The Hospital Haunting

Intermission: Excerpt from Jason’s Vlog

Jason Wendell’s Personal Vlog #17.5 (Unreleased)

12/13/2017

17:39

[The video opens to a young Jason’s face, holding the camera out toward himself. He looks… Happy.]

“It's time! My mom’s finally having her baby! How's everyone feeling?”

[He grins and swivels the camera toward the seat beside him. A young Steph can be seen, she pumps her fists and cheers directly into the lens.]

“Baby Time!”

[The camera swings again, pointed toward the front seats. In the passenger's side a brown-haired woman wearing a pink cardigan and a loose floral dress sits on the passenger side. She’s hunched slightly while wrapping her arms around her swollen stomach. Her face is obscured slightly. rubbing her stomach between strained breaths. On the driver's side sits a tall blonde man with his back to the camera, he turns to the camera with a grin on is face.]

“Well, as long as the kid doesn’t turn out like you two, I’ll consider it a blessing.”

[Jason and Steph both reply, shouting in unison.]

“Heyyyy!”

[The woman in the front seat lets out a chuckle, and the camera moves to focus on her.]

“Oh, don’t– ughhh– don’t listen to him, He's just being a grump. What about you guys? You– hnnngh– you excited to meet little Rowan?”

“Yeah! can’t wait to make videos with him!”

“Yeah, but I wish I could’ve had a sister instead…”

[The man in the driver's seat lets out a low baritone laugh.]

“Haha, well, we didn’t get much of a say on that, sweetie.”

[He reaches over and squeezes the woman's hand.]

“I’m just happy to welcome a new member into our family.”

[He leans over and kisses her cheek. Jason and Steph groan loudly.]

“Ewwww! Gross!”

[Cut.]

19:34

[The next clip opens in a dim hospital hallway. Jason is off-camera. The shot focuses on Steph sitting on a bench, kicking her legs back and forth.]

“So Steph, anything you wanna say to Rowan before he’s born?”

“…Why?”

“So I can show him when he’s older!”

“Oh! That’s a cute idea.”

“Well…? Go on.”

“One second, one second— I’m thinking…”

[She scrunches her face, then raises two fingers in a peace sign.]

“Okay! I’m ready.”

“Alright... go.”

“Hi Rowan! I love you! And I’m really looking forward to meeting you soon! Yeah I always wanted a sister, and it would’ve been really cool if you were a girl, and I want someone to do girl things with, umm, never mind!

What I mean is that I’m super duper excited for us to be brother and sister!”

[She beams up at the camera.]

“Now hold this for me Steph.”

[Jason hands her the camera. Steph lifts it, but the framing is wrong. Jason’s face is half-cut off, the shot slightly crooked.]

“No, no, you’re holding it wrong—”

[Jason reaches forward to fix it, then abruptly stops. His expression changes, eyebrows knitting.]

“Steph? Are you alright?”

[There’s a faint, shaky sniff from behind the camera. Then another. The camera trembles in her hands.]

“Is this really because you wanted a sister…?”

“NO—! I mean— no… I don’t… I don’t know why. I just don’t feel good.”

“Steph, hey… it’s okay, just give me—”

[Jason reaches for the camera. The second he grabs Steph's hand, his breath hitches. Tears spill down his face almost instantly, and his expression falls.]

[He clamps his mouth shut, grabs the camera, and sets it down on the bench beside them. The shot faces their legs, tilted and out of focus, and soft rustling fills the audio. Both of them are crying.]

[Around 5 minutes pass, the crying, sniffling, and soft rustling can be heard the whole time; the occasional doctor would walk past the frame.]

[Eventually Steph's voice can be heard again, cracked and raspy, but her intonation was different from normal.]

“…I’m so sorry.”

[Jason sniffles hard.]

“What? What are you sorry for?”

[Jason's breathing grows slightly ragged]

“Shhhh… it’ll be okay.”

[A light rhythmic patting can be heard; Jason’s breath stutters further.]

“Wha— Steph, what—?”

[Before he can finish, a door opens in the background, out walks the man seen earlier in the car. His face is grey, his hands are shaking, and he walks with staggered steps. He looks in the direction of the camera.]

[His face devolves into a broken, tearing mess in an instant. He runs towards the bench, almost falling over as he kneels on the floor. He leans forward and embraces both the children. His sobs and wails can be heard for a few seconds before the video cuts.]

“Eleanor Whitmore!”

Jocelyn pointed her staff toward the stage curtains with a flourish.

“Come on out, Eleanor!”

The curtains parted only a few inches, just enough for a lone figure to step into the beam of light.

The woman's skin was a deep blood red, her hair matched perfectly, the same rich shade, and she wore a similarly dark crimson hospital gown. She wasn’t slim, not in the slightest; she was a full-bodied woman with a large set of soft but hanging breasts that swayed slightly as she walked. Her skin was slightly sagging and wrinkled in places, but not overly so. She had a paunchy belly and wide womanly hips. Her whole body screamed feminine maturity. But one thing that stood out on her body—or rather, two things— was the dark red pointed horns that sat atop her head, nestled in her hair, almost like that of a cartoon devil.

She stood there stiffly, bathed in the glow of the light, her eyes downcast and her posture rigid. She never looked up from the floor and stopped after stepping forward towards Jocelyn

“Well, hello, gorgeous,” Jocelyn purred. “Welcome to Harem Hotel.”

Eleanor didn’t lift her head.

Instead, in a trembling voice, she asked:

“Is… is it time my lord?”

Jocelyn blinked in amusement.

“Whatever for, my dear?” the host asked.

“My punishment,” Eleanor whispered. “Eternal.”

Before anyone could react, she sank to her knees and bowed her head deeply.

“I dare not ask forgiveness… but I thank you for allowing me to serve you for so long… Even after ****.”

Jocelyn placed a hand over her heart dramatically.

“I am completely on board with this fervent display of submission—but I have the distinct feeling we are not on the same page here.”

She tapped her staff on the ground. “Where exactly do you believe yourself to be?”

Eleanor swallowed hard.

“…Hell.”

“Oh, honey, this isn’t even close to hell,” Jocelyn assured her.

Then she raised a finger, counting down casually: “Well, except for the dead people. And the mental ****. And the physical torment. And the removal of free will. Ooh! And the demons!” She stopped, smiling brightly.

“Yeah, other than all that, nothing like hell at all!” She said giving Eleanor a cheerful thumbs-up.

Eleanor looked uncertain. “So… I am not here to receive my punishment?”

“Nope!” Jocelyn said cheerfully.

Eleanor’s shoulders sagged. She looked almost disappointed.

“Well… as long as you play the game well,” Jocelyn continued, “and don’t break any rules, and do as you’re told, and the audience likes you—then no, totally no punishment!”

Eleanor nodded slowly, though sadness still pulled at her eyes.

Jocelyn clapped her hands before continuing. “Wonderful! Time for introductions. If you’d please tell us your name, your age when you died, your cause of ****, what you did in life, your sexual experience, and how you know Jason,” she counted down on her fingers as she listed off the questions.

Eleanor obeyed, replying in a soft, hesitant voice. “My name is Eleanor Ruth Whitmore,” she pauses deep in thought momentarily. “I was thirty-seven years old when I died… during the birth of my first child.”

Jason’s breath hitched. He went still.

“I spent my adult life dedicated to being a good wife to my husband. I only ever lay with him for the purpose of procreation. I lived by the word of the Lord.”

“Yes, yes, very interesting,” Jocelyn said, waving a dismissive hand. “Now, please tell us how you know my friend Jason over here.” She hooked an arm around Jason’s shoulder, pulling him close in a one-armed hug so they both faced Eleanor.

Jason didn’t react. His eyes were distant, fixed on Eleanor, almost looking through her.

Eleanor studied his face, analysing it for a moment, until she looked at his eyes. She inhaled sharply.

“He… he is– oh no…” A look of horror washed over her.

“Well? Spit it out,” Jocelyn snapped, tapping her staff impatiently.

“I tried,” Eleanor whispered. “My lord, I tried. Have I failed him…?”

Her voice trembled.

She looked at Jason like he might crumble.

“Oh, he’s still so young… Why is he here? Have I failed another life?”

“We are still not getting anywhere,” Jocelyn groaned, drumming her fingers against her cane.

“Oh– uh– apologies, my lord–”

“And stop with the lord stuff.” Jocelyn bowed theatrically. “My name is Jocelyn.”

Lights sparkled around her as she straightened.

“Now continue.”

“I… apologise, Jocelyn,” Eleanor corrected, carefully. “This boy… I… I saw him in the hospital. He was hurt, and… I comforted him.”

“Awwh, how wonderful!” Jocelyn cooed. “Isn’t she just lovely, Jason?”

Jason didn’t respond. He was staring at the floor, pale and silent, clearly not hearing a word.

Jocelyn jabbed him sharply with the end of her cane.

“Jason!” she drawled.

“Never have I ever witnessed a master SLEEP through his contestants’ intros multiple times!”

“Huh– wha– I wasn’t– I just– I’m sorry…”

“Whatever,” Jocelyn sighed. “The show must go on.” She said while nudging him once again with her cane

“So, what are your thoughts on MILFy over here? Think you could knock another baby into that body of hers?” Jocelyn said with much less enthusiasm than was typical.

Jason remained silent, staring at the floor, trying very hard not to think about… those things. Especially not when the woman in question seemed so much older than him.

“Oh, you’re no fun, Jay,” Jocelyn huffed, wagging a finger at him. “I can’t wait to see how you turn out. Maybe we’ll have another little Levi on our hands here.”

She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“But only time will tell… and speaking of time—” She snapped her staff against the floor. “It’s finally time for me to tell everyone the rules of our little game!”

She flourished her hand toward Eleanor. “Now, Eleanor, be a dear and go take a seat with the other girls. Make yourself comfortable.”

Eleanor lifted her gaze for the first time and saw the row of women seated opposite Jason. Her eyes widened in quiet dread.

Are these other souls I have failed? Am I to face them all?

She bowed her head again, shoulders curling inward, and made her way toward the stools. She settled stiffly beside Cassandra.

Cassandra let out a soft, amused little “hmph”, lips curling into a smirk as she looked Eleanor over, like a predator eyeing its prey.

“Well, that’s all, folks!” Jocelyn declared, spinning in midair with open arms. “Every one of our lovely girls has been revealed! Any strong favourites yet? Oh, keep those thoughts close! Because the popularity poll will be available soooon~!” She winked at the camera

“But first!” She pointed her cane down, and the lights dimmed dramatically.

“Here are the rules.”