The Case of Sherwood Nicholls

This file was compiled by Alva Keel through witness interviews and observations made by SQ.

      Sakovsky's Syndrome is a disease that robs the patient of the ability to move any muscle in their body. These patients can no longer care for themselves, nor speak, nor even breathe on their own. If the ventilator keeping them alive fails in any way, they will die in a matter of a few short minutes. For reasons beyond our current understanding, those who have a genetic predisposition toward Sakovsky's also tend to exhibit paranormal abilities. Dr. Linden of the Rygard Institute, and Dr. Bliss of Heidelberg, Germany, have both led studies on this theory that support these findings.
      Our own research into these concepts led us to Dr. Bauer, a respected physician specializing in Sakovsky's Syndrome. His latest efforts have been focused on teaching patients how to communicate, using a computerized machine that will allow them to "speak." All the patient has to do is choose a letter on the keyboard with their line of sight, through the use of an eyepiece, and this letter will then be spoken by a synthesized voice box. However, this is much easier said than done for a Sakovsky's patient; thus far, there had been no response to the treatment.
      Mr. Callan and I attended an arcane medical symposium where we met Dr. Bauer; he was not initially receptive to our work. It was at this symposium that Mr. Callan encountered the doctor's daughter, Dr. Raina Bauer. This would turn out to be only the first of several personal meetings for Mr. Callan and Raina Bauer.
      Soon thereafter, Dr. Bauer appeared to receive an amazing breakthrough with his patient, Sherwood Nicholls. Sherwood not only began using the computerized voice box, but he gave the doctor tantalizing and revolutionary medical solutions for dealing with Sakovsky's Syndrome, based on the doctor's own research. The patient used the computer system with amazing speed, especially for one in his condition, and on his first attempt at utilizing the apparatus.
      Concerned for her father, who evinced signs of profound insomnia, Raina Bauer contacted Mr. Callan and asked him to speak with her father about what had happened with Mr. Nicholls. We were afraid, as was Raina, that the source of these medical breakthroughs was not a normal one, and that there might be ulterior motives involved. It seemed doubtful that the patient could accomplish so much so quickly on his own. Raina was starting to take my theory from the medical symposium a bit more seriously. We surmised that perhaps Mr. Nicholls did have some sort of paranormal abilities, and that he had broadcasted a "wish" into the Void for his doctor to receive the answers he so desperately sought. As the old saying goes, the Devil always comes in wondrous guises. Many evil entities come bearing a gift - a solution, an accomplishment, a miraculous breakthrough - to make it seem like they are on our side. Once a person is "hooked" on the gifts they are receiving from the entity, and begins to trust it fully, the entity often reveals what it really came for: agony, pain, destruction, death, perhaps even our very souls. Then, it has us where it wants us.
      Mr. Callan tried to speak with Dr. Bauer, but he was temporarily sent away. He did, however, take the time to visit Mr. Nicholls' room, where he noted the distinct smell of tar. This smell did not seem to be noticed by anyone else, which indicated to me that it was a significant trace signature detectable only by psychics such as Mr. Callan. This revealed the presence of a malevolent entity possessing the patient's body. A victim of Sakovsky's would be an especially good target for possession, as they cannot actively fight back.
      While maintaining surveillance on Dr. Bauer's house, Mr. Callan was approached by Raina again. She offered him coffee, which turned out to be sweetened exactly to his normal preference, although he had never revealed to her this fact. This incident would prove to be significant later in the case.
      Mr. Callan received a call from Dr. Bauer asking him to meet him at his clinic. When he arrived, the doctor told him that Sherwood Nicholls had called, giving him Mr. Callan's personal phone number. The fact that a Sakovsky's patient had made a phone call, and had even known Mr. Callan's private number, led them to believe that something very bizarre was happening.
      During his interview, Mr. Callan's suspicions were aroused when Mr. Nicholls knew his first name was Paul without being told, and then offered all sorts of personal details about Mr. Callan that the patient could not have possibly known. Our theory about the evil entity was thereby confirmed. It became very hostile with Mr. Callan, and attempted to convince Dr. Bauer that Mr. Callan did not exist, that he was merely a hallucination brought on by continued sleep deprivation. When this did not fully capture the doctor's attention, the entity brought up the fact that Mr. Callan had been recently seeing his daughter, Raina. Dr. Bauer had an immediate, intense reaction, even shouting in disbelief. As Mr. Callan attempted to remove Sherwood Nicholls' headset, the entity claimed he was being injured, so the doctor stopped Mr. Callan by striking him over the head with a fire extinguisher. Mr. Callan was left unconscious on the floor while the entity told the doctor he would receive a cure for Sakovsky's Syndrome after not only overdosing his patients, but by doing the same to himself.
      Meanwhile, Ms. Santos and myself followed the clues we already had to a conclusion. Dr. Linden provided crucial information about a parasitic entity, called "Das Unterweimer" in German, that emits the scent of tar when present in a human being. It would use a person like Mr. Nicholls to enter our physical realm, then feed off his life-force while it seduced other people into destroying themselves; this is what it was obviously trying to do to Dr. Bauer. Now it just had to deliver the final blow to completely destroy the doctor's work, as well as the doctor himself. Luckily, it can be proven that "Das Unterweimer" has possessed a person - the entity gives off an electrical charge that shows up in photographs as an orange aura surrounding the body.
      While preparing to go to the clinic to conduct these photographic experiments, we received a call from Raina informing us that Mr. Callan was in trouble, and that her father was in danger. We hurried to the clinic. When we arrived, we found Mr. Callan on the floor, just regaining consciousness. He and Ms. Santos then searched the clinic for Dr. Bauer while I initiated the disposal of "Das Unterweimer." It revealed a few personal things about myself, trying to bait me with its "gifts" of information, and assured me it could answer any questions I had. I did ask it one question, which was its name. It replied that it was known as "Mr. Friendly." That explains the "smiley face" it used as a symbol on the computer monitor attached to the voice box. I doubt this was its real name; this was most likely a nickname it used while in our earthly realm. Once I had taken a photograph that proved the entity was indeed present in Mr. Nicholls' body, I did what was necessary to exorcise "Mr. Friendly" from the patient, while causing no residual damage to Mr. Nicholls. Meanwhile, Mr. Callan discovered the whereabouts of Dr. Bauer and stopped him from overdosing himself or his patients. The doctor subsequently spent some time in hospital, and has since returned to his practice with no ill effects.
      The day after her father was admitted to hospital, Raina Bauer said good-bye to Mr. Callan and departed, purportedly heading back to her own medical practice in California. Before she left, Mr. Callan asked her how she had known that he and the doctor had been in trouble and needed the help of Ms. Santos and I. She replied, "Some things you just know."
      Mr. Callan later visited Dr. Bauer in hospital. Through their conversation, he received quite the surprise - the doctor informed him that Raina herself had died of Sakovsky's Syndrome in the year 2000. This could explain how she knew things she could not have possibly known, such as how Mr. Callan took his coffee, and how he needed our help. What was Raina Bauer, whom Mr. Callan interacted with, and Ms. Santos spoke to on the phone? An angel, or some other type of spirit of the dead? Whatever she was, it seems she fulfilled her mission, with our help.
      This case is closed.

Return to The Archives

?