Eternal Goodbye.

Part 26 : Promises

As the makeshift barricade came together, the sound of scraping wood and furniture against the concrete floor filled the small basement room. Divine's heart was heavy with fear and guilt, thinking about Georg and the horrors they had just escaped. They had to regroup and come up with a plan, but the lingering dread of what awaited them kept her on edge.

"Okay, everyone, listen up," Rhea said, her voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them. "We need to take a moment to breathe and figure out our next move."

Divine nodded, grateful for Rhea's leadership. "We can't stay here forever. We need to find a way to get back to the main level and look for Georg," she insisted, her voice trembling but resolute.

"But we don't even know where they took him," Gustav said, shaking his head in frustration. "What if they're waiting for us to come back out?"

"We can't just abandon him!" Divine snapped, her emotions boiling over. "He's our friend, and we can't leave him to whatever those... those monsters are doing!"

Tom stepped forward, placing a hand on Divine's shoulder. "We won't leave him. But we have to be smart about this. We need to know the layout of this place and figure out where they could have taken him," he urged.

Jennifer's screams echoed in Divine's mind, mixing with her memories of laughter and joy from their camping trip. It was so unfair that they had gone from having fun to fighting for their lives in such a short span of time. She glanced at Rhea, who was already deep in thought.

"What if we check the blueprints?" Rhea suggested suddenly, her eyes lighting up. "Maybe there's a map somewhere in this hospital that can lead us to the other rooms. It could show us where they might have taken Georg."

"That's a good idea," Gustav agreed, nodding. "If we can find a way to access the hospital's records or maps, we might be able to pinpoint where the others are."

"Let's split up and search this area," Rhea proposed. "If we stay together, we'll make noise, and we can't risk being caught. Just keep the barricade up and stay quiet. We'll regroup here in thirty minutes."

Divine took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. "Be careful, everyone. If you see anything suspicious, don't engage. Just come back here," she warned.

As they prepared to split up, Tom pulled Divine aside, looking into her eyes with an intensity that made her heart race. "Divine, I need you to promise me something," he said, his voice serious.

"Anything," she replied, her stomach twisting with nerves.

"If something happens... if we can't find Georg... you have to promise me that you won't give up hope. We will find him, but if we don't... don't let this place take you down with it," he said, his eyes pleading.

Tears welled in Divine's eyes as she nodded, touched by Tom's concern. "I promise. I won't give up," she assured him, though the fear of losing Georg weighed heavily on her heart.

Tom pulled her into a brief embrace, holding her tightly as if he could shield her from the horrors that awaited them. "We'll find him," he whispered, brushing his fingers through her hair before stepping back. "Let's get to work."

With that, they all set off, determined to uncover the secrets of the haunted hospital and find their missing friends. Divine moved carefully through the dark hallways, her heart pounding in her chest. She focused on the sounds around her, listening for any sign of danger.

As she ventured deeper into the bowels of the hospital, her thoughts wandered to Georg and how they had laughed and joked just days before. They had shared stories around the campfire, their futures seemingly bright and full of promise. Now, all of that felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the grim reality of their situation.

She passed several rooms, their doors creaking ominously as she peeked inside. Most were empty, filled with remnants of the past-abandoned hospital beds, old medical equipment covered in dust, and faded photographs on the walls. The silence was unsettling, heightening her sense of fear.

Finally, she stumbled upon a room that looked different. It had a desk cluttered with papers and, to her relief, an old map of the hospital. Divine carefully entered, her heart racing with a flicker of hope. If she could find out where Georg was, maybe they could rescue him.

As she spread the map out on the desk, she quickly traced the pathways of the hospital with her finger. There were marked emergency exits and various rooms, including one labeled "Surgical Ward." A chill ran down her spine; it was possible that Georg could be in there.

"Come on, Divine," she whispered to herself. "You can do this."

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, freezing her in place. Her heart raced as she crouched down, peeking through the crack of the door. The shadows flickered as two figures emerged, and she felt her breath catch in her throat.

It was the two men with torn faces-the ones who had chased them before.

She quickly backed away from the door, panic rising within her. "I have to get back to the others," she thought, feeling the weight of the map in her hand.

She moved swiftly, retracing her steps, her heart pounding louder with each step. She had to warn them about the danger lurking in the shadows. As she reached the barricade, she found Rhea waiting anxiously.

"Did you find anything?" Rhea asked, her voice a mixture of hope and fear.

"Yeah, I think I found where they might have taken Georg," Divine said, her breathless words tumbling out. "But we need to hurry. Those men are back, and they're getting closer!"

Rhea's eyes widened with alarm. "We need to regroup! Where are the others?"

Divine felt her heart drop. "I don't know! We need to find them-now!"

"Let's go!" Rhea urged, leading the way back into the maze of hallways. They were determined to find Tom, Gustav. As they hurried through the darkness, the haunting memories of laughter and friendship faded, leaving only the chill of fear and uncertainty in their wake.

"They are gone, georg we'll find you."