I don’t know why she’s been so off since we left for the other hospital. All she did in the bus was clutch her bag and stare into space. Of course, I know something is bothering her, but what? I can’t help but connect this to her mumbled words in the dark. My mind keeps circling back to what she whispered in the dark earlier — those half-formed words she thought I didn’t hear. Is she just shaken from the blackout, or is this something else entirely? She won’t say a damn thing. Won’t even look at me.

  And I hate that I notice.

  I hate that it bothers me.

  Or maybe I’m just overthinking it all. Perhaps she had a fight with Asher or one of the other doctors. That should be it… right?

  ***********************************************************************

  “Is anything bothering you Inez?”

  My question earns me an eye roll “don’t play therapist with the therapist herself.” Three lights flicker above us while we wait as they allot us our rooms. The rest all are strangely intact. Only three… perfect…

  Something about this hospital gets under her skin.

  I can see it in the way she holds her shoulders tight, in the way her fingers won’t stay still. The hospital environment seems to be bothering her a lot and how I wish I knew why.

  As I proceed to my room, I cast her one final glance before retiring for the day. We both have been through a lot today. After all, Inez almost discovered my diary.

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  Fuck, all my madness has bled into the pages of this very book.

  Memories, or souvenirs as I call them are in that diary. A small tell-tale of everyone who has survived long enough to see my brutality.

  If she had opened it…

  No.

  I can’t even finish the thought.

  ***********************************************************************

  Footsteps always make a sound. No matter how secretive you try to be someone or something will always find you.

  Normally, I should be in my room by this time like other patients.

  Oh darling reader, bold of you to assume I’m normal.

  Technically Inez should also be asleep but here we are.

  What is she doing?

  And how big is this damn hospital?

  As soon as I heard familiar footsteps walk past my room, I knew it was Inez and I knew I would most certainly follow her. As I said before, footsteps always make a sound, always leave a trail behind if you know how to observe.

  Most people don’t.

  I catch her turning around the corner after a while doing the same. But… she isn’t there.

  Nothing. She’s gone.

  She can’t just vanish off the surface of earth can she?

  Standing there confused, I look around for a trail but surprisingly her footsteps leave none.

  I feel a presence behind me, the cold radiating from it chills my very bones. Fear blooms low in my chest. It’s been a long time since anything has managed that.

  Cold, dark and unfiltered.