He reached the end of the hall, the end of the pain and suffering, where people waited for him to escort them to their doom. "So sad." He muttered to himself as he saw the unified expression on their faces. Sadness.
* * *
What seemed like a vortex brought Derick violently back to his own couch, in his own apartment, where Maria and a doctor were waiting for him to wake up.
The doctor stood up and put his notepad on the coffee table. "Derick, I'm Doctor McDonovich. Your pulse has slowed, I want you to lie very still and use very little energy. Right now, there's no apparent cause. Your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are extremely high. May I ask what your diet is like?"
Derick shrugged feebly. "I'm a meat and potatoes kind of guy. The occasional pie." Derick looked at Maria and smiled. A teary smile was returned to him.
"No vegetables?"
"Occasionally."
"About how often?"
"A couple servings a week."
McGonovich put his hand into the pocket of his gray overcoat. He scratched his chin with the other. "Well, your heart is beating very fast. Looks to me like you might have a heart attack any moment."
McGonovich turned to Maria. "I'll be right back. I have to run to my office to get something. Keep him awake." McGonovich hurried to the door and exited the apartment.
Maria began to caress Derick's head when suddenly Derick suddenly lunged at Maria, his hand grasped around her neck. She tried to scream out, but was being smothered. The only sound she could make was slightly gurgled sounds. She clawed at his hands.
Just then, Lydia walked in, having talked to the doctor outside while Maria was being strangled. "Derick, what are you doing?" Lydia asked.
Derick ran to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. Maria tried to get out the front door. Lydia stepped back. Maria screamed.
* * *
Derick was transported back to the underworld, back in the position in which he held before he was in his apartment for the last time. All the sad people. He thought.
They were waiting patiently for him to return. Well, at least I'm not at the factory.