Abandoned Complete Darkness

Chapter Four: The Abandoned Asylum

The sun was disappearing behind the horizon as Sheriff Thompson and his team approached the abandoned asylum. The air was still, except for the occasional whisper of wind that sent chills down their spines. The entrance to the building stood tall and ominous, the once-grandiose gateway now reduced to decaying ruins.

As the team cautiously made their way to the entrance, they couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. But every glance into the shadows revealed nothing but the shifting of leaves and shadows.

Deputy Harris was in the lead, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of life. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he refused to let any fear show on his face.

"Seems quiet," he said, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness. "Maybe the Crazy Lady was off her meds again."

Sheriff Thompson gave him a sidelong look but said nothing. He knew better than to underestimate the power of the unknown, even if the Crazy Lady's claims often turned out to be nothing more than ramblings.

As they entered the asylum, the atmosphere grew even more ominous. The silence was almost tangible, broken only by the soft footsteps of the team. The once grand halls were now in disrepair, torn and faded wallpaper peeling from the walls, and spider webs hanging in every corner.

They proceeded deeper into the building, flashlights casting eerie shadows on the walls. Every sound, no matter how small, seemed amplified a hundredfold. Deputy Harris jumped at the sound of a creaking floorboard, his nerves on edge.

As the team rounded a corner, they suddenly heard a loud crash coming from behind them. They spun around, heartbeats skipping a beat as they pointed their flashlights into the darkness.

A fallen painting now lay on the floor, the glass shattered into sharp fragments. It was as if it had been thrown off the wall by an unseen force.

Just as the team was recovering from the shock of the fallen painting, a shrill scream echoed through the halls. The sound was faint, but unmistakable.

"Help! Someone please help me!"

The team froze, exchanging wary glances.

"That sounded like a woman's voice," Deputy Lee whispered, her hand clutching her pistol tighter.

Deputy Emily Adams, who had just joined the police force, looked alarmed. "Who could that be?" she asked, her eyes wide with fear. "We're the only ones here, right?"

"In theory, yes," Sheriff Thompson replied grimly. "But let's not take any chances."

He signaled for the team to fan out and quietly follow the source of the scream.

As the team stealthily proceeded through the dark, labyrinthine halls, they began to notice strange phenomena. A chill wind blew even though all windows were boarded up, and shadows flickered at the edge of their vision, only to disappear when they turned in that direction.

Just then, up ahead, they caught glimpses of a translucent, shadowy figure, barely visible in the darkness.

"What the hell...?" Deputy Smith muttered as the figure suddenly vanished, only to re-appear a few feet away.

Deputy Adams clutched tighter to her pistol. "Are we seeing things, Sheriff?"

Sheriff Thompson's eyes narrowed as he watched the elusive shadows dance around them. "I'm not sure," he responded. "But I can't ignore it."

The team pressed on, the shadow figure continuing to taunt them, appearing and disappearing just out of reach.

As Sheriff Thompson and his team followed the shadowy presence, they suddenly heard a faint, strangled sound. The team stopped dead in their tracks, listening intently.