Hide and Seek Ch.2

A group of healthcare workers end up playing a wild game of hide and seek in an abandoned nursing home on Halloween night. As they disappear one by one, the question must be asked, haunting or foe?

April pulled up at Sarah’s apartment ready to take on the evening. Neither of the two ladies were flashy or superficial. The dressed casually with only the smallest touches of make-up. “This is what you get right here baby! Take it or leave it!” April exclaimed as she pulled out of the apartment parking lot towards Applebee’s. They shared a good belly laugh as the two of them often did. After working with each other on the same shift for 2 years they had become close. They had started to look after each other at work and sometimes in their personal lives. 

 They were only about 10 minutes away from meeting Joshua and Katie, and Devon and Bryson from night shift. When Katie had text earlier she had mentioned that Bryson was wanting to go on some sort of adventure. “There’s something about these small town guys that just love exploring. I don’t get it. It’s like they’re still 12 years old,” Sarah rumbled on as they moved down the two lane street that ran through most of town. “For my real music savants, here is a classic by request, the Sledge Sisters! Check it out y'all,” a smooth talking radio DJ came through the speakers. “See, that’s why I like riding with you! You always got some good oldies or something I ain’t never heard before,” Sarah said as she reached for the volume nob and turned it up.

“PRE-TTY BABIES”

They both jumped at the sharpness of the voices coming from the stereo and thought back to the silver-haired lady at the nursing home. “Turn that down girl! You almost gave me a heart attack,” April said as she covered her right ear with her hand. “My bad, my bad!” Sarah replied quickly turning it down. “God that made me think of Ms. B. ‘Watch those pretty babies,’” Sarah said doing her best impression. “No no! Don’t do that voice. Please. It’s Halloween. Don’t play,” she said half jokingly with an empty laugh. 

They saw their party as soon as they pulled in. It was hard to miss Devon’s big red Jeep. All the staff hated his car. He was the definition of ‘a*s-hole’ parking. “You guys ready for a little adventure?” Bryon asked excitedly after the group had chatted for a bit. “Yes Bryson. What’s this adventure? You’ve text me all day about this stupid adventure. Let’s hear it,” Katie said with fake annoyance. “Okay! So have you guys ever heard of Guild Manor? The old nursing home,” he asked the group. “Yeah yeah. Back in south-side,” Devon answered. “I say we go in and check it out!” Bryson announced. The entire group looked at him in shock. “Wait. What? You know that place was like condemned. Bad stuff was going on there,” Joshua said with a little worry and excitement in his voice. Fearless, Bryson stepped in the middle of the group like a coach in a huddle. “Come on guys. I bet we cant even get in the building. It’s been closed down for like a 100 years. And, it’s Halloween night and we’re all off from working at that hell hole. I know you all don’t want to sit at Applebee’s and see which of your friends from high school is on meth tonight do ya? Let’s at least just go check it out!” 

April followed Devon’s huge red Jeep up and around the narrow two lane roads that led to the south-side area. The trees began to multiply and the city lights began to fade as they headed farther out. Nothing but headlights could be seen as they passed the “No Trespassing” sign and pulled into abandoned gravel parking-lot. The wind could be heard whistling through the trees loud and clear as they got out of the car. Bryson was all to excited for a grown man and nearly started running for the front of the building almost disappearing into the black. The others quickly followed behind. 

As the got closer to the front, they couldn’t help but notice how creepy all the old-timey structures looked all grown up with grass and moss. Broken porcelain statues. Cracked pillars. It was straight out of a scary movie. “Hey guys? Where is Devon?” Katie asked as they all began to frantically turn there heads in search. “He was right here,” Joshua said with real confusion in his eyes. There was a crash! Like one of the statues had fallen near by. “Devon!” the group began to call out.

 “GOT YA!” Devon screamed as he wrapped his arms around Sarah’s shoulders. She pulled away in disgust, grabbing a big piece of moss and throwing it at his head. “I’m sorry. I had to,” Devon said doubling over in laughter as the rest of them let out a sigh of relief before joining in on the laugh. “So, that gets me thinking,” Bryson spoke up with a slick grin on his face.

 “You guys want to play, Hide and Seek?”