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The University
**Chapter 13: Shadows of Regret**
Matthew, Yasmine, and Ann huddled together in the corner of a dark, musty hallway. The suffocating silence pressed down on them like a physical weight, interrupted only by their ragged breathing. Their flashlights barely cut through the darkness, their beams flickering as though the very air in the building resisted their light.
Too scared to move further, and more terrified to go back, they clung to each other. The dean's stern warning to stay put echoed in their minds.
“We have to stick together,” Matthew said, trying to inject confidence into his trembling voice. “As long as we don’t split up, we should be okay. Help is on the way. We’ll be out of here in no time.”
Ann sniffled, her tears glistening in the faint light. “But we don’t know where Mira, Ryan, or Nora are,” she whimpered. “What if… what if they’re gone?”
Yasmine wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “I can’t stop thinking about Nora’s screams,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “I hope those spirits didn’t hurt her. I hope the police can find her in time.”
Matthew placed a reassuring hand on Yasmine’s shoulder. “We have to believe they’re okay. Mira, Ryan, Nora… they’re strong. They’ll find a way to hold on until help arrives.”
The three of them fell into a strained silence, their ears straining for any sound—footsteps, voices, anything that might signal hope. After a few moments, Matthew broke the quiet.
“If… if something happens to me,” he began, his voice faltering, “you two need to promise me something.”
“What?” Ann asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“I took files from the office earlier,” Matthew admitted, looking down at his backpack. “Mira’s, Sonia’s, and...
Matthew, Yasmine, and Ann huddled together in the corner of a dark, musty hallway. The suffocating silence pressed down on them like a physical weight, interrupted only by their ragged breathing. Their flashlights barely cut through the darkness, their beams flickering as though the very air in the building resisted their light.
Too scared to move further, and more terrified to go back, they clung to each other. The dean's stern warning to stay put echoed in their minds.
“We have to stick together,” Matthew said, trying to inject confidence into his trembling voice. “As long as we don’t split up, we should be okay. Help is on the way. We’ll be out of here in no time.”
Ann sniffled, her tears glistening in the faint light. “But we don’t know where Mira, Ryan, or Nora are,” she whimpered. “What if… what if they’re gone?”
Yasmine wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “I can’t stop thinking about Nora’s screams,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “I hope those spirits didn’t hurt her. I hope the police can find her in time.”
Matthew placed a reassuring hand on Yasmine’s shoulder. “We have to believe they’re okay. Mira, Ryan, Nora… they’re strong. They’ll find a way to hold on until help arrives.”
The three of them fell into a strained silence, their ears straining for any sound—footsteps, voices, anything that might signal hope. After a few moments, Matthew broke the quiet.
“If… if something happens to me,” he began, his voice faltering, “you two need to promise me something.”
“What?” Ann asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“I took files from the office earlier,” Matthew admitted, looking down at his backpack. “Mira’s, Sonia’s, and...
