Paris’s fists slammed against the locked door again and again, the relentless pounding reverberating through the chaotic hospital. Her palms stung from the force, but she didn’t care. She had to get out. They had to get out. With each hit, her frustration, fear, and panic mounted. But when Eli gently grabbed her hands, his touch was firm but kind, she stopped. His eyes, filled with a sorrowful understanding, spoke louder than words.

“It’s no use, little lady,” his expression seemed to say. No matter how hard she pounded, the door wasn’t going to open. Paris felt her heart sink. It was as if time slowed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her like a heavy fog. But that brief stillness was shattered by a blood-curdling scream that cut through the air. This scream wasn’t like the others. It was worse—pure agony and terror rolled into one, a scream that seared into Paris’s soul.

She turned, her eyes wide with dread, just in time to see the source of the noise. A creature, one of the monstrous beings from the lab, had pinned a man to the floor. Its grotesque, decaying form was hauntingly familiar, its dark, hollow eyes void of anything human. Paris’s mind raced—how had they made it this far? Were they following her?

“No, no, no,” Eli’s voice broke through her thoughts. He stood frozen, his eyes locked onto the horrific scene unfolding before them. For a moment, it was as if the fear had paralyzed him, but then the survival instinct kicked in. His voice was firm, snapping both of them back to reality. “Let’s go, little lady. Time to go!”

Everywhere around them, chaos erupted. People ran in every direction, desperate to escape the nightmare. Families clung to each other, only to be torn apart by the creatures. Blood splattered the white hospital walls, transforming the once sterile space into a scene from hell. The air was thick with the sounds of terror—screams of agony, flesh being ripped, bones crunching, the guttural growls of the monsters.

Paris and Eli darted through the madness, searching for an exit, a hiding place, anything that would offer a shred of hope. But it felt like the hospital had become a maze, every turn leading to another horrifying scene—nurses, doctors, and patients alike were being devoured alive. The creatures were relentless, their hunger insatiable.

The noises were overwhelming. Glass shattered in the distance, machines beeped in a frenzy, and the sickening crunch of bone and flesh echoed through the halls. Paris’s heart raced, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. It was all too much—too loud, too terrifying.

Finally, they stumbled into a room. Inside were four others, huddled in the dark corners, trembling. Their wide eyes were full of fear, their bodies shaking uncontrollably. Paris and Eli quickly joined them, pressing themselves against the walls, trying to catch their breath. The room was cold, damp, and suffocating. The faint sound of crying could be heard as everyone inside waited, hoping the horrors outside wouldn’t find their way in.

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Eli leaned close to Paris, his voice barely a whisper. “I wasn’t supposed to be here, little lady,” he said, his tone hollow, almost as if speaking to himself. Paris turned to him, confused by his words. What did he mean?

Eli’s hand trembled as he wiped at his eyes. His voice cracked as he continued, his words dripping with pain. “I was supposed to be dead.”

Paris’s heart clenched. What was he talking about? Slowly, she reached out, placing her hand on his, hoping to offer him some sense of comfort.

“My wife,” Eli began, his voice barely audible. “She died from cancer. And then… not long after, my daughter and granddaughter… they were killed in a car accident.” His words were jagged, each one more painful than the last. “I couldn’t take it anymore. I tried to end it… tried to… but the gun jammed.” His voice trailed off, and the silence that followed was suffocating. Tears streamed down his weathered face, and for the first time since Paris had met him, Eli looked truly broken.

Paris’s own tears welled up as the weight of Eli’s words sank in. The depth of his sorrow was unbearable. He had lived through so much loss, and now this—this nightmare.

“That’s why I stayed away from people,” Eli whispered. “Because they always leave.”

The silence in the room was thick with emotion. Paris tightened her grip on his hand, feeling the weight of his story settle over her like a heavy blanket. It was a pain she couldn’t fix, a wound that would never fully heal. For a moment, the horrors outside seemed distant, overshadowed by the profound sadness in the room.

In the quiet, the others in the room began to move, stacking furniture and debris against the door to barricade it. Paris watched them, her mind still reeling from Eli’s confession. She glanced around at the faces of the strangers in the room—the fear etched deep into their expressions, the uncertainty that loomed over them all. No one knew if they would survive the next few minutes, let alone the night.

Paris exhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. She placed her hand on her chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart. Slowly, she willed it to calm, trying to regain control of her emotions. The sound of her own breathing filled her ears as she exhaled slowly, her hand brushing against her suitcase.

Her suitcase.

Paris froze for a moment, her eyes widening as she remembered the box and folder inside. Dr. Devo’s warning echoed in her mind. She had forgotten about the very thing that might hold the key to understanding what was happening. With shaky hands, she unzipped the suitcase and pulled out the folder.

As she opened it, her eyes scanned the documents inside. Her breath hitched in her throat as she read through the information. Her pulse quickened, her heart pounding in her chest again.

“What the…” Her voice was barely a whisper as she flipped through the pages. Her hands trembled, her eyes widening with each word she read. The realization of what she was seeing, of what had been done, hit her like a freight train.

What the fuck?!

Her mind raced, a million thoughts swirling, none of them making sense. She couldn’t process what she was reading—it was too much, too horrible.

“What the fuck…” she repeated, her voice cracking, her breathing erratic. She clutched the folder to her chest, her eyes darting around the room as if the answers she sought would be found there.

But the only thing that greeted her was the oppressive silence of the room and the horrific reality that lay outside.

Paris’s heart hammered in her chest as the weight of the truth began to suffocate her. There was no escaping it now. Whatever she had just uncovered, whatever horrifying secret lay in those papers, was bigger than she had ever imagined.

And it was only just beginning.