2 views
The University
**Chapter 15: The Darkened Paths**
Ryan’s heart raced as he turned to Mira, her face pale and strained in the dim glow of his flashlight. "Mira," he said firmly, "I’m going to put you down now. You have to try walking. Don’t keep looking back—they feed on your fear. Stay focused."
Mira nodded hesitantly, her voice shaky. "I’ll try, Ryan. My feet feel better now. I think I can run if I have to."
"Good," Ryan said, helping her to her feet. "When I say run, grab my hand and don’t let go. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, Ryan," Mira whispered, clutching his hand tightly.
"Okay. Let’s go!"
They sprinted down the shadowy corridor, their footsteps echoing ominously in the vast emptiness. The faint whispers that had been stalking them seemed to grow louder with every stride. Mira’s chest burned as they ran for what felt like eternity, her grip on Ryan’s hand never faltering.
After 10 or 15 minutes of running, Mira came to a halt, gasping for air. "Ryan, wait. Try your phone again," she panted. "I don’t think we’re even moving forward. We need help."
Ryan fumbled for his phone and checked the screen. No signal. He cursed under his breath, but before he could respond, Mira froze. A cold, unnerving giggle filled the corridor, and she felt an icy grip on her hand. Slowly, she turned to look.
It wasn’t Ryan’s hand she was holding.
Her eyes widened in terror as she saw Sonia standing beside her, pale and ghostly, her lifeless hand clutched tightly to Mira’s. Sonia's lips curled into a chilling smile as she laughed louder.
Mira stumbled backward, shaking off Sonia’s hand. "Where’s Ryan? What did you do to him? Bring him back!" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Sonia’s laughter stopped abruptly. Her expression turned sorrowful, almost pleading. "This is your last chance, Mira," she said softly. "Come with me. I’ll take care of you. You don’t have to fight anymore."
"Never!" Mira screamed, her voice echoing down the hallway. "You can’t have me!"
Sonia’s eyes darkened, her face...
Ryan’s heart raced as he turned to Mira, her face pale and strained in the dim glow of his flashlight. "Mira," he said firmly, "I’m going to put you down now. You have to try walking. Don’t keep looking back—they feed on your fear. Stay focused."
Mira nodded hesitantly, her voice shaky. "I’ll try, Ryan. My feet feel better now. I think I can run if I have to."
"Good," Ryan said, helping her to her feet. "When I say run, grab my hand and don’t let go. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, Ryan," Mira whispered, clutching his hand tightly.
"Okay. Let’s go!"
They sprinted down the shadowy corridor, their footsteps echoing ominously in the vast emptiness. The faint whispers that had been stalking them seemed to grow louder with every stride. Mira’s chest burned as they ran for what felt like eternity, her grip on Ryan’s hand never faltering.
After 10 or 15 minutes of running, Mira came to a halt, gasping for air. "Ryan, wait. Try your phone again," she panted. "I don’t think we’re even moving forward. We need help."
Ryan fumbled for his phone and checked the screen. No signal. He cursed under his breath, but before he could respond, Mira froze. A cold, unnerving giggle filled the corridor, and she felt an icy grip on her hand. Slowly, she turned to look.
It wasn’t Ryan’s hand she was holding.
Her eyes widened in terror as she saw Sonia standing beside her, pale and ghostly, her lifeless hand clutched tightly to Mira’s. Sonia's lips curled into a chilling smile as she laughed louder.
Mira stumbled backward, shaking off Sonia’s hand. "Where’s Ryan? What did you do to him? Bring him back!" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Sonia’s laughter stopped abruptly. Her expression turned sorrowful, almost pleading. "This is your last chance, Mira," she said softly. "Come with me. I’ll take care of you. You don’t have to fight anymore."
"Never!" Mira screamed, her voice echoing down the hallway. "You can’t have me!"
Sonia’s eyes darkened, her face...
