Jungle Cat

It has been a ridiculously busy evening, and we're already stacked 2-deep in the hallway of the hospital, waiting interminably for a bed, any bed. A crew has patched that they are coming in with a violent patient and is requesting the security meet them in the garage with restraints, they are accompanied by PD. As with any call that sounds interesting, bored medics start emerging from the woodwork to "help" the incoming crew. My patient is right near the door so as my partner joins the crowd in the garage, I have a great view to watch.

They arrive lights and sirens, and uniforms pour out of the back like a clown car, each one more sweaty and disheveled than the last. They've all definitely been in a fight, and we crane our necks to see what big, burly dude they're bringing in. When they pull out the stretcher we look at them in disbelief. A 19 year old, maybe 90-lb little blond girl lies sleeping on the bed, handcuffed, rip-hobbled and seatbelted in tight. Really? This seems like a bit of overkill. "Just wait" the one medic says wearily as he pulls the stretcher into the hallway. 

As if on cue, she starts to writhe and the medics, their student, several fire fighters and police officers assume their positions, it's obvious they've done this before and have a routine down. Security steps forward with restraints as the charge nurse comes around the corner to investigate the commotion. 

The tiny body on the bed starts to thrash, and each of her limbs, her head and her torso are held a little more firmly. Despite the manpower, I swear she begins to LEVITATE off the bed, her torso bending at an unnatural angle as she opens her eyes and begins to growl. She has become a wild animal, there is nothing human about her actions or the sound she is producing. An unearthly, wild snarl comes from her lips as she writhes and thrashes, nearly escaping the desperate clutches that hold her down. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as the sound intensifies, everybody within earshot gets the urge to start throwing holy water or grab a wooden stake. And then just as suddenly, she relaxes. The rabid jungle cat is gone, and the sweet teenager has returned. As quickly as possible, the restraints are secured and she is moved into one a room, the door closing as the sound begins again.  We never found out what drugs she had taken, just as we all never forgot that bone chilling sound.