Adrian stood before the door, the key already inserted into the lock, an ominous invitation that ought to have filled him with dread. Instead, he felt a curious mixture of apprehension and resolve.
His gaze lingered on the old brass handle, its once-polished surface now dulled and tarnished, a testament to the long years of abandonment — or perhaps a silent protest against its own continued existence. Memories flooded his mind, drawing him back to his childhood. He could vividly recall the days when he would stand in this very hallway, heart racing and breaths held tight as staff members strode purposefully past this door. Whispers of chilling tales, of harsh punishments, and of those who had simply vanished into thin air haunted him.
The place had earned a foreboding nickname among the
