《FOUR NIGHTS AT THE RETIREMENT HOME OF TORMENT》 JUST A GUY AT THE END OF THE ROPE Forward roll, light attack, light attack. Respect the enemy, backstep. Wide slashes of the enemy combo, side dodge, forward roll towards him to close the distance. Light attack, boss unbalanced. Riposte, victory. Loot: Scoundrel''s Crown. Roberto wandered around the arena for a while, then activated the save point. It was time to progress to the next area, but he didn''t feel like it. He took his eyes off the screen for a moment. It was dark outside the window and the reddish light of the street lamps illuminated the asphalt. It was impossible to tell what time it was based on that single piece of information. With a quick tap on the phone screen he got the data he was looking for. 2:27. He closed the software and shut down the system. He pushed back his chair and stood up, stretching, while his face lit up with the bluish light of the PC that was turning off. He ran a hand over his stomach, as if to calm a painful hunger cramp. The pizza he had devoured for dinner had been digested and his body was now demanding new nourishment. Roberto stepped over a pile of shoes and clothes thrown haphazardly in his filthy room and headed towards the kitchen. He turned on the LED lights that illuminated the room with their cold glow and rummaged through the cupboard. Nothing. No cookies, no instant ramen, not even a can of tuna. Maybe he would have had better luck checking the freezer, maybe there was some frozen snack left to prepare in the microwave. Nothing there either. Maybe he could have ordered a sandwich on some delivery app. Or maybe not. He had already financed the delivery guys enough for the day, and the money in his account was starting to run low. He had to find a new job quickly, or it would be hell to pay. Roberto lit a cigarette, pulled the hood of his black sweatshirt over his bald head, and left the apartment. Direction: the 24-hour supermarket on the corner of the street of his apartment complex and Via Mantegna. Along the way, as he kicked a can that had been thrown on the sidewalk, he couldnt help but feel a little sorry for himself. At that time of night, after a day spent in front of a screen, he spontaneously thought about death. He was at the dawn of his thirties and all hope had already abandoned him. He had gone to university and five exams away from graduating in economics he had dropped out. He had worked for a tampon brand as a social media manager, but they paid him lousy and in the end he had dropped out. He had never been able to understand the dramas of menstruation anyway. Maybe that was why his girlfriend had dumped him. Or maybe because he was a failure. He threw the butt of his still-lit cigarette into the ditch in the street. In that city far from where he had grown up, there was no one left for him. Just a couple of acquaintances to go smoke joints with in the park on Saturday nights. And smoking was starting to make him sick. Maybe it was time to give up and go back home to his family. He didnt even understand the point of continuing to indulge in that wild lifestyle anymore. He kept going by inertia without a shred of a goal. But on him, on his rickety body that hadnt exercised in years, he could definitely feel the passage of time. He always had back pain and had to gorge on antihistamines to stop the sneezing fits triggered by his dusty apartment. He was in a really crappy state. He looked like a fucking goblin. And soon he wouldn''t even have the money to ignore the bad waters he was sailing in, drowning his anguish in video games and TV series. He entered the minimarket greeted by the frantic buzz of the refrigerators. The boy at the register, in his red apron, waved at him. It was Jonathan, the guy who sold him the weed on Saturdays. "On duty tonight again, huh?" Roberto asked. "Burning the midnight oil again, huh?" Jonathan retorted. "I was hoping that hot chick Jessica would be here," Roberto continued, with a hint of disappointment. "Sorry to disappoint you, but at least you can have a chat. Hot and frigid, Jessica doesn''t utter a word, she only talks in front of her fucking phone to make demential TikToks," Jonathan tried to find a silver lining in that situation. Its just that Im not in the mood for chatter tonight, but my eyes are desperate for gratification, Roberto justified himself. At most I can offer you a dirty magazine, buddy, Jonathan observed, chuckling, then asked: So, how can I serve you? Warm me up a hot dog, without mustard please, and a can of cold coke, was Robertos response. Despite his boasted lack of desire to chat, with the hot dog and the can wrapped in a bag, Roberto stood in front of the register for about ten minutes talking to Jonathan about Ice Spell, the game he was trying to get a platinum of. When a new customer came in, Roberto came back to reality, said goodbye, and went off to the neighborhood park to eat his meal. Stolen novel; please report. As he usually did when he had a late-night snack, he went to the bench with the peeling paint in the center of the park, in the middle of a gravel clearing, sat down and put the bag down next to him. He took out the hot dog and began to bite into it greedily, staining his chin with ketchup. He managed to devour it in five large bites, and swallowed the soft dough of the bun almost without chewing. Then he took the cold can, opened it, and took a refreshing sip that was followed by a loud burp. Without bothering to use the handkerchief Jonathan had thoughtfully placed in the envelope, he wiped his dirty face with the sleeve of his sweatshirt. As he performed this sordid act, a humanoid figure appeared in his peripheral vision. With his chin still in the crook of his elbow, Roberto turned to look at her better. A singular individual, to put it mildly. A tall, thin male in his fifties, dressed in elegant clothes, with a walking stick in his hand. His face was particularly disturbing: he looked like the Monopoly man, with his piercing black eyes, except that he was gaunt, almost skeletal. At three in the morning, an encounter like that couldnt bode well. The guy certainly didnt have all his marbles in place. Roberto hoped the man would continue his walk and ignore him. Instead, he stopped right in front of him, his walking stick firmly planted between his feet and his hands gripping the handle. Do you mind if I sit down next to you? Id like to discuss business, the man asked, looking him straight in the eye. Damn, what a pain. Roberto had dealt with lunatics every now and then, and he had learned one thing: never contradict them. They would exchange a few words, he would be condescending, and then he would say good night, because it was really time for him to go to bed. And if the man were violent, he would punch him and run away. He certainly couldnt keep up with him in those heavy corduroy pants and those flat-soled leather shoes. Having worked out these strategies, Roberto replied in an affected tone: Of course, sir, help yourself! You look like youre broke, young man, the gentleman began, sitting down and crossing his legs: You have no job, no money, and if you dont pay the rent youll soon find yourself without a roof over your head. Am I wrong? Huh? Yes I mean, it depends on your point of view, Roberto replied, taken aback. There: the weirdo was about to offer him money in change for a kidney, he thought. Oh, dont be reticent! It just so happens that Im here to offer you a job, young man. Im always looking for new recruits with your qualifications, your aptitude, so to speak, the man urged him. Qualifications? Roberto asked, stunned. Yes, of course! You just found yourself thinking, and I quote, I look like a fucking goblin, right? Now, there is no better job profile for the job I am about to propose to you. A man who is used to staying up all night, eating junk food, who hasnt exercised in years, with unhealthy habits. A man with a clouded moral sense, and whose expectations for the future have been shattered prematurely. You are right up my alley! The man concluded. Roberto, who couldnt figure out whether what he had just received was praise or an insult, was starting to get carried away by the strangers emphatic words. Yet the fact that he had apparently read his thoughts didnt even cross his mind. He just wanted to delve deeper into that unusual proposal: Oh yeah? And what job would that be? You know, it almost seems comical to put it that way, but trust me, its not. Since you have self-described as a goblin, I would like you to work for me as a goblin caregiver, the man continued. Goblins caregiver? I dont understand, Roberto said confused. No, goblin caregiver. You know, I run a very special retirement home. One in a kind. Its a metaphysical facility, on the edge of reality, for grandpas and grandmas with very bad kids. During the day it seems like a normal facility, but during the night the hours get longer and the old peoples suffering multiplies. Thats how our business model works: we pay families with unwanted seniors to take them into our care, and we leave them with their pension money. Then we prolong their suffering, making it drip like syrup from a maple tree. The inhabitants of the underworld are greedy for this delicacy, they pay very well! The man trilled excitedly. That crazy explanation made Roberto snicker. It was clearly bullshit, a joke. The guy was definitely recording him with a hidden camera for a Reel or a Tiktok. But, in fact, he had really chosen the right person. For the right compensation, Roberto wouldnt have given a damn about working in a place like that. After all, it was the old peoples fault if they had raised shitty children, who in their last days had abandoned them to the devil. So he continued to play along: And what should I do? You will be a social health worker. You will take care of the elderly. You will take care of them so that they do not die, and you will prod them with continuous torture so that they suffer the pains of hell. It is not an easy task, I realize that. The smells of feces and vomit are intolerable, and the screams are high-pitched and monotonous. Some, in the grip of dementia, become violent. It is an environment that in the long run would end up breaking even an already worn-out soul like yours. That is why I offer my employees the opportunity to transform into goblins when they walk through the door of the hospice after dark. This dulls their senses and makes their minds more inclined to perpetrate vexations. But do not worry, the transformation is only temporary. When you leaves the building in the morning, you will return to being a respectable human, the man explained again. Of course, of course, Roberto said amusedly: And how is the compensation? Just enough to continue living the lifestyle you currently lead, and maybe even save a little, the man said seriously. Okay, thats enough for me! Roberto exclaimed ambiguously, standing up: It was a pleasure to meet you! Wait! The business card! And a small advance payment for your services! The skinny Monopoly man said in return, offering a card wrapped in a hundred-euro bill. Roberto certainly couldnt refuse money that had fallen from the sky, so he took the kind offer from the mans fingers, green as the skin that would soon cover his knuckles. Then he studied the white card, on which, in crimson letters, was written the name Villa degli Amorini. Your shift starts tomorrow evening, at ten, at the address on the business card. Well be expecting you! the man greeted. With a nod, Roberto also said goodbye. FIRST NIGHT - “VILLA DEI GOBELINI” What prompted Roberto to accept the offer from the rickety Monopoly man, in retrospect, he was never able to specify. Even today, when he recounts the events that took place during those horrible nights, when he gets to the point where he should justify showing up at the address indicated on the business card that fateful evening, he glosses over it. Maybe it was simple curiosity. Maybe the situation was so absurd that, if it had turned out to be true, that job offer could only be considered a sign of destiny. Maybe once he had pocketed those hundred euros he felt obligated to the crazy old man. The fact is that, after having dinner and checking the route to follow on Google Maps, at nine in the evening, Roberto left the house. He locked the door and headed to a distant neighborhood, on the edge of a suburb that faded into the countryside. Villa degli Amorini seemed an innocuous building, well-kept even. The facade was modern, painted in warm colors, the windows were polished, the portico was made of pink granite. The large porphyry courtyard was lit by old, but solid and bright, street lamps. Roberto rang the intercom, but no one answered. He waited about a minute, and then rang again. Another two minutes passed, and Roberto was putting his hand to the button to summon a third trill, when there was a click and a nasal voice through the speaker inquired: And who are you supposed to be? In the background there were noises, shouts and objects scratching on the floor. Im the new one, Roberto. Your director offered me a job last night, Roberto explained. Move your ass, because the shift is starting in five minutes, the voice replied acidly. With a creak the lock of the gate was released, and Roberto was allowed to enter. He crossed the courtyard gingerly, and looked beyond the glass doors of the entrance. The shadow seemed to reign supreme in the hall of Villa degli Amorini. Roberto innocently pushed one of the two doors, and the wail of a siren made him jump. The door was alarmed, so he quickly closed it behind him, hoping it would calm down. And so it did. Relieved, Roberto ventured into the dark room. There was not a soul at the desk. There was, however, a small wooden door ajar along one of the walls, beyond which a disorganized commotion could be heard. Roberto grabbed the handle, and pushing it asked: Can I? The moment his phalanges crossed the threshold of that new environment, they began to shrink and stick together, fusing and taking on a greenish color. He couldnt hold back a cry of astonishment, but Roberto nevertheless advanced, his forearm and upper arm visibly shortening. When his face passed through the magic door, he noticed that his nose was expanding, turning into a green, sharp, porous extension. As his spine arched forward into a kyphotic hump, his mind went blank and was crossed by incomprehensible rage, by an uncontrollable desire to smash bottles and stab warm flesh. His feet, the last to cross the threshold, grew larger and flatter, becoming cumbersome and difficult to move without losing balance, like a diver''s fins, squeezed into sneakers that were too small. The clothes Roberto was wearing had become immense, he was swimming in them His sweatpants were falling down and he had to hold them up with his hand, a hand that now only had three fingers, of which a barely opposable thumb. With a sloppy gait, without worries but pissed off as a snake, Roberto wandered around in what seemed to be a closet surrounded by shelves full of medicines. There was not a soul in sight there either. He was about to proceed to the next room, when a punch landed on his temple from his blind spot. Move, dip-nuts, theres no time! You have to undress right now! A high-pitched voice shouted, and a hand grabbed Roberto by the arm, yanking him back. Roberto struggled ferociously, and turned around, slapping his attacker with his free hand. The attacker, a disgusting grayish goblinoid, grabbed his sweatshirt and shouted: You have to get a fucking move on! The being was naked, so Roberto could only put his hands at his throat to strangle him, while his pants fell to the floor. They continued to fight for a couple of minutes, until a new voice reached them from the other end of the closet: What the fuck are you doing? The shift is starting! This this moron is trying to kill me! the naked goblin mumbled, now purple in his face. Fuck! exclaimed the new interlocutor, a phlegmy green goblin, and grabbed one of Robertos arms, tearing it off the gray goblins neck. The latter was finally free and grabbed the other limb that Roberto was waving like a madman. Together the two beings dragged Roberto away, who was unable to put up any resistance. They violently threw him into an empty locker room, accompanied by an order: Dont even try to get out of there until youre naked as a worm! The forced transport had given Roberto a chance to let off some of that innate anger, and he was starting to feel like he was in control of himself again. For this reason, at the idea of ??stripping off all his clothes he felt a certain embarrassment. But what other choice did he have? He noticed, lowering his pants again, that his genitals had disappeared, leaving only the small hole of his urethra. He kicked off his tight shoes and realized that in fact the contact of the soles of his feet with the ground and of his green skin with the air gave him relief. Despite his initial uncertainty, he had to admit that his nakedness seemed the most natural thing in the world and was making him feel free. He also took off his sweatshirt and threw it haphazardly on a bench. Then, slapping the tiles with his flat feet, he headed for the door of the changing room and emerged triumphant. The gray goblin had remained waiting for him and all hasty he took him by the hand again, shouting: Come on, come on, come on! I''ll take you to the superintendent, she has to give you your duties! This time Roberto let himself be led without resistance, and after walking down a couple of bare corridors crowded with a dozen goblin colleagues, they found themselves in front of a door that bore the sign management. The gray goblin knocked vehemently and threw him inside without waiting for an answer. In the office there was an immense walnut desk filled with files and paperwork, inconceivably tall for a little goblin like Roberto, and behind it loomed a large woman with curlers and tacky makeup drawn on her square face. Who the fuck are you now? the superintendent asked, giving Roberto a single glance as she was busy scribbling on her paperwork. Rob Rob Rober t! was all Roberto could manage, even though he wanted to give a much more thorough explanation. He wanted to say that it was a pleasure, that he was a new employee, that it was his first night, and then a whole series of questions and a couple of jokes. But his vocal cords rebelled against her orders. Oh, of course. Youre new. From now on, your name will be G379. Youll be in charge of the womens section, on the third floor. Do what the others do and everything will go smooth as water, the superintendent explained. Roberto nodded, and ran out, shimmying. Then, after wandering aimlessly down the corridor looking for a way to reach the third floor, he noticed a flight of stairs around a corner. He tried to climb them as fast as possible, and by the time he reached his destination he was out of breath. In front of him, while he was breathing heavily and leaning on the railing, an elevator door opened and four goblins came out and looked at him with disapproval. Their looks seemed to want to say: why didnt this idiot take the elevator? One of the four goblins, more massive than the others and brownish in color, stepped forward and asked: Are you new? Whats your call sign? G379, Roberto replied confidently, amazed at the clarity of his voice and at the fact he had managed to remember his registration number so clearly. Good. So you belong on this floor. All the three hundred belong on this floor. I am G307, and they are G323, G345 and G357. Lets go put the old ladies to sleep! G307 rubbed his hands together, and there was a sadistic note in his voice. He was advancing at the head of the gang and seemed to be their leader. Roberto happily fell in line with his colleagues. Together they burst into a large recreation room where about thirty old ladies were gathered. Some were sitting on armchairs at the edge of the room, others were in wheelchairs, a couple were spinning in circles and four were playing Burraco at a table. Seven of them were engrossed in a soap opera on TV, while one last one, ignored by everyone, was screaming at the top of her lungs, over and over again: I want to die! Take me away! I want to die! Take me away! This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Come on! Come on! Lets go to bed! G323 shouted, and took a broom leaning against the wall by the brush side, and started banging it on the floor to get everyones attention. The screaming old lady approached G323, continuing her noisy chant: I want to die! Take me away!, and G323, in response, hit her in the face with a stick. Dont you understand Eleonora?! Go to bed! G323 shouted. Eleonora didnt fall, but started running like a chicken chased by a fox. Six or seven other old ladies joined her and started screaming and running anarchically around the large room. G345 and G357 also followed G323''s example: the first one picked up a metal fork from a table, the second one took the walking stick from a poor and unfortunate woman, and together they started chasing the grannies, slashing and lunging, until they were all pushed back into the corridor. G307 turned off the television, and announced dramatically: "The show is over! Go to bed!" The spectators complained a little with low murmurs, but G307 started shouting and gesticulating until they all got up and headed to their rooms. Then, the brown goblin turned to Roberto: "G379, help me carry those in wheelchairs!" After the request, G307 got behind one of the ladies in wheelchairs, and started running, pushing her. He went straight into the corner of a door, hitting the poor woman''s knee, who started screaming. Nonchalantly G307 backed up, took better measurements, and launched himself into his mad dash again. Roberto, with a hint of apprehension, turned to another old lady in a wheelchair, and asked her: Mah dame which room your room? Oh, what a kind little gentleman you are! Im in room 311, the lady replied. After struggling for a few moments with the wheelchairs brakes, Roberto was able to get it moving. With incredible slowness, controlling it with difficulty, Roberto began to push it across the entire corridor of the floor and arrived at room 311. He entered but realized that both beds were occupied. He turned to the old lady who looked at him with dazed eyes. Roberto left her there, in the room, and shouted to G323 who was passing by, carrying another old lady in a wheelchair: Hey! This one told me shes in room 311, but the beds are already full! Strangely enough, communicating with the other goblins was easy for him. G323 braked suddenly, and the old woman was almost thrown from her chair. The sudden deceleration made her scream in terror. Nonchalantly G323 left her in the middle of the corridor and went to help G379. After peering into room 311, he said: Hey, thats Ginevra! Shes out of her mind, dont believe anything she says. Her room is 314! Roberto then set off again and reached room 314, on the other side of the corridor. Indeed, one of the two beds was free. So he placed Ginevra in front of the cot, stood in front of her and lifted her up, placing his arms under her armpits. However, he didnt expect to be lifting such a huge weight, and Ginevra fell on top of him, crushing him under her on her mattress. Under Ginevras bulk, Roberto felt himself soaked by a warm, doughy material. After struggling with the dead weight of Ginevra for a good minute, Roberto managed to emerge, and immediately noticed that his bright green skin was streaked with brown. She shit herself! Roberto exclaimed in disgust. G357 poked his head in the room and replied, Great! She hasnt pooped in five days! Lets leave her like this for four or five hours! Lets soak her well! Obediently Roberto straightened her as best he could on her mattress, and without bothering to cover her with blankets, dashed off to fetch another granny from the recreation room. When he arrived, still covered in feces, there wasnt much left to do. Only the burraco ladies remained, and G323 was already taking care of them. The goblin bellowed, Enough! Youve played enough! Go to bed! One of the old ladies, a rebel, retorted, No. We havent finished the game yet. Deaf to her protests, still holding the broomstick, G323 began banging it on the floor and yelling, Go to bed! Go to bed! Go to bed! The other three old ladies gave in, put their cards on the table and stood up, but the rebel did give no shit. She remained there, with the cards in her hand, looking at the goblin defiantly. Are you deaf, Genoveffa? Are you deaf?! G323 shouted. Genoveffa stood up and faced G323, towering over him menacingly. Without warning, the old lady gave the goblin an extremely athletic kick in the face, which made him fly away, crashing into the blue wallpaper on the wall. The being stood up gasping, and hissed: Fuck you! You fucking bitch! You take care of her, G379! before leaving the room gesticulating and cursing in anger. Roberto felt quite intimidated by the new task. He absolutely did not want to end up like G323. So he approached Genoveffa very cautiously, and fearfully began: So maam please, its time to sleep please, go to bed. Youre covered in shit, was Genoveffas stinging response. I know maam, I know, Roberto replied with tears in his eyes, but its my first day why do you have to cause problems maam? Theres no one left to spend time with here I know its your first day, you idiot. But why should I listen to you? Youre here by choice, Im not. Do your job and make me go to bed, if youre capable! Genoveffa exclaimed defiantly. Maam, I need money. I dont want to stay here covered in shit either but I have no choice, Roberto fended off. Confronted with such a pathetic little being, Genoveffa grunted and headed for the door. Looking back, the woman observed: I pity you, hitting you would not give me any satisfaction. If you have come this far, you must have fallen very low in your life, like all those who work here. Unlike them, however, you seem aware of the shit you do. And if oblivion towards your condition does not shield you, you are as desperate as I am. Left alone in the recreation room, Roberto sighed with relief. He had not been beaten. How bitter, however. The old woman was right. He was truly humiliating himself for a handful of euros. G307 did not give Roberto much time to brood and feel sorry for himself. He burst into the room shouting: G379, what the fuck are you doing? Are you slacking off?! We have to clean up! G323, G345 and G357 had prepared five buckets full of gray water with as many mops inside. G345 was urinating inside his bucket from the little hole in the lower part of his belly. Why does he piss in it? Roberto asked G307. To give this floor its unmistakable smell! He marks our territory! G307 replied, as if he were stating the obvious. The goblins took longer than expected to wash the floors. They entered every single room, making a racket, slipping on the floor in their own urine, and stirring up every single drowsy old lady. Around three in the morning it was time to carry out the next task. Taking the vital signs of their guests. However, all five of them were clumsy and slow. They put the cuff on the wrong way, took the blood pressure three or four times, the machine didnt show any. Then they squeezed the cuff with their three fingers, thinking that by doing so the machine would succeed in its task. Of course, another error message was delivered. Finally they managed to get the three desired values ??of systolic pressure, diastolic and heart rate, and wrote them down haphazardly on a grid, often next to the wrong name. In any case, for them those were meaningless numbers, and they didn''t understand whether they were good or bad. Around five oclock it was time to change the diapers and empty the bladder catheter bags. No asses were properly wiped and no urine volume was recorded. But Roberto was now aware that their goal was meaningless. The important thing was to achieve the side effect: to wake the old women again, irrigate them with cold water, and punish them if they complained. Before Roberto had a single moment to relax, it was six in the morning. The shift was over. The other goblin colleagues gathered in the cafeteria on floor -1 for breakfast, but Roberto, dirty as he was, did not feel like going. Exhausted, he slipped into the locker room and treated himself to a long, hot, purifying shower. He remained under the jet of boiling water and steam for a long time to wash away the disgusting humors that had impregnated his skin. His sense of smell was now completely insensitive, but he did not want any trace of that evening to remain on him when he regained his human form. He soaped himself up and rinsed himself obsessively until he felt his fingers wrinkled. Finally Roberto got out of the shower, dried himself, put on the tracksuit he had arrived in, still too large, and went to the entrance. Passing through the glass doors of the hall, Robert underwent a metamorphosis inverse to the one he had undergone at the entrance. His fingers separated, his back straightened, his skin returned to its natural pink color. The most shocking change, however, occurred in his mind. It was as if his thoughts were unrolling, starting from a compact cube of folded paper, to form a complex origami. The memories of the previous hours still weighed on him, but they seemed unreal, dreamlike. An out-of-body experience: it was as if he had seen himself from the outside while he committed inhuman atrocities against defenseless old ladies. Perhaps that was simply a defense mechanism of his psyche. Considering himself a stranger to the disgusting actions he had unmistakably committed, isolating them in that drawer of his memory where he buried his nightmares, perhaps he would have been able to move forward, day after day. Under the red sky of dawn, in the courtyard of Villa degli Amorini, as he headed for the gate, Roberto took a cigarette from the pack and lit it, then smoked it greedily. He was wrong. He was wrong indeed. Whether he remembered it as a dream or as reality, the horrible deeds that had been committed could not be erased. SECOND NIGHT - DOCTOR PLAKK When he got home, Roberto crawled into his bed and immediately fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. He hadnt slept like this for months, ever since things had started going badly for him and his circadian rhythm had been thrown off. At three in the evening, he woke up feeling incredibly hungry. He cooked one hundred and fifty grams of pasta with pesto, ate and went out for a walk. When he returned, an hour later, he noticed an envelope in his mailbox. There was no return address, but the flap read Villa degli Amorini and inside there were eighty euros in banknotes. Ten for every hour worked. No invoices. Just money. After counting them, Roberto put them back in the envelope and took them to his apartment. For about ten minutes, Roberto remained on the sofa in the living room, his mind completely blank. He looked at the coffee table in front of the sofa, full of cigarette butts, receipts printed on shiny thermal paper and empty packages of cookies, instant ramen and chips. Eighty euros. For a day''s work it wasn''t a little or a lot. But if that was the salary, getting by wouldn''t be a problem. Roberto tried to dedicate himself to his usual activities before getting ready for his second night at Villa degli Amorini, but he realized he didn''t feel like it. He felt a strange tension in anticipation of the shift that awaited him, and he ended up vegetating until eight thirty in the evening without moving an inch. As he had done the day before, he cooked himself a cutlet with a side of cherry tomatoes for dinner and left the house at nine. The experience he had accumulated during the first day made each of his actions less uncertain and better finalized. He introduced himself at the intercom, entered the building, underwent the metamorphosis into a goblin, undressed in the locker room, took the elevator and went up to the third floor. That evening among his colleagues there were again G307, G345 and G357, but in place of G323 there was a new goblin: G316. The first task to be performed was once again to carry the old ladies to bed. Roberto realized that he had become much more efficient. In the midst of the usual pandemonium, he managed to transport three old ladies in wheelchairs to their beds, without getting dirty with shit. He also convinced an old lady who did not want to stop watching TV to get up with threats. Once again Genoveffa caused problems. She was the last one left in the recreation room, and she didnt want to go to bed. Since Roberto had managed to make her give up the previous evening, G307 entrusted him with the thankless task. With the two of them left alone in the large room, Roberto sat down at the table where the usual game of burraco had come to a hasty conclusion, in the chair opposite to Genoveffa. The seat was so wide that the little green goblin felt like he was sitting on a throne. Meanwhile Genoveffa, who had seen herself interrupted again from her game at the best moment, was still holding her cards in her hand, showing a certain frustration. Roberto, despite his limited goblin mind, sensed that asking for pity again would not have the same effect as the previous evening. Therefore he had to set up a dialogue that would convince her. With his six fingers intertwined and his hands resting on his lap, he began in a generic manner, asking: You are different from the others. You are healthy. You are strong. Why are you here? Oh, I see that you are slowly mastering the gift of speech. My compliments, goblin. In any case, it is none of your business, replied Genoveffa, completely uninterested in her interlocutors approach. The others are demented. The others eat, shit, sleep, wait for death. There is no point of discussion with the others. Dont you want to talk? Roberto, not very clearly, was trying to offer himself as a confidant. He hoped that by getting the woman to vent he would soften her up. He hoped that by behaving differently from the other goblins, by showing himself as a friendly figure with whom a dialogue was possible, he would convince her to collaborate. Despite the ambiguity of Robertos words, Genoveffa immediately grasped his intentions: And how would you be different from them, you pathetic little monster? They eat, shit and sleep. You eat, shit, sleep and spend your nights torturing helpless old women. You both await death, you outside, they in here. If they offered you a job here, youre like everyone else. Do you think that a little self-criticism is enough to make you different, better? Whats special about you? Robertos eyes shone with determination: Im talking to you. So they made a mistake in recruiting you. Now you have two choices. Learn to do your job by turning off your brain, or give it up. Tonight Ill beat you, you cant escape your destiny this time too, Genoveffa replied, rising threateningly from her chair, ready to overturn the table on Roberto. But Roberto didnt let himself be intimidated: Why are you here? Genoveffa snorted: Im here because that ungrateful daughter of mine got me declared legally incompetent. Happy now? I had other plans for my old age, and she didnt like the way I spent my retirement pension. The way she sees it, the old have stolen the future from the young, and the only way they can be useful is to milk them until they kick the bucket. But if they enjoy life, they cant be milked. So she sold me, locked me up here, hoping my will would break. Roberto had seen Genoveffas anger flare up as she uttered the answer he had worked so hard to get out of her. The plan now threatened to backfire. Your mind is sound. Go away, Roberto suggested, trying to distract her from her violent intent. Hah! You make it sound easy! Im stuck, just like you. Escape, what for? Theyd bring me back here right away. In the eyes of the judiciary system and the rest of the world, Im a lunatic. Ever since I came in here, three months ago, goblins have been taking me to bed and then keeping me awake all night making a racket. Who would believe my words anymore? Genoveffa yelled. For starters, she could have left out that last part. Secondly, she could have found a lawyer, a good one. It didnt make sense for a clear and present individual to be declared legally incompetent in a civilized country, Roberto thought. There really had to be a solution. Expressing those concepts with his limited goblin faculties, however, seemed far too complicated. G379! What the fuck are you doing?! Youre taking too long! G345 howled from the door of the recreation room, brandishing a broom, She has to go to bed! Damn, is this that hard? She has to go to bed, to bed, to bed! Genoveffa turned with murderous rage toward the intruder, and walked toward him. A satisfied grin appeared on G345s face, and he prepared to beat Genoveffas thighs as soon as she was within range. But as the blow was about to go off, Genoveffa suddenly grabbed the broom handle and tore it from the Goblins hands, then slammed him to the ground by pushing him by the shoulder and planted a foot in his pubis, exactly where the scrotum of a normal human being would be. In a blind fury, the old woman rubbed the pink slipper at her feet with a periodic intra- and extra-rotatory movement of the ankle between the emaciated legs of G345, who was letting out atrocious screams. When the goblin''s groin was reduced to a foul greenish pulp, the satisfied woman turned to Roberto before leaving the room: "It seems you will be spared tonight too. But tomorrow you won''t be so lucky." At that moment, Roberto discovered another prodigious property of the goblin body. Running to G345''s aid, he saw his wounded pelvis recompose and heal. Roberto reached out a hand to his colleague, but he stood up on his own and slapped it angrily: "Fuck you, you asshole! That was your part, not mine!" Genuinely dismayed, Roberto shrugged and replied: "I was working on it." "Sure, asshole, you could have worked on it until dawn!" G345 shouted, stamping his feet on the ground. In any case, the rest of the team was waiting to continue with the work, so their skirmish couldn''t last long. The second task, washing the floors, went off without a hitch. The contents of the buckets overflowing with water and piss were diligently dropped on every square inch of the third floors pavement. When it was time to take the vitals of the residents, however, an unexpected development occurred. Entering room 304, the goblins noticed that one of the two old women housed there was sick. She was breathing heavily and barely moving, with a pained grin on her face. Thinking back, Roberto remembered that he hadnt seen her in the recreation room that night. It was the old woman who during the previous shift kept saying she wanted to die, even though he couldnt remember her name. Shes sick! Oh, shit, shes sick! G316 exclaimed, putting his hands to his temples. G307, in his role as leader, ordered: You, G379, go to the infirmary booth and call the doctor. The rest of you, proceed to take the vitals of the other old woman! Call the doctor? What doctor? Roberto asked in panic. Go to the booth. Theres a piece of paper hanging on the wall, and it says everything you have to do, G357 explained briefly. Roberto sensed that the whole deal smelled fishy. He was starting to see a pattern: the veteran goblins passed all the trouble to the newcomers whenever they had the chance, and if they didnt succeed, they got pissed off. Trying to shake off that feeling, Roberto obeyed. He ran breathlessly toward the booth, and ran his gaze along the white walls in search of the piece of paper he was looking for. There was a single yellow post-it, stuck at the height of the table on which was placed an old olive-green telephone. The post-it read: DR. PLAKK, 384-3257993. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Roberto grabbed the opaque plastic handset and dialed the number on the hard black buttons. The call forwarding tone repeated monotonously for a few seconds, then a rough, scratchy voice answered on the other end. Fuck. Plakks speaking. Villa degli Amorini? Shit, its three in the morning! Hello, the doctor? An old woman is sick! No shit! Why else would you have called? Whats her problem? I dont know shes breathing badly. I really dont like her face. What the fuck do you mean I dont know, shes breathing badly? What are her vital signs? Her vital signs? Her vital signs! Blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate! We didnt get them. We called as soon as we saw she was sick. Good job, great job. Whats the patients name? So?! Actually I dont know Roberto heard a long list of curses. A lot, really. Then: I get it, Im coming. For the love of Christ, let me find the patients medical records ready to be leafed through. And in the meantime, give her some oxygen. The doctor hung up, and Roberto was left holding the receiver and staring into space. After a few seconds, his synapses fired. He put the phone back in its place and ran out into the hallway. The group of goblin colleagues were emerging from room 305, cackling. Roberto shouted at them, Where are the old ladies records? The old ladies records? You mean the therapy sheets? Theyre in a cabinet downstairs, in the drug storage room, G307 replied, grinning broadly. Roberto, having received the information, rushed down the stairs, forgetting the existence of the elevator. He reached the drug storage room, located the cabinet, and after rummaging through the files and documents, found a register on which WOMENS THERAPY was written in capital letters. He then realized that he didnt remember the old ladys name. All that haste had been counterproductive. The long list of names didnt ring any bells. Maria Ravenna, Nicoletta Gerani, Assunta Di Carlo, Concetta Giusti, Beatrice Angelucci, Anna Marchesi, Eleonora Rivoli, Elisabetta Lucerna, Diana DAlfonso And now? To cut to the chase, Roberto took the entire register and returned to his floor. When he reached the landing of the womens ward, Roberto remembered that the doctor had given him another instruction, but he had forgotten what it was about. So he went to wait for her arrival in room 304, so he could watch over the sick woman. Since there was a wait, he thought it would be a good idea to try to find out the old woman''s name. He shook her by the shoulders and asked, "Madam, what is your name?" The old woman looked at him with wide eyes, while her chest rose and fell convulsively and her breathing gurgled. But she did not answer. "Madam, your name!" Roberto continued. The old woman rolled her eyes and coughed. "Your name, your name, your name!" Roberto insisted, starting to get into the typical goblin frenzy. "Eleonora! Her name is Eleonora! Let me sleep!" the lady in the other bed retorted. Roberto wanted to show her a contrite expression to manifest his regret for having woken her, but his grotesque face was completely expressionless. Therefore the old woman did not understand and simply turned on the other side. After waiting with the dying Eleonora for about ten minutes, Roberto heard a hoarse voice coming from the corridor: Its Plakk. So, which of you brainless dickheads called? Roberto hurried to meet him, exclaiming: Me! Me! The figure of Doctor Plakk loomed at the entrance to the ward, bizarre and imposing. He was covered in black leather from the tip of his toes to the tip of his hair, revealing only his pale ears. He wore high boots, leather pants, a trench coat that reached his knees, gloves, a mask with mirrored lenses reminiscent of gas masks on his face and a fedora on his head. In his right hand, Doctor Plakk held the handle of a doctors briefcase, also in black leather. Having seen Roberto leave room 304, Dr. Plakk headed there on his own, passing the little goblin who followed him. He glanced inside and said, shit. He took a pulse oximeter out of his bag, and as he stuck it on the womans finger, he scolded Roberto, How many fucking times do I have to tell your demented colleagues? If someone has trouble breathing, you have to raise the back of the bed. And wheres the oxygen? I Im new, Roberto justified himself, and ran to the foot of the bed looking for the switch to raise it. He couldnt. Dr. Plakk dodged him and pressed the pedal that the goblin couldnt find. The pulse oximeter read 84, heart rate 102. I see youre new, moron. Oxygen! Have your colleagues bring a tank! Doctor Plakk yelled. Roberto immediately set off to find the other goblins, who had now reached room 309. They werent happy to see him arrive. But it was inevitable that one of them would go: it was dangerous to piss off Plakk. After a short and heated discussion, the choice fell on G357. G357 immediately ran to the infirmary and emerged dragging a yellow tank larger than himself, with a green mask that dragged on the floor like a lizards tail. He entered room 304, and Roberto followed him. The two goblins were coldly greeted by Doctor Plakk: Her blood pressure is high. 160 systolic, 95 diastolic. That mask is dirty, but its better than nothing. Hurry up and put the oxygen on her, then I have to listen to her chest. Roberto and G357 looked at each other and then got to work. After a minute and a half of frantic operations, they observed the result with satisfaction. Eleonora had the mask on her chin and her ears were tied with elastic bands and had turned red. Doctor Plakk shook his head, astonished. He adjusted the mask on Eleonoras face and then turned the knob on the tank. Bubbles began to gurgle in the water valve. Good, now put her in a sitting position, Doctor Plakk ordered. The two goblins tried to lift Eleonoras torso, without success. The woman was heavy and was putting up too much resistance. Forget it, turn her on her side, Doctor Plakk contented himself with listening only to the patients lung apices, since the diagnosis was already clear. Then, gravely, he stated, I hear crackles. The patient is developing acute pulmonary edema. I would administer two vials of furosemide and call an ambulance, if you have no objections. What do we know? Youre the doctor, do what you have to do, G357 snapped. Plakk didnt take that response well. He punched G357 hard in the nose, which sunk into his skull and sprayed emerald green blood. You never know shit, huh? Then why do you work here? Why do you have frail, dependent, completely demented patients that you cant handle? Why does this shit always happen at night, and when its almost too late? Plakk vented. You know. Those are our guidelines, G357 simply replied, his nose returning to its original shape, expanding like a balloon. Get me a stretcher for transport, Plakk knew that insisting and losing his temper was pointless. For the sake of the patient and his own sanity, the best course of action was to leave that hellhole as quickly as possible. The two goblins carried the stretcher while Dr. Plakk administered the medicine, then together they moved the patient. Finally, Plakk dialed the emergency number on his cell phone and asked, Whats the ladys name? Eleonora, G357 replied. Eleonora Rivoli, I think, Roberto echoed, rubbing his hands. You think? What do you mean you think? Er Hello, this is Doctor Plakk. Im calling to request an ambulance at Villa degli Amorini, for a patient with a probable acute pulmonary edema. Yes. Yes, her name is Eleonora Rivoli. All right, Plakk hung up and put his phone in a pocket of his trench coat. Then, turning to Roberto, he howled angrily: I told you to look for her medical records! How can you not know her name?! Roberto, shielding himself with Eleonoras therapy sheet, defended himself: Here it is! Here it is! I told you the medical records, not the therapy sheet! Imbecile! That way I can guess her chronic pathologies, but not her remote medical history! Plakk shouted, after snatching the sheet from his hand. Roberto looked at him in confusion. Never mind, Ive had enough, Doctor Plakk said. Then he put his bag on the stretcher at the patients feet, took the oxygen tank in his right hand and, pushing the stretcher with his left, went to take the elevator. Roberto breathed a sigh of relief. The experience had been agony, but it was finally over. Eleonora was no longer his problem. That Doctor Plakk is certainly strange, he observed, putting a hand on G357s shoulder. G357 moved away and replied: He hates this place, and he hates us. But it seems he owes the director some kind of debt, and hes forced to work here. Every time he comes he acts crazy, even though its pointless. He knows how things work. What a jerk. Then G357 added: Come on, we have to change the diapers. It was already 4:27 and the rest of the night proceeded without further surprises. Roberto got dirty with shit again, but that was an inevitable outcome of that specific task. Once again, after his shift, Roberto refused breakfast with his colleagues and went straight to take a long shower. Afterwards he got dressed and left Villa degli Amorini, returning to his human form. The feeling of having just woken up from a dream numbed his memories again. Yet this time the rational part of his brain could not help but linger and mull over the experience he had just had. The fact that there was some paranormal aspect in Villa degli Amorini had been declared from the very first moment. And that was a notion that had to be taken for granted, like an axiomatic truth. What the human mind gets stuck on when examining paranormal events are the borders where they mingle with known reality, in which the contrast between what responds to the natural laws of the universe and what does not becomes immediately evident. Who was Dr. Plakk? A human being like Roberto and all the other goblins? Had he worn the gas mask inside Villa degli Amorini, or had he arrived dressed like that from his office? Had the call center at the emergency number really taken a doctor who said his name was Doctor Plakk seriously? Where had he disappeared to when he went down in the elevator with Eleonora? The cigarette that Roberto had lit in the courtyard of Villa degli Amorini was smoking itself, while he, lost in his thoughts, headed towards the gate. Realizing the thick band of ash that had accumulated on the incandescent tip of the cigarette, he took a drag. Roberto concluded that as long as his eighty euros would arrive on time, even those questions could remain unanswered. THIRD NIGHT - THE FEMALE GOBLIN The money arrived on time. When he woke up, Roberto found a new letter in the mailbox marked Villa degli Amorini. Inside were eighty euros. Roberto added them to those he had received the day before. He spent most of the afternoon smoking and messing around on his phone. At nine in the evening he left the house and went to work. As usual, after the metamorphosis he headed to the locker room to undress, but for the first time he wasnt alone. There was a burgundy goblin who was taking off his womens clothes. A pink Nike sweatshirt, black leggings, white Air Max shoes with a frayed pink logo. Hello, Roberto greeted. Hello, the burgundy goblin echoed. His voice was indistinguishable from that of any other goblin, nasal and shrill. The fact that it was a woman could only be guessed from her clothing. Whats your name? Roberto asked. G381, you? the wine-colored goblin replied. Im G379. If your ID is a three hundred, that means youve been assigned to the womens section, right? Roberto inquired. Thats what the superintendent said, G381 confirmed. Good, me too. If you want, Ill lead the way, Roberto offered as he took off his black sweatshirt, assuming that G381 had just been hired. G381 nodded absentmindedly. He needed to undress, but he seemed uncomfortable with the idea of ??doing so. Roberto, remembering his hesitation on the first day, pulled down his pants and showed him that there was no need to be afraid. Their genitals had disappeared. Perhaps, seeing his spontaneity, G381 found the courage to imitate him. As soon as they were naked, the two goblins left the locker room. Roberto walked ahead and G381 followed. They walked to the elevator, called it, and Roberto invited G381 to get in first. Then he went in himself, pressed the button marked 3, which turned red, and the elevator began its ascent, until the doors opened with a chime in front of the womens ward. Along the way G381 stared straight ahead, and they didnt exchange a single word. Together they went to the infirmary, where G307, G323, and G345 were waiting for them. Seeing them arrive, G307, turning to G381, observed: Youre new. Im G381, the burgundy goblin said. G307 nodded and introduced himself and the remaining goblins. Then he announced: Its ten oclock now, time to start the shift. Lets go put the old ladies to bed. The goblin gang headed to the recreation room to begin their usual, frantic chase after the old ladies. While Roberto was carrying out his task, now with a certain amount of expertise, he glanced at G381 to see how he was doing and if he needed help. Unexpectedly, he didn''t seem uncomfortable at all and showed a certain amount of confidence. Still, he was a mess. G381 screamed louder than all the other goblins put together, knocked over glasses and flower pots, then pushed them into a corner with the broom he had adopted as a truncheon, tripped the old ladies by slipping between their feet, and when it came to moving those in wheelchairs, he ran and stopped suddenly, making them slide forward. Soon the room emptied, and only one old lady remained tenaciously glued to her chair. As usual, Genoveffa didn''t want to leave the recreation room. As usual, the other goblins entrusted Roberto with the task of convincing her. This time, however, they asked G381 to help him. When the two goblins found themselves facing Genoveffa, she began, turning to Roberto: You again. It really seems that fate wants us to settle the score we have pending. Roberto, showing off a further evolution of his eloquence with the residents, replied: I thought about what you told me yesterday. It makes no sense. I mean the matter of legal incapacitation. G381 was quivering, impatient. Genoveffa continued her conversation with Roberto, raising her voice: It doesnt? So tell me, what could a stupid goblin possibly know about how legal incapacitation works? I did some research today, Roberto replied: I tell you there is some hope of making it, of getting out of it. G381 shifted his gaze from Roberto to Genoveffa, without understanding what they were confabulating. The only thing that mattered to him was that the old lady had to go back to her room, because after that there was more work that had to be done. So he blurted out, waving his broom: What the fuck are you talking about, G379? She just has to go to bed! to bed! Is it that complicated?! Genoveffa slammed her hands on the table in front of her, shaking the burraco cards on top of it, and stood up. Then she snatched the broom from G381s clutches, and gripping it with both hands like a baseball bat, she swung a blow at his side, knocking him off his feet. After a flight of about four meters, G381 got up and ran away, screaming: Shes dangerous! Shes dangerous! Ill go get the others! Genoveffas eyes clearly showed her intentions. Roberto knew very well that he would be next. Despite his fear, he spoke to her with open heart: We dont have much time, the others will arrive soon. Im serious. You can continue to vent your violence with miserable goblins to drown your suffering or choose to leave this place. The choice is yours. Genoveffa denied, furious: No! Its not like that! If my daughter, who is my guardian and my only relative, does not choose to revoke the incapacitation, it will not be revoked! You can find a lawyer who will send a letter to a public prosecutor to explain your situation and ask him to revoke it. You can go see a neurologist who will prove that you are not demented and that your mind is sound, Roberto explained. And where will I find the money to do all this?! Genoveffa shouted. Roberto tried to find a solution, grasping at straws: Well see about the money! I could find a new job that pays better! I could ask my parents for a loan! If you need a hand, Ill give it to you! Hit me if it makes you feel better! But thats not the help you need! Unexpectedly, Genoveffa appreciated Robertos attempt, even if he had only told her a load of bullshit. An incoherent attempt to tame her with vain hopes. Still, she wanted to reward the goblins empathetic impulse. Genoveffas face softened and she threw the broom to the ground. Then, without replying, she headed for the door of the recreation room. When she was about to reach it, the four goblins on duty burst in, making a racket. She simply pushed them away and went to sleep. Roberto stood for a few moments looking at his colleagues, who reproached him: Well? Are you going to move your ass? The five buckets of water and piss had already been prepared at the end of the corridor, and the washing of the floors could begin immediately. G381 was energetic but very ineffective. He would run around, leaving large areas unwashed surrounded by thin puddles, and then yell, Im done here! Even when it was time to take the residents vital signs, Roberto noticed that G381 was acting weird. He asked to write down the values ??on the grid, but he didnt know the patients names. Instead of asking who they were visiting, he wrote down the results at random. The other goblins had no complaints about this, so Roberto also fell silent. At five past ten it was time to change the diapers and empty the catheter bags. Since they were behind schedule, G307 suggested that they split into three groups to get the job done more quickly. Once again, G381 was paired with Roberto. The two of them were to take care of rooms 310 through 314. From the beginning things didnt go smoothly. Roberto quickly realized that doing the job alone, moving the womens heavy bodies and holding them still while they were scrubbed with sponges soaked in freezing water, was really tiring. Doing it with G381 made it even harder. The wine-colored goblin had brusque manners and was hasty, he often forgot to put the disposable pad under the patients pelvises and the sheets got stained with feces, so they had to be changed. Nevertheless, they muddled through the first four rooms. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. When it was Ginevra''s turn at room 314, things spun out of control. G381 shook the old paraplegic woman, yelling, "Wake up! Wake up! We have to change your diaper!" Ginevra opened her eyes wide and protested, "My God, what manners! Go ahead, but there''s no need to yell." Without wasting a second, G381 grabbed the edges of the diaper and pulled, sliding it down the old woman''s fat, flabby legs. The laxatives Ginevra had been fed in abundance over the past few days to treat her obstinate constipation had had their effect, and a tide of steaming diarrhea overflowed from the diaper, staining her buttocks and loins. "Fuck, G381! It''s the third time!" Roberto exclaimed, putting his hands to his head in a gesture of desperation. G381 shrugged, while Ginevra, feeling wet, kept repeating: Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! Fine, we have to change the sheets on this bed too. Lets clean her up and put her in her wheelchair. But be careful: shes heavy, Roberto concluded resolutely. They quickly wiped Ginevras back with a sponge and, after placing a disposable pad on the seat of the wheelchair, Roberto and G381 helped the old lady sit down and positioned themselves at her sides. Now we put our hands under her armpits and on the count of three we lift her up. Be careful! Roberto commanded. One two three! Ginevra was lifted about ten centimeters, but when it was time to rotate her toward the chair, her limb slipped from G381s grip. The woman landed on her ass with a loud thud and began to wail like a crazy siren. Oops, I just let her go, G381 justified himself, looking innocent. Ginevra was screaming at the top of her lungs, unable to utter a single word that made sense, and her plump face was red from the effort. Okay, okay, I know what we have to do, Roberto said as a rush of adrenaline ran through his wasted little body: Dr. Plakk, I have to call him. You, go find the others and help her get back to bed! Mindful of the experience of the previous day, Roberto did everything that needed to be done to the letter. He rushed to the ground floor and looked for Ginevras medical file. Ginevra Crescentini, 91 years old. Then he ran to the infirmary booth on the first floor. On the olive-green telephone he dialed 384-3257993. After five beeps, Roberto heard the rough voice of Dr. Plakk. Holy shit. Two nights in a row. Damn, I hate you. Dr. Plakk, we need you. Dont tell me. You again. Yes. An old lady, Ginevra Crescentini, 91, fell while we were changing her diaper. Her vitals were 135 and 93 for blood pressure, 78 for heart rate, when we measured them last. I have the medical file with me. Oh my, what a good boy. If she fell, she needs to get X-rays. It pisses me off that I have to come over there just to call an ambulance, but unfortunately its unavoidable. Put her on a stretcher in the meantime, without moving the parts of her body that are hurt. With that, he hung up. There was no one watching him, but Roberto nodded anyway, as if to show he had understood. Then he ran to room 314. The four goblins were looking at the collapsed and agonizing old woman with their arms folded, like forensic police officers observing a crime scene in a TV series. They hadnt moved a muscle yet. Dr. Plakk told me to put her on a stretcher! Roberto explained, agitated. Okay, but you wait for him and talk to him. That way youll learn to do things your own way, G307 replied, turning to Roberto. By the time the goblin team managed to lift Ginevra and put her on the stretcher, moving her painful thigh far too much, amidst piercing screams of pain, it was already five minutes past six. The shift was over, and Roberto was left alone to wait for Doctor Plakk to arrive. At seven past six the elevator trilled, the doors opened, and the immense black figure of Doctor Plakk emerged, dressed exactly as he had the day before. While he was showing the doctor the way, Roberto couldnt resist the urge to ask him: Why are you dressed like that? Plakk replied: Dont you know? Theres scabies in this place. Roberto looked at him in confusion. Partly because he couldnt assess the reliability of the answer, partly because even though he had heard that medical term he had no idea what scabies was in detail. It definitely had to be something disgusting. But should he have been worried? Was it transmittable? Yes, in all likelihood, or what was the point of walking around dressed like that? When they reached room 304, where they had left Ginevra strapped to the stretcher and still screaming in pain, Dr. Plakk quickly glanced at her and said, Right limb externally rotated and shortened. She broke her femur. Great. That whore! She threw me to the floor! That whore! Ginevra had returned to composing meaningful sentences, but she had lost her usual grace. Dr. Plakk took his phone out of his trench coat, dialed emergency, and requested an ambulance. Then he stood at the head of the gurney and began to carry her toward the elevator. Roberto followed him, explaining, My shift is over, I have to get off too. The elevator car was quite wide, being used to transport patients. However, given Dr. Plakks bulk, it was cramped. During the short descent, the doctor, perhaps talking to himself, muttered: How the fuck are you able to work here and have a clear conscience? Villa degli Amorini is the equivalent of a Nazi concentration camp. Roberto swallowed that judgment and, pretending not to have heard, asked: Will she get better? The elevator chimed, and the doors opened on the ground floor. It was Dr. Plakks stop, but Roberto had to go down one more floor since the changing room was located at the basement. Pushing the stretcher out, Dr. Plakk replied: Shes old, and old peoples bones are fragile and tend to heal slowly and badly. The orthopedists probably wont feel like operating on her. If there are no complications, its almost certain that shell remain bedridden. It may seem like a small thing, given that there was a wheelchair in her room and I assume she was already no longer walking. But this means that it will be more difficult to move her and that she will develop bedsores. I dont know for sure how it will go, but I fear it can only get worse. The elevator closed in front of Dr. Plakk, and his last sentence was swallowed by the metal doors. But the first part of his answer was enough to grasp the concept. Although his goblin form dulled all emotions other than anger and resentment, Roberto felt dejected. He advanced toward the locker room while his mind wandered adrift, reflecting on the fact that by making Ginevra fall they had consequently shortened her life. He could not help but see his responsibility in all this. When he entered the room, the wine-colored goblin had just finished his shower and was starting to dry himself. Roberto wanted to go out with him, to see the face of the girl who was hiding behind the little monster. Maybe he could find something in common with her. He washed himself as quickly as he could, and when he was finished dressing, G381 was still wearing socks. Ill wait for you, Roberto told him. Do as you please, G381 replied. When G381 was ready, they headed together towards the entrance of Villa degli Amorini. Doctor Plakk and Ginevra had already disappeared from the hall. G381 went through the glass door first. Observing the transformation from goblin to human from the outside was not a pretty sight. G381s skin paled, while the body deformed, stretching and widening. Brown hair sprouted from her skull like mushrooms and fell just below her neck. Her fingers split in half. When the girl was completely human again, the first thing she did was to take a cigarette out of her sweatshirt and light it. She wasnt pretty. Her face was pockmarked and her hair looked greasy. She was plump, and her ass was a shapeless pile of bumps. After all, not even Roberto could call himself a fashion model. He went out, intending to smoke a cigarette with her. But when he crossed the threshold, when his mind returned to that of a human, his breath caught in his throat. As always, the memories of the night felt like a hazy and distant dream, but a dream in which a person had almost been killed. A dream that was unmistakably reality. He had to talk about it, vent. When do they pay? Are they usually on time? the girl asked point-blank, shaking Roberto from his thoughts, then took a drag on the cigarette. Well, yes eighty euros a day, they send a letter home with the banknotes inside, the morning after the shift, Roberto replied. Then he added, The doctor, before he left, said that Ginevra will probably end up bedridden. Roberto took a cigarette out of the pack in his tracksuit pocket and put it in his mouth. So? the girl asked. Nothing, I thought you wanted to know how it ended. We made her fall, Roberto muttered. You wanted to go out with me to give me a lecture? The girl was heating up. Roberto lit the cigarette. No, absolutely not, he denied, puffing smoke. He didnt want to scold her. He wanted to share the guilt he felt with someone. The girl didnt understand his intentions. I think so, instead. But Im not the one whos wrong. When he gave me this job, the director was very clear, and I think he was with you too. No pity, no feelings. Old people have to suffer, but they dont have to die. If an old woman slips and breaks her leg, its collateral damage, the girl explained, heatedly. Roberto knew that, it was a rule he had spontaneously accepted, but he was starting to realize that it wasnt as simple as he thought. That gratuitous cruelty was starting to weigh on him, and his goblin form was almost no longer enough to dull his sensitivity. You dont really need this job, the girl continued. Excuse me, what? Roberto asked, perplexed. Take me as an example. I have a three-year-old daughter. Her father ran away to God knows where. The social workers are breathing down my neck, they want to take her away from me. I swallowed so much shit, before I received this opportunity. I dont care if Im the one who has to feed shit to someone else now. Roberto nodded. The girl had been very clear. She had hit the nail on the head. There was still half a cigarette to smoke, but Roberto threw it on the ground and stepped on it to put it out. See you tomorrow, he said. FOURTH NIGHT (EPILOGUE) - THE GOBLIN AND THE GRANNY He wasnt fit for the job. That much was clear by now. G379 wasnt a goblin like the others. Roberto wasnt like the others. Maybe he just wasnt desperate and sadistic enough. The director, the rickety Monopoly man, had made a mistake in hiring him. Those eighty euros a day would have been useful to get by for an indefinite period of time, but could Roberto really be content to just get by? Was his situation really so compromised as to preclude any other option? What bound him apart from his pride and his laziness? That money was a quicksand in which he would slowly sink, and once buried he could only wait for death. Three days would become one year, five years, ten, twenty, spent as a goblin torturer of old women. He didnt have the same constraints as G381. He could go back to university or find a job. Satisfying or not, one that paid well or not, but one that allowed him to sleep peacefully at night. Whichever path he chose, one thing was certain: he was done with Villa degli Amorini. But there was one thing he had to do before he left forever. So he ate dinner and got ready for his last shift. He put on a t-shirt stained with sauce, some old shorts and bad shoes. He put his cell phone and a pack of cigarettes in a plastic bag, left the house, and when he arrived he hid it in the hedge that surrounded the external perimeter of the retirement home. Then, following the usual procedure, he went inside and headed to the third floor. That evening his colleagues were G316, G323, G357 and G381. A natural leader was missing, and the two older goblins were certainly not known for their charisma or their strong nerves. Given Roberto''s plans, so much the better. At ten o''clock sharp the goblin team began its shift. Together they headed to the recreation room to take the old ladies to bed. The usual hubbub broke out and, while the other goblins were busy chasing the old ladies, Roberto immediately headed to Genoveffa. The old lady, along with her three friends, was still busy with her evening game of burraco. Genoveffa, I need to talk to you, Roberto began, shaking slightly. What? Do you want to tell me that we have to stop playing? Genoveffa asked absentmindedly, absorbed in studying the cards in her hand. No, not for that, Roberto replied, tense. Then for what? Genoveffa was visibly annoyed. Im leaving this shitty job. When were done with our conversation, Ill walk out that door and never come back. I only came to ask you if you want to come away with me, Roberto was finally able to communicate like a normal human, despite his goblin form. Weve already talked about this, Genoveffa concluded hastily. Roberto was neither a hero nor a benefactor. He had no power to change things in Villa degli Amorini or to make it go out of business, and deep down he didnt even know if it was right to do so. That place was home and sustenance for countless men and women who lived in stagnation day by day, waiting for death. There was no one to save. To have his conscience clear he only needed to know that he was no longer part of that infernal mechanism. But Genoveffa seemed to be the only one in there who still had the will and strength to live. It was right to reach out to her and give her the chance to do so, however difficult it was. Accept his help or refuse it, the choice was up to her. Yes, and I still dont understand your decision. Even if we were to fail and we couldnt revoke your incapacitation, whats the worst that could happen? Worst case scenario theyll bring you back here. Isnt it worth trying? Roberto asked. Genoveffa snorted, looked at the cards in her hand and then at the faces of the three old ladies in front of her. They were speechless, they didn''t understand what was happening. Im going. I hope youll have another chance like this in the future. I hope youll find your freedom again and enjoy it until the end of your days, Roberto said, turning his back on her and preparing to leave the room. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. G381 and G357 were along the corridor, busy transporting the old women in wheelchairs. G316 and G323, brandishing a broom and an orthopedic cane respectively, were still directing the exodus operation. Seeing that Roberto hadnt accomplished anything that evening, G323 approached him menacingly. What the fuck do you think they pay you for, G379? For chitchat? he asked, rubbing his fingers on the metal of the cane cane. Roberto ignored him and continued to advance towards the door. Piece of shit, Im talking to you! G323 exclaimed, and struck Roberto on the back of the head with a stick. It was unpleasant, but it didnt hurt. Roberto discovered that goblin bodies not only regenerated wounds, but also had a reduced perception of pain. A chair creak was heard from the other end of the room, and then a series of rapid footsteps. Genoveffa rushed at G323 like a fury, knocked him to the ground, and crushed his head. G316, terrified, backed away, but Genoveffa grabbed him, lifted him off the ground, and pulled, tearing him in two, while a stream of green blood and dark viscera dripped onto the floor. Then she threw him away, like a broken doll. Lets go, Genoveffa said resolutely. The goblin and the granny ran together toward the elevator, while, sensing that something was getting out of hand, G381 and G357 launched themselves in pursuit. On the way, Roberto made a detour to the infirmary to get a diaper, but it took him less than five seconds. When they reached the landing of the third floor, Genoveffa pressed the button to call the elevator, and the doors opened just as the two goblins were crossing the threshold of the ward. Roberto entered first and pressed the 0 button, Genoveffa immediately after. G381 tried to slip in, but Genoveffa kicked him with the sole of her pink slipper, and the wine-colored goblin flew out. When the elevator reached the ground floor, Roberto immediately heard a commotion on the stairs. G357 and G381 were raising the alarm of their escape. Without wasting a moment, the goblin and the grandmother headed for the glass door of the entrance. Roberto tried to open it, expecting to hear the sound of the alarm, but it didn''t budge. It was locked. The goblin was seized by a moment of panic. Move, Genoveffa ordered him, and with a knee given without hesitation the old woman shattered the glass. The grandmother ran out first, and Roberto, after putting on his diaper, jumped into the gap with the aim of overcoming the pile of sharp crystals. While he was still in the air his body expanded, while he regained his human shape. The increase in mass and the change in center of gravity unbalanced him, making him fall on his buttocks. He pushed himself up with his hands and ran barefoot towards Genoveffa who had almost reached the gate. The old lady stepped over it with ease, while Roberto tried to climb to the top, but only managed to get over its summit with his head and upper limbs. He stretched out and waved his arms at Genoveffa, while the fat superintendent with curlers emerged from the broken door in the courtyard of Villa degli Amorini, looking like a vengeful demon. Dozens of goblins had crowded behind the glass entrance, tense and raring. Genoveffa grabbed Roberto''s hands and pulled him down. Without even having time to catch his breath, Roberto leapt to his feet and retrieved his cell phone from the hedge. Then, together, they took to their heels, running away breathlessly along the sidewalk of the desolate street. The gravel under his bare feet was painful, but Roberto was focused body and soul on escaping, so he didn''t pay attention. After about three hundred meters, Genoveffa suggested hiding in a patch of vegetation at the side of the road. The street lights struggled to reach that recess, and the outlines of their bodies were barely shaped by the orange glimmer. Genoveffa studied Robertos lines. His slender legs, his protruding ribs, his barely visible abs. His bald head. The ridiculous white diaper covering his private parts. Then she said, You know, youre a fine lad. Roberto blushed and replied, Well, youre a pretty good-looking granny, too. It was the first time Roberto had lingered so long on Genoveffas appearance. Her gray hair was tied in a ponytail, and her eyes were bright and blue, surrounded by wrinkles. She was a little shorter than him, and it was difficult to guess the shape of her body under her pink nightgown. Despite the lack of elasticity in her skin, however, Genoveffa must have had an enviable amount of muscle tone even for a young man. Her face was full of joy and energy, she seemed excited and amused by the escape. She was very different from the grim old woman he had met four days earlier. What do we do now? Roberto asked. I want to sleep tonight. A long and restful sleep, without constant awakenings caused by nosy goblins. And then, tomorrow, I will have to look for a lawyer. I have nothing planned for tomorrow, I will give you a hand. And tonight you can have my bed, I will sleep on the sofa. Good. Then how about we call a taxi? Roberto smiled, and took his cell phone out of the bag. I think I will get an Uber. Payment by card, fewer questions. Genoveffa looked at him confused, she did not know what an Uber was. Roberto smiled again, more obviously. At that moment he still had no idea what life had in store for him. But in the days to come he would not be alone. He would have an energetic grandmother to keep him company. After booking the Uber, Roberto lit a cigarette. "Do you mind if I ask you for one?"