The Door: Part II

Centered directly above the door, mounted so that it points straight out from the wall is a basic light fixture containing a single, bare, red bulb. The red light is not illuminated, nor does it appear to have been in quite some time. What could the red light be intended as a warning for? A swath of dim light from the nearby hallway reluctantly edges its way into the entryway. It is by this dim light that I am able to make out two details that had escaped my notice at first glance. On the wall to the left of the oddly imposing door is a switch in the up, on position. Then in the gloomy light I am also able to see that there is a single word stenciled on the door at about eye level. The letters are gold and of a font that appears to be quite old.

“Necropsy” it simply says. Behind the door is death, or at least this is where death used to be when this was a functioning hospital. The room behind the mysterious door is the old morgue.

I tentatively reach out to try the knob, not sure if I really want it to turn. The brass handle refuses to budge and in my mind I feel a relief that I hope isn’t apparent on my face. On a whim I flip the switch to my left. Nothing happens. No sound from within the room. No red light suddenly ablaze above me. No blaring alarms to warn anyone of an intruder. What could the switch be for? As I look to the space at the bottom of the door expecting to see a sliver of light from within, I instead see something that seems to make my blood freeze in my veins. At first I am unsure if it is just a shadow, but as I bend down to look more closely I see that it is indeed what I feared it might be.