Reader Contest Winner!

(A few weeks ago, I proposed a writing contest for readers of this blog. I set up a scenario as follows:

At 7 AM on a Saturday morning a physician walks into an Emergency Department. As he turns the corner to head towards his workplace, he sees a tall, sultry, dark-haired female nurse carrying a full plastic urinal in each hand and a younger, taller, and beefier male tech with his hands full of leather restraints walking side by side.

There have been several replies, but none quite like the one I’m about to publish. It’s from a reader who will intentionally remain nameless, because if I did name him I’m certain the authorities would be at his door within minutes to pick him up. In fact, I’m not so sure I wouldn’t call them myself. It’s certainly going to make me much more careful about passing out after drinking at his house.

Here you go. Stephen King, beware!)

At 7 AM on a Saturday morning a physician walks into an Emergency Department. As he turns the corner to head towards his workplace, he sees a tall, sultry, dark-haired female nurse carrying a full plastic urinal in each hand and a younger, taller, and beefier male tech with his hands full of leather restraints walking side by side. In the distance two security officers could be seen running down a corridor in pursuit of what at first glance was a patient in an open backed gown. Seconds later the fire alarm started wailing and water poured from the ceiling spouts.

The physician ran to the front desk while patients and staff flooded past fighting their way out. He shouted to the receptionist. “What the hell is going on?” He saw the fear in her eyes as she stood paralyzed unable to speak. Slowly she pointed to the other side of the waiting room. The doctor looked around and saw a large drooling wolfhound snarling in his direction. Panic filled the air as he slowly backed away towards the door of the ED. The waiting room had emptied. He slipped on the wet floor and as he scrambled to his feet, the dog grabbed him by the right leg, sinking its teeth down to the bone. Shots rang out and the dog fell to the floor. The doctor tried to stand, but his leg buckled beneath him as he dragged himself away from the dying dog.

He looked up and saw one of the Security Officers put his gun back into his holster as he walked towards him. “I thought you were a goner, Doc,” he said. The physician didn’t recognize him, and asked if he was new. “Filling in, Doc. Let me help you.”

The Officer led him to a cubicle where, to his horror, he saw a second officer holding another physician and several nurses at gunpoint. “What the…” he began to exclaim as he was helped to a stretcher where his colleagues tried to help stop the bleeding from his leg.

“Ok, who has access to the narcotics?” said the short security guy. “Tell me, or I’ll blow his head off”. The doctor realized he was the potential victim, and said, “Give then anything they want.” Suddenly the taller officer, who had been standing next to a curtain, let out a shriek and fell over with a knife handle sticking out of his back. Pandemonium broke out as nurses screamed and the shorter security guy ran from the cubicle looking for the knifer. The doctor was helped out of the cubicle and hopped into the corridor. An old homeless man wearing a ragged combat jacket was cradling the head of the large dog, and the security guy had his gun trained at him. Shouting at the man., the guard screamed, “YOU KILLED FREDDIE!”

Out of nowhere a gurney crashed into the security guard, his gun tumbling from his hand. The ED doc looked round and saw the gowned patient from earlier – a known schizophrenic – staring wide eyed at the security officer. Seconds later the SWAT team came crashing through the main door of the ED. Not knowing who was who, they ordered everyone face down on the ground and hog tied them with plastic cables. The doctor pleaded his innocence, demanding to be released. Unable to move, he remained immobilized, and lay exhausted on the floor, slowly bleeding from his leg and losing consciousness.

At 6 AM the ED physician was awaked from a deep sleep and a disturbing dream. He looked over at his partner as reached over to wake her when he saw that his hand was covered with blood………………