A bellying glob of orange gelatin-like substance was pulsating on the mold infested wall. This dollop of unidentifiable material looked like an infected boil, if it were full with an egg yolk, ready to burst at any second. Poking the substance with my finger caused it to jiggle back and forth as the goo swirled around inside, protected by the outer translucent sac. I felt like I was looking into some type of demented snow globe, naturally I had the urge to break it. I picked up a rusty metal coat hanger from the ground and straightened out the hook into a suitable prodding device. Slowly, I applied pressure to the glob with the far end of the coat hanger, yet the sac refused to burst, instead the rubbery material conformed around the metal hanger.
When I pulled the coat hanger back away, the bulbous blister slowly inflated back to its prior shape. Determined, I poked around the mysterious substance for second try, this time being a little less gentle. With a stabbing motion I was able to pierce the outer fleshly layer of the boil and in response the cyst popped like an over inflated balloon, excreting tiny particles of orange ooze in all directions with the force of a human sneeze. I looked over at my friend standing directly to my side as he jumped backward in horror, but it was too late for the sludge misted the left side of his face. Instinctually he grabbed the bottom of his shirt and wiped the material away from his eyes.
The gooey mass remaining attached to the wall began to sag, excreting the remainder of the inner eggy matter as it slowly dripped down the wall. The orange ooze appeared quite vicious, mimicking the texture of maple syrup, but there were no pancakes in the world I'd dare lather this special sauce over. I joked with my friend as he clearly took the brunt of syrup surprise, fortunately he appeared to be in good spirits as we both laughed over the unexpected outcome. However, a couple days later I received a text message from my friend stating that his left eye was completely swollen, inflamed with a similar blister like sac of goo as to what was on the wall. A doctor told him it was a bacterial infection and with some antibiotics the contagion would clear up. Fortunately, in a couple weeks time his sight returned the the infection dissipated.
I've learned never to play with unidentifiable wall blisters again. I've also come to realize that Preakness Healthcare Center was by far the most disgusting abandonment I have ever explored. The place was more black mold and fuzzy fungus than it was an actual building. In my youth I didn't quite realize the health hazards Preakness truly encapsulated. Unfortunately, in years past I've heard similar horror stories from other explorers who have been stricken near deathly ill from wandering the mold infested halls at Preakness. Here's to a hell hole that faced a welcome demolition for once and here's to future good health!
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