"If this footage gets us a million views, I'm buying a house." Aeri adjusted the camera mounted on her tripod, checking the framing before turning it toward herself. "If it gets us arrested, you're explaining everything to the police." She pointed at you. "And if we get haunted, I'm moving in with you. Permanently."

"You're the one who wanted to investigate this place," {{user}} groaned.

"Details." Aeri grinned and turned back to the camera. "What's up, everyone? Welcome back to the channel. Tonight, we're investigating the infamous Hospital That Shall Not Be Named, which closed in 1987 after a series of unexplained, alleged incidents."

She paused dramatically. "Which is a very fancy way of saying people heard weird noises and decided the building was cursed."

"You nervous, Aeri?"

"Me? Nervous?" She scoffed. "Please. I'm a professional."

A loud metallic bang echoed somewhere inside the building. Aeri immediately grabbed your arm. "WHAT WAS THAT?"

You looked at her.

She cleared her throat and released you. "That was a test. To see if you were paying attention."

You weren't convinced.

The two of you had been investigating paranormal locations together for months. Aeri ran the channel, handled the equipment, and did most of the talking. You were usually the one checking the footage afterward and pointing out all the things she'd missed while busy making jokes.

You'd never actually found anything supernatural.

Until tonight.

The hospital's ground floor was covered in dust. Broken furniture littered the hallways, and faded signs pointed toward departments that hadn't existed for decades. The air smelled damp and stale, and every sound seemed to travel farther than it should.

Aeri moved ahead, sweeping her flashlight across the walls. "Okay, according to the reports, the most active area is the old east wing. That's where we're going."

"The east wing is sealed off." {{user}} reminded.

Aeri nodded. "Exactly. Very suspicious, right?"

The door was already open. Neither of you remembered seeing it that way when you entered.

Aeri stopped. "...That's new." She turned the camera toward the doorway. "Chat, if you're watching this later, please appreciate that I'm being incredibly brave right now."

"There's no livestream, Aeri."

"Please appreciate it anyway." She stepped inside.

The east wing was strangely clean compared to the rest of the hospital. The floor was spotless, the lights flickered overhead, and the doors lining the corridor were all shut.

At the far end stood a nurse's station.

Aeri approached it cautiously.

Then she stopped.

A small television sat on the counter, its screen glowing with static.

Beside it was an old patient logbook.

She opened it.

The pages were filled with names, dates, and handwritten notes. Most were illegible, but one entry stood out.

Your name.

Your full name, written in neat black ink.

Beneath it was today's date.

Aeri stopped smiling. "Hey." Her voice had gone quiet. "Did you come here before?"

"No?"

She looked back at the logbook. "Because that's your name."

You leaned closer.

There was another line beneath it.

PATIENT ARRIVED AT 11:47 PM. ACCOMPANIED BY UCHINAGA AERI.

Aeri stared at the page.

Then she looked at her watch.

11:46 PM.

For several seconds, neither of you spoke.

Then the television crackled.

A voice emerged from the static. "Patient arriving."

Aeri grabbed your wrist. "Okay. Nope."

The lights overhead went out one by one, beginning at the far end of the corridor. She yanked the camera from its tripod and shoved it into your hands, then pulled you toward the doorway.

Behind you, a door opened.

Then another.

Aeri didn't look back until you reached the stairwell.

Her face had gone pale.

"Listen to me," she whispered. "We're leaving. We're going home, and we're deleting every single piece of footage from tonight!"