Eternal Goodbye.

part 32: Goodbye

As the darkness enveloped Divine, she felt a cold chill wash over her. Time seemed to stretch as she was dragged away, her body limp against the strength of her captors. The world around her was a blur, filled with shadows and haunting whispers that echoed in her mind. She fought against the despair that threatened to consume her, but hope felt so distant now.

"Where are you taking me?" Divine managed to croak out, her voice trembling. The men only chuckled, the sound echoing like a haunting melody. Their laughter made her skin crawl, sending shivers down her spine.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," one of them taunted, his breath hot against her ear. "You'll see your friends soon enough. In pieces, perhaps."

The words sent a fresh wave of panic coursing through Divine. Her heart raced as visions of Rhea, Gustav, and the others filled her mind. She could still see their terrified faces, their desperate attempts to save her. But she was powerless now, trapped in this nightmare.

*back in the forest*

Rhea and Gustav stumbled through the underbrush, their hearts pounding with guilt and fear. They couldn't leave Divine behind, but what choice did they have? Rhea's hands trembled as she wiped her tears, and Gustav gripped her arm tightly, as if trying to anchor them both in the chaos.

"Divine is strong. She'll find a way," Gustav whispered, though even he struggled to believe it. The weight of their decision hung heavily between them, a dark cloud that threatened to swallow them whole.

"Do you think we'll ever find her?" Rhea's voice cracked as she spoke, the fear evident in her tone.

"I don't know," Gustav admitted, his heart aching for his friend. "But we have to keep moving. We can't let them catch us too."

They pushed on, the shadows growing thicker around them. Every rustle in the leaves made their hearts leap, but they had to stay focused. Divine needed them, and they would do whatever it took to survive.

Meanwhile, Divine was tossed into a dimly lit room, her body colliding with the cold, hard floor. The men stepped back, laughing as they surveyed their prize. Panic surged within her as she scrambled to her feet, desperately searching for a way to escape. But the walls were closing in, and the fear gnawed at her insides.

"Let me go!" she screamed, her voice echoing in the confined space. But her cries were met with only cruel laughter.

"Why would we do that?" one of them taunted, stepping closer, brandishing a knife that glinted ominously in the low light. "You're far too valuable to us."

Divine's heart sank as she realized the depth of her situation. She could feel the weight of hopelessness settling over her, crushing her spirit. But in that moment, as she looked into the twisted faces of her captors, a surge of defiance ignited within her.

"I won't let you win," she spat, her voice trembling with anger and fear. "My friends will come for me!"

The men exchanged amused glances, clearly entertained by her bravado. "Oh, we'll see about that."

Outside, Rhea and Gustav pressed on, their determination waning as the night wore on. They stumbled upon the entrance to the hospital, the once-imposing structure now a haunting silhouette against the moonlit sky.

"Divine!" Rhea called, her voice breaking as hope flickered within her. "Where are you?"

They pushed through the doors, the darkness swallowing them whole. "We have to find her!" Gustav urged, desperation clawing at his throat.

As they moved deeper into the hospital, they were met with silence, a chilling void that echoed their fears. The air was thick with tension, and every corner felt like a trap waiting to snap shut.

Suddenly, they heard a distant scream, a sound that pierced through the darkness and sent chills down their spines. "Divine!" Rhea cried, her heart racing. They rushed toward the sound, but dread washed over them with each step.

Just as they reached a large room, they stumbled upon a horrific sight. The men were gone, but the remnants of what they had done hung heavy in the air. And in the corner of the room lay Divine, battered and broken, her eyes wide with terror.

"Divine!" Rhea screamed, rushing to her side. But it was too late.

Divine's breath came in shallow gasps as she looked up at her friends, her eyes filled with pain and sorrow. "I... I tried," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I couldn't... I couldn't save them..."

Rhea felt her heart shatter as she kneeled beside Divine, holding her friend's trembling body in her arms. "No, no, no! You're going to be okay!" she cried, her voice choked with emotion.

But Divine shook her head weakly, the life fading from her eyes. "I'm sorry, Rhea. I couldn't protect you... I couldn't protect any of you."

Gustav fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he grasped Divine's hand, desperate to hold on to the last remnants of hope. "We're here now. We'll get you out. We'll make it out together!"

But Divine's gaze grew distant, her breath hitching as she fought to stay conscious. "You have to go. You have to survive," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Divine, no!" Rhea sobbed, holding her friend closer. "Please don't leave us!"

But it was too late. Divine's eyes fluttered as she took one last shuddering breath, her body going limp in Rhea's arms. The silence that followed felt like an eternity, a crushing weight of grief that enveloped them both.

Rhea cradled Divine's lifeless body, her heart breaking into a million pieces. "I'm so sorry, Divine," she whispered, tears falling freely. "I'm so sorry... We left you behind.."

Gustav's hands trembled as he looked at the lifeless form of their friend, the reality of their situation crashing down upon them like a tidal wave. "We have to go. We can't let them catch us," he said, his voice shaky.

But Rhea couldn't move. She felt as if her entire world had crumbled around her, the darkness closing in like a suffocating shroud. "We can't leave her," she cried, her heart aching with sorrow.

Gustav wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as he fought back his own tears. "We have to honor her memory, Rhea. We can't let this be the end."

With heavy hearts, they finally stood up, leaving behind the shattered pieces of their friend. They moved through the darkness, the memories of Divine guiding them as they fought to survive in a world that had turned cruel and unforgiving.

But the emptiness inside them grew with every step, a reminder of the friend they had lost and the horrors they had faced. As they made their way toward the exit, the haunting echoes of laughter followed them, a chilling reminder that not all stories have happy endings.

Tom, Bill, Jennifer Georg and... Divine is gone.

forever.