She shot up in her bed. Her heart hammered in her chest. They’re back, she whispered to herself as the fear paralyzed her body. It almost sounded like fingers scraping across a chalk board, only it was coming from inside of the wall; the noise became stronger and stronger. “Scratch... scratch... scratch”.

She pulled the covers over her head. She couldn’t sleep for fear that if she did whatever was in the wall would come and attack her. Night time became dreadful and after weeks of little to no sleep she was aggravated as hell.

One day she went and talked to her landlord about the problem. He didn’t seem concerned about it at all. Of course all he ever worried about was the rent being paid on time. When it came to repairs and upkeep of the house he didn’t want any part of it. However, he did mention that a few years before an elderly woman had passed away in the house.

You could have mentioned that little piece of information before we moved in, she mumbled as she walked away.

That night the noises were unrelenting. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse. Now it appeared that whatever it was decided that they were hungry and began to raid the kitchen. At this point she was convinced that there was a ghost or two wandering around at night time. She got out of bed and locked the bedroom door.

She woke her husband up to tell him about the unwanted guests. He didn’t seem to care about them and rolled back over and fell asleep. She was livid! How could he sleep through this? She thought to herself.

After everything seemed to calm down she decided that enough was enough and went to explore. She wearily grabbed a flashlight and headed out of the bedroom. As she walked through the darkened house everything seemed normal. So, she went into the kitchen to get a glass of water. She heard the familiar sound again. “Scratch... scratch... scratch”.

“Oh my Gosh! What the heck was that?”

She inched slowly towards the cupboard. As she approached, the noise stopped. She slowly reached for the handle on the door and pulled it open. She shined the light around inside and saw nothing. Then she flashed it towards the back wall and saw a gigantic hole. Since there were no signs of anything she decided to give up for the night.

With an exhausted sigh, she turned to walk away. Before she could make it out of the room she heard the cupboard burst open. She turned around. A family of raccoons headed straight for her. She wanted to run, but she was frozen with fear. She tried to scream, but she couldn’t.

The raccoons stood a few feet away from her. They hissed and showed their teeth. After a few minutes they jumped on her and started biting at her as if they hadn’t eaten for weeks.

She laid there helpless as the coons gnawed on her. As silent tears streamed down her cheeks she felt the flesh being wrenched from her body. She knew the end was near. All she saw was darkness.

Her husband heard the racket and jumped out of bed, threw on some shorts, still half asleep he grabbed his rifle, and went to investigate. Mumbling profanities under his breath he walked into the kitchen, but by that time the raccoons had retreated back into the cupboard.

"What is going on in he….Oh my God, Amanda, can you hear me? It’s me Tom, please talk to me….Oh, God please don't take her from me now."

"This is 911 emergency how may I help you?"

"It's my wife…I am not sure what happened, but I found her on the kitchen floor…I think someone broke in and attacked her. I need help, please help me!"

“Is she breathing?”

“Uh, I am not sure...”

"Someone will be there shortly, please remain calm, sir."

"Remain calm? My wife is lying here possibly dead and I am supposed to remain calm?"

"I'm sorry sir; I know it must be hard to watch your wife under these circumstances…"

The voice on the other end began to fade as he watched his wife’s mangled, still frame. How someone could do something like this is beyond me, he muttered to himself as he began to weep.

It seemed like an eternity before the emergency workers arrived. They burst through the door like they owned the place and before Tom knew it his wife was hooked up to all sorts of machines.

“Blood pressure is low, but I am getting a pulse, let’s get her out to the ambulance.”

“She’s alive? Oh my God! Will I be able to ride along with her in the ambulance?”

“Yes, sir, now let’s hurry we don’t have much time!”

On the way to the hospital Tom watched as they poked around trying to get Amanda to respond. Tears once again welled up in his eyes; she lay there as if she were dead. C’mon, please wake up, I need you, he whispered.

When they got to the hospital Tom was greeted by a man in a long trench coat with a clip board in his hand. He tried to bypass the man and follow the emergency workers who had his wife but the man wouldn’t let him by.

“Hello sir, my name is Detective Riggs and I will need to ask you a few questions.”

“But my wife... I need to be with my wife, please let me go.”

“First you must answer a few questions, and then you may go to her.”

“Fine, make it quick.”

“Okay, I will try…What were you doing while your wife was being attacked”

“I was asleep. It was the middle of the night.”

“Alright, so when you found her was she conscious?”

“No, she wasn’t…I heard loud noises and by the time I got to the kitchen the attacker had fled…If you think I attacked my wife you are sadly mistaken…now may I go see my wife please?”

“Yes, go ahead, thank you for your time.”

Tom nodded and made his way to the front desk. He stood there for five minutes before someone noticed him.

“I’m sorry for your wait sir, how may I help you?”

“My wife, they’ve taken her somewhere. The name’s Amanda Johnson.”

“Follow me, she is right this way.”

“Thank you…”

Seconds later he found himself entering a cold, darkened room. Amanda was still hooked up to a bunch of machines and she looked terrible. Her arms were covered in torn flesh, her clothing was torn to shreds, and her face looked pale. As his eyes succumbed to the tears, Tom had to turn away, he couldn’t bear to look at her anymore; she looked dead. He had to get out of the room and clear his head. He decided to find the chapel so he could spend some time alone with his thoughts.

Meanwhile in his office downtown, Detective Riggs pecked at the keys on his word processor; this type of thing always made him angry. That guy had guilt written all over his face. I’ve been a detective for ten years now and I know guilt when I see it, he mumbled to himself.

“Hello?”

“Hey there, Marty, this is Detective Riggs; I was just over at the hospital working on a case of what is believed to be domestic abuse. I have the report all typed up and ready to go. I think we have a deranged man on our hands. His wife looks awful; I could hardly stand to look at her for long. Better send a few of your men over to the hospital on 3rd street.”

“Okay, Detective, they’re on their way.”
Tom found the chapel; out of respect he removed his baseball cap and made his way to the front pew. The room was fairly small with 10 rows of pews, five on each side. The lighting was dim which made it easy for one to concentrate on prayer and meditation.

“God, please don’t let her die. I’ll never ask for anything ever again if you’ll just bring her back to…”

“Tom Johnson?”

“Umm yes, can I help you?”

“You are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.”

“B..but, I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t understand. Please, I didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to be in here this late. I was just praying for my wife to be okay. I won’t do it again, I swear.”

“You are under arrest for battery and attempted murder of your wife”.

“What the hell are you talking about? I have never laid a hand on my wife in a harmful way.”

“We sent investigators to your home and it hadn’t been broken into at all. The only thing that looked out of order was where Mrs. Anderson was laying. So, we have reason to believe that you were the cause of it. Now come with me we will have to bring you down to the station for questioning.”

“Yes sir,” Tom said with a sigh.

With that the officer cuffed him and led him to the car.

The ride to the station seemed never-ending. All Tom could think about was his poor wife lying there in the hospital room alone. What if something happens or she wakes up and I am not there? I will never forgive myself, he thought.

The station, an old brick building in the center of the downtown square, looked like it had seen better days; it kind of reminded Tom of the station on the Andy Griffith show. Inside was no different; it had the old time marble floors and peeling paint on the walls.

The officer, a tall, semi-stout man with graying hair, led him down a long hallway past several offices and through a set of double doors. He unlocked a cell and took the cuffs from Tom’s wrists. After he shut the door he skimmed quickly over the paper on his clipboard.

“Someone will come get you in a few hours for questioning. Oh, by the way my name is Officer Brady. Well, I guess that’s all for now…”

“Okay”, Tom muttered.

After the officer walked away Tom made his way over to the tattered mattress they called a bed, sat down, and bowed his head in despair. What can I do to make them believe me? he cried out. Everything seemed to echo.

The cell was about as homey as a cellar. The walls and floors were made of cement and the furniture consisted of an old wooden desk and a bed frame with a mattress on it that was hard as a rock.

Back at the hospital not much had changed except they moved Amanda up to the intensive care unit, she was still unconscious. Her vital signs were okay one minute but then plummet the next. They cleansed and bandaged her open wounds, but things weren’t looking good; they didn’t expect her to make it through the night.

Tom sat and stared at the wall; the minutes seemed like days. He wondered if Amanda had woken up yet or if they would even bother to tell him if she did. With each thought the tears became stronger. I can’t believe I let this happen. I am such an idiot., he shouted bitterly into the silence.

A few minutes later Officer Brady unlocked the cell and walked inside. He put the hand cuffs back around Tom’s wrists and led him into the hallway. They passed a few doors before the officer led him into a small room about the size of a walk in closet. The clock on the wall read 6:30am and Tom was exhausted. He sat on one side of the table, slouching in his chair, and the detective sat across from him.

“Hi, my name is Detective Riggs, I believe we met earlier.”

“Yes sir.”

“I will need to ask you a few questions. As you know we investigated your home and we couldn’t find anything that led us to believe anyone broke in and harmed your wife. You are now the prime suspect in the case. So, we have to keep you under lock and key until we figure out exactly what happened.”

“Yes sir.”

“Now tell me again where you were exactly at the time of the crime.”

“I told you already. I was in bed sleeping. I heard the commotion, grabbed my gun, and went to see what was going on and I found my wife lying on the ground unconscious and it looked like someone had ripped the flesh from her body. Then I called 911. That is the honest to God truth, sir. I just want to see my wife. Can you at least tell me how she is doing?”

“Okay, how’s yours and your wife’s relationship? I mean, do you get along okay? And by the way the hospital called about fifteen minutes ago and there has been no change.”

“Isn’t that kind of personal sir?”

“Just answer the question, Tom.”

“Fine…We get along okay for the most part. I mean, of course we argue, but who doesn’t? I have never laid a hand on my wife, I swear.”

“Thanks, that is all the questions we have for now.”

“Can I go see my wife, Detective?”

“No, I am afraid not, but we will keep you updated on her condition.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Officer Brady led Tom back to his cell and removed the hand cuffs. He went back to the mattress and lay down. He tried to sleep, but as tired as he felt he just couldn’t turn his mind off.

The nurses checked on Amanda every fifteen minutes. By 10:00 am there was still not much of a change. But her vitals seemed to be steadier, so they continued with their routine.

At 1:00pm Rebecca, a nurses aid walked by Amanda’s room and heard a muffled sound. She couldn’t imagine what it could be so she called for back up. They walked into the room unprepared for what they saw.

Tom…Tom…where are you?

"Where am I? I need Tom. She cried."

Fighting back her tears the nurse walked over to Amanda’s bedside to check her monitors and change the dressing on her wounds. Everything seemed to be normal, but her temperature kept rising. It was now 102.3. As she took off the last bandage Amanda jumped, opened her eyes, and shot up in the bed.

“Who are you? Why are you touching me? I want Tom, please stop hurting me!”

“Honey, I am sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you. You were attacked and injured. You’re at the hospital sweetie.”

“The hospital? Where’s Tom? Why did he leave me? I’m so scared.”

“Just relax, dear. Someone will come in and talked to about everything in awhile.”

“B...but Tom…I need To….”

The Morphine kicked in and she fell asleep. The nurse wasn’t sure what to do so she decided to call the doctor in. The doctor examined Amanda again and couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary.

“It looks like she just might pull through this. When she is feeling a little bit better we will have to bring the detective in to question her. Keep an eye on her and let me know when she seems to be feeling well enough to give us some answers.”

“Yes sir.”

Tom was growing more and more irritated as the hours passed. He felt like the officers were purposely withholding the information about his wife’s condition from him. He got up, kicked the desk, and threw his hands up in the air. Why me? He screamed. Officer Brady heard the commotion and went to check it out.

“Tom, are you okay?”

“No, do you think I am okay? I’m locked in a jail cell while my wife is lying in the hospital and no one will tell me what is going on! Do you think anyone would be okay under those circumstances?”

“No sir, I guess not. The hospital called a few minutes ago and said that Amanda seems to be doing okay and she might even pull through this. She woke up for a few minutes, but she is sleeping right now.”

“Did, she say what happened while she was awake? Can I go see her now?”

“No, I am afraid you will have to stay until we get to the bottom of it.” When she wakes up Detective Riggs will go over and talk to her.”

“Alright…”

Tom slumped back onto the mattress, cupped his hands over his face, and started to cry. In just twenty-four hours his life had turned into a living Hell. I’m going to find out who was behind all of this if I ever get out of here, He whispered to himself as he drifted off to sleep.

Amanda opened her eyes and looked around the room. She looked down at the bandages on her arms and legs in horror.

“Help me…someone help me! Where am I?”

Her screams echoed into the nurse’s station down the hall. Rebecca and two other nurses went to check on her.

“Amanda, how are you feeling tonight? Rebecca asked.

“Who are you and why am I here? I don’t know you! What have you done to my husband?”

“Let me call someone to come in and talk with you, sweetie. I’ll be right back.”

A half an hour later Detective Riggs entered the room and removed his hat. He walked towards the bed with caution. He didn’t want to startle Amanda and the nurse had told him how confused and angry she was.

“Mrs. Johnson?”

“Who are you?” She replied bitterly.

“My name is Detective Riggs and I just need to ask you a few questions.”

“What do I need a detective for? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“We are trying to find out who assaulted you, ma’am.”

“Well, I couldn’t tell you that. The last thing I remember is hearing a noise in the kitchen and when I went to check there wasn’t anything that I could see so I was going to go back to bed, but the problem is I can’t remember anything after that until I woke up and found myself in this God forsaken place hooked up to machines and all bandaged up. Does Tom know I am here? Is he okay?”

“Yes, Tom is fine. We investigated your house to see what might have happened and your husband is our key suspect in the assault.”

“Tom? I don’t think he’d hurt a fly.”

“Until we find out something otherwise we have to keep under our care.”

“B…but I need him here with me! You can’t just keep him without evidence!”

“Ma’am, unless you can remember exactly what happened and tell us or we find out something else, he will remain in jail.”

“That’s just not righ….”

“…Ma’am, it’s our job, let us handle it. Thanks for your time; I hope you get to feeling better soon.”

“Thanks….”

Amanda couldn’t believe what was happening. First she woke up to find herself confined to a hospital bed and then they tell her that Tom was jail. This has to be just a terrible nightmare. I’ll wake up and it will all be over, she thought aloud. The nurse overheard Amanda and shook her head. That poor girl, she said, in a whisper, as the tears filled her eyes.

Hours turned into days and before they knew it two weeks had passed. Amanda’s condition improved more and more with each passing day. She was moved out of the intensive care unit and into a regular room. The wounds started to heal and the only thing keeping her in the hospital was her temperature. It would not go down under 103.

Tom had grown accustomed to the old tattered mattress. He spent most of his days lying in bed reading the newspaper and the Bible that his minister had brought to him. He waited with anticipation for news about Amanda and prayed that her memory would be restored.

One night while Amanda slept she was haunted with a vision. All of the memories from that dreadful night poured in. She saw the coons and how they charged at her. Then she saw herself lying on the floor helpless, trying to call for help but failing. She woke up with a start.

“Tom….Tom…help me! They won’t leave me alone. …it hurts…please!”

The nurse heard that and ran into Amanda’s room.

“Amanda? Are you okay?”

“No, help me! They’re biting me and it hurts. Please get them away from me!”

“Get what away from you sweetie?”

“The raccoons!”

The nurse called the doctor in and by that time Amanda was fully awake. She lay in her bed crying and shaking. After about ten minutes she calmed down enough to speak.

“Doctor?”

“Yes, Amanda?”

“I know what happened that night. When I turned to leave the kitchen a family of raccoons burst out of the cupboard and attacked me…..”

“…Raccoons?”

“Yes, doctor.”

The doctor called Detective Riggs and told him the story. Then he prepared to run some tests on Amanda to make sure everything was alright.”

Tom was never happier than the moment he heard the news. Officer Brady escorted him back to the hospital. He couldn’t get up to Amanda’s room fast enough.
“Tom!” Amanda cried as he entered.

“I missed you so much, Amanda.”

“I tried to tell them you wouldn’t hurt a fly, but they just wouldn’t listen to me.”

“It’s okay, hon; all that matters is that you are going to be okay. Would you like a glass of water?”

“It hurts to swallow it. I’m not sure why. I am also in a lot of pain where the bite wounds are, but I guess maybe that is a normal part of healing.”

“Have you told the doctor?”

“No, and ruin my chances of going home in a few days?”

“Alright, if you don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Tom and Amanda spent the rest of the day enjoying each other’s company and catching up. He told her about everything that happened while he was in jail and they laughed and cried about the events of the past few weeks.

That night things changed. Tom was awakened to the sounds of Amanda moaning. He got up to check on her and tried to find out what was wrong, but she wouldn’t move or speak. Terrified he ran down to the nurse’s station.

“It’s my wife, something is wrong. Please come quick.”

“Yes, sir.”

When they returned to the room Amanda was unconscious, her blood pressure was too low, and her fever had reached 105. The doctor tried everything he could to revive her, but couldn’t.

“She’s gone…”

“No! She can’t be!” Tom cried.

“I’m sorry…we did everything we could do.”

“She seemed fine this afternoon. What happened?”

“By the looks of things those raccoons must have been rabid, Tom.”

“It’s my fault. I should have been there to protect her!”

That night Tom spent the night at a hotel, though he couldn’t sleep. The next day he, Officer Brady, and an animal control officer headed to the house and set some traps baited with sardines. Within two days that had caught five coons and properly disposed of them. After further investigation they found no more traces of raccoons in the house so the animal control officer said it was okay for Tom to start staying at home again.

That night he had a hard time falling asleep. Every time he closed his eyes he thought of that tragic night. After about an hour of tossing and turning he got up and threw on his pants so he could get a glass of water. As he turned the door knob he heard a sound coming from other side of the wall. Scratch…scratch…scratch.

Tom grabbed his rifle and walked into the living room. Everything appeared to be normal so he walked into the dining room. He froze in place as he looked up and saw a man, holding a large hunting knife with jagged edges in his hand, dressed in black and a ski mask covering his face coming toward him. As he stared at the knife his mind recalled the wounds on Amanda’s body. Then all he saw was darkness.

May 2005