Entry by Team Mystery-thriller & Horror for round 1:

ENTRY:

Blue Hallow

“Several cases of disappearance and murder had been registered in the Northern part of the town, Hallow. The reason behind the sudden increase in criminals and mass killings seem to be unknown, and it’s a mystery to the local police. They don’t wish to share sensitive information regarding the case and urge the citizens to remain indoors for the time being, especially at night. This has raised a question in the minds of the people living in this town. ‘Am I next?’ This is Ana Whiteside reporting for XYZ News.”

The faint buzz of the news running on TV was entirely ignored by the nurses and doctors who were working on the night shift at Hallow’s town hospital. The recent increase in cases visiting the emergency room had caused a mental and physical strain on the hospital staff, especially when this is the only hospital in the Northern part of the town.

“Nurse Willow, the patient in room 303 is waiting to get the blood work done. Please assist them,” the curt voice of Doctor Vincent echoed along the walls of the old hospital.

Severe fatigue and tiredness were seen on the said nurse’s face, as she dragged herself to the medical bay.

“Weren’t you supposed to get off work four hours ago? What’s keeping you up? And...you look worse than usual, is that even possible?” her ex-boyfriend, Kevin, commented mockingly, as soon as she entered the medical bay.

A streak of anger flashed in Willow’s mind at the unfair partiality that she had to suffer in this hospital where the credits and work hours depend on your financial and economical background.

Suppressing her anger, she managed to throw a fierce glare in his direction and got down to complete the last assignment of her shift. The nurses and interns under Dr Vincent were always fated to suffer and she wasn’t any different.

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Cold, frosty winds hit her thin frame as she stepped out of the hospital. The ground was covered deeply in snow. A hint of annoyance bubbled inside her chest as she looked at the sky.

“Ah! Why do I always get stuck in such situations?” Snow pelted her exactly at that moment causing her face to scrunch in irritation. Pulling up the collar of her overcoat, she walked slowly towards the alley, taking the deserted shortcut.

“Willow!” A frail feminine voice echoed in the open night air.

“Willow! Help me!” The voice called out yet again.

As she turned back to identify the source of the voice, there was none. The snow on the ground displayed evidence of only one set of footprints, and that was hers.

An eerie chill settled in her heart, anxious flutters deep in her stomach. A sense of mild panic seeped through every cell of her body. The young female then decided to pick up her pace and walked swiftly towards the narrow alley that she frequently visited during such frosty nights. The surrounding was peaceful, with cherry blossom trees on one side and graffiti walls on the other.

"Less sleep has indeed put a toll on my already stressed-out brain," she whispered to herself while casting one final look towards the spot where she heard voices.

Rubbing her arms, she briskly walked towards the alley, humming a soft tune to stop fear from consuming her. Willow was never a fan of dark, deserted places or taking walks at midnights. It heightened her paranoia and caused mild panic attacks. A mild case of Nyctophobia.

Small beads of sweat collected on her forehead, as she crossed the halfway mark to her destination. Suddenly, another pair of footsteps resounded along the dark alleyway. The loud taps of the shoe soles resembled that of a burly and well-built man. Though the sound seemed far from where Willow was, a sudden sense of tripartition and danger echoed in her brain, and she decided to get out of there immediately.

The walk through the dark alley felt too long, and the exit seemed much farther away than she initially pictured it to be. Small clouds of vapour formed on her spectacles as her breathing became heavier. The sound of the rapt footsteps sounded much closer to her than her initial analysis.

It’s okay Willow. He's just a normal person who’s using the same road as you, on this freezing night, her thoughts tried to convince her frantic heart.

But, she knew something was amiss when the footsteps paused along with her and continued along with her. To test her final theory, she came to a sudden halt as she crossed the three-fourths mark.

The sound of silence around her was chilling and frightening in every possible way.

Turning slightly to the side, she tilted her head in hopes of getting a look at her pursuer. She noticed the silhouette of a tall person, wearing a long trench coat, gazing straight in her direction.

But what made her heart drop right down the pit was the tall man suddenly charging towards her like a bull at full speed.

Cold winds swept by her face, as she started running towards the exit of the alley. But, the alley that she frequently visited seemed to be different. Some of the ancient frostbitten cherry blossom trees had been slain, as it laid lifeless obstructing the alleyway. She dodged a few branches and dashed past the others, with only one thought in her mind.

I need to escape.

A musty and rotten smell of dead meat suddenly wafted in the air, further increasing the panic in Willow’s heart. Feeling the presence of the man edging close to her, she gave out a frail cry of help. “Help! Anyone! Help me!”

Alas, a large hand grabbed her shoulder and slammed her shaking body on the graffiti wall.

“Please! Leave me alone. I have nothing to offer,” shrieked Willow, desperately. Cold sweat ran down her face as she raised her arms and launched a solid punch at his shoulder.

Fear combined with anxiety and nervousness helped her pack a good punch against the cruel predator. Moving away, the predator covered his shoulder, recovering from the pain. But that was enough time for Willow to pick up the pace and rush towards the exit.

“You can’t escape my clutches. Ever,” a cold husky voice resounded from her back. A needle jabbed right on her upper arm.

“Ah! NO!” An audible, pain-filled cry echoed along the alley.

Droplets of blood oozed down her arm with the needle lodged deeply in it. Her vision blurred slightly.

“What was... that?” she whispered brokenly in a haze, more of a question to herself.

A soft chuckle was heard from the predator, as he edged closer to her ears.

“Darling, didn’t I say I would never let you leave. Did you forget me?"

With an audible thud, the young lady fell to the ground. Her eyes fluttered close, while her arm was still bleeding out on the pure white snow.

“Experimentation 21 - commenced. I have high hopes for you.”

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Willow woke up to the ever-familiar smell of hospital disinfectant. Her eyelids seemed heavy and difficult to open as she wondered how she ended up in hospital. Memories of leaving the hospital and walking down the snow-filled alley flashed in her mind. But, after that her memories are blank.

Groaning, she opened her eyes slowly, only to come across the face of her sister sleeping by her bedside.

This can’t be real. She can’t be my sister.

Shook in complete disbelief, her hands automatically reached towards the frame of her sleeping sister.

“Ana is here and real,” a soft whisper fell from her lips as she affectionately stroked her sister’s head.

Disbelief and confusion floated in her thoughts, accompanied by the throbbing headache and a lot of unanswered questions.

Is this real? Why am I at the hospital? How did I end up here, connected with so many tubes?

“Willow, you are awake. Finally! We were worried about you,” her sister bounced to her feet grinning with happiness.

A strained smile spread on Willow’s face. She didn’t know how to respond to the happy girl.

“Yes. How did I end up here?” Willow voiced out as she gazed at the IV by her bedside.

The smile dropped instantly, replaced with a frown on the young girl’s face.

“You were very sick at home last night. I was worried. Doctor Vincent advised me to bring you to the hospital.” A sad look was cast on her face.

The cloud of disbelief and doubts increased as Willow questioned reality. The sister she knew was very sick, and the sister she knew never met or talked with Vincent.

What is happening?

“Sister, do you want some water?” the young girl offered.

Willow clutched her head as the throbbing pain amplified.

“Willow, are you okay?” she implored once again.

“AH!!” A sharp pain shot through her brain before she could answer. Blurred visions of the previous night flashed in her mind.

Blue vial. Blue IV solution

She quickly snapped off the tubes and yelled in a thick voice filled with anxiety, “LEAVE ME ALONE. YOU ARE NOT REAL. MY SMALL SISTER IS SICK AND DYING.”

Barging out of the room, she immediately rushed towards the exit of the hospital, dodging and running past the security that followed her. All she could think was, Where is my real sister? and What in the world is happening?

The haze in her mind returned along with the throbbing pain and blurry eyes as she ran all the way back to her house. Ominous thoughts scattered around her brain, while she reached the porch of her small apartment.

Her trembling fingers twisted the doorknob, only to find it swing open on its own. The rustic yet pungent smell of blood hit her senses, and cold fear filled her entire body. Droplets of blood were splattered on the bright pink carpet.

Frozen in complete horror, she slowly followed the trail of the blood reaching the main dining area.

A scream of fright and disbelief tore from her throat, with tears dropping down her eyes continuously, as she gazed at the lifeless look on her dead sister. Dropping to her knees, Willow hung her head and hugged the lifeless body of her sister, crying silently.

A click followed by the soft recording played in the background, “Darling, what a masterpiece you have become. I wonder how it felt to kill your own kin.”

Cold laughter echoed along the walls of her empty house, with the recording nearing its end, “See you soon, darling.”

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“Reporting - Experimentation 21 passed the first stage. We can increase her dosage, Doctor Vincent,”

“Proceed.”
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