My life as an EMT in Graceland
I still look back and wonder why I even left the city. So what if I get paid a couple of extra bucks an hour here? Is it worth it? The things I see and experience are things no sane human should ever be subjected to. But I guess someone has to do it. Then again, that someone doesn’t have to be me. I could leave this God-forsaken place anytime, right?
I’d like to think I can, but every time I try, the idea escapes my mind like I never even thought of it in the first place.
My name is Kris. Yes, with a K, because my parents were “unique.” I work for an ambulance service in the seemingly peaceful town of Graceland, Missouri. When I first moved here from the big city, I was enamored by the quiet roads and buildings that weren’t seventy stories high. The sun feels so much brighter here when it isn’t hiding behind layers of exhaust and cigarette smoke.
Graceland is the perfect quiet town. At least for the people who work day shift on the ambulance. Picking old ladies up off the floor and getting pats on the back from grateful family members is about all those idiots do. Nothing compared to the things we’re subjected to at night.
When a night-shift opening came up in a small town, I jumped at the chance to sleep my nights away while getting paid. But ever since I ran my first call, I learned why there was an opening in the first place.
Call Log #1 – The Shadow
I had finally made it to my new headquarters: an old insurance building that had been converted into an EMS station years ago. I waved goodbye to the day crews one by one as they left, smiling and joking about how “hard” their shifts were.
That’s when I saw him.
The man I had been dreading to meet.
My new partner, Big K.
I immediately understood why they added the “Big” part to his name. The man was huge - the kind of huge that makes you wonder how someone could comfortably fit anywhere. He was about my height but twice my width, with scruffy hair, a thick beard, and eerily reflective glasses that shined so brightly under the lights you could barely see his eyes.
“Hey there, bud,” he said in a low, mottled voice that sounded like it had been carved from thousands of cigarettes and gallons of scalding gas station coffee.
“Um… hi,” I replied.
“So, you’re my new buddy, huh?” he laughed.
I definitely didn’t like how that sounded.
“Partner,” I corrected. “Yeah. I’m your new partner.”
“Well, my smooth-faced partner, you’re in luck. You get to meet Amelia on your very first night!”
His voice seemed familiar somehow, though I couldn’t explain why.
“Amelia? Who’s that?” I asked quietly.
“Oh, just one of the wonderful Graceland residents we get the honor and pleasure of serving.”
I couldn’t tell whether he was joking or not.
I climbed into the passenger seat of our rundown ambulance. The door looked like it might fall off if I slammed it too hard, so I carefully eased it shut.
“Oh, you gotta slam these doors hard,” he chuckled.
I watched in amazement as my new partner somehow folded himself into the driver’s seat. The cab smelled like meat sticks and stale chip crumbs. During the eight-minute drive to Amelia’s house, I watched Big K devour three double cheeseburgers from the local burger joint. Honestly, it was impressive.
As we pulled up, I frowned in confusion.
A tiny shed sat alone near the road - barely big enough for one person, maybe two if they were very comfortable with each other.
“This is great,” I muttered internally. “She lives here.”
Living in a shed like that was what most people would consider a prime example of homelessness.
I was lost in thought when a tiny face suddenly popped up at my window.
“HI!” she shrieked.
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
She was incredibly frail, probably weighing less than half of the burgers K had just eaten. Her skin sagged loosely against her bones, and she moved with quick, jerky motions as she scurried toward the back of the ambulance like this was a routine pickup.
“Hello, Mrs. Amelia,” K said kindly. “What seems to be the problem this beautiful night?”
“Well, I ran out of my meds again… and you know how I get without my meds…”
“Meds for what?” I wondered. “Could it really be bad enough to need the hospital instead of calling her doctor?”
Amelia climbed into the back and sat on the bench seat like she’d done it a hundred times before.
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone gets to lie on the cot. Ours was currently occupied by the red bag and monitor, and if I decide your illness or injury doesn’t deserve the cot, I have absolutely no problem making you sit on the bench with me.
As Amelia buckled herself in and K finished taking her vitals, he somehow squeezed through the opening to the cab without even using the side door.
“Uhhh… that was odd,” I muttered. “Why didn’t you just use the door?”
He only smiled, revealing teeth stained black from years of tobacco.
“You ready to head out, bud?” K yelled from the front.
“Yeah… yeah, I guess so.”
“Alright! Buckle up, buddy!” he shouted cheerfully.
Then his tone changed.
“Oh… and a piece of advice.”
His voice sharpened into something darker, rougher.
“Don’t let in her shadow.”
This time, his voice sounded empty - full of fear.
“Her shadow?” I scoffed. “Yeah, dude, I’m pretty sure that’s not how shadows work.”
The words had barely left my mouth before the ambulance started moving.
Then I saw it.
I looked back at Amelia and felt my breath catch in my throat.
A thin black line stretched from beneath her feet across the floor toward the rear doors, slipping underneath them like liquid darkness.
I rubbed my eyes over and over, but it didn’t disappear. It moved slightly with every bump in the road.
Amelia just sat there smiling at me with that empty grin while I slowly backed myself into the opposite corner of the truck.
Then came the knocking.
Faint at first.
A soft tap against the side door.
I tried to ignore it. We were moving at least forty miles per hour. There was no way someone could be outside the ambulance.
Right?
The knocking came again.
Louder this time.
The black line twitched with every impact.
“K… um… K?” I stammered. “I don’t really feel comfortable back here anymore, dude. I think we should switch.”
I looked toward the front and saw his smug grin in the rearview mirror.
“Ah, you’re fine! You’re doing great. Don’t forget to get another set of vitals!”
His cheerful tone returned instantly.
“Yeah, because the last thing I want to do is walk toward the creepy lady with the knocking shadow,” I muttered.
Finally, I worked up enough courage to peer through the small decal-covered windows on the back doors.
I followed the black line with my eyes as I scanned the darkness outside.
KNOCK!
This time the sound came from the ceiling.
I jumped so hard I slammed my head against the cabinet above me.
“No. No no no no…”
My heart pounded.
“What the hell was in that energy drink?”
The knocking continued the entire drive to the hospital, growing louder and more impatient with every passing minute.
I stayed curled up in the corner chair and didn’t say another word.
The moment we pulled into the ambulance bay, I shot a furious look at K.
Then I saw Amelia reaching for the rear door handle.
“NO! DON’T!” I screamed.
She froze, her hand inches away from the latch.
“Uh… let me get that for you, Mrs. Amelia,” I said quickly.
Then the door popped open.
My heart dropped.
I looked around wildly.
Nothing.
No black line.
No shadow.
Where the hell did it go?
My thoughts were interrupted when Big K’s familiar face appeared in the doorway, smiling smugly.
“You okay, kid?” he asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
After that, I wanted nothing more than to hand Amelia - and this entire screwed-up night - off to the hospital staff.
Sadly, I could only get rid of one of them.
I waved goodbye to Amelia and walked back to the truck faster than I thought possible.