Milwaukee Deep

“Michael, can you hear me?” asked Dr Durham as she looked over at both Sam and Dr Jensen.

There was a pause

“Yes,” he finally replied, he eyes closed, his body still.

“Michael, can you tell me where you are right now?”

Sam stood silent, focused on what Michael was about to say.

“It’s dark – I’m cold.”

Durham turned to Jensen and Sam and whispered, “I’ve asked Michael to trace back his steps the day after he went missing.”

“I see something up ahead.”

“What is it, Michael? Can you see what it is?” Durham asked as she turned her attention back on her patient.

“It’s blurry - I can’t make it out.”

Michael went silent.

Durham kept quiet.

“It’s them.”

“Who, Michael?”

“The visitors – I can see them down the corridor.”

“Michael, where are you right now?” asked Durham.

“I’m in their ship.”

Michael began to move slightly on his bed. Jensen and Sam stood silent as they listened with anticipation.

“Michael, are you okay?” asked the doctor.

“Yes.”

“Michael, how did you get on the ship – why are you there?”

“I volunteered – I wanted to see this place for myself.”

“You volunteered for what?” she asked.

“To steal it.”

“To steal what, Michael?”

“The virus – they want it.”

“Who – who wants it, Michael?”

“We do.”

“And who are we – are you talking about the government?”

“Yes. The CIA – they’ve wanted this for decades.”

Sam and Jensen turned to each other

“Michael, who are these visitors?” asked Durham

“They’re looking for a cure – they came here all those years ago.”

“Came here from where, Michael?”

“Their planet.”

“Did he say planet?” Jensen asked.

Durham turned to the doctor.

“Be quiet,” she whispered

“Michael,” she turned her attention back to her patient, “what do you mean, they’re looking for a cure?” she asked

“To the virus that-.”

Michael went silent.

“Michael?”

There was no answer.

“Michael, are you okay?”

“They’re coming – they’ve seen me!”

Michael began to shake violently – his arms swaying about, his legs kicking.

Jensen moved in close, but Durham put her arm out to stop him.

“Michael, listen to me,” she began, “I’m about to count to three, on three you will wake up and you will forget everything, do you understand?”

Michael started to shake harder.

“One.”

“FOR GOD’S SAKE HELP ME!” he screamed.

“Two”

His head began to move violently from side to side.

“Three.”

Michael immediately stopped shaking. He lay still again.

He opened his eyes. He looked around the room.

He saw Sam standing there looking down at him.

“Sam? When did you get in?”