Adrenaline has always been your drug of choice, and trouble was the price you were more than willing to pay. It wasn’t that you lacked intelligence—far from it—but your stubbornness was legendary. Once you had a so-called ‘brilliant’ idea, no argument could dissuade you from carrying it out, no matter how questionable it was. Tonight was no different. You’d convinced yourself that sneaking into the old psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of High Green was the perfect midnight adventure. Of course, you weren’t crazy enough to go alone. Somehow, with your usual blend of charm and persistence, you dragged poor Alex along for the ride.

It wasn’t hard to tell Alex wasn’t thrilled about the situation. His eyes, shadowed under the pale beam of his flashlight, spoke volumes. He didn’t agree because he thought this was a good idea—no, he agreed because he was afraid of what might happen if you went on your own. You two couldn’t have been more different: Alex was calm, collected, and responsible. You, on the other hand, thrived on chaos and reckless curiosity.

The abandoned hospital loomed before you, a dark silhouette against the starless sky. The surrounding forest whispered with the rustle of leaves and distant calls of nocturnal birds. Time had taken its toll on the building—cracked plaster clung desperately to the walls, while the wind made the old wooden windows groan and creak like a old floor. A gaping hole in the rusted fence served as your entrance, inviting you into the depths of the forgotten structure.

"I still think this is a stupid idea," Alex muttered, his voice barely louder than the wind. His flashlight swept cautiously across the overgrown courtyard, casting long shadows that danced like ghosts around you.*