Halloween Contest: Scary Story - The Healing Crescent Hotel

Riding in the car up the narrow, bumpy road, I was trying to imagine what the Crescent Hotel may look like. Of course, it's no longer a hotel. There is a new owner, Norman Baker, who operates a health spa out of the old building. In a thousand years, I never would have imagined any need for me to visit here. The town of Eureka Springs is old and full of stories of healing waters. I've heard them since I was a small child. But now, having to come here out of necessity, I can't find any joy in the visit.

For months now, I'd been feeling quite ill. Fainting spells had taken over my daily routine. I was no longer able to care for my two small children. My husband decided that I needed to come to the hospital here in Eureka and let Dr. Baker cure me. He's heard wonderful things about his cures. Not really wanting to leave my family, I grudgingly agree to give it a try.

Stepping out of the car, the place is just overwhelmingly huge! I try to catch my breath as my husband gets my things. We walk inside and are greeted by Dr. Baker, a thin, older man with gray hair. As the two men speak, I find myself wandering the lobby. The quiet in the building mixed with strange medicinal smells causes a stir of anxiety deep within my soul. I dismiss it as a fear of leaving my family for an unknown amount of time. I really have no reason to fear this place or this doctor.

After my husband leaves, an orderly takes me up to the second floor. Room 202 will be my haven of solitude during my stay. A short stay, I do hope. I am told that I will be served dinner in my room and to get rest that night. My treatment will begin the next day.

My night of rest is full of strange dreams. At least I believe they are dreams. I'm hearing screams and moans, seeing images across the room. It's a restless night to say the least, and the dawn comes way too soon.

A nurse comes into my room, refusing to look me in the eye, and tells me to put on my gown. My treatment will begin shortly. I think I see a small smile on her lips, but she quickly turns away so that I can't see her face anymore. I simply do as I am told.

An orderly comes to retrieve me in a wheelchair. Taking me downstairs, but not to the lobby, to the basement instead. The smells are overwhelming. A stench that I cannot explain fills my nostrils. The anxiety I felt the day before comes back even stronger now. I hear a scream and jump, but the orderly simply continues down the dark hallway. Into a clean room with crisp bright lights he takes me. Fear is starting to replace the anxiety now. He tells me to lie upon the table before me. I hesitate and he grabs my arm and forces me up. Fear turns to panic as he begins to tie me down with leather straps. I'm too weak in my condition to fight him. Once his job is complete, he leaves, laughing wickedly.

Oh, dear God, what is happening? What treatment could this be? Does my husband know what they are doing to me? The questions in my mind keep coming as I fight for control of the fear. It can't be stopped.

Now, as I lie here, strapped to the table, people file into the room. Whispers can be heard, but none will speak to me. I feel their glances upon me, as if I am a feast about to be served. Finally, unexpectedly, a scream of terror fills the room. It's my own voice of which I have no control. Dr. Baker steps up to my side. He never says a word, but covers my mouth and nose with a wet, strong smelling handkerchief. The room begins to swim around me and soon goes black.

I can hear voices and the sound of metal instruments knocking against one another. But my sense of sight has left me. I can no longer move or speak. What is going on? I feel the panic inside and I try to fight, but my body doesn't respond. It's as if I'm not really there. Smells of alcohol and other unknown chemicals fill my nose. Now the voices begin to fade and I slip into a dark world of the unknown. As if I'm in a pool of darkness, I fall and I can't get out.

I feel drops of water on my cheek. I force my eyes open and find everything a blur. Where am I? How long have I been here? My memory starts to return - the clean, bright room, the table and leather straps. Suddenly, everything comes into focus. No longer am I in the basement, but back in room 202. A nurse is standing over me, a worried look on her face. I try to sit up, but my body refuses to allow it. She places her hand on my arm and shakes her head. Never speaking to me, she constantly looks over her shoulder, as if someone is coming. As I try to move my lips to form words, she places her finger over her mouth as if to tell me to be quiet.

I'm confused, but finding comfort in her presence. She's the only one so far that has shown any human compassion in this monstrous place. She wrings out a wash cloth and continues to cleanse my face. I lie there, clearing my thoughts, while she quietly works. Soon, I'm feeling refreshed and she helps me to sit up. My head pounds slightly and the room spins, but that soon passes.

The door to my room opens and I hear the nurse gasp. As Dr. Baker walks in, my nurse vanishes! What? I look all around and I don't see her. The doctor acts as if he never saw her here. Now my confusion returns. He looks down at me, shaking his head. He grabs the wash cloth and water basin and carries them into the hallway. That nurse had to have been there - her supplies had remained!

When Dr. Baker returns, he is holding a needle with a yellow liquid in it. Silently, he pushes it into my arm. I feel a rush of cold in my veins and once again, I cannot move. This time, however, my eyes remain open and I can see what is happening. Other people come into the room, just as they had in the basement. Eyeing me and whispering, writing things down on their clipboards. I'm not understanding what is happening. How is this a treatment for fainting spells? Again, no one will speak directly to me. They act as if I'm just a novelty on display. Finally, they all leave my room.

I'm left lying there, exposed to the coldness of the room. No one had even the decency to put a blanket over me. Thoughts are flying through my head. Understanding never arrives to relieve me of my frustration. Soon, my eyelids become heavy and a sleep encompasses me.

It's dark in the room with only the glow of the moon when I'm woken up by something. This time, I can move. Although extremely painful to do so, I sit myself up on the side of the bed. I see a figure move in the darkness out of the corner of my eye. I turn to see what it is and find that same nurse coming into focus once again. She motions for me to be quiet as she moves to be by my side.

Sitting down quietly on the bed, she turns to me and says, "You must leave this place." I'm so bewildered that I just stare at her. Again, she speaks to me, "They are doing experiments here and are killing a lot of people. You will be one if you do not leave now." I nod in understanding. Finally, I find my voice, "Who are you? How did you vanish earlier?" She smiles a knowing smile, "I was a victim here myself. My soul is now trapped in this place forever. I try to help others escape the same fate."

Slowly, I get to my feet. I'm feeling very weak and nauseous. She helps me to dress and gather my things. We make our way to the hallway. It's very quiet as we sneak towards the stairway. Having a spirit by my side gives me the strangest sensation, yet I'm not frightened. I'm actually more frightened of the living people catching me.

As we begin to descend, someone appears at the bottom of the stairs. "Where do you think you're going?" the orderly demands. "I'm leaving this place and I'm reporting you to the authorities!" I cry back. He doesn't say a word, but races up the stairs towards me. I realize my spirit friend has once again disappeared. As I fight to get free from the orderly's grasp, I lose my balance. Suddenly, I'm falling. Time stands still as I plummet to the floor below.

I'm standing once again in room 202 looking at the new patient. This one is very young and very ill. I sit on her bedside and hold her hand. "Who are you?" she asks. "I was a victim here long ago," I answer softly. "I'm trapped in this place forever now. I'm here to try to help others escape the same fate."