C. 6.1 "The Other Doors"

A few weeks passed and Lesley and Bangs became even closer to each other. The more she spends time with him, the less she feels lonely. She felt like she had a new family. That's what he's been longing for.

She loves the feeling that Bangs is giving her. The feeling of being wanted and needed. These are the emotions Amanda never experienced with him.

From his childhood until now he has never tasted the love of a mother or a family. But for Bangs, he is a light in this dark, cold and sad world in MNA. She is his happiness and she will not to let this go. He is her family now.

"Bangs, I'm going home. Are you kind?" he said goodbye with his sling bag slung over his shoulder. He did not answer but there was a trace of frustration on his face.

He laughed softly. It is no longer accustomed to his daily homecoming. "Don't be sad. I'll be up tomorrow morning," he said then waved it and smiled. "Goodbye!" he chased before finally leaving the room. He looked after her until the door closed completely.

He smirked as he walked down the hallway of B1. He had just left Bangs' room but he couldn't wait to come back to it tomorrow. Just a few minutes after they separated, he immediately missed her. Can he just work full time? He was just shaken.

She needs to focus on her studies. She wants to have a secured future. Life is still hard here in the Philippines when nothing is over. He just laughed at the thought.

"Here ..."

He was stunned by the voice he heard. He looked around but there was no one else here but him. She shook her head. He really needed to rest. What he hears and thinks.

"Psst! Here!"

He stopped walking again. That is no longer just hallucinations. She heard it loud and clear. It was a voice of a man. He turned his head around again.

"I'm here! Help me!" Its calling again. It was a shout and yet it sounded like a whisper.

He turned to the vending machine as they stepped away from him. The voice seems to come from there.

"Is there anyone there?" she called, but nobody answered. He walked over to it and peered over its side but no one was there. He frowned in astonishment.

"Here! Here I am!"

She looked around again. His forehead furrowed even more when he realized where the voice came from. It came from the ward near the vending machine.

He slowly approached it as his eyes stared at the carved top of its black door. "DE01?"

"Please ... Help me ..." the voice sounds weaker and creepier.

He was about to come closer when his legs suddenly became heavy. All the feathers on his body stood up and he felt a strange presence coming from inside. He was stunned by the rush of fear that suddenly flowed through his body.

He held his breath and stared intently at the black door. What is this she is feeling? He couldn't imagine what fear it was that suddenly enveloped him.

The presence he feels is not as strong and warm as Bangs's. It was a cold and dark feeling. She can sense great malice coming from inside the room. He clung so tightly to the sling of his bag as the horror he felt grew louder and louder.

"Come closer ..." Her heart skipped a beat upon hearing the mysterious voice again. It seemed to whisper in his mind which added to his astonishment.

He took a deep breath before answering it. "A-what do you need? What's the matter?" she asked while staring at the door just three steps away from her. He frowned at the black door.

"Come closer ..." he ordered but he didn't move from his position.

She can sense that something is wrong. Her entire being wants her to run but her curiosity is stronger. "S-sorry, I'm just a janitress here. I'll just call a nurse for you. What's the problem?" he asked here. His curiosity didn’t really beat the fear he felt.

"Close says!" its sudden cry.

He almost jumped backwards at the force of its shout that echoed in his ear.

"Close! Close! Close!" a series of cries that drove him back in fear.

"Come on! I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!"

Her heart almost dropped in fear and she no longer stood firm in the screams of her personality. He ran away.

It was still repeated calling him fainting as he walked away but he ignored it. She did not look back. She just kept running until she reached an elevator. She was about to enter when she heard a shout.

C. 6.2

"Hey!"

She turned to the man who had called her. This is one of the security personnel here in B1.

"Why are you running?" hostile to this question. He walked quickly towards her looking at her from head to toe to meet his eyebrows.

She gulped at the sight of the big gun he is holding. He straightened himself and straightened us even though he was still out of breath from running.

"So-sorry po," she answered while trying to catch her breath. "I-I'm scared," he said trembling and gasping and then he thought about where he came from. She could not explain what just happened. What happened to you? Who is that? Why does it want to hurt him?

"Are you the new janitress?" Question of the one in front of him. He thought about it.

"O-opo," he answered with a sigh as he nodded then he quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

"That's why," he replied sparingly. The masculine man sharply exhaled then he raised his thick eyebrows at her. "What ward?"

"K-kay V-03 please."

"I know you're V-03, the ward that scared you is what I'm asking," he replied rudely.

He was silent for a moment. How did it know that Bangs had his ward? "Ah, Uhm ..." He looked up for a moment to worry. "D ... E ... 01?"

"Ah," was his only answer and then he scratched his bald head and turned in the direction he was coming from. "I still thought what was that." He tsked then looked at her again. "If you hear something while passing by, just ignore it so you won't be affected."

He also looked in the direction he came from and then at the man's face again. "It's as if she needs something. I would have even called the nurse, case," he reasoned but he couldn't continue to say when he remembered what happened. It might not believe him.

"Oh no! I'll really pay attention to that. All you had to do was put your head in." He looked up and looked at her face with a frown in astonishment. Did he hear right?

"Be careful next time. It's the second notorious one here after your pet," he added.

His forehead furrowed even more. "What do you mean?"

"You go into those dreams and then you don't wake up. You're in a coma or you're going to have a heart attack," he said as if his words were normal and small.

He was momentarily stunned by its face and could not believe it. Her lips parted slightly. He would have questioned what he said when he remembered his conversation with Mrs. Place then.

It tells him that Bangs can hypnotize. He did not believe it because until now he had not proved it. But now, man entering into dreams? It does not make any sense to her.

"G-is that so," he replied hesitantly. There were many questions on his face. He still couldn't believe it.

"You will also get used to it in the long run. You will experience a lot more here but nothing will happen to you as long as you follow the laws here. If you feel you are in danger, go to me here or at other security stations below. No. You have to run. They can't get away. You might slip. "

He nodded politely and forced a smile. "Sa-thank you. I'll remember what you said." He just nodded at her and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm going up," he said goodbye and then he took the elevator. It just stared at him until the door closed.

When he pressed the UG button the floor closed and he leaned against the metal wall. He clung tightly to the sling of miya's bag and then took a deep breath. "What kind of patients are there here?" weakly he said to himself as he recalled what had happened earlier. This hospital seems to have more secrets than he thought.

She could not forget what the man had said as she was stunned by the absence. It sounded impossible but after her creepy experience earlier, it might all be true. He just closed his eyes again and bowed dejectedly. I want to go home...

He had already heard the sound of the elevator opening so he stood up straight. He blew air violently before stepping out.

She was on her way to her locker when she saw an old man crying at a corner. He would not have ignored it because he was going home but he was having a hard time enduring its loud sobs. His heart is still tender for adults and children.

She sighed again. She can't ignore it.

"Excuse me," she called while slowly walking towards him. The old man was wearing a blue polo and black pants with both hands covering his face. It faces the wall.

C. 6.3

"What's the problem?" he asked. She tried to sound as friendly as possible.

He wiped away the tears with his white bimpo and then breathed. Then he turned to face her and looked up at her. Her eyes were so swollen from the earlier crying that she could hardly see.

There seemed to be a twinge in his heart as they looked at each other. There is nothing as sad as its face. "A-ayos l-lang ako ineng, sa-salamat," he said and then he stared at her face. "W-you're new d-here what? I just k-saw you now," he added while his voice was still trembling from crying earlier.

"I've been here for a month," he replied and then he came closer. "Why are you crying?"

Her eyes watered again and she began to sob again. "I'm sorry! Calm down! I won't ask any more questions," he said confusedly then turned his head around until he saw an empty seat.

"Come on. Sit there first." He pointed to the chair not far from them. He nodded softly as he continued to sob.

He supports it by walking. Sitting down it calmed down slightly and wiped away the tears again. "You're old, Dad, maybe something will happen to you. Take it easy," he said worriedly.

It nodded weakly. "Thank you, you're so kind," she said without looking at him and wiped her eyes.

"Maybe you can do that," he said then stood up. "I'll get you some water. There you are."

It only took her a minute to get a bottle of water from her locker. He gave it to the old man who was immediately exhausted. It looks very thirsty.

She handed him the empty water bottle. "Thank you," this promise fails.

He put the bottle in his bag and faced the old man again. "How are you feeling?"

It took a deep breath before he answered. "I'm fine. Thanks again."

She smiled sweetly. "Nothing."

The old man turned to him and made them look at each other. It finally smiled even slightly. "I haven't asked your name yet."

"Lesley," he replied, still smiling.

"Ah, you're V-03's new janitress."

He frowned in astonishment. Earlier, the security guard at B1 immediately recognized him even though they had just met, now he is an old man. When else did he become famous?

"How did you know?" he asked.

"Because you were the only janitress for that patient for a few weeks. Since you came, she hasn't had a problem so the employees here talk to you."

He bit his lip and then simply smiled. "Is that so?" His ears clapped at what he heard. If so, he’s special to Bangs. "What about you? What's your name?" he asked.

"Ernesto. I'm an aircon technician here."

He was amazed at its answer and looked at it from head to toe in disbelief. Its skin is full of wrinkles and its back is a bit hunchbacked. It is also too thin to work on. "How old are you ?!"

"Sixty-seven."

The opening of his mouth widened. "Why aren't you retiring yet? How can you still work ?!" He asked in shock. "A-I thought you were just visiting one of the patients here."

Her eyes looked at him in surprise. There seems to be something wrong with his question. "My wife is still here," she replied as she stared into his face. "You? Who among your relatives is here?"

"Relative? What do you mean? No—"

"Mr. Joaquin?" groin of a man in a white lab gown approaching them. Their conversation was cut short and they turned their attention to it at the same time. Based on I.D. of the man, it was a doctor.

"Everything is ready Mr. Joaquin. I've been looking for you before. Come on," he said. She looked at the old man's face then she realized that the doctor was a bearer of bad news. His face was sad again.

"I understand," Ernesto replied tremblingly. It bit its lip before facing him. It's crying again. "I'll miss you ineng," the old man said languidly with deep sadness in his eyes.

It would have stood when it lost its balance. Fortunately, he immediately grabbed it and grabbed his arm tightly.

"Mang Ernesto! Are you all right ?!" full of concern he asked. He immediately helped it to stand up properly.

"Y-yes, m-my knees are just a little weak."

"Miss," the doctor groaned. "Can you help him where we're going? If it doesn't bother you."

"Yes! There's no problem," he answered without hesitation then turned back to the old man. "Just hold on to my hands."

It nodded softly. "Thank you ineng. I'm sorry too," she replied languidly.

"There's no problem. Come on," he said, then helped him walk.

He stared behind the doctor walking in front of them. Where would they go? What does it need from Mang Ernesto? Will he discover anything strange again in this hospital? She couldn’t help but question herself.

They followed the doctor to the fifth floor until they reached Ward 511. There were two guards and a nurse lurking in front of the room and another female doctor was leaning against the wall next to the door. They seem to have been waiting for a while.

"It looks like I'm only up to here Mang Ernesto," he said then carefully let go of his arm.

"Thank you so much," he said with a smile then turned to the female doctor who was leaning against the door. "I'm sorry Dr. Shane and I'm just now."

The female doctor called Dr. stood up straight. Shane and looked at its watch. "It's fine. I can still give you time with her."

The woman has a neat ponytail and intimidating hazel eyes. It is tall and white. Lesley stared at the woman's face for a moment. It was as if he had seen it before.

"How long?" Ernesto asked with an unmistakable fear and sadness on his face.

"Five minutes," replied Dr. Shane. It folded again and raised an eyebrow.

The old man's jaw tightened, obviously angry at what he said. His fists clenched and calmed down immediately after taking a deep breath. Then it turned to face him. "Can you come with me inside? I'll introduce you to my wife," it invited.

Her eyebrows rose. "Are you sure?" It answered him with a nod.

Lesley asked the nurses especially the rude doctor but there was no reaction on her faces. It looks okay if he comes along. "S-okay." He asked Dr. one more time. Shane and he saw that her stare was already sharp on him. He quickly averted his gaze. Why do people complain about it? he whispered in his mind.

If he just didn't really feel sorry for Ernesto he wouldn't allow it to accompany him inside. He took a deep breath and took hold of the old man's arm again to support it while avoiding looking at the doctors and nurses. They walked slowly until they could enter ward 511.