Eternal Goodbye.

part 29

The world around Divine spun in a haze of agony and disbelief as the chaos unfolded before her. The echoing cries of Tom faded, replaced by the pounding of her own heart. She felt the ground beneath her tremble as she knelt there, paralyzed by the weight of what had just happened.

"No, no, no..." she chanted to herself, her voice breaking with each syllable. Tears blurred her vision as she looked toward Tom, whose body lay still on the cold, hard floor of the hospital corridor. She wanted to scream, to rage against the universe for this cruel twist of fate, but all that escaped her lips was a broken sob.

"Divine! We have to go now!" Rhea's voice cut through her despair like a knife, sharp and urgent. She grabbed Divine's arm, pulling her up from the floor. Gustav was at her side, his expression a mixture of horror and determination.

"Come on, Divine!" he urged, his grip tightening around her wrist. "We can't stay here! We have to run!"

"No! I can't leave him!" Divine protested, fighting against their hold. "Tom needs us! He needs me!" The words felt hollow, the reality of their situation crashing down on her.

But Rhea and Gustav were relentless. "He's gone, Divine! If we don't leave now, we'll end up like him!" Rhea's voice was filled with panic as she tugged harder, urgency pulsing in her veins.

"No! We can't just leave him! We have to help him!" Divine screamed, the rawness of her grief spilling over into rage. She tore away from their grip for a fleeting moment, but the fear of what lay behind them-the man with the axe-snapped her back to reality.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor, drawing closer. The fear in Rhea's eyes was enough to snap Divine from her stupor. The instinct for survival kicked in, overwhelming her grief momentarily.

"Divine, please!" Gustav pleaded, his voice shaking. "We have to go! Now!"

The urgency in his tone cut through her despair. Divine took one last look at Tom, her heart aching, and the truth that he was gone crashed over her like a tidal wave. She felt the ground shift beneath her, and in that moment, she understood that she could either remain here and face the same fate or fight to survive.

With a deep breath, she steeled herself, allowing her grief to fuel her as she turned away from Tom's lifeless body. "Okay," she whispered, voice trembling. "Let's go."

Rhea and Gustav wasted no time; they grabbed her arms again and pulled her along, racing down the corridor as the sound of their footsteps echoed like a drum. Divine ran with them, each step heavy with sorrow, but they had to escape the horror that had unfolded in this cursed place.

They navigated through the dark, winding halls, their breaths coming in quick bursts. The air was thick with dust and decay, and the oppressive darkness pressed against them. Every shadow felt alive, every creak of the building echoed ominously in their ears.

"Where do we go?" Rhea gasped, her voice laced with fear. "Which way?"

"Just keep going straight! I remember passing a staircase earlier!" Gustav shouted, leading the charge.

They turned down another hallway, their hearts racing. Divine's mind was a whirlwind of emotions-grief for Tom, fear for her friends, and a growing sense of despair that threatened to engulf her. They had lost so much already, and the weight of it all felt unbearable.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed behind them, and Divine's heart dropped. "They're coming!" she yelled, panic clawing at her throat.

"Faster!" Rhea urged, pulling Divine along as they sprinted toward the staircase. Divine pushed herself harder, fueled by sheer adrenaline and the instinct to survive.

Finally, they reached the staircase, and they hurried down, stumbling over each other in their haste. They didn't stop until they reached the ground floor, panting and gasping for air. The cold air hit their faces, invigorating them momentarily.

"Where do we go now?" Gustav asked, looking around frantically. The entrance was still barred with debris, a heavy reminder of their confinement. "We have to find another way out!"

"Over there!" Rhea pointed to a set of double doors at the far end of the hallway. "We have to try those!"

Divine felt the crushing weight of their situation settle heavily in her chest. She knew they were running out of time, and the thought of Tom lingered in her mind like a haunting melody. But she couldn't afford to fall apart now; she had to be strong for Rhea and Gustav.

They dashed toward the doors, but just as they reached for the handles, a chilling sound echoed through the air-the unmistakable sound of footsteps growing closer. Divine felt her heart drop. The men were right behind them.

"Go! Go!" Rhea shouted, her voice urgent as she pushed the doors open. They stumbled outside into the cool night air, the moon casting an eerie glow over the overgrown yard.

"Where now?" Gustav asked, looking around wildly as they stepped into the open. They were still in danger, and the hospital loomed behind them like a dark sentinel.

"Into the woods!" Divine shouted, pointing toward the thick line of trees that bordered the property. "We have to hide! They can't see us!"

Without hesitation, they plunged into the woods, the underbrush scratching at their legs as they ran. The sound of their breaths mingled with the rustle of leaves, a cacophony of panic and desperation.

As they pushed deeper into the darkness, Divine's thoughts remained consumed by Tom. The bond they had shared felt like a gaping wound in her heart, and every step away from the hospital felt like a betrayal.

"Divine, we need to stop for a minute!" Rhea panted, collapsing against a tree trunk. Gustav leaned against the opposite side, both of them looking worn and terrified.

"No, we can't stop!" Divine insisted, her voice rising. "They'll find us!"

"But we can't keep running forever!" Gustav protested. "We need to catch our breath, or we're going to collapse!"

"I don't care! I can't let them catch us!" Divine's eyes blazed with a fierce determination, even as her heart ached. "We have to keep moving!"

"Divine, listen to us!" Rhea pleaded, desperation in her eyes. "We need to come up with a plan! We can't just run into the dark without knowing where we're going!"

Divine clenched her fists, the anger and sorrow boiling within her. "I can't think about that right now! I can't-"

Just as she spoke, a distant shout echoed through the trees, chilling her to the bone. They were still out there, hunting for them.

"Go!" Divine shouted, her voice filled with urgency. "We have to keep moving!"

They plunged further into the woods, the darkness enveloping them like a shroud. The whispers of the trees seemed to mock her grief, and the weight of their loss bore down heavily as they ran.

All Divine could think about was how she had promised to protect Tom. The memories of their laughter and love flooded her mind, each one a reminder of the pain she now carried. She had failed him, and the thought of living with that guilt felt unbearable.

But even amidst the darkness, she knew she had to keep fighting-not just for herself, but for Rhea and Gustav. They needed each other now more than ever, even as the shadows closed in around them.