To Return, Remember

“My god, Steph,” Jordan choked out, her voice cracking. “Why didn’t you look before crossing? We learned that in first grade.”

Hot tears burned down her cheeks, but she refused to wipe them away. Let them fall. Let them sting. Maybe it would hurt less than the weight pressing on her chest. She let out a shaky breath. “I wish I could be as fearless as you.”

Her gaze drifted to the window, where the trees stood in defiant bursts of red and gold. The world outside kept moving, changing. But here, in this too quiet room, time had stopped.

It had been three months since the accident, while Steph’s condition improved. Their broken bones had mended, so the doctors had removed the casts, and they were beginning to look like themselves again.

The hospital room, however, began to feel like a memorial. Wilting flowers lined the windowsill, their pedals curling inward, while half-deflated Get Well Soon balloons swayed gently with the air conditioning. Cards stacked on the bedside table gathered dust, their cheerful colors at odds with the sterile white walls.

Steph’s school mates and teachers still visited, though less frequently, now. At first, they came in groups, their voices hushed, their eyes darting toward the still figure in the bed. Lately, their visits were shorter, their updates about school growing more like obligations than heartfelt conversations. Each time they left, the room felt a little quieter, as if even hope was beginning to fade.

Only Jordan remained when everyone else left. George and Oliver had only visited a couple times due to their home/school lives.

James made every attempt to contact Steph’s spirit, with no luck.

“The Hunters are lurking on every floor of this place. Some areas are worse than others. They are drawn to the suffering of the living...but they thrive on the dying. Hospitals, churches, and cemeteries—those are their favorite haunting grounds.”

Steph swallowed. “What are these Hunters? Demons? Tormented souls?”

“Worse.” A shadow flickered across Jack’s face. “They are like Hellhounds, but smarter. More devious. Unlike common demons, they don’t just kill—they make you wish they had. And the worst part?” He exhaled slowly. “No one knows what they look like. No one survives long enough to tell.”

“Great,” Steph grumbled. “How am I supposed to get somewhere safe so I can return to my body?”

“You’re going to have to leave it here, for now. But I don’t think you’ll need to worry about it,” Jack replied, glancing around the corner, nervously. “Go to the second floor, the emergency exit there will take you to the Caves.”

“Now there are caves?” Steph was beginning to feel confused. “Everything was so simple when Dad was with me.” They looked to their hands, noticing a glow coming from a line on their palm. “Is this my heartline? It seems so strong now.”

“Listen to me,” Jack interrupted their musings, impatient. “From there, you’ll need to find a guide to lead you to the next Plane. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get back to the Astral so you can safely return to your body.”

“Why can’t you be my guide?” Steph asked. Their voice began to waver, as they thought about what may be lurking in these Caves they were supposed to enter. “You seem to enjoy my company so much.”

“I’m only able to ‘guide’ you for so long,” Jack retorted. “If your heartline is as strong as you say it is, you should have no further need of me.” He motioned to the stairwell. “Get down the stairs and find that exit. Also, keep your ears open for footsteps that sound like glass scraping marble. Those are the Hunters.” Pushing them to the door, he shouted, “Now go.”

For someone so small, his push felt like that of a full-grown human’s hand thrust into their back. Steph hurried to the stairwell, thrusting the door open, their breathing coming in short gasps, as they descended the stairs.

On the second floor, they opened the door to the main hallway, noticing people traveling in each direction.

This part of the hospital seemed more alive than the other floors. Guests were speaking with staff at the desk, while others were wheeled on gurneys to other rooms for examinations or treatments. The pages over the intercom signaled doctors or nurses to rush to yet other rooms for patients’ needs.

Steph strained to listen through the murmur of conversations, filtering out laughter and hushed voices, searching for one sound—the one they prayed not to hear.

Then it came.

A set of footsteps, wrong in a way that sent a shiver up their spine. A grating, crunching noise, like glass grinding against itself with every step. The sound scraped at their nerves, too loud, too unnatural.

It was coming from up ahead, near the main desk in the lobby.

Swallowing hard, Steph dropped into a crouch, inching forward. If they could get a glimpse of whatever was making that sound—without it seeing them first.

At first glance, Steph thought they were staring at a demon—but this thing was worse.

Its towering form loomed in the dim light, a wolf's skull with sunken, fiery eyes, sat atop broad wiry shoulders. It was draped in a cloak so black, it seemed to drink in the shadows. From beneath the tattered fabric, massive claws jutted out, each one as long as a grown person’s torso. Its legs, thin and sinewy like a deer’s, ended in jagged, unnatural hooves that scraped the floor with each slow, deliberate step.

Steph crawled quickly—keeping low, keeping quiet—until they reached the desk. Heart pounding, they risked a glance around. Just past the creature, the emergency exit stood like a distant lifeline.

Their fingers fumbled with the laces of their shoe. A distraction. If they could just—

They froze. No.

These things are smarter than that. If it were me, I’d look to the direction the item originated from...then where would I be?

Slowly, Steph slipped the shoe back on, frustration tightening in their chest. There has to be another way.

Why was Jack so insistent on them getting through here on their own? If ever they needed a guide to navigate the dangers of this place, it would be now. Maybe this was supposed to be a learning experience to discover something new about themselves. In the past, James had mentioned how he wouldn’t always be there for them, but that made little sense.

Steph looked around once more. So far, there was no sign that the Hunter had noticed anything out of the ordinary. Perhaps that was a good thing. They crept to the other side of the desk, noticing a corridor leading through a hallway that might loop around, but there was a chance others might be lurking.

As though on cue, two more exited from rooms at either end of the lobby, seeming to look for someone else to feed on. The noise from their footsteps grated on Steph's ears, as they approached an elderly couple getting off the elevator on the other side of the lobby’s entrance.

If Steph was going to move, it had to be now. They were fixated on the scene of the Hunters gathering around the couple, preparing to feast on the energy they gave off. This was their chance. The way forward was open. All they needed to do was not get caught in the line of sight.

Steph trailed their fingers along the cool wood of the desk, feeling their way forward while keeping their head low. They chanced a glance over their shoulder, careful to stay out of sight of the creatures lurking in the lobby.

People still moved in and out of rooms, visiting loved ones—oblivious to the horror that prowled among them. Steph clenched their jaw, weaving through the bodies, trying not to brush against anyone.

Then they did. But this… this wasn’t a person.

The moment their hand made contact, a sickening wrongness spread through them—skin too cold, too rigid. Heart hammering, Steph turned.

The thing’s sunken eyes locked onto them, burning with hunger. A massive claw twitched at its side, poised to strike. Its slack jaw sagged open, something thick and viscous dripping from between jagged teeth.

Steph had no intention of finding out what that liquid could do.

They bolted.

Steph sprinted for the door, throwing their full weight into it. The moment they stumbled through, they slammed it shut behind them—then froze.

The ground dropped away just two feet ahead. A massive chasm yawned before them, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and something older, untouched. Their breath came fast, heart hammering. That had been close. Too close.

At least they were safe—for now. Hopefully, nothing could follow them here.

But now came the real problem. Which way?

Two paths stretched into the darkness, split by the endless void between them. No signs. No markers. Just a choice, and no way of knowing where either road led. They could take a chance, pick one at random—but what if they ended up somewhere even worse?

Steph exhaled, rolling their shoulders to shake off the hesitation. “Well,” they muttered to no one, “standing here won’t get me anywhere.”

And with that, they took a step forward.

“I'm sorry,” Susan said, arms crossed over the clipboard she carried. “But your insurance has declined to cover any further treatment for your child.”

James blinked. “What?” The words barely registered. “That’s not possible. My company covers all medical expenses.”

He ushered her out of the room, lowering his voice to keep Frey from hearing. “There has to be a mistake.”

Susan sighed, her tone firm but not unkind. “I’m sorry, Mr. Clarey. It’s been three months. The insurance won’t approve any further expenses unless there’s a new claim.”

James felt his pulse hammering as he started pacing. Three months. That was all it took for them to decide his child wasn’t worth saving anymore? What was she trying to say? That if Steph didn’t wake up soon, they’d pull the plug?

Too many questions. No answers. And a rising fury that threatened to boil over.

James tried his best to keep his voice under control when he said, “Listen to me. I know there’s a lot going on. But I refuse to let my child go through this alone.”

“I understand that.” Susan replied. “But you must also take into account that there is little proof in the way of their recovery. There is brain activity, yes, but we can only do so much to try to help in the way of that recovery.”

“Just,” James could hardly believe he was having this conversation. “Give us some more time. I’m sure there is something I can do to help bring them back. I just need a little more time.”

Frey entered the hall, worry painfully obvious on her face. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Susan and James shot each other a quick glance, before Susan nodded, turning to walk the other way down the hall. James approached Frey, placing his hands on both her arms, as he led her back into the room.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I just needed to talk with the doctor about Steph’s progress. That’s all.” He felt his face flush with the pressure of that lie, but there was little he could say to ease her mind. He knew he had to get to Steph’s spirit, wherever it may be, and bring them home.