The Horrors

Chapter 15: Returning to Murkoff

The car ride to Murkoff was silent, the weight of everything still heavy on me. When we arrived, the guards escorted me into the sterile facility, and I followed them without a word. The building loomed cold and impersonal, a constant reminder of where I was.

Dr. Reynolds met me in the lobby, her smile warm but her eyes concerned. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Okay," I replied, though it was far from the truth. I just wanted to be alone.

She nodded, offering support, but I turned away before I could say more. The elevator ride to the 6th floor was quick but felt too long. When the doors opened, I stepped out into the quiet hallway.

The ward was stark and clinical. Six beds, including mine, were lined up neatly. Lyn, Ave, Zz, and Sera were already there. Lyn greeted me with a smile, and Ave nodded without taking off his headphones, sitting cross-legged on his bed with his usual relaxed posture. Zz was sitting at his bed, sketching something with intense focus, his pencil moving rapidly across the page. Sera gave a small wave as I entered.

"Welcome back," Lyn said brightly.

I dropped my bag by the bed closest to the window and sat down, feeling the exhaustion weigh on me. The room, though shared, felt lonely. The quiet hum of the building only deepened the silence in my mind.

I tried to settle, but the unease wouldn't leave. The horrors of the past few days seemed to linger, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still wrong.

As I lay back, staring at the ceiling, I wondered if the worst was really behind me-or if it was still out there, waiting.