Chapter 19: The Relentless Pursuit

The stillness of the hotel was shattered by a bloodcurdling screech, echoing through the hallways like a death knell. Everyone froze for a moment, their hearts hammering in unison.

---

Scaramouche and Lumine

Lumine tensed, her eyes darting to the source of the noise. “What now?” she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

“Run. Don’t look back,” Scaramouche ordered, his grip tightening on her wrist as he pulled her forward.

The sound of scuttling claws on the floor grew louder, and when Lumine glanced over her shoulder, she saw the crawling lady closing the distance fast. Her twisted back and haunting grin sent shivers down Lumine’s spine.

“Faster!” Scaramouche snapped, dragging her into a side corridor.

“You don’t have to pull me like I’m some kid!” Lumine protested, but she didn’t resist, her legs pumping furiously to keep up.

Scaramouche turned sharply into a dimly lit room, slamming the door behind them. They both pressed against it, holding it shut as the creature’s claws scratched furiously at the other side.

“This is your fault,” Lumine hissed between breaths.

“My fault? You were the one chasing lights!” Scaramouche shot back, his voice a mixture of annoyance and fear.

The scratching stopped abruptly, and both of them exchanged wary glances. The silence was more unnerving than the noise.

---

Furina and Hu Tao

“It's back!” Furina screamed as the crawling lady burst into view, her twisted body moving unnaturally fast toward them.

Hu Tao grinned as if she were enjoying the chase. “Guess she likes us! Run faster, Furina, or she’ll be your new best friend!”

“Hu Tao, this is not funny!” Furina cried, grabbing Hu Tao’s arm and dragging her down the hallway.

The two darted into another room, but the lady didn’t stop, smashing through the door with her eerie strength.

“Lanterns! Find a lantern!” Furina yelled.

“Right, right, the ghost-repellent thingy!” Hu Tao said, scanning the room. She spotted a flickering lantern in the corner and bolted toward it.

The lady screeched and lunged, but as soon as Hu Tao lit the lantern, the creature recoiled, her haunting cries fading as she retreated into the shadows.

“That’s what I thought!” Hu Tao said smugly, holding the lantern high.

Furina collapsed onto the floor, panting. “We need to find the others. This is getting out of hand.”

---

Heizou and Aether

The two sprinted down yet another endless hallway, the crawling lady’s screeches echoing closer behind them.

“Why does she keep finding us?” Aether shouted, glancing back nervously.

“She probably likes the way you smell!” Heizou quipped, though his humor was strained under the circumstances.

They turned a corner sharply, only to skid to a stop as another figure emerged from the shadows ahead—a second crawling lady.

“There’s two of them?” Aether gasped in disbelief.

“Great. Just great,” Heizou muttered. “This day keeps getting better.”

They bolted down a side hallway, the two creatures chasing them relentlessly. Aether’s flashlight flickered, and he cursed under his breath.

“This way!” Heizou shouted, pointing to an open door. They dived inside and slammed it shut, pressing their backs against it.

The creatures screeched outside, clawing at the door, but it held firm for now.

“Any bright ideas?” Aether asked, catching his breath.

“Survive,” Heizou said simply, glancing around for anything that could help them.

---

The group’s fates remain uncertain, with each pair trapped in their own corner of the haunted hotel. The crawling lady’s relentless pursuit had fractured them further, and the maze of hallways seemed to stretch endlessly, offering no hope of escape. The sound of her screeches echoed through the walls, a chilling reminder that she was always close, always hunting.