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Chapter 24
Deep in the darkness of the shower, the creature hissed, “Psssssssss.” It had followed her here. How? What was this place? Is this where it had been created? Why did it bring her here, to eat her? Was it trapped here like herself?
“Aaassshleeey …”
“Go away,” she demanded, stepping toward the door, body rigid, ready to turn and kick in an instant.
“Aasshleey …”
“I said. Go. Away.” She reached for the doorknob and cracked it open, causing a spear of light to stab the darkness.
“It’s okay. I’m with you.”
“What?”
It said louder, “We’re in the same boat.”
She could tell it was a girl’s voice now. “Who are you?”
“I’m like you. I’m a patient here.”
“Why?”
“Don’t know.” The girl stepped out of the dark corner into the shaft of light. She had blond hair and blue-gray eyes, was several inches shorter than Ashley, and wore the same type of light-blue hospital gown.
“I’m Tina.”
“Tina?” she asked with disbelief and frantic hope. She risked opening the door wider to bring in more light.
“Yes.”
“The same Tina who disappeared in the dark? In Jeff’s office?”
“H-how did you know?”
Refreshing relief washed over her. She found Tina, and the girl was okay. Tina was a wonderful sight to see, skinny in her baggy gown, with a cute, innocent face. “We were looking for you. Jeff, Laura, and me because I can see the shadow creatures, too.”
“You can?” Tina said, excited.
Ashley spoke so quickly she couldn’t breathe, “Where are they? What happened to us? Did the creatures hurt us? Do they have a contagious virus like zombies or venom like vampires?”
Footsteps echoed in the hall. Voices grew louder.
Tina’s eyes widened. And this made her look too innocent, pure, and vulnerable.
Ashley felt a powerful need to protect this young girl. “Is that them? Why are—”
“Follow me.” Tina stepped out of the bathroom to the room’s doorway. She carefully poked her head out to check both directions in the hall. Then she ran left, with Ashley following. Their bare feet touched the ground quietly. After a minute, Tina stopped in front of a closed door.
“Why are we stopping?”
Listening with her ear against the door, Tina looked at her. “It’s okay.” She opened it, flicked on the light, and closed it after Ashley entered.
Ammonia and bleach stung Ashley’s nose. The room appeared to be a storage place. Supplies such as mops, brooms, disinfectants, soap—
—Tina flicked off the lights as she grabbed Ashley’s hand. “Don’t be afraid of the dark here. I haven’t seen any monsters, except maybe for the hospital staff.”
“What’re they like?”
“They’re mean. And the janitor … I got a weird vibe about him. When I was hiding in your bathroom last night, I saw him staring at you while you were asleep. He just stood there for like ten minutes.”
“So why are we in his room?”
“The other staff don’t check this room.” She led her towards the back. “We’ll hide here just a little while.”
Ashley accidentally kicked something that sounded like a plastic pale. “Sorry.”
Tina stopped walking. Ashley could hear her breathe. Tina whispered, “Try moving your feet so they slide along the ground slowly and feel things.” She led her behind what felt like a panel of wood. “We’re okay here, for now.”
Despite Tina’s reassurance, she was afraid. She had grown to dread the dark over the last few weeks. “Who are they?”
“I don’t know.”
She felt defenseless. She longed to be back at home in her bedroom with Tina, where everything was familiar. “How did we get here?”
“I wish I knew.”
Ashley needed to save Tina, but she had no plan. It had been Jeff who was supposed to be finding this girl and bringing her back.
But maybe she was already safe. Maybe they were supposed to be in this hospital. Could Jeff have checked Ashley in as a patient after the shadow creature attacked? She needed to reach him. She still remembered his emergency phone number from when he helped her memorize it to use in case she felt suicidal.
More footsteps came from the hall. A man’s voice yelled, “Check every room. I want those bitches found.”
She didn’t like his choice of words or his tone. “I’m scared.”
“I’m glad you’re awake.”
“I’m glad you found me, Tina.”
“We found each other.”