A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

(F/n) pushed aside the one swinging door and held it briefly for Brent. She received no gratitude for the action, but she didn't expect any from him. Moving her flashlight, the metal object glinted again. Her feet carried her towards it, and as she neared it, she recognized it immediately. With a few swift steps, she was next to it.

Her fingers picked the item up. The plastic was meant to look like silver, and the cheap gem in the center made the ring look like nothing more than a poorly crafted mood ring, but it was one of Laura's favorites. They had each won one of the rings back at a town fair. That had been four years ago when they were in their freshman year of high school.

Why would it be off of her finger, though? Was she leaving it behind for someone to find her, but that didn't make sense. The place was huge, and the likelihood of someone finding it in here was slim. She had discovered it, but that was by luck.

Brent walked up beside her. His flashlight shone on the ring. "That's Laura's. She rarely takes that off." Puzzled himself, he moved the light closer. "There's no sign of blood on it. Maybe, she did purposely leave it behind, or the creature might've knocked it off somehow."

"I don't know. Something seems off about this." She looked over to him and glanced up. "You feel it too. Laura wouldn't leave this behind as a clue. It's too small. Someone could pass by it too easily. She would leave something else behind, but we do know that she was here. That's important enough."

Stepping away from her, he began to head towards the exit of the dining hall. "True, but the creature was probably here as well." His flashlight spotted something dreadful. A few feet away from the ring, there was a trail of blood. "And, I think that Laura might be in serious danger."

Fear developing, (f/n) caught up to Brent. She looked to the ring again. "Why would there be no blood on it, then? You don't think ..." A theory of what happened formed in her head, and blood drained from her face. If Laura was alive, she was probably in severe pain.

"I'm not thinking about it. Let's just find her. She probably needs some sort of medical attention, and one of us might have to distract that creature if it's chasing her still." His gaze fell to her. "You stated that it almost killed you several times. You've escaped the most from it, so I think that you have the best chance of getting away again."

Almost, she shouted at him, but she forced herself to whisper. "Are you crazy? I may have gotten away, but I'm not pushing my luck against that thing. Besides, he'll know that we're trying to distract him, and he'll still chase after whoever he wants."

An irritated sigh escaped his lips. "It's better than nothing. Just think of it as helping your friend. If we get separated, we know where to meet up."

"So, that's what it is. You want to ditch me since you'll be with Laura." A scowl crossed her lips, and she shoved the ring in her right, outer jacket pocket. She pushed him aside and headed for the door. "Fine, you're a jerk anyway." (F/n) reached the door and looked over her left shoulder. "I think that it's obvious. If the creature attacks either of us, the other isn't helping. Am I right?"

"Of course, that's the case. Once we find Laura, I could care less about your company." He met her at the door and shoved it open. She followed after him into the hallway, and they both allowed the trail of blood to guide them. "Besides, with you gone, I'll get more money." Brent grew quiet after that, and she preferred it that way. Their partnership was hanging on by a worn thread.

The trail of blood led them further and further away from the direction towards the center. They passed several rooms, but she figured that she could explore them on the way back if she wasn't dealing with the creature. Laura was more important at the moment. Brent remained several steps ahead of her, but something crunched under his foot. It sounded like plastic and glass.

Both of them halted. He moved his foot and picked up the object. She stepped closer, and her stomach seemed to curl into a tight knot. Those were Laura's glasses. Without them, she could barely see. "We need to hurry." Brent gave no argument, and they started to sprint. It might give away their location, but Laura was worse off. Besides, the creature probably had heard their quiet footfalls as well.

Suddenly, they both stopped. Their feet slid across the stone floor for a moment. They had nearly crashed into a door. The crimson went under it, and no sound came from the other side. Brent grabbed the doorknob first and called out softly, "Laura? Are you in there?" No response came. He turned the doorknob painfully slow. Once the door was open, they both stepped inside hesitantly.

Their flashlights lifted to better illuminate the space. Instantly, Brent dropped his and faced away. His arms gripped his midsection before he emptied his stomach contents. (F/n) covered her nose and collapsed against the doorframe. Tears began to form, but she found that she couldn't draw her eyes away from the scene. She couldn't believe that her friend was lying there ... in that condition.

Laura's left hand was missing, and that answered the question about the ring. Her head was thrown into a corner, and half was gone. Select portions of her body were picked apart. In some places, only a cleaned bone could be seen, and there were five puncture wounds through the heart. (F/n) forced herself to enter the room further. She walked over to her deceased friend's body and lifted the sheets out from under her. They covered her friend shortly after, and she placed the mood ring on top.

(E/c) eyes peered over to her friend's head. (F/n) couldn't stomach moving it. She wished to respect her friend, but she just couldn't do it. Over her life, she had seen countless deceased, but it was never her friend. There was also the fact that the murderer was nearby. Laura's body was covered, and that would have to do given the present conditions.

There was nothing else to be done in this room. She wanted, no needed to get out of it. Her eyes glanced over to Brent. "Are you coming? It's only us still, and I don't wish to be in this area any longer." It was as though she could feel death creeping up on them. Memories of the creature's nails around her neck sent chills up her spine.

Sharply, Brent turned on his heel. His glare met her troubled eyes. "What's wrong with you?! Why are you so calm?!" He wiped away any remaining contents around his mouth. "You just lost a friend!"

Returning the glare, she took a step towards him. "I'm not calm. I'm f*cking terrified right now, but it's not the time to grieve her death! That creature is probably still close by, and I'm not sticking around to be killed by it. Laura would understand, and you should too. Unless you want to end up like her, I suggest that we get moving."

He looked like he was about to argue, but his voice fell short. An ear piercing sound swept throughout the area, and they both hurriedly turned their heads to the hallway. Brent recovered his flashlight, and she readied herself to turn it on the highest setting. They were at a dead end; they had no choice but to go closer towards that thing. The noise ended but was replaced by the creature's giggling.

"Sh*t, sh*t," Brent continued to curse. His hands shook, and he walked back some. (F/n) kept her position and held her flashlight up more as a threat to the creature. She received more giggles. The thing was trying to unnerve her, and it was working. All she wished to do was slam the door and hope that it couldn't break it down.

His gaze traveled to Brent, and it stopped. An amused smile crossed his lips. He raised its left index finger and pointed towards the male. "Not again," Brent muttered as he moved more behind (f/n). She would've scowled at him, but she refused to draw her attention away from the creature.

This time, though, the creature didn't motion for Brent to come forward. He drew the same finger across his neck. A thin line of blood trailed down his neck. The blood that was on his nail he licked off. They had little time to act as the creature suddenly bolted forward. (F/n) flipped her flashlight onto high and aimed at his eyes.

Already adapting, the creature continued forward with his eyes shut tight. She darted to the side, and Brent performed the same. The creature bolted past them, but it turned speedily on its heels. Brent and she wasted no time. They dashed out of the room and down the hallway. Both of them could hear the creature directly behind then. He wasn't giving up chase.

Soon enough, his footfalls were right on top of them. They slowed their pace as they watched the creature run right past them. It stopped several paces ahead, and they halted. A grin spread across his lips, and he shook his head.

Not waiting for him to attack, they each took a different way. Brent ran down the hallway going to their left. She raced down the right one and became faced with a door. Swiftly, she threw it open and shut it behind her. (F/n) locked it and backed away from the object. Soft footfalls sounded outside, but they grew distant. Once again, she was alone.