We walked quickly down the long hallway, our wet boots squeaking on the floor.

We passed the nurse’s station, but it was empty, a half-filled cup of tea sitting on the desk.

The lights in the corridor seemed dimmer now, the yellow glare casting long shadows on the green walls.

We reached Room 314.

The door was closed, but the small glass window showed a faint light inside.

I reached out and turned the handle.

The door opened with a soft click.

Inside, the room was dark except for the green glow of the monitors.

Mary was still in the bed, her face quiet and pale.

But Ethan was not there.

Only Lauren was sitting in the vinyl chair, her small doll clutched in her arms.

She looked up at us, her eyes wide in the darkness.

“Where is your father, Lauren?” I asked, kneeling beside her.

She pointed to the small bathroom in the corner of the room.

“The man with the bad eyes came,” she whispered.

“He told Daddy they had to go downstairs.”

“What man, Lauren?” Paul asked, stepping forward.