I quickly jerked my phone from the right pocket of my jeans and held up the camera to the name sign.

  A white luminous flash lit up the metal words, flickering a highlight at the center and shadowing both ends.

  Vigilance began to cloud the plan and lists of actions.

  This place…

  Streetlights flickered above, trying to bathe the body around with its weak radiance.

  Breathe…

  I drew in the gust of breeze that rushed the heavy rain around.

  I can do this.

  Motives and opinions began to combine and mix, from having a notion of saving a life to the potential of failing…

  Nothing matters now but him...

  As I blew out a cold, sharp breath, I strode forward.

  My shoes hit the gritty staircase, generating a crunch sound beneath my soles, disgust built up the further I ascended up the steps.

  The handrails were rusted, which is best I never touch them.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  I found myself near the entrance, the doors were dulled out with brown copper, two handles sat in the middle and both windows were blocked with messages like “Keep out!” or “Danger zone!”

  This was my final warning… but I chose not to take it

  As my gaze shifted down the staircase while my hand wandered on the handle, my fingers brushed on something cold, hard and wet.

  I immediately pulled back as the grunt of disgust escaped my tongue, holding up my palm and inspecting if anything got on it.

  Perfectly fine… must’ve had an illusion.

  I began to shake off my hands as the adrenaline pumped in my veins.

  That’s when I caught it…

  The thing that flicked on the fingertips…

  A sheared off fist.

  The bone was still attached to the flapped skin, corroded stitches and staples was spread across the infected wrist.

  Red liquid was imprinted on the doors, some of the strings of busted, stretched veins was stuck to the door.

  The expression of shock replaced my face.

  Why hasn’t the skin rotten off yet?

  A gag got out as the picture of a possible freshly severed-off hand packed my view.

  It was the only thing I couldn’t take my eyes off…

  A bang from inside shot me back into reality, then a yell followed, ricocheting at the heart.

  “Akira!” I yelled as I raised my leg to the center of the door.

  “Hold on!” I launched my foot into the door,

  it hurtled and slammed into the wall, forcing a crashing sound from its weak base, the window managed to smash against the wall, sending shattered glass across the floor.

  The hallway stretched out into a wide and long corridor.

  I took off from where I stood, sprinting as panic surged into my body.

  “Akira!” I shouted the second time; dizziness drowned me as my sight begin to uncover what lied ahead for me.

  A slam tolled in my ears, overtaking the other sounds.

  I looked back as my hands shook at the unexpected alert.

  The door was shut…

  But my only focus was Akira…

  I continued to sprint forward, each step becoming matching the rapid breaths I took in.

  “Akira!” My last call rang out as the sound of shoes striking on the floor fractured the silence…