•Illumoria•

CHAPTER THREE

•THIRD PERSON POV•

The first light of dawn filtered through the motel blinds, painting the room in pale streaks of gold. Parker was already up, tossing a few items into her bag while Olivia moved slower, still half-asleep and adjusting her backpack.

"Morning, Liv," Parker said, stretching and yawning. "You ready for the fun part?"

Olivia rubbed her eyes and nodded, trying to shake off the lingering anxiety from last night. "Yeah... fun. Totally." She grabbed her notebook and phone, double-checking that everything else—flashlights, knives, first aid—was packed.

Parker glanced over, satisfied, and tossed her own bag onto the passenger seat of the Camaro.
The drive to the abandoned Mills Hospital was quiet at first. Olivia stared out the window, fingers drumming nervously on her notebook, while Parker hummed softly along to the radio, keeping the mood light. The closer they got, the heavier the air seemed, and the dark silhouette of the hospital loomed through the morning mist.
Parker killed the engine a block away, her eyes scanning the perimeter. "All right. Side entrance, stay low, keep your eyes open," she whispered.

Olivia nodded, her stomach twisting with nerves. She fidgeted with her notebook, tapping the edge of the pages. "You think... it'll be safe?" she murmured, more to herself than to Parker.
Parker smirked faintly. "Safe isn't in the job description, Liv. Stick with me, watch everything, and we'll be fine."

Together, they stepped out, the cold morning air biting at their faces. Olivia's hands trembled slightly as she clutched her notebook to her chest. Parker led the way toward the side of the hospital, flashlight in hand, every step calculated and quiet.

The hospital loomed over them, gray and decaying, vines snaking up the walls like black veins. Broken windows gaped like empty eyes, and the morning mist clung to the building like a shroud. Parker crouched near the side entrance, flashlight in hand, scanning the perimeter, while Olivia trailed closely, notebook clutched and fingers fidgeting nervously around the edges.
"Stay close," Parker whispered, eyes sharp.

"Watch everything—floorboards, windows, shadows. And whatever you do... don't scream unless it's necessary."

Olivia swallowed hard, nodding. Her stomach churned, but she forced herself to take a steadying breath. "Okay... I'll be quiet. I can do this."

Walking through the decrepit building was creepy enough, but knowing there was something lurking around the corner—that's what truly frightened Olivia. Parker moved confidently, flashlight sweeping ahead as if she owned every inch of the place.

"So," Parker murmured, "you said the doctor ended up being cremated, right?"
Olivia, still focused on the hallway ahead, nodded. "Yeah... he died sometime in the '90s at some random hospital a few miles from here. No one ever gave an exact cause of death, and his only family had him cremated." She shivered slightly, thinking about how easily he had escaped justice.

Parker glanced down, careful where she stepped to avoid puddles of dark, unknown liquids. "Good to know," she said, keeping her voice low. "Keep your eyes open. Watch for anything unusual."
They walked in silence for what felt like hours, the building groaning under every careful footstep, until they came across a pair of large metal doors with a faded sign: STAIRS. Parker smirked, glancing at Olivia. "All right. You go first. Yell if you need me."

Olivia's mouth gaped open. "What do you mean me? Shouldn't the more experienced one go first?"

Parker shrugged, flipping the door open. "I mean, if you wanna be a pussy..."

Olivia's nerves spiked, but before Parker could tease further, she grabbed the flashlight, shot her sister a glare, and marched into the dark stairwell. "Hey! It's a good learning experience!" she called over her shoulder.