THE PASSAGE (Book two of two)

Chapter 3: Samantha.

I awoke with a start as I heard a gunshot ring throughout the hallways. It sent a chill down my spine, but at this point in time it didn't really bother me. Had the Poppers gotten inside? I held my breath, listening for the sound of trudging feet and overwhelming popping nearby. All was silent. I felt the need to go investigate, so I begrudgingly got up, my feet gently smacking against the cool wooden floors.

I rubbed my eyes, grease sticking to my hand. I sighed, making my way towards the sound to investigate. My breathing faltered as I saw a light emitting the bathroom. I went to go investigate. My hand brushed the doorknob, as I tried to listen in for any sounds . Something brushed my foot, and I stepped back as I wiped a warm unsettling liquid off my foot. "What is this...?" I muttered, rubbing my foot on the hardwood flooring to try and remove the substance. It was thick, so it wasn't urine. "What..." I knelt down, peering under the door. What I witnessed before me was a sight so horrifying I may as well have passed out.

It was blood. "Oh my god!" I yelled, grabbing onto the door handle, jiggling it. "Locked, of fucking course," I muttered. "Hello?!" I screamed, pounding on the door. "Whoever's in there, please tell me you're okay!" I yelled, panicking. No answer. I ran across the allway, my breath hitching as I tried not to imagine what was going on in there. I scurried back to my room, but not without slipping on the floor. I lurched forward, yelling as I hit the ground. My head smacked against the wall, sending my thoughts down the drain. I moaned as I sat up, holding my head. "It's gonna be fine," I panted, slowly getting up. My head throbbed once I stood back up, running across the hallway as fast as I could.

Forcing myself into my room, I grabbed my crowbar which had been hiding on the side of my nightstand for emergencies. "Come on..." I grabbed it, racing back to the bathroom. Lurching forward, I lodged the crowbar on the doorknob, yanking it down. It popped off with ease, allowing me access to the room.

In that moment, I wish I had never opened that door.

Loranna lay in the bathtub, bathing in her own blood. Her head had been blown off from the top, revealing a very messy situation in front of me. Brain matter had been spilled onto the floor and splattered on the walls. Shock overtook me more then anything, and I began to feel the hot stinging sensation in my eyes. A lump in my throat formed, causing me to begin sobbing. "What the hell," I mouthed, unable to speak. I shook with rage as I stood up, sobbing into my hands.

I was losing it.

I stood there, looking down at her already decaying body, my throat closing up. I began to hyperventilate as my surroundings began to shift violently, sending me back onto the floor with blurry vision. If I had to describe it, I would have to say it felt like I was so emotional that I was emotionless.

"Samantha, get up!" a voice rang in my ear. There stood Loranna looming over me with a scared look on her face. "Hey, you passed out," she muttered, grasping my hand and lifting me to my feet. There we both stood in the white-lighted hospital bathroom, alone, in peace and quiet. There was no blood, no screaming, just silence.

My breath hitched as I leaned forward, pulling Loranna into a hug. "I thought you died!" I sobbed into her shoulder. She simply pulled away, smiling. "What-" I began. I stopped midway through my sentence. "Hell, I've got to be dreaming. Right?" I stared at her with wide eyes, but she simply just stood there, unresponsive.

My voice cracked as I could feel more tears flooding into my eyes. "Come on, answer me!" I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "Answer me!" I shrieked, leaning into her face. I shut my eyes, blinking to try and clear the situation. The lights seemed dimmer than last time my eyes were open. The bathroom was no longer clean, and was now covered in the usual grime from before. "No, no..." I backed away from the bathtub. I began to breathe heavily as my heart throbbed in my chest. Blood began to spill into the tub, splattering the floor in the same pattern as I found it once I had entered. "No, no, no!" I grabbed my head, crying out as I yanked at my hair.