning?” He asked. He submitted and waited.

 

           “The benzodiazepines give you amnesia….” The doctor paused. He exhaled while staring at him. “…a retrograde amnesia to be specific.” He continued.

 

           “What do you want me to forget?” he demanded. He started to panic.” You’re a doctor. You are supposed to cure me and restore my health back.” He yelled. “I want to know what happened.” He commanded.

 

           “Your memories will come back soon. All the images that flashed back on your mind when you are asleep are just part of your memories. Those are the episodic events.” The doctor said calmly. This was also part of his skills to provide appropriate explanation to those patients who were in trauma. “That was our last resort. You were in a trauma for one day, and we were so alarmed that it might last for days or even months. With the help of that medicine, you might be able to escape the trauma. It was not just a mere trauma. It was different.” He was glaring attentively. “Don’t worry everything’s going to be – “

          

           “I want you to tell me what happened.” He commanded again, his voice was a little hoarse and was firm. He was on the brink of crying. But he held it back. “I want to know what happen.”

 

           “…and that I cannot honestly tell you.” The doctor said calmly.

 

           “So, it is also part of your expertise to hide important information from your patients? “He reacted sarcastically.

 

           “I have reasons why I cannot tell you. You need some rest. Do not exhaust yourself gathering all our memories. It will come back sooner.” Doctor Bane left before he could utter a word.

 

He was shaken out from his contemplations by the alarm from the clock just hanged above his headboard. Suddenly the doorknob clicked, and the white lady in uniform came in holding medicine tray. She’s beautiful, he noticed. five feet and five inches in height, brown hair, and has a fair complexion.

She switched on the fluorescent light before she strode toward his direction. The room was fully illuminated, and he could see the whole place.

He sat up on the side of his bed which was facing horizontally to the door. He could see the entire room. It was painted in cream.

On the left side of his bed was a small white table adjacent to the door, with a transparent vase with fresh yellow tulips. While on his right side was a mirror about the height of the nurse, and next to the table was the window that gave him stunning marvels of the night’s scenario.

She smiled faintly, and her eyes were kind. “Good morning, Ben.” She retained the kind look on her face.

 “Hey, Miss. Is it the amnesia drug on the tray?” He asked, smiling, trying to be friendly. “When was the last time my friends came to visit me?” he asked again. But the woman never answered him.

He smirked. He saw the necklace hanged around her neck, with two snakes intertwined together. “Do you know the meaning of that pendant? It is the staff of the Greek god, Hermes, the messenger of the gods. It is the modern symbol of medicine.” He spoke again. “Is that a hypodermic syringe? That must be painful, huh?” He asked. The nurse threw him a strange look while fixing the tray. She held the syringe and stuck it to the IV.

 

“Did you know that in 1665 London has suffered from the plague and almost killed half of its entire population? It’s called the Bubonic Plague, or most known as the Black Plague. And in 1666, just right after the plague, again, the London was consumed by fire, destroying thirteen thousand two hundred houses and eighty-seven parish churches. It started in baker’s shop.  They call it the Great Fire of London that lasted for six days.

He just looked sadly at her while she marched away. “Hey, I’m not finished yet.” He exclaimed. The lady stopped and turned.

Again, she gave him a weird look and shook her head dramatically. She felt pity on him. She smiled wryly and went out his room.

“And this is called Emptiness. It is so lonely being alone. And this is what kills most of the people today.” He sighed dejectedly. Then he stared blankly at the window.

The man in blue uniform burst from the door, pushing a cart full of ration of foods. He settled the plate and juice on the table on the left side of his bed.

He was craving for food. His stomach was scrunching. But abruptly, he lost his appetite upon seeing the food. The fish was nearly spoiled; the rice was sticky; the half-cooked vegetables were discolored that seemed to be stacked on the cabinet for many weeks; and the utensils were not thoroughly washed. He could see the stains decorated on the edge of the plate and spoon. And he yelled at the top of his lungs.

He sat up and paced near the window pulling the IV stand, while his right hand was occupied by a glass of juice. He sipped.

The evening picture depicted solitude. The images were blurred, a portrait on a canvass, resembled like those of the oil paste’ paintings, so abstract and unusual.

When he turned to his right side, he was horrified with the image of a man he saw just an inches away from him. The man was staring at him, wearing an all-white uniform. He was skinny and pale with weary eyes and messy hair.

 He couldn’t move. He snaked to the floor from where he was standing. He couldn’t even utter a word. A ghost, he thought. He felt the nervousness enveloped him. His sweat ran down from his forehead. The nightmarish creature hadn’t disappeared from his sight, still standing, and glaring back at him. He couldn’t fathom the hideous doppelgänger, so he closed his eyes.

After a minute or two, he suddenly heard a voice of a woman. He turned and managed to stride quickly. It’s the adrenaline rush - the fight or flight hormone, he thought.

He calmed himself. He searched the voice where it came from. “It was coming from the door” he whispered. He slowly walked to the door while holding the IV stand, as if he was about to catch a robber. It became vivid as he came closer. The woman was talking to someone.

“How’s Ben, Doc?” the woman asked, with a sound of profound anxiety. She was a woman of decency, sophistication, and grace. Anyone could easily identify the status of her life at first glance. She was decorated with expensive jewels and wore a light and staggering make up that matched her emerald off-shoulder shirt and skinny jeans.

“I can’t honestly tell you if he can recover fast. It will take months. He is not responding to medications. And even the benzodiazepines have a little effect on him.” He explained. The handsome doctor adjusted his glasses.

“What benzodiazepines?” She asked.

“It’s a drug used to cure panic and anxiety.” He responded.

He was standing on the door. He could hear the conversation clearly. He was wondering what it was all about.

“According to the nurse who monitored him, he is still in delusional state. Its nine thirty in the morning when she came in, and he claimed that its evening. The food given to him… he just set it aside. He said it was rotten. And lastly, he keeps on asking about his friends. See? He cannot even accept the fact that they are no longer living. They are dead, for Christ’s sake! He is in denial, rejecting the pain of the real world.” The doctor stated, while his hands were on his waist.

Doctor Bane has been employed in the private hospital for ten years as the head doctor owned by the wealthy family. He handled different cases of schizophrenia but this time it’s different in terms of the patient’s response. Usually, the severe schizophrenic person has completely detached himself from the real world and unable to handle the pain of loss or trauma that he experienced.

The case of Ben was different. He has the capacity to grasp and retain essential information. His intelligence and the ability to recall important information was extraordinary. But it puzzled him that Ben cannot identify the real world from mere fantasy. As a matter fact, his ability to recall information was like of a savant, so specific and detailed.

“It’s been two months now but there is no improvement. Doctor Bane, please do something!” She insisted. “He is not the same with your other patients here. You said you will give him special attention. You said if we put him in a room alone it would give us a chance to change him slowly. But there is no development.” She couldn’t help it. Her irritated voice echoed in the hallway of the hospital.

Ben was a happy and intelligent person. But she didn’t know he was suffering from depression. And it became rigorously severe when he heard the news about the death of his friends who went to spend the vacation on an island despite of bad weather. The boat sunk when the huge wave came to smash the boat that brought them to their demise.

“We are doing our best, Ma’am. Like I said, he is not responding to the treatment. He is living in his own world. If he defies reality, it is impossible for us to cure him. We cannot assure his rapid recovery, and possibly it might lead to a total schi- “

“Don’t you even dare speak of it!” She paused. She calmed herself and spoke. “Help him come back. Please do not give up on him.” The woman begged. She was so worried with Ben.

Everything has changed when their parents died in a car accident. The only persons left at her side were Ben, her brother, and her husband - the man standing in front of her, Magnus.

 “He is the only one who can help himself. I went to a thorough test, but I always got the same result.” He composed himself and faced Valandra Bane. He knew everything wouldn’t be the same again after all the horrible incidents happened.

She couldn’t contain her anger, and she burst out. “Do something about it! Or else, I will – “

“Or what? Kill me? Just like what you did to your parents?! I know you planted this all. You just used me. You are greedy. You wanted to be the sole heiress. I know everything. I have read your diary.” The revelation struck her, unable to fathom the secrets she just locked away.

“I did not kill my parents!” Valandra was red, so obvious that she was scared and threatened.

“I am still your husband. Even if you despised me because I never agreed to your plans. I’m still your husband! It is my responsibility to protect you, or have you punished, if that is the right to thing to do. You will pay for this!” the doctor threatened her. His voice sounded firm authority and conviction.

The woman left.

The doctor grinned like a protagonist in the movie, and his eyes portrayed an odd look as if he was planning something bad while glaring at the woman walking away from him.

The nurse came with a devilish look in her eyes. “So, what are we going to do with her?” She put her hand to his shoulder, caressed him, up to his neck, mandible, and maxilla.

“Just wait. You will know.” He answered. His eyes glistened in great anticipation. He kissed her hardly and went to his office.

            A minute or two, a terrible sound was heard outside the hospital. It was a car explosion, the guard said who just phoned him. It was Valandra’s.

            The infidels laughed, an evil laugh, an assurance that they succeeded with their plan - a sound of triumph.

 

            One month later, Doctor Magnus Bane and Zenobia, her mistress, who happened to be his nurse, was in a meeting with Atty. Michael Nightshade. The attorney read the testament providing all the information, the terms and conditions and properties to be inherited by the sole heir including the hospital, real state, the Adam’s mansion, and other investments.

            “So, you mean to say Attorney, those properties you have just mentioned will be inherited by the remaining member of the immediate family. But since Ben Adam is not in the right well-being or incapable of to think. He is suffering from a severe schizophrenia that made him unqualified. Am I right, attorney? It is I who will take over those… temporarily.” The doctor claimed.

            “Yes, temporarily. But there is no apparent reason for that. You have no evidence to substantiate your claims.” the counsel stated. “There is a sole heir. It‘s not you, Doctor Bane.” He continued.

            “What do you mean?” he asked angrily.

            Suddenly, the door opened. The man in black suit came in and beside him were the policemen. There were no signs of discomfort and weariness, and relief form all false visions. He stood smartly and his entire composure reflected authority.

            “Surprised to see me, Doctor Magnus Bane? The man in black said mockingly. “I guess, your plans didn’t go well.”

            The doctor couldn’t speak, his eyes locked on the man who was now standing beside him.

            “Do you have anything to say aside from staring at me?” the man said, with the sound of anger and mock.

            “I thought you were…” finally the doctor spoke.

            “You thought what? That I have completely lost my mind because of…” He paused. “What is that again? Benzodiazepines?  He continued. “Magnus, you are clever. Yes, I know. Unfortunately, I am smarter than you. I am a very good actor, for portraying the role of a crazy person”

            “What the hell”? Doctor Bane cursed.

            “Gentlemen, please arrest Magnus Bane… for murdering my sister and for plotting all the chaos in our family.” The policemen came to Doctor Bane and handcuffed him. “I know you plotted all these. You even used my sister and accused her of murdering my father and my mother which, in fact, was your plan. So do you really think that I was unaware about everything?”  He exposed. And he persisted. “And I would like to commend Zenobia for her stellar performance which, I believe, was beyond compare.”

            Zenobia stood up and came to Ben. They looked at each other and began to kiss passionately as if they have been away for many years.

            “Merci bien, Mon amour!” the man said, commending his accomplice.

             “It’s all over, Magnus!” said Zenobia.

            “You bitch!” he cursed again. He was standing near the door with handcuffs.

            “Greed becomes you!” Ben finally said before the policemen took away Doctor Bane from the room.