The hospital looked like it had given up on being anything else.The roof sagged. Vines burst from broken windows. Rusted doors hung open like mouths left ajar.
"Okay, this is actually disgusting," Rhea said, stepping over a dead branch.She wore a long white coat over jeans and boots, her stethoscope hanging around her neck like it belonged there.
"That's the point," Lexie said, spinning in a slow circle. Her outfit,a stained nightgown and pale makeup,looked more real than it should've. "This is haunted house gold. I could film a full possession scene right here."
Matt gave her a look as he adjusted his fake badge. "You already look possessed."
"Flatter me more, officer," she said with a grin.
Tyler coughed, dragging a heavy bag up the hospital steps. "Can we please just get inside before someone calls the actual cops? This gear's heavy."
"You are the janitor," Evan said, tapping his clipboard. His scrubs were wrinkled and faintly blood-stained. "Cleaning up's part of the job."
Tyler shot him a glare but didn't argue.
Kyle brought up the rear, swaying a bit in his hospital gown. "Did anyone actually check if this place is locked?"
"Nope," Matt said. "But Kyle, if anyone asks, you're just another escaped patient."
Kyle gave a mock bow. "Method acting, baby."
They reached the front doors, which hung loose on broken hinges. The glass had been smashed years ago, the edges still jagged.
"You all sure about this?" Rhea asked, pausing. "It's not just that it's creepy. There were real stories about this place,patients went missing. Staff covered things up. Weird stuff. This isn't some haunted attraction. People suffered here."
Evan nodded, surprisingly serious. "She's right. Experimental treatments. Drug trials. Isolation rooms that were never on any blueprint."
Lexie tilted her head. "That's what makes it perfect."
Matt looked over his shoulder. "We're wasting daylight."
Kyle turned to the group, spreading his arms. "Alright. Roles clear?"
"Doctor," Rhea muttered.
"Patient," Kyle grinned.
"Spirit," Lexie said, eyes glinting.
"Cop," Matt replied.
"Janitor," Tyler huffed.
"Nurse," Evan added, scribbling something on a prop clipboard.
They stepped inside.
The air was thick and stale, like breathing in dust and spoiled milk. The entrance hall was wide and broken,cabinets flipped, tiles cracked, fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling like nooses.
"God," Rhea muttered. "It's worse than I thought."
Lexie laughed softly, stepping ahead. "It's perfect."
Evan looked around. "So… set up in the main hall?"
"Yeah," Matt said, already checking angles for the camera tripod. "We shoot some stills here. Lexie, you'll do the first scene,kind of a cold open vibe."
As they started unpacking gear, Kyle nudged Tyler and whispered, "Hey, this place has side rooms, right?"
Tyler raised an eyebrow. "You thinking what I think you're thinking?"
Kyle glanced at Lexie. "She's already in character. Could get her alone. Maybe Rhea if that doesn't work."
Tyler gave a quick nod. "We keep it casual. Play it like part of the scene."
Kyle stepped forward, calling out, "Lexie! Come here,we need you for a solo shot."
She blinked. "Ooh, already?"
"Just something cool in one of the old rooms," Tyler said. "Real haunted spirit moment."
Lexie followed them down the hallway.
Back in the main lobby, Evan fiddled with the lights as Rhea dragged an old IV stand into view.
Then the screen on the far wall,the only working monitor in the building,flickered to life with a loud pop.
Text rolled across in bright red:
FRIENDLY REMINDER: PLEASE ACT ACCORDING TO YOUR ASSIGNED ROLES.
They froze.
Rhea stared at it. "What the hell?"
Matt stepped toward it. "Is this Kyle's idea of a joke?"
Evan didn't move. "Did anyone even turn that thing on?"
"It's not plugged in," Rhea said. Her voice was quiet. Scared.
Evan closed his clipboard. "I'm going after them."
Rhea looked at Matt. "This is just a prank… right?"
He didn't answer.
Then, after a beat, he said, "I'm going home."
She followed him, fast. "Wait—Matt, don't leave me alone in here."
They reached the doors.
Locked.
He yanked on them hard. Nothing.
Rhea ran to the nearest window and slammed her fist into it. It didn't even crack. The world outside was gone,just fog. No street. No trees. Just gray.
"What's happening?" she whispered.
Matt didn't speak. He was staring through the fog like he could will it away.
And somewhere down the hallway, Lexie was already screaming.