The Price of Knowledge
The low, guttural laugh outside the door sent a chill down Lara's spine. The talisman flickered weakly, its faint glow pulsing like a dying heartbeat. Andy stood by the door, her sharp eyes fixed on the faint tremor of its handle. Lara's chest tightened, fear gnawing at her as the tension in the room thickened.
"Who are you?" Lara asked, her voice trembling but firm. "How do you know so much about Margot? About her mother?"
Andy turned slowly, her expression unreadable. "I told you, I've been here a long time."
"That's not an answer," Lara pressed, her fingers gripping the edge of the bed tightly.
Andy's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "It's the only one you're going to get."
Lara's mind raced. Nothing made sense. The hospital had been abandoned when they entered, its halls crumbling and lifeless. Now, it was alive, too pristine, too orderly. And Andy… Andy seemed too comfortable here, too knowledgeable.
"How do I know you're not one of them?" Lara demanded, her voice rising slightly.
Andy tilted her head, her gaze cold. "Them?"
"The things outside. The ones that… that attacked me," Lara said, her voice shaking. "Or worse, part of this hospital. You're too calm, too… normal. How do I know you're not playing some game?"
Andy's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. "Careful, Lara. You're letting your fear get the better of you."
"You're avoiding the question!" Lara snapped, standing abruptly.
The door rattled violently, the sound like a hammer striking steel. Both women froze.
"Why are they here?" Lara whispered, her voice barely audible.
Andy exhaled sharply, her gaze hardening. "You asked for it," she said coldly. "That's the price you pay for knowledge."
Lara's stomach dropped, her breath catching in her throat. "What do you mean?"
Andy didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stepped back from the door, her movements slow and deliberate. "You wanted to know the truth, didn't you? About Margot. About this place. And now the hospital is reminding you that knowledge always comes with a cost."
The banging grew louder, each strike reverberating through the room.
Lara clenched her fists, her voice shaking with a mixture of fear and anger. "You can't just drop this on me and then act like it's my fault! What's out there? What's trying to get in?"
Andy gave her a sharp look, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Be careful, Lara. The more you ask, the worse it gets."
The talisman's glow dimmed further, and a hairline crack appeared in its center. Andy's eyes widened, her composure slipping for the first time.
"We need to move," she said urgently, grabbing a small satchel from under the bed.
"Move where?" Lara demanded.
"Anywhere but here," Andy snapped. She grabbed Lara's arm, pulling her toward the bathroom.
"No!" Lara yanked her arm free, her voice rising. "Not until you tell me what's going on! Why is this happening?"
The door groaned under the force of the banging, the wood splintering slightly. The laugh came again, louder, more menacing.
"Lara!" Andy hissed, her voice sharp. "We don't have time for this!"
Lara hesitated, her heart pounding. "You're hiding something. I need to know what it is."
Andy's gaze darkened. "The little you know now will make you miserable here," she said flatly. "Trust me, you don't want more."
The door gave another violent shudder, the talisman finally snapping in two and falling to the floor. The glow extinguished completely, leaving the room bathed in harsh fluorescent light.
Andy swore under her breath and shoved Lara toward the bathroom. "Now!"
Lara stumbled forward, her body trembling as she followed Andy into the cramped space. Andy shut the door behind them, locking it with a rusted bolt.
"Is this supposed to keep them out?" Lara asked, panic lacing her voice.
Andy ignored her, reaching into her satchel and pulling out a bundle of what looked like dried herbs tied with a black ribbon. She placed it on the ground, muttering under her breath as she lit it with a small match.
A thin plume of smoke rose from the bundle, the sharp scent of burning sage filling the air.
"Stay close to me," Andy said, her voice low.
Lara's heart raced as the banging started again, this time on the bathroom door. The sound was louder, more frenzied, as though the thing outside could sense their fear.
"What happens if they get in?" Lara whispered.
Andy's jaw tightened. "They won't. Not yet."
As the smoke thickened, the banging began to slow, the presence outside seemingly retreating. Lara stared at Andy, her mind churning with unanswered questions.
"You knew Margot's mother," Lara said suddenly, her voice cutting through the tension.
Andy froze, her shoulders stiffening.
"You knew her," Lara repeated, her voice gaining strength. "You knew Elene. And you knew Margot. How?"
Andy straightened slowly, her expression unreadable. "You're smarter than you look," she said dryly.
"Answer me," Lara pressed.
Andy hesitated, her gaze flickering to the locked door. "That's not important right now."
"It is to me," Lara said firmly.
Andy sighed, rubbing her temples. "I knew them, alright? But not in the way you think. I was here when it happened—when Margot became… whatever she is now."
Lara's stomach churned. "Then you know what's wrong with her."
Andy gave a bitter laugh. "Wrong? That girl isn't wrong. She's… different. And that difference is why you're all here."
Lara's hands clenched into fists. "What price?" she demanded. "You keep talking about this price. What is it?"
Andy's expression darkened. "The hospital isn't just a building, Lara. It's alive. It listens. It feeds. Every question you ask, every truth you uncover, it takes something from you in return. Your strength. Your sanity. Your will to fight."
The words sent a chill through Lara, but she refused to back down. "Then why are you still here?"
Andy's gaze softened, and for the first time, she looked almost… human. "Because I already paid my price," she said quietly.
The room fell silent, the smoke from the burning herbs swirling lazily around them. Outside, the banging had stopped, but the air still felt heavy, oppressive.
"What happens now?" Lara whispered.
Andy met her gaze, her expression grim. "Now? We survive. If we can."