The walk to the old hospital dragged on. It was a longer walk than Max had expected, and the group seemed to keep taking short breaks to chat. The conversations were mostly relaxed, but the thought of the hospital didn't dispel the excitement. Max could hardly wait to finally get there.
"Did you see Ms. Weber waddling through the halls yesterday in that stupid dress?" Lukas asked with a broad grin. "I mean, who wears something like that?"
"That was just embarrassing," Tobias said. "I almost started laughing, but then I thought, no, just leave her to her own drama."
"Although, maybe we could send her to the hospital in a dress like that," Jonas suggested, and everyone laughed. "Imagine her stumbling around in the middle of that abandoned building."
"Oh God, I don't want to see that," Max laughed. "The hospital has to stay a little creepy without her entertaining us all day."
"Believe me, it'll be scary enough," said Lukas, looking serious. "I've heard that not only homeless people live there, but also much, much worse things. Who knows what we'll find."
"You and your rumors," said Tobias, shaking his head. "Did you hear that from your brother or something?"
"My brother knows his stuff," said Lukas. "He told me that people have disappeared there before, just going there. Just out of curiosity. And then never coming back."
"That sounds great," said Max sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Disappearing people, very reassuring."
"Honestly, Max, you should be glad there are three of us," said Jonas. "Imagine if you went there alone. What then?"
"Yeah, I'd be more likely to steer clear of that," Tobias agreed. "But if you're so interested, Max, maybe you could leave a message for the police before you disappear."
"Don't worry," said Max, laughing. "I'll be back. You just have to wonder which of us disappears first. Lukas, you're probably next; you've heard most of what's going on in there."
"Oh, I'm not scared at all," said Lukas, but his voice sounded a little different than usual. "I'm prepared. And you, Max, you'll be the first to scream when you hear the first noise anyway."
"Yeah, right," said Max, laughing. "You know what I've never understood? How can some people just live there without eventually going completely crazy? It must be totally unpleasant to live in such an old, dilapidated building all the time."
"Because they don't mind, Max," said Lukas. "Some people get used to the dirt and the smell. To them, it's home, like our home is to us. There's nothing about it that bothers them."
"That sounds kind of sad," Tobias said thoughtfully. "But then they must really be pretty hardened."
"Or just pretty crazy," Max said, glancing at the others. "I hope we don't find anything there that will make us even crazier."
"It's definitely going to be exciting," Lukas said, grinning again. "Are you going to find a new friend there later, Max?"
"Shut up," Max said, playfully punching Lukas in the shoulder. "I'd rather find the right way out without getting even more lost."
The group laughed as they continued walking. The walk to the hospital suddenly didn't seem so long as they became more and more engrossed in their conversation. And even though they talked about the hospital, it was clear that no one really knew what to expect there. But somehow, they all seemed fascinated by the idea of entering the unknown—no matter how scary it might be.
The conversations continued, but the group slowly quieted down the closer they got to the hospital. The sun had almost completely disappeared behind the trees, and dusk was settling over the streets. There was a strange atmosphere that seemed to be developing around them, a mixture of excitement and a bit of unease.
"It feels like we've wandered into an old movie," said Max as they came into view of the hospital's dilapidated fence. "You know what I mean?"
"Yeah, kind of creepy," said Lukas, suddenly looking a little more serious. "I mean, it's one of those old buildings that nobody really wants. But somehow it still draws you in. Just like all the stories surrounding it."
"Stories?" asked Jonas, raising his eyebrows. "You're such a believer in rumors. Remember, Lukas, sometimes things like this are just made up. You didn't bring us on this trip for nothing."
"And yet I can't help but feel there's more to it," Lukas said quietly. "Just think of all those old, abandoned places. Most of them have something... dark about them. And some... you never know what happened there."
"It's okay, Lukas," Tobias said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're thinking too much. Let's just go in and see what we find. If it's really that bad, we can always turn around."
"Yeah, you're right," Lukas said with a smile that tried to hide his initial nervousness. "Maybe it isn't that scary. Maybe we'll just find some old cupboards or something."
"I hope it's at least not too dark in there," Max said, looking out into the darkening street. "I don't want to see any old ghosts."
"Who knows what awaits us," Lukas muttered as they reached the rusty archway and pushed the entrance gate open with a loud creak. The group paused briefly as the heavy gate opened. It felt almost like the beginning of a nightmare, but also like the start of an exciting adventure.
"Okay, guys, don't worry," said Max, cautiously taking a step forward. "We're together. And if things get really bad, we can always get away. So let's see this through."
"Whatever happens here, we're together," said Lukas, now fully back on task.
With one last glance at the dark surroundings, they entered and walked along the dilapidated, moss-covered walkway that led them deeper into the abandoned hospital. The smell of damp and decay hung in the air, and the rustling of the trees in the wind made the silence seem even more eerie.
"Now what?" asked Jonas as they stood in front of a door leading into the building.
"We'll just go in," said Max firmly, reaching for the handle. "I want to know what's really going on."
With a loud creak, the door opened, and they entered. The room was shrouded in darkness, but a faint light shone through the cracks in the dust-covered windows. The walls were covered with faded, yellowed wallpaper, almost like the remnants of a bygone era.
"I can't believe we're really here," Tobias whispered.
"This is just the beginning," Lukas said, his voice suddenly very serious. "Wait and see what else we find here."
The door of the old hospital swung open with a loud creak, and the group entered. The smell of mustiness and dust immediately filled the air. Max blinked as his eyes adjusted to the semidarkness inside the building. The room they stood in seemed deserted, its walls covered with yellowed wallpaper that had long since lost its color. A faint light filtering through the cracks in the windows gave the room an almost ghostly glow.
"Okay, this is really creepy," Max muttered, pulling his jacket tighter around his shoulders. He had a feeling something was wrong, but he tried not to let it show. The others also seemed nervous, even though they tried to cover up the tension with jokes.
"Does anyone know how long this hospital has been closed?" asked Jonas, leaning against a wall and suspiciously surveying the surroundings.
"For a while," Tobias replied, running his hand over one of the broken windows. "Maybe ten years or so. They say there were too many strange things going on here in the past. Rumors of unfair treatment, strange doctors..."
"You really are a master of horror stories, Tobias," Lukas laughed, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "But somehow I think there's a little more here than just stories."
Max stared into the darkness, trying to escape his thoughts. Why had he ever agreed to come here? Did he really think this would be a fun adventure? The darkness, the smell, the dilapidated walls—it was all so... wrong. Something wasn't right. But why did it also feel like he had to keep going? Maybe it was the urge to prove to his friends that he wasn't a coward, or maybe it was the vague feeling that this place wanted to tell him something he didn't yet know.
"Look, there's a corridor," Tobias said, pointing to a dark hallway hidden behind an old wooden door. "Maybe we should go in there."
"Do you seriously want to keep going?" Max asked, unsure if he could agree with the idea. "I don't know if this is such a good idea, guys. It feels... wrong."
"Oh come on, Max," said Lukas with a grin. "You're not the kind of person who gives up just because it's a little dark. Or are you afraid of the dark?"
Max felt a lump forming in his throat. "Of course I'm not afraid," he replied, trying not to let his nervousness show. But even he found the sentence unbelievable. "But maybe it's still not smart to just wander around here. What if... what if something really is wrong here?"
"Then we'll just take it as it comes," said Tobias with a crooked grin. "Let's go down the hallway. We're not alone, are we?"
Max sighed and nodded. "Yeah, exactly. We're not alone," he whispered, slowly following behind the others as they headed into the gloomy corridor. The darkness swallowed them bit by bit the further they advanced. Max's mind raced as he followed his friends. What was he thinking coming here? It was far too quiet, far too empty, far too creepy. And yet there was also this strange feeling, as if something was pulling him into the hallway. The wall he brushed against felt cold, and the floor beneath his feet creaked with every step. The corridors seemed endless, as if they were constantly expanding further and further.
"There," Jonas said suddenly, pausing. "There's a door ahead."
"Great," Max murmured, "but what if there's something in there?"
"I hope something interesting," Lukas said, taking a step closer as he placed his hand on the door. "If there really is something creepy here, then we should at least finish it."
Max looked at the door as if it were challenging him directly. There was no way back, not now. He felt like time stood still as Lukas slowly opened the door.
"Ready?" Lukas asked as he pushed the door open further.
"Not really," Max replied, but he knew he had no choice.
The door opened with a creaking sound, and a cold draft of air swept through the hallway. Max held his breath, trying to hide his nervousness. The room beyond the door was dimly lit, the only light sources being flickering, garish neon tubes flickering across the wall. It was hard to tell if the light was broken or if the room had been deliberately kept so dim.
"See that?" Jonas whispered, slowly stepping into the room. "Back there, looks like an old table... and something lying on it."
"Let's not touch everything," Max murmured, his voice strained. "I have a feeling something's fishy here."
"Oh, Max," Tobias said, laughing softly, "you're not such a scaredy-cat. If you keep telling us what not to do, you'll never get out!"
Max frowned, but said nothing. He couldn't afford to appear weak, not here, not now. But still, something about this place made him feel the urge to turn back. What was this feeling that accompanied him whenever he walked through this hallway?
"I think we should move on," Lukas said finally, stepping closer to the table to take a closer look at what lay on it. Max could only vaguely make out what it was. Something lying under a blanket of dust.
"What is that?" Jonas asked as he took a step forward, and the others followed him into the room.
Max swallowed, trying to focus on his breathing as his heart rate increased. The air was humid, and the musty smell grew stronger the further they went into the room. He noticed how the light around them flickered and the friends' shadows danced on the walls as if they had a life of their own.
"Maybe it's better if we leave," Max said suddenly, feeling uneasy. He took a step back, his gaze constantly returning to the darkness around him.
"Come on," said Lukas, "we've come this far. We need to know what's in there."
Max felt trapped. He didn't want to appear to be the one backing down, so he nodded and slowly approached Lukas. But his gaze kept nervously drifting back to the door. As if he would immediately regret this decision if he didn't make an effort to overcome the feeling of fear.
"Come on, help me lift this thing," Tobias said, wiping his hand across the table, sending dust and dirt flying from its surface. Beneath it, a strange metal box appeared, old and worn. "What is it?"
"I don't know," Lukas replied, cautiously staring at the box. "Maybe an old relic from when the hospital was still functioning."
Max felt like something was racing inside him. Something wasn't right here, something he simply couldn't ignore. "Maybe we should just leave," he said again, but this time his voice sounded less confident.
"You're really a scaredy-cat," said Tobias, who was now holding the box and trying to open it.
"Stop that, Tobias!" Max took a step forward, but it was too late. Tobias had opened the box. A metallic clang echoed through the room, and suddenly the light in the ceiling began to flicker. Max flinched.
"What is that?" asked Jonas, and Max, too, felt a strange, vague chill spread through his limbs.
The box opened completely, revealing a stack of yellowed papers stacked on top of each other in an odd arrangement. But that wasn't what worried Max. It was the smell that suddenly filled the air—a pungent, metallic scent that immediately made his stomach churn.
"I... I don't think we should investigate this any further," whispered Max, feeling as if the darkness of the room was crushing him. The shadows seemed to be moving, and for a moment he thought he could see something in the corner of the room. Something hiding there. Maybe it was just his imagination, maybe not.
"Calm down, Max," Lukas said calmly, but with a tone that clearly indicated nervousness. "It's just some old papers. There's nothing here that can harm us."
But as Lukas touched the first few sheets of paper, something happened that almost made Max catch his breath. The lamp above them flickered again, more intensely than before, and for a moment the room was plunged into total darkness. A cold shiver ran through Max, and when the light returned, he felt an invisible weight fill the room.
"Okay, that's enough," said Jonas, quickly dropping the papers. "I've seen enough. We should get out of here. Now."
Max nodded quickly and took a step back, his eyes anxiously scanning the dark corners of the room. But there was nothing to be seen. Only the dust hanging in the air and the faint light emanating from the ceiling lamps.
"Yeah, let's go," said Tobias, but his voice sounded less determined than before. "I have a feeling something's wrong here."
The group began to back toward the door, but Max noticed someone slowing down. It was Lukas, still staring at the papers as if they were a riddle he absolutely had to solve. Max was about to say something, but suddenly he heard a noise—a quiet, almost inaudible noise that seemed to be coming from the basement.
"Did you hear that?" asked Max, his voice a little shaky.
"What?" Lukas turned around and looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"
"I... I heard something. Something in the basement," Max repeated, his thoughts racing faster now. Something was definitely wrong. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
"You're really paranoid, Max," Tobias said, almost reaching the door. "Just let us out before this takes any longer."
"Come on, Lukas," Jonas urged, "leave that thing there and go already."
Lukas shook his head, as if dismissing the voice in his head telling him to move on. But something was holding him back. Max could see it in the way Lukas turned toward the door—as if making sure he wasn't leaving anything behind that would keep him here.
"Lukas, let's just get out of here," Max said, and this time his voice was firmer than he would have given himself credit for. Something about this place had begun to get on his nerves, and he just wanted to get away. But Lukas didn't seem to hear it.
A rumbling suddenly came from the basement. Louder, as if something had leaned up the stairs. Max stared at Lukas, who was now staring at the door with a flickering gaze, as if unsure whether to go any further. But the noise level rose, and then there was a crack that made the hairs on Max's neck stand on end.
"Okay," Lukas finally said, his voice shaky. "That's enough."
The group ran to the door. But when they reached the hallway, the atmosphere was suddenly oppressive, and Max felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest. What was that? What was in the basement?
The group stood still, each of them having a moment of silence in which they just stared at each other. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, almost as if the cellar itself wanted to trap them within its walls.
"I told you," Tobias murmured, "that something wasn't right here. That wasn't a coincidence, was it?"