Whispers of Death by Alicia Rivoli

superman, what kind of ice cream do you want?" Olive asked Hunter.
        I smiled and pulled out my phone, heading for the hallway.  I explained what had happened to Ms. Sable and explained that my sister would be coming to pick up Abby from school.  She thanked me for calling and said she would have his teacher send him his homework for today and tomorrow.  As I hung up the phone I felt the pull of whatever was trying to get my attention.  I looked into the room where my family was and beckoned for Mark to come out into the hallway.
        "I'm going for a little walk," I said. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
        He searched my face for answers but just kissed my forehead.  "Come back soon," he said.  He slid his hand down my cheek and pulled my chin up so I would look at him.  He kissed me softly on the mouth, then returned to our son.
        I walked down the hallway toward the entrance of the hospital.  The hallway led off in multiple directions, and I stopped to read the sign to see which way I should go.  I could feel whatever was pulling me as I turned down the Oncology hallway.  I passed several closed doors for doctors’ offices, maintenance closets, and labs.  With each step I took, the pull became stronger.  I took several more turns and found myself alone in a long hallway, doors on each side, with masks and hand sanitizer outside each one.  A beeping noise sounded down the hallway, and a nurse walked by quickly, entering a room to my right.
        My mind tried to focus on the pull. I took a few more steps, stopping just outside one patient’s room.  The pull became so strong that I began putting on a mask.  I quickly washed my hands and pushed open the door.  The room was filled with a dark cloud, almost like a mist.  I made my way inside, barely able to see the small frame of a woman sleeping on the bed near the window.  The sun was shining, but no light entered.  Panic started to set in.  I hurried to the woman and could faintly hear the beeping of all the machines attached to her.  A man walked in, his face ragged and tired.  He sat down opposite of me and grabbed the woman's hand.  I stood, not really knowing what to do.
        "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude," I said in a whisper.
        The man didn't look at me.  He actually gave no indication that I was even there.
        "Sir?" I bent down, trying to look in his eyes.
        Nothing.
        "He can't hear you," a raspy voice said.
        I jumped, slamming against the window.  I searched the darkness, trying to locate the new sinister sounding voice.  Standing at the foot of the bed was a dark shadowy figure.  His body seemed to move gently, almost as if it weren't solid.  A thick black mist came from his fingertips, weaving up to the woman lying in the bed.  Her monitors beeped wildly, as her heart rate spiked.  The woman's eyes shot open.  Her body convulsed as she screamed in agony.  I watched as her spirit slipped away from her body. The monitor gave a loud ear-piercing beep, and the woman's husband ran from the room calling for help.  Nurses immediately came in with a crash cart.  I stood dumbfounded.  The dark figure laughed darkly, pulled a long blade from his cloak, and disappeared.  The darkness in the room vanished, the sun streamed in through the window, and I stood in shock.
        "Ma'am?"
        I jumped again. "Oh I'm sorry, what?" I said.
        "I said we need you to leave the room now," a tall nurse said, trying to hurry me from the room.
        "Yes! I'm so sorry." I apologized again before hurrying through the door.
        As I exited, I noticed the woman's husband on the floor near the door, kneeling and praying for his wife.  He sobbed loudly, not caring if anyone around him heard.  Standing just in front of him was Death, holding the woman's spirit who seemed to also be crying.  Her face was one of agony and pain.  Death stroked the back of her head, trying his