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Walking into the grimy, abandoned hospital, I already knew this was the worst hangout idea my friends have had yet. It didn’t help that I get scared easily and I've been on edge since we’ve stepped onto the property. I just can’t shake the feeling that we are being carefully followed. I can feel eyes on me yet I can't point out where they are coming from, the fog that covered the entirety of the sky and woods around us certainly is not helping.
My friends have always been much more outgoing than me, never letting a “small” inconvenience ruin their fun, so it didn't surprise me in the slightest that when we had made it inside, it started to pour heavy rain over the building. Anybody would have retreated back into their cars and drove off, leaving the place for another time. Much to my distaste, they were stubborn against my pleas to leave and stayed.
I could feel wet droplets of gross water fall onto my face from the filthy ceiling each step we took inside. The loud booming of lightning striking against the pavement outside the building, causing me to almost topple over my friends.
We made it to the second floor when one of them suggested that we split up. It was the dumbest idea I've ever heard, something straight out of a corny horror movie, and my other friend agreed. They quickly ran off before I could grab onto either of them, leaving me all alone. The lighting was dim, almost nothing at all, with the light from the stars and moon reflecting into the windows around me. The smell of death and disease filled my nostrils as I walked further down the hallway, stepping on miscellaneous pieces of glass, grime, and more.
I walked into the first room I saw with an open door, pushing it open with my elbow. Looking around I saw a tall cabinet, most likely filled with expired and rusted medical supplies, an old, tattered, hospital bed that contained a mystery substance stained onto the fabric, a small, slightly torn, rolling chair, and other old hospital furniture and supplies. The floor was covered in broken glass, dirt, and rusted pieces of scrap.
I took the old rolling chair and placed it by the wall across from the cabinet and took a seat, releasing a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. Then I felt it. That similar feeling I had walking into the hospital, except it was stronger. Bending down in the seat, I grabbed a large piece of glass off the ground and pocketed it. I couldn't risk taking the chance of having nothing to defend myself with.
“Guys, knock it off.” I squeaked out hoping it was just one of my friends.
My eyes darted around the room, trying to find whatever was watching me, but the moon's light was practically useless to the darkness that filled the room. Then I heard it. Anybody would have missed it because of the heavy rain. But not me. Never me. The slight crack of a bone. The kind of noise you get when you crack your knuckles or back. My hand immediately shot to my pocket in defense while I jumped up off the chair. Then a tall figure came out of the shadows from the darkest part of the room.
“I w-wouldnt do that if I were you. I-It’s completely useless.”
A stuttered male voice came out of it. Inspecting closer it looked like a young adult man, sporting a striped hoodie, goggles, and a muzzle-like mask. His hair was messy but I couldn't tell what color any of it was because of the dark.
“Why..?” I managed to whisper out, like a struggled cry.
“Because I'm g-going to k-kill you.”
His neck cracked again and he reached his hand down to his side. I finally noticed the two hatchets strapped to each side of him. The only thing I could think during this was just how I was about to die.
I tried screaming for help, even though I knew it would be a frugal attempt against the storm, and he immediately lunged forward with his hand ready to shut me up with a hatchet to the face. Reacting fast, I ducked and pushed the rolling chair infront of him causing him to fall to his face. I took this as an advantage and ran straight to the door not realizing he put his foot out for me to trip on. Falling right onto my face, I yelled out in pain as I felt my nose crack. He laughed at my pain and stood up, stepping onto my back with one foot, putting what felt like his entire body weight into it. I screamed out in discomfort again as I felt the floor debris press into my chest and stomach.
I told myself repeatedly that this wouldn't be the end, over and over while I struggled beneath his weight, begging for mercy. I felt his foot leave my body and kick my side. I curled into myself coughing out helplessly.
'P-put on a good fight, and maybe I’ll l-let you live.’
I watched as he backed up a few steps, looking at me mockingly, as if he didn’t believe I could even get up. He would be right if I didn't have so much adrenaline pumping through my body currently.
“Fine.” I responded the best I could, wanting to sound intimidating and confident within myself even if it was quiet and obvious I was in a lot of pain.
I got up slowly and reached inside of my pocket, where I kept that glass shard from earlier. I made complete eye contact with the goggles standing in front of me while I got into the best fighting stance I could.
My nose stung and I felt a wetness covering my mouth. Slightly licking my lips, I was immediately met with the taste of iron. I really hope my nose isn't broken. I heard him chuckle at my dismay.
“S-sorry about that. I g-guess it won't matter when you're dead though.”
He raised his arm that held his hatchet and struck down, aiming for my right arm. Just before he could make it, I turned to my left and dug the piece of glass into his right shoulder. There was no reaction to that. Not even when I pulled it out and ran to the other side of the room.
His hatchet that was embedded into the wall next to the door, was now free as he faced me, twitching and letting out a deranged giggle.
“I t-told you that wasn't going to work.”
I lunged toward him again with the glass held tightly in my left hand ready to strike.
“WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?”
I yelled at him while throwing my arm to his other shoulder. That was the dumbest mistake that I realized too late when he grabbed onto me, pushed me over the hospital bed, and bent my arm backwards. It all happened so fast that I didn't even get time to register the snapping of the bone in my arm. I let out a muffled scream, unable to make noise come out of my mouth as I fell onto the ground once again, debris digging into my skin.
“G-game over.”
It was so painfully clear that I was about to die. My friends were bound to find me in this room chopped up, if they even bothered to look for me.
I layed on my back, arm sprawled next to me, bending in a way that wasn't humanly possible, covered in blood with a bone sticking out so clearly. I had to hold in the stomach fluid bottling up in my throat at the sight of it all as he stood over me. He kneeled down, placing his knees on either side of my body, raising his hatchet up in the air. I had one chance. One last chance at a chance of living to see tomorrow. I quickly reached my non-broken hand down and grabbed any sharpish object near me, and lunged my body forward to dig it into his neck.
A laugh. All I heard was a laugh out of him as I flopped back down onto the floor. His hand raised to the foreign object embedded inside his neck and pulled it out. I watched as the bloody, gaping hole closed on itself, leaving just smeared blood behind.
Are you kidding me? This has to be some kind of sick joke. There was no actual chance of me living this entire time. All I can do now is accept my fate as it is. I watched him raise the hatchet up once again, and swing his arm down. The object buried itself into my side, pain shooting through my whole body. Warm liquid bubbled up my throat, causing me to cough it up. Blood splattered all over his face. He raised his hands up to his face and removed the now bloodied goggles and mask, pushing them aside. I can finally see his face in my last waking moments.
The moonlight shined perfectly off his reflection. He looked so human aside from the gaping hole on his left cheek, his teeth showing through. His eyes were a brown-amber color, freckles going over his nose and cheeks. His hair was messy curls and a dark ash brown color. Seeing him now in the light, all I could think was..
“You’re…beautiful..” What did I just say??
My eyesight blurred as I watched his figure jump up all the sudden, take his hatchet out of me, and run away, then darkness.
I heard the light piddling of rain against a window, and a bright light over my eyelids. Am I dead? Or did I miraculously survive? Opening my eyes I found that I was in a brightly lit, clean hospital room, obviously to have survived.
After a while a nurse finally came in to check on me and found out I was awake and ran out for a doctor. It was a while until I was allowed to ask any questions. Apparently I was the only survivor found inside the abandoned building after the police department was anonymously called. Somehow I couldn't find it in me to care that my beloved friends hadn't survived. It was their fault after all, they should have listened to me.
Sleeping at the hospital was the least bit peaceful. Aside from the peeping of my heart monitor, the uncomfortable bed, and everything attached to me including the arm cast and stitches embedded into my side, and a nose brace, I had constant nightmares. Nothing like I've ever had before. One might say it would be normal given the situation, but they don't have anything to do with what happened. Or at least I think so.
They have the same people? No, things In them. A tall man, possibly an older adult, dressed in a yellow jacket, and jeans, and always holding a cigarette in hand. The only off putting thing about him is the white mask he wore with black painted features. The second was another male, possibly around the same age as the first, and also wore yellow, except it was a hoodie. He also wore something that covered his face. A black full face mask with a red painted frowny face.
When they showed up inside my nightmares, I was always running from them in the darkness of the woods. I don't understand what any of it means but everytime i wake up, I'm out of breath.
At some point I started waking up late at night to those same men standing at the corner of the room, just watching me. I can't tell if I'm losing my mind or if they are actually there, so I haven't said anything to the doctors or nurses. I also can't stop thinking of the man who put me in here. I know it's wrong but after seeing his face, I can't help but think about it. What was his deal? What was he? I have so many questions and not one single answer.
After a month I was finally released from the hospital. I have to be careful with the healing stitches, but the casts are gone off my arm and nose. Luckily there was no permanent damage to my arm because it was a clean break so, thanks I guess to the hot psycho?
I settled down on my couch with my remote in hand to turn on the news. Maybe something worse happened so I can focus on that instead of what happened to me?
Just as I pressed the on button, my cat hopped up onto the couch with me and cuddled next to my side. I can't be more grateful to my neighbors for feeding her while I was gone.
Finally getting to the news channel I turned up the volume to hear what was going on. I couldn't believe my ears as I heard there was a group of killers going around my town and to keep my doors locked. You have to be kidding? No way this is happening right now?
I decided the best way to calm myself was to just sleep. Sleep my problems away and hope to wake up when it’s all over.
I woke up to a loud banging on my door. Are you kidding? Sitting up on my couch, I carefully stretched my body out with my stitches in mind and got up to make my way towards the door. Whoever it is better have a good explanation for this.
Opening the door I saw it was raining once again. Why is it always raining? There wasn't anybody there. I looked down and saw a thorned rose covered in blood. Beside it I saw a note inside a plastic bag. Bending down, I picked up the bag and the rose between two fingers, careful not to prick myself like that person obviously had, and headed back inside, locking the door.
I sat down at the dining table to read whatever the note said.
“I noticed you got home from the hospital and wanted to pay a visit with a gift! I hope you like roses, I went through a lot of trouble to find one. I hope you didn't mind me sending my friends over to watch you. I had to make sure you were safe! That's all for now. See you soon!
-Toby”