Classic Horrors Club

I looked out the window, then looked at myself in the mirror. I paced impatiently. I finally picked up the phone and asked the operator to dial Collinwood. Barnabas Collins answered, but when I asked to speak to Dr. Hoffman, he told me it wasn’t possible for her to come to the phone. He asked if I could call back later.

I told him that it was impossible, that I had to talk to her immediately. He told me there had been an emergency with Mrs. Stoddard and she could not come to the phone. I responded that it was an emergency for me to talk to her. All he could do was say he’d have her call me as soon as she could.

I slammed down the phone and looked out the window again. I sat for a moment, then heard a wolf howling in the woods. I reached for the phone, then decided to go to Collinwood.

I knocked on the door several times, then Dr. Hoffman answered, saying she was about to call me. I asked where she had been. She was supposed to get me those pills before it got dark.

She apologized but told me there had been an emergency. I didn’t have time to hear about it; I asked if I could have them now. She asked why I was so upset. I denied it but she said I was, and she didn’t understand. She said I didn’t need the pills until just before I went to sleep.

I apologized to her and said I was just very anxious about getting them. I told her I was overwrought from lack of sleep. More talking… more questioning… She asked if I was sure I wanted the pills for insomnia? Of course! Why else would I want them?

I told her I was in a hurry and had to get back to town before dark. I asked her to please just give me the pills. She finally relented but advised me to be sure to follow the instructions. I told her that I would and that I really appreciated all the trouble she’d gone to. 

She got them for me and told me she hoped they’d help. If they didn’t, she said to let her know and she could arrange to have a check-up at Collinsport Hospital. I told her I would call her and said goodbye.

Back in my hotel room, I took a fistful of pills when there was a knock on the door. It was Joe, insistent that he talk to me. I told him to come back, that I wasn’t feeling well and was about to go to sleep. Why couldn’t it wait until morning? I unlocked the door and he came bursting into the room. “It’s waited long enough,” he said.

One look at me and he asked what was the matter; was I sick? I told him I didn’t know what it was; I just haven’t been able to sleep nights. He commented that maybe it was my conscience acting up on me. (What did that mean?) 

He said I was supposed to be with Amy tonight and, as usual, I let her down. When I asked why he didn’t tell her… something, he said he was tired of telling her and seeing the look on her face.

I told him I was sorry and he responded that I was always sorry yet kept on disappointing her and making her feel rejected.  He lectured me that it wasn’t enough for her to have a nice comfortable room at Collinwood and to be treated by the Collins family like she’s one of their own, because she’s not one of their own and she knows it.

He reminded me I was her brother and she needed me. She loves me and can’t understand why I don’t love her. (Oh, but I do love her.) He nearly shouted at me to show her… give her some sign, some hope… anything but indifference.

Whether or not I could withstand this mental abuse, I was about to experience some ugly physical abuse. I opened the door, raised my voice and told Joe he had to get out of here right now. Now!

But he wouldn’t stop. He told me he wasn’t finished. When I told him it was for his own good to get out of here, he asked if that was a threat. If he wants to take it that way, yeah.

Finally, he agreed to leave, but he left me with a warning. If I didn’t do something about Amy, and do it soon, I’d have to answer to him. I gave him my word and asked if now he would get outta here. He had the last word and said sarcastically, “Sure, I’ll get out. I don’t want you to lose any sleep.”

I shut and locked the door. By now I was breathing quite heavily. I wasn’t sure the pills were working yet, but after a big yawn, I lay down on the bed. Breathing heavily. I actually thought that for a moment that I might be able to rest, but I was suddenly struck with pain. I looked down at my hand and it was covered with hair. The last thing I remember from that moment was the guttural growl that came from deep inside me. 

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