Mystery: The Last Shepherd

Chapter 136 The Strange Patient (Bonus Chapter)
"Good morning, Professor Anthony."

Audrey Hall removed her hood, lifted the hem of her skirt, and bowed to the elderly scholar opposite her with impeccable manners, saying, "I apologize for the trouble my visit has caused you today."

"I really want to deny it, but..."

The elderly scholar with a white beard smiled wryly, "To be honest, this kind of place is not suitable for a lady as distinguished as you."

Behind Audrey, her personal maid Anne nodded in deep agreement.

A few days ago at a dinner party, this young lady mentioned that she had recently become very interested in psychology. Out of courtesy, Anthony mentioned that he would be seeing patients at St. Elizabeth's Hospital soon and invited her to visit.

He had only mentioned it casually, because he never imagined that a pampered noblewoman would come here. Who would have thought that this high-ranking Miss Audrey would actually take advantage of his invitation, forcefully set a date for their meeting, and then actually come to visit on that day!
If it only affects my work, that's one thing, but what if this distinguished lady comes to interfere with the treatment, and a patient suddenly has an attack and injures her? How am I supposed to explain that to Earl Hall?
The old scholar thought bitterly.

"Please rest assured, I will not do anything that would affect your work."

As if anticipating his concerns, Audrey smiled and said, "I'm just visiting today, and I've heard about the dangers of mental patients, so I won't be in close contact. Of course, if you still find this unacceptable, I will leave out of respect for you."

Her words were very persuasive and gave the old scholar a way out. However, having gone this far, it was impossible for him to refuse.

Sure enough, she was pleased to see the latter sigh.

"I understand. Then please keep your distance from the patient. If you have any questions, please talk to me first, okay?"

Anthony said this.

"of course can."

Audrey said.

After receiving the other party's promise, the old professor breathed a slight sigh of relief. He sat back down at his desk and then signaled to his assistant that he could begin working.

The assistant left the consultation room and called the patients in one by one in order.

Audrey sat in the corner of the room, and Anne brought her a stool. The hard stool in the examination room was certainly not as comfortable as the leather sofa in the Earl's house, but she still seemed very interested, observing each patient who came in.

Sure enough, their behavior was very different from that of normal people, but at the underlying logic, they all maintained their biological instincts.
As Audrey observed the patients, she gradually gained some understanding.

The state of mental patients varies depending on the severity of their condition. Those with mild symptoms are basically no different from ordinary people, while those with severe symptoms exhibit highly confused speech, behavior, emotions, and consciousness, making them unpredictable.

Indeed, observing the state of mentally unstable individuals helps me understand the psychology of normal people.
Feeling the potion in her body beginning to digest, Audrey couldn't help but think that with these gains, this trip hadn't been in vain.

Although I encountered an unknown extraordinary person and experienced some excitement...
"The next person may come in."

Just as Audrey was recalling her encounter in the corridor, she heard Professor Anthony's assistant shout outside.

A strong smell of alcohol mixed with cheap perfume quickly filled her nostrils. She looked up and saw a woman in a brightly colored long dress, wearing heavy makeup, her expression a mixture of numbness and decadence.

She looks like a streetwalker.

Audrey could sense that the maid Anne beside her was frowning slightly, seemingly quite dissatisfied with the woman in front of her.

"What's going on? Is there someone else besides the doctor?"

The woman saw the two of them as soon as she came in, raised her eyebrows, and started shouting.

Anne shifted her body, seemingly wanting to retaliate, but refrained from doing so at Audrey's signal.

"Don't make a scene. They're my students. If you have a problem with them, go find someone else," Anthony said, clearing his throat. His stern tone successfully silenced the woman. "What's your problem?"

"I can't sleep well."

The heavily made-up woman scratched her head and sat down across the table. It was clear she wasn't particularly happy to be there.

"Just because you're not sleeping well, is it really necessary to come here?" Anthony glanced at her and continued to ask.

"I keep seeing strange things in my dreams, and after waking up in fright, I can't fall back asleep."

The woman became a little more honest. "The customers all say that my moans in my sleep are terrifying, and they don't want to sleep with me anymore, which is making it so I'm almost unable to earn any money. I asked a few smart customers, and they said that coming here can help. I said, 'Can you give me a discount? Or I'll sleep with you for a night?'"

She really is a streetwalker.

Audrey whispered.

But what kind of strange illness is this, a terrifying dream? So terrifying that it even makes her scream?
What did you see in your dream?

Professor Anthony was quite old and completely ignored the tempting offers from the streetwalker, instead asking directly.

"forget."

The woman shook her head.

forget?

How could you forget such a terrible dream?
Audrey thought to herself in surprise.

"Such things do happen, and it may be related to an unconscious desire to escape."

Anthony thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll try to hypnotize you and help you recall what you saw in your dream. Generally speaking, knowing what you're afraid of and resolving it will improve your situation."

Upon hearing this, Audrey's spirits lifted.

You can now see a psychologist using hypnosis!

Of course, hypnosis performed by ordinary doctors is based on psychological theories, using verbal suggestions to mobilize the patient's subconscious, and the effect is generally mediocre. It cannot compare to the abilities of extraordinary individuals, but for Audrey, it still has some value as a reference.

Upon hearing that this method might cure her, the streetwalker naturally did not refuse. With the help of the doctor's assistant, she lay down and closed her eyes.

"You feel very relaxed now, very relaxed."

Professor Anthony spoke calmly, taking some effort to steady the woman's breathing.

"Now you can feel your inner world."

Anthony guided her, "You walked slowly, and then you discovered what had been hidden in your dream all along."

Audrey observed the hypnotized streetwalker and noticed that her breathing suddenly became heavy and her expression slightly distorted. A kind of decadent and profane aura was slowly emanating from her body.

Something seems a bit strange.

Almost instinctively, she wanted to activate her "mind-reading" ability to detect the other person's abnormality. But remembering the lesson she had learned in the corridor, she immediately stopped.

"Tell me, what did you see?"

Anthony, whose spirituality was thin, naturally did not notice anything unusual. He assumed that his hypnosis had been successful and continued to ask questions.

The streetwalker lay on the bed, shrouded in a faint, agonizing pain, murmuring in a dreamlike voice:

"I see it, the Hanged Giant."

Audrey's eyes suddenly lit up with alarm.

(End of this chapter)