As Samantha fought against her thirst in the darkness of the blood storage room, time seemed to stretch endlessly. The scent of blood surrounded her, tempting and tormenting with every breath she didn't need to take.
At first, she tried to focus on Marcus's presence. His silent support gave her strength. But as minutes turned to hours, her mind began to play tricks on her.
The darkness shifted, forming shapes that weren't there. Whispers echoed in her ears, calling her name, begging her to give in.
Samantha squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block it all out.
"It's not real," she muttered, her voice sounding strange in the silent room. "Stay strong."
But when she opened her eyes again, the hallucinations grew stronger. The blood bags on the shelves seemed to pulse with a life of their own, glowing faintly in the dark. Shadowy figures danced at the edges of her vision, reaching for her with clawed hands.
